Smithtown Arts: Bluegrass, Suffolk County Style

It's not just festivals and library concerts anymore for singer/guitarist George Cannova of local bluegrass band Blue Detour. The four-piece band has been in demand for wedding performances.

"I think it's because of all the bluegrass that is happening in the city these days," said Cannova, who lives in Saint James with stand-up bassist and wife Julie. "Young people are getting exposed to it. It's gaining an audience and they want to share it with their friends. We have done a lot of weddings in interesting surroundings, such as the Queens County Farm and Driftwood Farms, a horse farm in Orient Point."

In the Smithtown area, Blue Detour, which also includes John Chainey (mandolin/vocals) of East Meadow and Dennis Corbett (banjo) from Medford, can  be found playing at historic locations like the Brush Barn and Deepwells Mansion. They also get involved with bluegrass jams lead by Corbett, who runs the Bluegrass Club of Long Island.

For Blue Detour (who is named after color-coded detour signs in Pennsylvania) its jam style is comprised of traditional and modern bluegrass with a "local Northeastern flavor." A branch of country music, bluegrass commonly consists of acoustic instruments including banjo, mandolin and fiddle. According to Cannova, the style varies from region to region.

"One thing you notice is that bluegrass music is played slightly different in various regions of the country," Cannova said, who works as a systems analyst for the Long Island Rail Road. "It's similar to regional dialects. For instance, as you go down south you'll hear more old, traditional songs and you'll also hear a lot of fast tempos. Go up north and you may hear more fiddle tunes that are not played down south."

In Long Island, in order to attract people who may be new to bluegrass, the band integrates some songs that may be more familiar, such as songs by John Denver or even the Beatles. "If people recognize your music, I think you have a better chance of connecting with your audience," Cannova said.

Still, Blue Detour stays dedicated to bluegrass. For Cannova, it remains a big part of his life.

"Bluegrass music will creep into your soul if you let it in," he said." We have formed many close friendships as a result of the music. It'll be a part of me forever."

Blue Detour will be performing at the Fall Festival at Deepwells Mansion in Saint James Oct. 9 and 10 at 1 p.m.