What do you get when you pair hundreds of fans together with amazing acoustic talent in a ghost town in the Black Range Mountains of New Mexico? Picamania, of course! This Woodstock-like festival, albeit on a smaller scale, brings musicians and enthusiasts together the second weekend of September each year for three days of blues, folk, blue grass, and Americana music that will get you clapping, stomping and having one heck of a time! So let’s take a closer look!
Humble Beginnings by An Amazing Man
From Farm to Stage
Founded by Bill Bussmann in a garlic shed on his family farm in the mid 1980’s, the first Picamania event drew fewer than a hundred guests yet laid the foundation for a legacy that has continued to this day. By the early 1990’s, this wildly popular annual event had grown to the point that the family farm simply couldn’t accommodate the crowds, so the venue shifted to Silver City, New Mexico and then, in 2017, to the stage at the Black Range Lodge in Kingston, New Mexico.
The Founder: Bill Bussmann
A man with a quick wit and an unbounded love for music, Bill Bussmann lived along Animas Creek in Caballo, New Mexico, where he and his wife, Susie, ran an organic garlic farm. His farming efforts may have fed his family but it’s music that fed his soul. Even in his earliest years, Bill loved music, and by the time he graduated from high school, he was a very accomplished electric bass player. Through the years, Bill played with friends and various local bands every chance he had, even forming a group with his wife and two children. And when a group of musicians and guests joined him almost forty years ago for a “backyard party” in his garlic shed, Pickamania was born.
Worldwide Fame
Who would think that one who lived in a rural, rather isolated setting would be known around the world for his expert craftsmanship in making mandolins? The fact is, Bill Bussmann was, indeed, so noted. So how did a garlic farmer get into crafting mandolins? It happened quite by accident. A friend, both talented in fiddling and fiddle making, suggested that Bill try his hand at it. Bill actually took it seriously, eventually enrolling in a fiddle making apprentice program. That experience got him thinking that he could make several mandolins in the same time as one fiddle, so he shifted gears, honing his luthier skills and making some the best mandolins the world had ever seen, all from that same garlic shed from which Picamania was born.
Under the brand name Old Wave Mandolins, Bill’s one-of-a-kind creations, which totaled roughly 600, included electric basses, dulcimers, and steel string guitars, along with various types of mandolins. And even in his crafting of these amazing instruments, his humor shined through in variations that included bass guitars shaped like fish, mandolins in the shape of watermelon with a bite taken out of them, a mandolin shaped like Swiss cheese, and an upright bass that Bill crafted from a Pontiac gas tank!
A Great Loss
In May of 2023, family and friends from across the nation mourned the loss of a man who filled their lives with love, laughter and music. Sadly, Bill has passed, but his legacy will live on indefinitely through the indelible mark he left in the hearts of those who knew and loved him, through all the Pickamania musicians and guests who come together year after year, and through Bill’s exceptional hand-crafted instruments that will be treasured for countless years to come.
Pickamania 2023
A Tribute to Bill Bussmann
Pickamania 2023 saw crowds like never before, which is not surprising since the festival served as both a tribute to and celebration of Bill’s life. Friends from all over the country made the trek to Kingston to honor Bill’s memory. Tears, laughter and memories were interwoven with three days of fabulous acoustic music that resonated through the foothills of the Black Range. The third day of the event was particularly inspiring as the entire day was dedicated to Bill.
The Venue
The setting for Pickamania is a bit out of the ordinary and definitely off the beaten path, 26 miles west of I-25 at the Black Range Lodge in Kingston, New Mexico. Once a robust mining community, Kingston is designated as a New Mexico ghost town, home to only a few dozen residents today. Nestled in the heart of the Black Range Mountains, the lodge and surrounding mountains offer a most unique backdrop for this one-of-a-kind event. It’s only fitting that the lodge serves as the official venue for the festival since it’s been welcoming guests since the 1880’s! Plus, the lodge’s outdoor pavilion, stage and shade trees make an ideal setting for musicians and guests alike, with plenty of food, desserts, beer, and wine to keep everyone refreshed and happy.
An Unforgettable Lineup
With the support of the Sierra County Arts Council (SCAC), Pickamania 2023 was a huge success. Friday night kicked off with original folk music by Ryan Dilts and Gabrielle Louise, a singer/songwriter from Colorado. The evening concluded with the bluegrass, folk and country songs of Wil Maring, accompanied by Nashville musician Robert Bowlin on the guitar and fiddle.
Saturday’s lineup included bluegrass tunes by Albuquerque’s Duke City Swamp Coolers; the soulful bluegrass music of banjo virtuoso Tim Weed; southwestern bluegrass music by Peter McLaughlin and Chris Brashear; and a Super Jam, with Pickamania’s super stars merging their talents for a unforgettable evening of memorable music.
Sunday’s tribute to Bill Bussman began with Gospel Hour, followed by a community potluck and an open mic to share memories of Bill. The event concluded with the Hard Road Trio, the Hassle Family, the 24/7 Blues Band, the Miner’s Garage Band and more, including Ezra Bussmann, the very talented son of Bill Bussman whose musical expertise includes the mandolin, fiddle and dobro.
Conclusion
This not-so-ordinary three-day event is well worth putting on your calendar, particularly if you enjoy the acoustic sounds of guitars, banjos, fiddles and mandolins in combination with a stunning mountain setting. So plan ahead, mark your calendar, and prepare to enjoy a most relaxing and beautiful environment while experiencing three days of exceptional music at Pickamania 2024! Details will be available at www.sierracountyarts.org.
