One time I travelled way back up into the Appalachian mountains for a three day bluegrass festival. Rustic camping provided. Now, if you go to a bluegrass festival back up in the hills, you damned sight better know that these folks are 110% TRAD.
I found that out in the campgrounds at night when people would gather around and just start jamming and before you know it, fist fights are breaking out because someone done brought in a Taylor guitar to a bluegrass get together. If you had a Martin, you were golden, a Gallegher (sp?), and you must know what you were doing 'cause that's what Doc played.
The venue I went to where so many people left was funny as hell. All the other famous bluegrass folks were done for the day and that evening R. S. was scheduled for one of his 'super-sets'. Everyone else had to do two sets a day, but Ricky always only did one ninety minute set. So, his sound crew comes out on stage and with all the 'stuff' and start setting it up. Someone up in front yell's, "what the hell is all that stuff for?" The sound guy was very polite and explained that, "once you hear the show, you will know." Wrong answer..., . R. S. paid for the fact that he sold out bluegrass for Nashville country and then when he wasn't popular there any longer, he was all of a sudden a bluegrass man again.
But it is changing now, Jerry Garcia was a big help with Greaful Dawg, Nickelback was young and very good and a few other newgrass groups started making people take notice. All in all, I like the change but it's going to come slow for some.