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  Festival Information*

*Please note that this is the lineup for the 2008 event, and check back for 2009 updates.

The Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival in Stevenson, Washington is alive and well. It’s scheduled this year for July 24 – 27 at the Skamania County Fairgrounds.
      This year’s festival is shaping up to be a fine event for sure. We will kick things off on Thursday evening with “The Jammers’ Jamboree” in the exhibit hall. Join Emcee Fred Coates and a host of local pickers for an Opry style performance.
      Long-time fans of this festival know the main stage has been in various locations on the fairgrounds. This year, it’s in the best place ever, thanks to fairground remodeling. The seating area is covered – protecting you from that hot Stevenson sun – with plenty of room for a
nice large crowd.
      On Friday, the main stage will be loaded with talent: from some of the finest regional bands to some truly amazing national acts. These include Molly Adkins and Martin Stevens; Ida Viper, and the always-refreshing Prairie Flyer. Then onto Dan Crary; Bryan Bowers; and John Reischman and The Jaybirds. The night will close with an old-time barn dance featuring The Foghorn String Band, with dance caller extraordinaire Bill Martin.


The Band Scramble and some great workshops will kick off the Saturday festivities.
      The flatpickers out there won’t want to miss the masters workshop with Dan Crary. Dan is one of the most influential guitar players of the last century, and a heck of a nice guy to boot.
      I am pleased to report that Chick Rose will be conducting his Kids Academy. Chick has nurtured some of the finest young talent to come out of the Pacific Northwest over the last 25 years or so. If you have a child who has any interest at all in this music, I would highly encourage them to participate.
      John Reischman and band also will be conducting some great workshops. John is, in my book, one of the great mandolin players of all time. His continuing growth as a musical force is helping to keep this great music alive and thriving.
     Paul Schoenlaub, formerly of Out Of The Blue, has assembled a handful of the Northwest’s best songwriters who will offer a comprehensive song-writing workshop.

Contests? Did you say contests?

The tradition of instrument contests continues at Stevenson. This year we are going to set up a registration form on the website so contestants can sign up in advance. I think you might see in the next few years that this festivals’ instrument and band contests might become as much a reason to attend as the main stage acts.
       Saturday is going to be another great day of great entertainment on the main stage. There will be some great regional bands including some bands that have been part of the Stevenson festival since the beginning. (Can you believe it has been 25 years?)
      Remember Rural Delivery? Yes, they’re still around and sounding great. So is Dr Corn’s Bluegrass Remedy.



Runaway Train who won the band contest last year will surely
impress everyone.
      Tony Furtado will be gracing the stage this year. Tony is truly one of the most innovative and creative banjo/ guitar players on the planet. He has also developed into a pretty darn good songwriter and singer.

John Reischman and the Jaybirds will be back, as well as Bryan Bowers. If you have never seen Bryan perform you have deprived yourself of one of the most fulfilling experiences you could have as an audience member.
      The legendary Peter Rowan will close the main stage; Peter will have his bluegrass band with him this year, featuring the great Jody Stecher on mandolin, the amazing vocalist Keith Little on banjo, and none other than Mike Bubb on bass.

After the show is over on the main stage, you can wander over to the dance hall, take in a beer or two and kick up your heels to the vintage sounds of the Buckles. The Buckles are doing their best to keep the Bakersfield sound alive. You should check them out, if for no other reason than to see what outfits they happen to be wearing that night.



      The weekend will finish up with a great gospel show on Sunday morning, followed by the annual band contest.
      We hope you put this in your plans for the summer. Help us make this year a banner year, so we can keep this wonderful tradition we call Stevenson alive and pickin, for years to come.

For additional questions, please feel free to email.

Bluegrass Festival 2008 Workshops