BLAINE NEY
The Daily Mountain Eagle
Published October 10, 2004 9:03 PM CDT

Few can deny George Deavours' venue for his Blackwater Bluegrass Festival is anything but gorgeous. Then again, fewer people than he would prefer have seen it.

"I'll have a big loss on this," he said Saturday, the final day of the weekend's event.

Deavours, who occasionally plays his banjo bought from famed artist Earl Scruggs, said that this was the seventh festival he has held on the 85 acres he owns in between Jasper and Curry/Manchester.

"The fall is always not as good as the spring," Deavours said.

But his biggest turnout of about 1,000, which took place last spring, still gave him a financial loss. He said including all the festivals he has held, he is down more than $130,000.

The numbers, however, do not reflect the quality of the venue or the acts that have played there.

From International Bluegrass Music Association award winners to nationally recognized names to Alabama favorites, the festival has been a haven for some of the best bluegrass acts in the country.

The stunning atmosphere accompanied by amenities such as electrical hookups and water for RV's and campers, restrooms and showers and free tent camping seems ideal for such an event.

Despite coming off of a set in front of a modest crowd, the award winning bluegrass band Blue Highway agrees that the Blackwater venue is beautiful.

"I love it out here. I want to just pull a camper out here and stay for a week," said Shawn Lane, who plays the mandolin and sings for the band.

Rob Ickes, Dobro player for Blue Highway, said the crowd response is also good - even if the numbers weren't as good as expected.

Many at the park and in the county have blamed Deavours bad luck with the weather. More than half of his festivals have been negatively affected by rain.

Ricky and Joanne Bryant were among the crowd of bluegrass fans dressed in multiple layers and otherwise prepared should the sky do what it had threatened throughout the weekend.

"I know George had a tough time with the weather," Ricky said.

"It's a shame. The last few weekends have been phenomenal," Joanne added.

They said the weekend's festival was their second at Deavours' park, adding that they didn't care about the damp conditions - the music and atmosphere was worth it.

"We came last Spring and it kind of got us hooked," Ricky said.

"I've been to every one but one, I reckon," Jerry Patton said.

Patton helped Deavours with the landscaping of the area and said the friendship he acquired with him is one of the reasons he keeps coming back.

"And it's something to do in the neighborhood other than staying at home or driving off somewhere," Patton said. "We're supporting the neighborhood."

Patton added that the beauty of the area helps, too.

Deavours plans to hold three more festivals before ending the biannual event.

"If you can't get something going after five years, you should call it off," Deavours said. Looking back he said he should have started smaller then built off of the results. Deavours said he wanted to start a festival of his own ever since he helped develop the more popular Brushy Creek Bluegrass Festival in the late 1970's.