Day 56 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Thursday June 26th, day 56 of our 2025 summer adventure. My morning walk was enveloped by a thick blanket of fog. But as the sun came up, it made a perfect picture!

They had an "open mic" hour, before the bands started. This "group" had jammed before, but they came together and performed on the stage during the open mic hour.

The first band up for today was The Kody Norris Show. Whatever you do, don't call them 'retro'. Because while the reigning SPBGMA Entertainers of the Year are known for the rhinestones that shine from their lapels and the fringe that hangs from their collars seem to conjure up memories of times gone by. The group is made up of front man Kody Norris, Josiah Tyree, Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris, and Charlie Lowman. When we visited the Bluegrass Museum and Hall of Fame in Owensboro KY, they were the first exhibit we saw!

Kody believes there is a whole chapter of country music that's just kind of faded away. He feels that they have been instrumental in bringing back some of that nostalgia. As well as some of that classic look that country music and bluegrass used to have. The foundations of this band can be found within the roots of Kody himself. As a child, he spent hours sitting in the passenger seat of his Uncle Jack’s El Camino listening to the entirety of The Stanley Brothers 16 Greatest Hits tape, wondering if he would ever be able to match the sweet harmonies coming through the speakers. So, at nine years old, he picked up the guitar and he never put it down.

Up at 2 pm was Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys. 2025 marks the 79th Anniversary of The Clinch Mountain Boys. Ralph II began working professionally for his father in 1995 and has carried The Clinch Mountain Boys on since.

Grammy Award-winning artist Ralph Stanley II has eleven #1 singles in his career. The band includes Stanley Efaw on fiddle, mandolin, and vocals; Randall Hibbitts on the upright bass and vocals; Curtis Coleman on banjo and vocals; and Ralph Stanley II on the guitar and lead vocals. Adam Burrows was filling in today.

Just a few big drops here, but over there looks rough over by Mount Nittany!

Joe Mullins & Radio Ramblers were up next. Named Entertainers of the Year by the IBMA in 2019, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers have consistently delivered chart-topping radio hits and energetic performances. In 2025, they released a new gospel and bluegrass albums. They have been busy! 

Their latest all-Gospel album is titled 'Somewhere Beyond The Blue.' It has multiple IBMA Award nominations. The band also hosts their own bluegrass festival, Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival. It was recently named IBMA's Event of the Year. In addition to band leader duties, Joe Mullins is an award-winning radio broadcaster who can be heard daily across the globe via Real Roots Radio and is also host of the syndicated radio program Front Porch Fellowship currently on over 200 radio stations worldwide. Most recently, he produced the IBMA’s Album of the Year, Industrial Strength Bluegrass for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. 

The Little Roy and Lizzy Show. They offer the best of bluegrass, gospel and old time music. Lizzy paired up with Little Roy Lewis from the legendary Lewis Family. Her extraordinary voice shimmers with strains of America’s musical roots. Lizzy has won “Bluegrass Song of the Year” for a several songs called “Mountain Top”, a duet with Ty Herndon called “When We Fly”, and "He Washed My Soul". Most recently at the 2015 GMA Dove awards she was awarded Best Bluegrass Song of the Year for a Duet with Rhonda Vincent called "God is There". She is one of the youngest fiddlers to be inducted into “America’s Old Time Fiddler’s Country Hall of Fame” in LeMars, IA.

Little Roy is a true banjo master, a picker's picker' Little Roy can also play the guitar and autoharp. In fact, the song 'Good Time Get-Together' was written to highlight his instrumental skills. Little Roy is multi-talented - he sings, plays many instruments, tells stories, and acts. When you see this Duo, you are sure to notice Little Roy, and he'll make you smile. He has been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, SPGBMA Hall of Greats, IBMA Hall of Honor, and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

After the dinner break we had a different order, because several bands have engagements tomorrow and gave to drive all night!

Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys were first, because the member that is also the bus driver has a family funeral tomorrow.

The Kody Norris Show was up second. They did not bring their bus. They have a big SUV and are driving to Vermont for a festival there tomorrow. Then they drive back to Owensburg Kentucky for the ROMP festival this weekend. Yikes, that is a bunch of driving!

A few drops, before The Kody Norris Show finished their second set! But minimal delay before this festival namesake took the stage.

Remington Ryde played their one and only set at 8pm. There are rumors around that the band is no longer together. That is simply not true. They have decided to only take select dates. We are glad they are playing here! Ryan Frankhouser is the lead singer and plays guitar.  He started the band at the age of 16 in his hometown. Ryan has a passion for bluegrass music and has devoted so much time of his life to the band and the music. Richard Egolf has been playing the bass in bluegrass for many years. He has many influences in the music including JR Sisk, Lonesome River Band, And Ricky Skaggs. Those are the only 2 members of Remington Ryde playing tonight. The rest of the players are good, but filling in... including Stanley Efaw, son of the promoter of this festival now, Larry Efaw. Ryan also started the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival at the young age of 22. The festival is on it's 18th year and has turned into one of the biggest bluegrass festival's in this area of the country.

Joe Mullins & Radio Ramblers came back up for their second set, just as it was getting dark at 9pm.  There was a great light show over by Mount Nittany. So, Charlie and I listed to half the set and then headed for the RV. 

Tomorrow is another full day of music. Prayers that it will be cooler! These 90 degree days are killing us! Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!