Finger-Pickin' Good at Leisure World

Patrick Fitzgerald had a thought: With so many bluegrass meet-up groups out there, why not gather them all for a pickers picnic? So, with Betsy Brandel and Raul Blacksten, he formed Busy Fingers and began holding events at Fountain Valley's Mile Square Park, the Long Beach Dog Park and, on Saturday, at Leisure World in Los Alamitos. Many of the musicians who attended didn't pick up their chosen instruments until late in life, some even after retirement.

At Leisure World, the members of Busy Fingers fired up the grill, held a banjo workshop and commenced jamming on the patio until it was time to enjoy their grub. Dinnertime music was provided by Sawtooth, which entertained with their blend of Americana, bluegrass and gospel music.