Wayfaring Stranger: A Musical Journey in the American South by Emma John
Books on bluegrass have, so far, fallen primarily into two categories; histories of the genre or biographies of the most famous players. In the history category Neil Rosenberg’s Bluegrass: A History and Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old Time and Americana Music by Craig Harris have been the essential volumes while recent biographies of Bill Monroe, John Duffey and Jimmy Martin have covered the biography angle.
A recent book on the genre carves out a new niche in the field as it delves into the practice and experience of bluegrass. Emma John, a British journalist traveled through America immersing herself in the music and has channeled those experiences into an entertaining and illuminating book Wayfaring Stranger: A Musical Journey in the American South.
John, a classically trained violin player provides a unique perspective on jam circles, festivals and the differences between playing the violin and the fiddle. She provides some historical background on the development of bluegrass as a unique musical genre, separate from old time string bands and country, but those historical elements are presented more as stories or myths which is perhaps the most accurate way to present them since what we have made of those moments in time or what they mean to us now, is often more important than what actually happened.
What sets this book apart and makes it so enjoyable is the deep dive into the sociology of bluegrass. John, with her journalist’s eye for detail picks up much of what makes the bluegrass scene unique and crafts those details into charming stories as he discovers how much a skilled musician might need to learn or perhaps unlearn to really enjoy the music. Emma John’s own journey as a musician and fan of bluegrass and how she develops her awareness of the music as well as how to approach playing is a compelling journey.
There have been numerous articles or documentaries that look at strange goings on at festivals as one would look at exhibits at a zoo. With Wayfaring Stranger, Emma John goes deep and finds the gems that others miss. I Many videos from “Bluegrass Country Soul” to “Gather at the River” have tried to explain the world of bluegrass and in particular the participatory role of fans at festivals. Much is made of the fact in “Bluegrass Country Soul”, for example, of the fact that people from the city and people from the country get together to play music. For the initial audience of that film, released in 1971, the idea that long haired hippies might be having a great time playing music with stereotypical rednecks was stunning. This book, by introducing us to characters and centering the narrative around the human interactions, does a much better job of taking the reader into the world of people who make festivals and jam sessions an integral part of their lives. It also paints a more complete and captivating portrait of how we can come together despite what seems like obvious differences as well as reminding us of the incredible diversity that exists just below the surface in what would otherwise appear to be a homogeneous community. In this way she paints a portrait of America as much as the American musical genre she’s engaged in.
This will be the most honest and most human book you’ll read on the topic of bluegrass music. A book you could enjoy without having ever heard the music but might make you want to seek out a local festival or jam session to learn more.
-Kevin Slick