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*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.
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. |
