Editor's Note: Dismal Creek's performance is 11 a.m. March 28 at the Triple B Cookoff on Main Street in downtown Crestview.
Your Facebook page states Dismal Creek "set out to bring their mountain roots to the beaches of the Panhandle and beyond." Which mountains?
Jim Hall, our guitar player, is from Denver, Colo., originally. Dub Bryant, our bass player, is from the north Georgia foothills of the Appalachians. Neil Sebree, on mandolin, is from the Appalachian hills of Ohio … I was born and raised in Missouri in the mystic Ozark mountains. No place I'd rather be!
Your group had big wins in the Seventh Annual Beachcomber Music Awards March 2 in Destin. Best Bluegrass Artist; Best Country Artist; Best Folk Artist; and for you, Best Instrumentalist and Musician of the Year. How'd you celebrate?
I'm gonna have to redirect questions pertaining to the night of March 2 to our lawyer.
What do you think it is about your music that strikes a chord with your fans?
I think people can appreciate the honesty of string band music, and that it brings everyone back to a more simple time. And it's just good old-fashioned party music!
What can Triple B attendees expect?
A song about the old cabin home. Moving away from the place you love and coming back to find they tore it down and built a 7-Eleven.
What's your favorite Northwest Florida venue?
Grayt grounds in Grayton Beach. RIP. (The Grayt Coffee House closed its doors on March 15.)
What do you guys enjoy doing off stage?
Jim likes romantic walks on the beach, Neil likes sailing and competitive wing eating. Dub is into drag racing and monster trucks and I spend most of my time on farmersonly.com.
What's next for the group?
I tell ya, we got the release of an album coming out in the next month containing traditional bluegrass tunes, then later this year we are releasing an album of original material; several tours and bluegrass festivals. I ain't had this much fun since the hogs ate my brother!
ONLINE
For more on Dismal Creek, see http://dismalcreek.com, Facebook.com/dismalcreek and www.reverbnation.com/q/5og7gw.
Email Editorial Assistant Renee Bell, follow her on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: Q&A with Dismal Creek banjo player Rick Stanfield