EVENT PREVIEW:
15th Annual
Bluegrass From the Forest MAY 17-19 SHELTON, WA
Bluegrass Roots IN THE
Photo: Shawna Whelan
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
For a decade and a half Shelton has been striking a chord with nationally recognized bluegrass bands and players at the Annual Bluegrass from the Forest Festival. Music lovers of all ages converge on the little town for three days, immersing in great music and reveling in the natural beauty of the area. With mixed roots in Irish, Scottish and English traditional music, and later influenced by the jazz elements of African-Americans, bluegrass incorporates rhythms that energizes musicians from all backgrounds. Fusioning jigs, reels, and Blues instruments – such as the banjo – bluegrass is known as music “for the people.”
Orcherstra often played at area dances, traveling by handcar or stage to each community. In camp the musicians jammed to while away the evening hours. Tradition has it that Sells and his fellow musicians are the roots for the Bluegrass from the Forest Festival, planted over a hundred years ago in the backcountry of the Olympic National Forest. Each May the music takes on full foliage on the campus of Shelton High School where community and fellowship and some really great entertainment are celebrated to the rhythm of the 15th Annual Bluegrass From the Forest!
The earliest Bluegrass bands were formed in rural areas when musicians came together to entertain for community celebrations. The same holds true for how bluegrass bands were formed in remote logging camps throughout the Northwest. One such group was the Logger Orchestra led by John Sells. Sells was an pioneer forester as well as an Pack up the family, dust off the fiddle and accomplished musician. After serving in head to Shelton and Hood Canal for some This 1910 image of the first Loggers Orchestra the Spanish American War, he traveled to fantastic scenery and a weekend packed with Bluegrass band is the inspiration for the FestiMason County in 1901 to work for the some of the best bluegrass music this side val's current stage and jammimg "roots." Simpson Logging Company as a donkey of the Appalachians! We guarantee you will (steam-powered winch) engineer. With Joe have a great time! Stertz and Ben Booth, Sells and the Logger 21 FJORD
