Sunshine = Bluegrass, I Guess?

I've known for a long while that Fall isn't when I listen to Bluegrass. I really feel the Bluegrass lovin' in the Spring, when the festival season begins -- and the outdoor pickin'! However, year after year I forget this, and year after year I discover Bluegrass and mountain music afresh in the Spring.

Last year I picked up the new Blue Moon Rising CD which merited them an Emerging Artist of the Year nomination at last year's IBMA awards. (They lost to the Steep Canyon Rangers, another great band.) I thought the album was fair, but not as good as the two earlier discs.

I also picked up the self-titled Cherryholmes disc last year after seeing their amazing performance at the IBMA awards ceremony. Although their live act was staggeringly good, the CD was just lukewarm.

Okay, (looks at watch)... wait about six months, add some sunshine, roll the windows of the truck down, and crank up the iPod with these two albums, and...

WOW, what a difference! These albums are both great! What the hell was I thinking? What is it about sunshine and Bluegrass?