BLUEGRASS FROM THE FOREST JULY 7-9•2023

BLUEGRASS FROM THE FOREST JULY 7-9•2023

Bluegrass fans have reason to celebrate and tune their basses! Kristmas Town Kiwanis’ Bluegrass from the Forest is returning once again as an outdoor festival. July 7-9 at the South Mason Youth Soccer Park near Shelton.

With two stages, a beer and wine garden, and food & music vendors near the stages, the festival accommodates plenty of verdant "from the forest" tent and RV sites for festival-goers on site. Available all weekend beginning on Thursday.

Bluegrass from the Forest started eighteen years ago by Kristmas Town Kiwanis to raise funds for a restroom at Callannan Park in Shelton. Over the years proceeds from the Festival have funded countless projects in the area, primarily with the goal to help local youth.

The Chick Rose School of Bluegrass is a special program offered through the Festival weekend for kids who want to play bluegrass music. Founded by Chick Rose, who passed away in 2012, volunteer musicians continue his legacy. The program begins on the Saturday morning of the festival with kids divided into groups according to their musical ability. They are coached by advanced musicians to create a

special short performance on Saturday afternoon on the main stage. There is no additional charge for the kids to be in this program – the goal is to fill the stage with kids and bluegrass music.

The Festival’s program lineup features four concerts (of three bands each) throughout the three days highlighting some of the top talent on the west coast.

The event hosts a multitude of music workshops – Master Workshops, Band Scramble Showcase, banjo contest, open mics, mandolin tasting – as well as a popular country dance. Saturday night features the famous "midnight hot-dog grill!" It's a site to see when all the campfire jamming halts momentarily as the pickers and their families join the performing musicians for a midnight feast in the main tent.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit bluegrassfromtheforest.com or kristmastownkiwanis.org

If you would like to stay at a local hotel or motel, visit ExploreHoodCanal.com for a list of area hotels and AirB&B's.

Dry camping for RVs and tents is available beginning Thursday evening (before the festival). Many people enjoy getting a head start on the pickin’ and grinnin’ that starts up the evening before the festival begins.

2023 BAND LINE up

Alan Bibey & Grasstown's latest project Hitchhiking to California has topped single and album charts, with the title cut earning a nomination for the 2021 IBMA Song of the Year. Band leader, Alan Bibey, is a multi-award winning and Grammy nominated artist known for his exceptional mandolin mastery.

The Kathy Kallick Band is based along the west coast, but their mixture of original and classic music, mirroring their combination of traditional and contemporary sensibilities, has great appeal everywhere. Kathy Kallick’s exceptional career includes winning a Grammy and two IBMA Awards, receiving a Lifetime Membership from the California Bluegrass Association.

Farmstrong Music is an acoustic quartet that puts singing at the forefront of their sound. A very simple and distinctive instrumentation accompanies the band’s smooth vocal sound and brings the songs they perform to life FarmStrong performs at festivals, community and private concerts, weddings, as well as bars and restaurants.

Heartbreak Pass Band is the best kept secret from the mountains of Idaho. Born out of a love of music, they have performed on most stages east of the Cascade Mountains all the way to Montana. They have opened for Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, The Infamous StringDusters and performed at Wintergrass in Bellevue. Heartbreak Pass will take you on an eclectic musical journey that you are sure to enjoy!

SteelHead Bluegrass Band is a contemporary bluegrass band based in Kitsap County, WA. Their music ranges from sweet love songs to the hard drive and excitement of traditional and contemporary bluegrass, along with a special focus/influence from the music of Chris Stapelton (of The SteelDrivers Band). Strong vocals are the centerpiece of the band, but let’s face it, these folks can pick. You’ll be hard-pressed to keep your foot from tapping and your heart from singing along.

Rusty Hinges Bluegrass Band Hailing from across the Evergreen State of Washington, Rusty Hinges Bluegrass Band plays classic and contemporary bluegrass music combined with good natured fun and humor.

Runaway Train Bluegrass Band are the host band for Bluegrass from the Forest Festival and they also play an important role in helping to get the festival going every year.

The Bar-K Buckaroos is the Host Band for the Saturday Night Country Dance. The Bar-K Buckaroos play traditional western swing dance music in the style of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. They bring their love of Bluegrass, Country and Swing, Jazz, Blues and Raggae’ to form a great evening of western swing and 2040’s era swing music.

Preliminary Schedule

Friday, July 7 • 2023

7:00 Farmstrong

8:00 Runaway Train

9:00 Alan Bibey and Grasstowne

Saturday, July 8 • 2023

10 AM Workshops begin

2:00 Runaway Train

3:00 Steelhead

4:00 Alan Bibey and Grasstowne

7:00 Steelhead

8:00 Heartbreak Pass

9:00 Kathy Kallick Band

10:00 country dance with Bar K Buckaroos

12:00 midnight hotdogs!

Sunday, July 9 • 2023

1:00 The Rusty Hinges

2:00 The Kathy Kallick Band

2:55 All Star Grand Finale

Visit bluegrassfromtheforest.com for band schedule