Danny Roberts of The Grascals fame finally possesses what the mandolin world considers the Holy Grail — a Gibson F5 made by or under the supervision of Lloyd Loar.

But the prized instrument didn’t simply fall into Roberts’ very capable picking hands. In fact, its odyssey and Roberts’ quest to own the Loar make for adventurous tales.

For those living outside the mandolin realm, Lloyd Allayre Loar was a Gibson sound engineer and master luthier in the early part of the 20th century. He is most famous for his refinements of the F5 model mandolin, but also known for his work on other Gibson products, including the L5 guitar, H5 mandola, K5 mandocello and A5 mandolin, according to Wikipedia.org.

While working for Gibson from 1919 to 1924, he designed the F-style mandolin top with F-shaped holes, introduced a longer neck and floated the fingerboard over the top, a change from prior Gibson instruments that had fingerboards fused to the top.

The mandolins made under his supervision — estimated to be around 200 — are highly sought-after possessions that command prices well in the six-figure range.

“My mandolin was originally owned by a nun who played in a mandolin orchestra,” Roberts said in a recent interview in Gibson’s Nashville instrument factory and showroom. “She sold it to a family in Florida. … The cool thing is, I got the letter where she sold it to the family in Florida in 1939. It went down there and the guy that she originally sold it to, he played it but his son or grandsons never played it.”

Danny Roberts said his Loar was made in 1922, and originally contained a Virzi Tone Producer. The Virzi was a spruce disc suspended inside from the instrument top that served as a supplemental soundboard.

Roberts, whose own name appears as the maker of several modern-day Gibson mandolins, said the Virzi gizmo was about six inches in diameter that had two F-holes cut in it.

“It quieted them down some definitely and (gave the instruments) a little different tone,” he said. “They still sound great. I’ve played several Virzi mandolins that sound very good. A lot of people had them taken out.”

had this dream the other night I need to talk about. Here’s the dead-of-night scenario:

I was a two-bit booking agent trying to make ends meet by getting gigs for a small handful of two-bit bluegrass bands. No Sammy Bushes or Sammy Shelors in my stable, mind you. My offerings to festival promoters and club owners amounted to Grade B bands that struggled to captivate their audiences with bad covers of Bill Monroe waltzes and Stanley Brothers’ murder and mayhem ballads.

Turn them in, turn them out. Turn them on their head, spin them on their toes. Examine from the right, the left, then the front, now the back.

No matter which angle you take, the Lonesome River Band is one powerful and dynamic bluegrass band. No Turning Back, the group’s new CD on Rural Rhythm Records is a strong affirmation of the band’s many attributes.

Jerry Douglas stopped recording CDs for the masses several albums ago. Not that any were destined to go platinum since Douglas and his jaw-dropping musicianship, on any solo project, will be aimed at dobro fanatics and others who slobber over intricate instrumental work.

I’ve said it before, allow me to repeat myself: Nothin’ Fancy is somethin’ special.

Affirmation of that fact shouts from the Virginia-based group’s new CD, Lord Bless This House, being released on Pinecastle Records’ label and bearing the label’s 20th anniversary logo.

If you can’t agree with my “somethin’ special” description of the five-piece group, certainly you will concede my contention that Nothin’ Fancy is unique. Mike Andes, the band’s mandolin player, chief songsmith and lead vocalist, has a wonderful, crisp vocal style that just doesn’t fit the typical bluegrass singer’s mold.

The initial lineup has been announced for the second annual DelFest, set for Memorial Day weekend, May 22-24, 2009, at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Md.

In addition to appearances by the Del McCoury Band throughout the weekend, Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, Peter Rowan and The Free Mexican Air Force, J.D. Crowe and The New South, Tim O’Brien, The Infamous Stringdusters,…

Lyons, CO. — Planet Bluegrass is proud to announce the initial lineup for the 37th Annual RockyGrass Festival, held July 24-26 at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, CO. The lineup includes headliners Steve Earle & the Bluegrass Dukes, Hot Rize, Earl Scruggs, Del McCoury Band, California and many, many more along the banks of the St. Vrain River. Tickets and camping are on sale now at www.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422, including a limited number of holiday-priced ($30 discount) three-day passes.

Framingham, MA. — The Boston Bluegrass Union (BBU) is proud to present the 24th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Presidents Day Weekend, February 13 – 15, 2009, at the Sheraton in Framingham, MA.

This beloved winter tradition boasts a full weekend of top-notch bluegrass entertainment, including performances by some of the best national and regional bands, over forty master classes and workshops

Pagosa Springs, CO– Tickets for the 2009 Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival, held June 5-7, are now on sale.

Early bird prices for the first 100 tickets sold are priced at $40 (single day) and $70 (2 day pass). Advance tickets are available for $45 (single day) and $80 (2 day pass) through June 4, 2009. Vehicle Camping passes are $25. VIP backstage tickets are very limited in availability for $275 (Early Bird) or $300 (Advance) and include 2-day festival admission and camping with backstage access on Saturday & Sunday (Must be 21 or older).