When 4 feet of floodwater raged across the Ranch last September, we vowed that a few extra raindrops wouldn’t stop the 42nd RockyGrass. Ten months later, welcome to the rebirth of Planet Bluegrass! Just as this Festival—and this hallowed property along the St. Vrain—is a tradition for generations of Festivarians, so it holds a special place in the hearts of musicians. We’re thrilled that so many legends (and future legends) have planned their summer around RockyGrass, to channel the stories and inspiration of Lyons’ rebirth through bluegrass music. Thanks to our friends at KGNU, the music from this entire festival will be streamed around the world. Monroe’s ancient tones have never rung so true and so strong. You’ll find many reconstruction improvements: the newly sculpted seating area, completely rebuilt Wildflower Pavilion, new beach and river walkway, river rock showers. But Planet Bluegrass 2.0 remains a work in progress—from the wood chips in the campgrounds to the newly planted willows along the river. Please take extra care in protecting the grounds during this sensitive time. As you see Planet Bluegrass production crewmembers this weekend, offer them a nod of thanks. Their heroic efforts have kept this 42year RockyGrass circle unbroken. We encourage you to support our town’s continuing recovery by visiting the Lyons Community Foundation booth in the sponsor area.
Let’s toast our partners at New Belgium! They’re offering the Festivarian-favorite Summer Bliss (renamed Summer Helles) as their summer seasonal—along with a generous donation to our rebuilding. Look for the label with the dobro in a hammock here at RockyGrass and around the country all summer. As you enjoy the music and good friends, remember to drink plenty of water, slather on the sunscreen, tread lightly on the earth, and have the time of your life. We’re so excited to welcome you home.
Love, The Folks on Planet Bluegrass
9/9: Steady rain begins to fall over Lyons (0.25” on 9/9, 1” on 9/10, 2” on 9/11).:
|1
These six all stars of the bluegrass world give players like you step-by-step lessons and personalized video feedback online – for about a $1/day!
BANJO
Tony Trischka
GUITAR
Bryan Sutton
MANDOLIN
Mike Marshall
BASS
Missy Raines
FIDDLE
Darol Anger
DOBRO
Andy Hall
Watch pre-recorded lessons (hundreds available) and then submit your own practice video to get a video response from your world-renowned teacher. Every video interaction you (and your fellow members) have with your teacher becomes a new lesson and another fun opportunity to learn!
All of our banjos are made in Spring Valley, California, U.S.A.
Have you picked a DEERING速 lately?
Made in the U.S.A. by the Deering Banjo Company
Graham Sharp of the Steep Canyon Rangers with his Deering Terry Baucom banjo
Contact us for a FREE color catalog! info@deeringbanjos.com 800-845-7791
deeringbanjos.com deeringbanjos.com/vega
Contact us for a FREE color catalog! (800) 845-7791 info@deeringbanjos.com
Flood debris may still be present in the river and in the banks downstream. Please use extreme caution and wear foot protection at all times. Climbing the hillsides or cliffs is strictly prohibited. Feel free to sit in any open tarp (especially up front) until the tarp’s owners return. Once placed on, wristbands are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you remove, tear, damage, or lose your wristband, we will not replace it. Please use only low-backed chairs in designated areas. If we can roll a basketball under your chair, we will ask you to move it behind the sound booth. Umbrellas, shade tents, and other view-obstructing items are allowed only along the river and back perimeter. Please be respectful of others and do not stand in the festival seating areas. Please do not smoke in the audience. Wander over to the festival smoking tent near the river and deposit your butts in the proper receptacles. Please. Lost and found is located at the festival box office. No dogs are allowed at the festival, in the campground, or in the parking lots. If you leave your dog in your car, we will call Animal Control and safely remove your dog from the car by whatever means necessary.
Tarp Line Policy: • Festivarians may begin assem bling for the next day at midnight • At some unannounced time after midnight Planet Blue grass will randomly distribute numbers to everyone in the assembly area • The next morning, Festivarians will be admitted into the fes tival in this randomly-assigned order, followed by first-come first-served Everyth Flippin ing’s ’ Tasty!
Welcome Festivarians! Festival Hours: 6am-2pm
Organic Espresso, Coffee & Tea Scrumptious Baked Goods Killer Breakfasts, Burgers, Salads & Sandwiches 5th & High St. 303.823.2345 www.thestonecup.com
Dine In ut O or Take
Bloody Marys, Beer, Wine & more
4 | 9/11: Flash Flood warning issued for Boulder County
please accompany your children while in the family area. As we welcome more younger Festivarians into the RockyGrass community, we’ve expanded our family area (in the woods next to the Wildflower Pavilion) to include a variety of fun, planet-minded activities throughout the day – 10:30am ‘til 5pm.
Colorado Mountain Club
Arts and Crafts Tent
Join us for ongoing arts and craft projects throughout the festival, including river rock art and face painting. Come paint and be painted! All creative Festivarians from age 9 days to 99 years are welcome.
11
O
AMDA PEN I - 9LY PM
Visit the CMC booth for their daily schedule of youth-oriented activities. Try out the slack line, hula hoops, and balance activities. Practice your knot skills to safely ascend a tree! Try your hand at the mountain safety washer toss and discover 10 essential wilderness survival tips. Founded in 1912, the CMC acts as a gateway to the mountains for novices and experts alike, offering year-round activities, events, and schools centered on outdoor recreation.
FAST • FRESH • LOCAL Glacier Ice Cream • Soft Serve Burgers • Hot Dogs • Sandwiches Shakes & Malts • Fresh Cut Fries FREE SINGLE SCOOP WITH ANY PURCHASE WITH YOUR WRISTBAND 138 MAIN STREET, LYONS
303.823.5800
LYONSDAIRYBAR.COM 9/12: Flood sirens sound in Lyons—“Move to higher ground immediately.”
|5
With your help, the Planet Bluegrass festivals have become models of Sustainable Festivation. As we continue to refine and expand this communal effort, here are three areas we’re focusing on this year.
Waste and Reuse
Two years ago we took the next step toward “zerowaste” by removing all landfill trash containers from the inner festival grounds, allowing us to achieve a 90% diversion rate inside the festival. We encourage you to pack-out any non-recyclable, non-compostable trash. The Sustainable Festivation crewmembers at each waste station (members of the Lyons High School band) will help you sort your waste and direct you to the appropriate waste containers. Even better than compost and recycling is reuse. This year we’re replacing single-use compostable utensils with reusable sporks (a spoon, a fork, and a knife in a single long-lasting utensil).
Earth, Food and Water
Thanks to flood donations from Yonder Mountain String Band, the festival grounds are now covered in 7 acres of Texas Bluegrass, a special strain that uses 2/3 less water than our old Kentucky Bluegrass. Tread lightly near the native revegetation along the river (marked by pink ribbons), these saplings are an important part of restoring our riparian ecosystem. We encourage everyone to “drink local” using our free locally-filtered water stations (next to the beverage booth and behind the box office). If you forgot to bring your reusable bottle, we’ll be selling long-
Energy and Offsets
As we’ve replaced flood damaged equipment, we’ve taken the opportunity to upgrade our energy efficiency, including highly efficient LEDs for our new main stage lighting rig.
Buy yours for $2 from any food vendor and reuse it throughout the festival. Or if you’d prefer a full setting, we’re selling 5-piece bamboo sets at the Country Store. We’ve extended reuse into our wine booth again this year by switching from bottles to high quality cask wines. By using reusable wine kegs we’re saving hundreds of glass bottles while offering higher quality premium wines. If you must dispose of your reusable beer cup, please use the special cup recycling containers (by the beverage booth and festival exits) to help us close the loop on recycling.
lasting Klean Kanteens at the Country Store. Backstage, where we serve over 350 meals per day to artists and staff, we continue to source most produce from Colorado farms. Our partnership with Colorado’s Red Bird Chicken allows us to offer chicken that is treated humanely and raised hormone- and antibiotic-free.
Our festivals and offices have been 100% wind-powered since 2004. This year we’re again purchasing carbon offsets to neutralize the emissions created by all our artists’ travel and lodging as well as the shuttle buses in Lyons. Learn more at the Renewable Choice Energy booth.
6 | 9/12: Gerald Boland disappears after opening shelter; body later found.
- DeDicateD to preserving anD honoring the art of the american BBQ -
Appetizers
sAlAds & things
Smokin’ Rings Bubba-Que Wings Southern Catfish Tenders Stuffed Potato Skins Pit Master Sliders Mile High Cheese Fries
Pork Green Chili Ale & Cheese Soup Pit Boss Chopped BBQ Southern Catfish Salad Smoked Shack Caesar Salad Spinach & Crispy Chicken Salad
FAvorites Southern Catfish Pecan Crusted Trout Chicken Fried Steak Top Sirloin Aged Ribeye Cajun Pork Chops Coconut Shrimp
24
beers on tap
sAndwiches & Burgers
smokin’ plAtters Roasted Half Chicken Carolina Pulled Pork Texas Beef Brisket St. Louis Style Ribs Kobe Beef Ribs Elgin Sausage
sides
Texas Beef Brisket Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich BBQ Chicken Sandwich Cajun Chicken Sandwich Hot Hog Smoked Sausage Egger-riffic Burger Smokin’ ChiliBurger
Red Beans & Rice Cole Slaw Fresh Cut Potato Fries Sweet Potato Fries Southern Green Beans Spiced Apples Corn on the Cob BBQ Baked Beans
Open every Day 11am–ClOse
228 main street, lyOns, CO
smOkinDavesq.COm
303-823-7427 (riBs)
Campsite Challenge:
With more than 2,000 campers in Lyons this weekend (more than doubling the size of the town!), it’s more important than ever to embrace the “leave no trace” camping philosophy. In collaboration with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and Eco-Products (suppliers of free compostable bags for all campers), the 7th Annual Campsite Challenge rewards sustainable campsites in any of the Planet Bluegrass-managed campgrounds. To nominate your campsite: 1. Visit the Leave No Trace booth to fill out the 1-page entry form – explaining how your campsite exhibits cleanliness, sustainability, and creativity. 2. Stop by the Leave No Trace booth each day to view all the campsite entries and vote for your favorites.
Two campsite finalists will be chosen each day – one random and one chosen by staff. Each winning campsite will receive a prize package including: New Belgium Beer Planet Bluegrass music Leave No Trace memberships
Congratulations to 2014 winners: Coleman Square (and their nearly 50 members!)
Planet Bluegrass will select the Grand Prize winner (of 2015 on-site camping passes!) after the campground pack-out on Monday.
8 | 9/12: National Weather Service extends flood warning, calling rains “biblical”.
After 30 years of January Banjo Camps in Boulder…
Pete Wernick announces:
A new Bluegrass Camp “
Every January since 1985 I’ve taught “deep banjo” skills to large groups of banjo players. I love banjos, but when they want to jam, it’s all banjos. I’d rather teach people to play real bluegrass music – in realistic-size groups: one of each instrument. This new camp will have daily instruction on all the instruments and 3-part harmony singing, taught by top Colorado teacher/musicians. Lots of jamming in coached groups – full bands especially welcome!
”
Six-day camp! January 4-10 Sun. night - Sat. afternoon All bluegrass instruments welcome. All levels, never-jammed to advanced! Students will be grouped by experience. Band members attending together get a major discount, “band lab,” and performance opportunities. Nights include open mics, bluegrass movies, and lots of time and space to jam and practice – all in the comfortable and hospitable Boulder Inn, under an hour from Denver’s international airport. Affordable room rates for campers. (Staying at the Inn not required.)
“
I know from my 35 years of camp teaching and organizing experience (200+ camps nationwide and overseas), this combination of elements will make this bluegrass camp ... a powerful dose of what we like best:
Fun and Results.”
For more info,
BGJAM.COM
Check out Pete’s Jam Instruction DVDs at the RockyGrass Merch Tent ... play along with Pete and Drew Emmitt, Nick Forster, Sally Van Meter, Ben Kaufmann, Michael Kang, Joan Wernick!
Jam class in Louisville, CO this fall taught by certified Wernick Method teacher Kevin Slick – go to BGJAM.com for more info.
Stories from the RockyGrass community
The night of Wednesday, September 11, 2013 forever altered the story of Lyons. As heavy rains flowed into the St. Vrain, the river rose to 500-year flood levels. Bridges and roads surrounding Lyons were impassable for weeks, isolating the town into separate islands. Hundreds of houses were destroyed, the town’s infrastructure was debilitated, and most residents had to find housing outside Lyons for months or more. The raging river flowed several feet deep across the entire Planet Bluegrass Ranch, causing more than $1.5 million in damage. The main office floated several hundred feet down the river, its refrigerator finally stopping in front of The Stone Cup. At least 4 feet of sediment and debris settled across the entire property—with sand and rock piled more than 10 feet high by the Wildflower. Every Lyons resident on a tarp this weekend has a flood story to share of selfless acts and everyday heroes. Here are 4 stories from the Planet Bluegrass community.
10 | 9/12: Craig Ferguson tells Bluegrass Today: “we’re just power washing the property.”
Lauren Ling
RockyGrass volunteer & musician I was awoken by the sirens. I live above Planet Blue- Button Rock dam was going to collapse. We were grass—up over the cliff. I could hear sirens echoing expecting a 40 foot wall of water any second down through the canyon at 2am, followed directly by the canyon. So we came into town and got everyone phone calls from friends asking if they could come we could think of and dragged them up to our house. to our house. We evacuated 5 or 6 people that first That night there were 19 people, 4 cats, and 7 night to our house—people from the confluence dogs. Everywhere there was a dry spot we had area mostly. Every waking moment was spent someone sleeping. It was a little refugee camp of getting people’s belongings out of their homes and friends that we now consider family. I’m so honored to be a member of The Watergirls making sure people were safe. I shed a lot of tears that weekend—looking at the because we’re about to stand in front of our town, Planet, looking at the town. I remember staring at play our songs, and let our hearts go—so thankful the Wildflower, seeing the water at the roof. When I go that we’re all still here, that we’re recovering as a back to that time, my heart feels like it’s breaking. town, and not forget that a lot of our community On Saturday, the National Guard reported that still is not home.
Chad Soulia
Planet Bluegrass ranch manager On the third day of the flood I hiked over the ridge the checkpoint. I always managed to get in—7 into town with a generator and several 5-gallon days a week…for months. containers of gas. That was the first time I saw An artist up in Apple Valley had a fence around the property. I had put so much into this place her house completely constructed out of bowling and it was like somebody came through and balls, so a couple dozen of those ended up here destroyed it. I took it personally for a little while. in the dirt. A lot of our stuff ended up in Meadow Then my only mindset became: “we gotta fix it, Park—one of our pews, some catering stuff. Some of our sound gear ended up underneath a trailer we gotta fix it.” We bought the backhoe on Monday morning near the confluence. The lighting board floated and got right to work trying to make a road to almost all the way to Longmont. get into the property. For the first 2 months, I For at least a month it was like, “Oh my god, wasn’t technically supposed to be able to get everything is getting further destroyed by the minin to Lyons. So I dressed up like a construction ute.” You could see the 3 river channels that came worker, I put a flashing light on my truck, and I onto the property constantly degrading things. And told a different story depending on who was at if they reached the stage, that could’ve been it.
9/12: President Obama signs emergency declaration for Colorado.
| 11
Edward Kean
Wildflower Pavilion sound engineer & Town of Lyons Volunteer Coordinator For whatever reason, Lyons was pinpointed as mind-boggling scenes everyday. the place to go if you’re a volunteer or if you have I saw amazing things like 50 Samaritan’s Purse donations like toilets or cowboy boots or what- volunteers shoveling out a house on Apple Valever. Some communities go: “Whoa, what are you ley. Picture 4-5 feet of black mud; and volunteers doing here?” Instead, Lyons said: “Yeah, come on standing ready to go dig that out. The first thing down!” I developed a system for receiving these we had to figure out was how are we going to get people and helping them to deploy into good, into the house because the doors open “in”? Basically we went in through the window and started meaningful work. As you’re going around scouting for work for tunneling through there. This stuff was nasty— these folks, you find yourself looking at incredibly people’s gas cans and septic fields and everything perplexing scenes. Like I didn’t know a house could that had floated through. turn 45 degrees in the air and be sticking up the I don’t want anyone to have a flood. But if you wrong way. It’s an overwhelming thing to imagine have to have one, the place to have one is a town what to do about it. The early days were a series of like this. With these people.
“I don’t want anyone to have a flood. But if you have to have one, the place to have one is a town like this. With these people.”
Roger Flynn
RockyGrass volunteer & Lyons Community Foundation board member My first reaction was the awe—the power of the of people breaking down into tears saying that they water and what it could do to human construction. would have had to move away from Lyons because Then as you saw the destruction, you realized “oh they couldn’t meet their mortgage payments or my gosh, these are people’s lives that have been their doctor bills. And because of the LCF support they were able to stay. We helped people when it forever altered.” Then it really hit home. After everyone was evacuated and scattered really mattered. throughout Boulder County and Colorado, the Lyons Since then we’ve raised a few hundred thouCommunity Foundation started having almost daily sand more dollars. Now we’re focusing on non-profit conference calls to coordinate fundraising efforts. organizations and town government—to restore Our main focus was to get fundraising going while the parks, restore the economy, and build the infrastructure back in the town. Lyons was in the national media. In just 3 months we raised about $1 million. We There’s that cliche about pulling together in a decided to focus on the families that were most time of diversity. And boy, Lyons is a poster child directly impacted. Lots of folks put in countless for that now. If there’s one thing all of us Festihours, some all-nighters, to make sure that the varians feel when we’re here during the festival, it’s the community of musicians and music lovers. grants went out before Christmas. We gave out almost 300 checks, up to $5,000 to That sense of community is around Lyons, stronger individuals and families. There were many instances than ever.
Learn more about the September 2013 flood by visiting the Lyons Community Foundation and Colorado Spirit - The FEMA Crisis Counseling and Training Program booths in the sponsor area.
12 | 9/13: National Guard helicopters and truck convoys arrive in Lyons.
9/13: River carves 100-foot channel through 2nd Ave and McConnell Dr. (near Bohn Park).
| 13
Since the first Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival in 1973, the band and instrument contests have been a central part of the festival experience. Cheer on the next generation of musicians as they vie for new instruments and spots on the main stage. Past finalists have included Mark O’Connor (1974) and Tim O’Brien (1975); along with more recent band contest winners the Steep Canyon Rangers (2001) and Town Mountain (2005).
Instrument Competitions
Each instrument contestant performs 2 tunes in the preliminary round. The top 3 on each instrument advance to the final round where they perform 2 different tunes. Judged “in the blind,” pickers and fiddlers are scored using the following criteria:
Instrument Competition Prizes 1st Prize: New Instrument! (see below) 2nd Prize: $100 3rd Prize: $50
50% Overall Ability
(includes difficulty, expression, and execution)
25% Rhythm 25% Tone
Mandolin
1st Prize: Gibson Sam Bush Signature Model F-5 Prelims: Friday, 2:30pm, Wildflower Pavilion Finals: Saturday, 10:00am, Main Stage
Banjo
Fiddle
1st Prize: Deering Eagle II Banjo Prelims: Friday, 11:30am, Wildflower Pavilion Finals: Saturday, 10:30am, Main Stage
1st Prize: 1888 German Fiddle Prelims: Friday, 4:00pm, Wildflower Pavilion Finals: Saturday, 9:45am, Main Stage
Flatpick guitar
Dobro
1st Prize: Gibson J-35 Acoustic Guitar Prelims: Friday, 1:00pm, Wildflower Pavilion Finals: Saturday, 10:15am, Main Stage
1st Prize: Rayco Resophonics Dobro Prelims: Friday, 5:30pm, Wildflower Pavilion Finals: Saturday, 9:30am, Main Stage
Band Competition
Watch as these exciting young bluegrass bands from around the country gather around a single microphone in the Wildflower Pavilion to compete for a spot on the 2015 RockyGrass lineup.
Schedule
2014 Contest Bands Caribou Mountain Collective Nederland, CO
Prelims: Saturday, 1:30pm, Wildflower Pavilion Finals: Sunday, 1:30pm, Wildflower Pavilion
Flatt Cheddar Bozeman, MT
Prizes
No. 9 Coal Aurora, CO
1st Prize: 2nd Prize: 3rd Prize:
$750, strings and 2015 RockyGrass main stage performance $500 & strings $300 & strings
Ragged Union Golden, CO
Thunder & Rain Denver, CO Trout Steak Revival Denver, CO The Turnbacks Alba, TX Washed Up River Band Austin, TX
14 | 9/14: Mass evacuation from Lyons amid rumors of Button Rock Dam instability.
f o r t y y e a r s o f f e s t i vat i o n “
… An absolute must-have for anybody who has ever felt the lure of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival… The book is like a career-spanning box set that is a phenomenally entertaining trip down memory lane.” – Marquee Magazine
Limitoevder haridtcions ed onsale at
ntry T he Cou S tore
The 216-page book is hardbound in Spanish Leather with an animated lenticular image of Sam Bush debossed into the center and Planet Bluegrass’s iconic yinjo-yangdolins in each corner. • Essays by Sam Bush, Chris Thile, Béla Fleck, Emmylou Harris, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Winston Marshall (of Mumford & Sons), Del McCoury, Sara Watkins, & dozens more
• Year-by-year remembrances by longtime festival MC Pastor Mustard • More than 350 photos curated from all 40 years • Gorgeous full-page reproductions of each year’s festival poster
Book signing with Sam Bush, Bela Fleck & Pastor Mustard signing from Noon-1pm on Saturday outside the Country Store 9/15: Last of heavy rains subside, totaling more than 16 inches.
| 15
MAin Stage Friday July 25
Saturday July 26
Sunday July 27
10:00am Gates Open
9:00am Gates Open
10:00am Gates Open
11:00 - Noon The Railsplitters
9:30 - 11:15am Instrument Contest Finals
11:00 - Noon The Watergirls
12:15 - 1:30pm Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge
11:30 - 12:30pm Pert Near Sandstone
1:45 - 3:00pm Della Mae
12:45 - 1:45pm Town Mountain
3:30 - 4:45pm John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band
2:15 - 3:30pm Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands
5:15 - 6:30pm Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
3:45 - 5:00pm Noam Pikelny & Stuart Duncan
7:00 - 8:30pm Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn
5:30 - 6:45pm Uncle Earl
9:00 - 10:30pm Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder
7:15 - 8:30pm Steep Canyon Rangers 9:00 - 10:30pm Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
16 |
12:15 - 1:15pm Balsam Range 1:30 - 2:45pm Matt Flinner Trio 3:00 - 4:15pm James King Band 4:45 - 6:00pm Darol Anger’s Big Chill featuring Tony Trischka 6:30 - 8:00pm Hot Rize featuring Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers
8:30 - 10:00pm Sam Bush Bluegrass Band
wildflower pavilion Friday July 25 Instrument contests: see page 14 for details.
Saturday July 26
Sunday July 27
Noon
Noon
Grant Gordy, Ross Martin: Adventures in Flatpick Guitar
1:30pm Band Contest: Preliminary Round 4:00pm Darol Anger & Friends 5:00pm Jake Schepps Quintet featuring Matt Flinner
Jacob Groopman & Melody Walker
1:30pm Band Contest: Final Round 3:00pm The Railsplitters 4:30pm TBA
Forty-second Annual RockyGrass
| 17
The Railsplitters Friday 11:00 - Noon
When last September’s floods hit, the Railsplitters were split by the St. Vrain—bandmember Dusty Rider (yes, that’s his real name) was stranded at his home in Lyons, while the rest of the band dealt with the heartbreak of cancelling their biggest gig to-date. Ten months later, the now-quintet of Rider (banjo), Lauren Stovall (guitar), Peter Sharpe (mandolin), Leslie Ziegler (bass), and newest member Christine King (fiddle), remain contagious carriers of the
Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage are, quite simply, two of the most important young guitarists performing today. As a member of Punch Brothers since the band’s inception, Chris has been at the vanguard of acoustic music for much of the past decade. By his mid-teens he had developed a deep love for acoustic music, thanks in part to his father, banjo player and founding member of the seminal bluegrass group The Seldom Scene. Julian Lage grew
Della Mae Friday 1:45 - 3:00pm
Lyons bluegrass torch. With powerful female/male vocals, a rich catalog of original songs, and tightly orchestrated instrumentals (with titles like “Long’s Peak”), the 2013 RockyGrass band contest winners are equally adept at gritty bluegrass twang and sophisticated modern newgrass—as showcased on their self-titled debut, one of the best Colorado bluegrass CDs of the year. Be on your tarp at 10am sharp, the RockyGrass rebirth begins with the Railsplitters.
up in California. He and his father began playing together when he was four and he was the subject of an Academy Award-nominated documentary, Jules at Eight. Julian gained pivotal early exposure as a protégé of legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton. This duo lives at the nexus of improvisation, spontaneous composition, and virtuosic refinement, all performed on their respective 1939 Martin guitars. Get ready for a guitar heaven, right here at RockyGrass.
Former Grand National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker originally formed the all-women bluegrass quintet Della Mae to perform mangrass wearing power suits. Four years later, Kimber and her compatriots—singersongwriter Celia Woodsmith, Loveland, CO native Courtney Hartman (guitar), Jenni Lyn Gardner (mandolin), and Shelby Means (bass)—have headlined festivals around the country, been nominated for a Grammy, and toured Central Asia with the State
Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge Friday 12:15 - 1:30pm
Department’s American Music Abroad program. The Boston-based fivesome’s Rounder debut, This World Oft Can Be, combines centuries’ worth of musical influences with an undeniably modern songwriting sensibility. While instrumental virtuosity is a given for these 5 young musicians, their focus is on emotionally potent songs and spirited, effortlessly expressive performances. We’re thrilled to welcome Della Mae back for their 2nd RockyGrass.
18 | 9/19: Lyons residents allowed temporary access through National Guard barricade.
John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band Friday 3:30 - 4:45pm
When your average Festivarian organizes a bluegrass band, we might work out harmonies to a bluegrass standard with a few friendly pickers to perform at the campsite. When one of America’s pioneering gypsy jazz guitarists, John Jorgenson, puts together a bluegrass band with friends, he gathers the writer of bluegrass standards like “Wait a Minute” (banjoist Herb Pedersen) along with former Nash Rambler guitarist (Jon Randall) and longtime Kentucky
“One thing I liked about the Monroe style was that it was darker. It had more of an edge to it.” For over 5 decades, Grammy winner Peter Rowan has brought this dark edge to the prairies, porches, and precipices of American music—as a distinctive high-lonesome singer, gritty multi-instrumentalist, keen-eyed songwriter, and groundbreaking bandleader. Following his initial tutelage as a Blue Grass Boy, Peter began exploring inventive new folk
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn Friday 7:00 - 8:30pm
Thunder bassist (Mark Fain) for gigs like the Grand Ole Opry. So went the founding of J2B2 about a year ago. With a band-in-residence at this week’s RockyGrass Academy, these 4 legendary musicians have created something larger than a supergroup. They’ve found a personal vocal blend and lively bluegrass energy greater than the sum of their pedigrees— captured on their forthcoming debut album and showcased this RockyGrass Friday afternoon.
sounds: Earth Opera with David Grisman, Muleskinner with Clarence White, and Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and Vassar Clements. Along the way Peter has tirelessly chronicled the experience of the American West, from the dustbowl to the trail of the buffalo, in his classic songbook. On this Friday evening, Peter revisits his bluegrass roots with Keith Little (banjo), Chris Henry (mandolin), Blaine Sprouse (fiddle), and Paul Knight (bass).
Banjoists Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn have mastered the deceptively intricate art of the duet. Their performances embrace a diversity almost unthinkable coming from just 2 banjos and one voice. Abigail’s beguiling composing, playing, and singing blend with Bela’s riveting and virtuosic musicianship to create music both unique yet familiar in texture. Abigail’s banjo has taken her far beyond the old-timey comfort zone, musically and geographically.
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band Friday 5:15 - 6:30pm
An alumnus of Uncle Earl, her music resounds with echoes of Appalachia and a tidal wave of emerging Chinese cultural influence (her adopted 2nd homeland is China). Béla has continually reinvented the sound of the banjo through a remarkable performing and recording career that has traversed the world’s musical map, with frequent stopovers on Planet Bluegrass stages. Together, Bela and Abigail will create a musical tapestry again this Friday evening.
20 | 10/26: Utilities restored to some neighborhoods; residents begin returning home.
summer concerts
JULY 28 the best of RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
AUG 9 an evening w/ PAULA POUNDSTONE
AUG 10 TIM O’BRIEN & DARRELL SCOTT
AUG 12 B.B. KING
AUG 13 JOHN HIATT & THE COMBO and THE TAJ MAHAL TRIO
AUG 16 CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE ENSEMBLE Pure Movement
AUG 19 ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
AUG 28 ZIGGY MARLEY Fly Rasta
SEPT 13 an evening w/ STEVEN WRIGHT
SEPT 26 HOT RIZE with Red Knuckles
tickets
& full events calendar tickets. chautauqua. com
presented by thank you to our sponsors! www.pcigrafx.com
900 BASELINE ROAD • BOULDER CO | 303.440.7666
coloradochautauqua
colochautauqua
Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder Friday 9:00 - 10:30pm
“To me,” says pianist Bruce Hornsby, “it’s always been about staying inspired, broadening my reach and moving into new areas.” This masterful collision of Virginia cool with Kentucky Thunder—88 hammers meets a downstroked mandolin— began with informal jam sessions in 1990. Ricky let his mandolin reign and Monroe’s early use of keyboards made perfect bluegrass sense once again. Backed by the powerhouse bluegrass sextet Kentucky Thunder—Andy
Take old-time music off the back porch, throw out the hillbilly reputation, and put it in the hands of a group of Minnesotans who are equally comfortable playing fully acoustic or plugged-in at an indie rock venue. Pert Near Sandstone formed unintentionally 10 years ago over weekly, whiskey-fueled picking sessions in St. Paul. Word quickly spread of the bands’ uncanny ability to whip audiences into frenzies. Soon Nate Sipe (mandolin/fiddle), Kevin
Town Mountain Saturday 12:45 - 1:45pm
Leftwich (fiddle), Cody Kilby (lead guitar), Paul Brewster (vocalist/guitar), Eddie Faris (vocalist/guitar), Scott Mulvahill (bassist/vocalist), and Russ Carson (banjo)—the pair reinvent songs drawn from deep mountain music, Big Mon standards, and Hornsby’s own pop and jazz-inflected repertoire. As heard on last year’s jubilant live album Cluck Ol’ Hen, the collaboration is fiery, fascinating, and fearless—an unforgettable finale to our RockyGrass Friday.
Kniebel (banjo), J Lenz (guitar), Adam Kiesling (bass), and Andy Lambert (clogger and washboard ace) were sharing stages with Garrison Keillor, Wilco, and the Pert Near flag-wavers in Trampled by Turtles. Yet amidst the hollering, driving fiddle rhythms, and foot stomping, are 5 albums worth of honest acoustic songcraft, capped by this year’s The Hardest Part of Leaving. We begin the RockyGrass Saturday with some high-energy dancing in the Colorado sun.
Pert Near Sandstone Saturday 11:30 - 12:30pm
Had we not officially canceled Town In the 8 years since their last main Mountain’s show in the Wildflower stage visit, the 2005 band contest Pavilion last September 13, vocalist winners have released 4 albums of Robert Greer would have happily rough-hewn bluegrass—including stood in 4 feet of mucky floodwaters 2012’s excellent Leave the Bottle— singing our troubles away Jimmy and earned “Band of the Year” and Martin-style. With Jesse Langlais “Vocalist of the Year” IBMA Momen(banjo), Bobby Britt (fiddle), Phil tum Awards. It’s 316 days late, but Barker (mandolin), and Nick DiSe- we’re thrilled to finally welcome bastian (bass), Town Mountain play the North Carolina quintet back to bluesy, dirt-on-the-fingers ‘grass, Planet Bluegrass—albeit with a hard and fast in the spirit of the first slight venue change to the main generation of bluegrass pioneers. stage of the 42nd RockyGrass.
22 | 11/4: Planet Bluegrass offices reopen without water, sewer, or heat.
Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands Saturday 2:15 - 3:30pm
Utah Phillips famously described San Francisco Bay Area songwriter, fiddler, vocalist, teacher, and producer Laurie Lewis: “Whatever country music is supposed to be, she’s at the center of it.” Laurie helped found the all-female bluegrass band the Good Ol’ Persons in 1974, and in 1986 she met her musical partner Tom Rozum—himself an accomplished mandolinist, fiddler, and guitar player—beginning a musical collaboration that has spanned almost
“I’ve heard people compare the texture of fiddle and banjo to a full band,” says banjoist Noam Pikelny. “What more do you need?” On this Saturday afternoon, the winner of the inaugural Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo & Bluegrass (and founding member of Punch Brothers) shares the RockyGrass stage with the extraordinary 9-time IBMA fiddle player of the year Stuart Duncan (himself also a gifted singer and clawhammer banjoist),
Uncle Earl Saturday 5:30 - 6:45pm
three decades. Tom’s background as a rock and swing musician adds a uniquely satisfying flavor to the band. Says Laurie, “A huge part of my music is knowing that I have a partner and a voice like that to sing the harmonies.” On this RockyGrass Saturday afternoon, we welcome Laurie, Tom and their bandmates in The Right Hands: Chad Manning (fiddler with the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience), Andrew Conklin (bass), and Patrick Sauber (banjo).
to fill the Lyons valley with tones both ancient and new, including selections from Noam’s brilliantlytitled new solo album, Noam Pikelny plays Kenny Baker plays Bill Monroe. Adds Noam: “The sound of the fiddle playing more sustained melodies over the percolating grit of the banjo is one of my favorite sounds.” In the hands of these 2 virtuosos, that sound is rhythmically driving, endlessly inventive, and utterly irresistible.
When we last watched the g’Earls 6 years ago, they were disarming villainous videogs through kung fu-inspired clogging and a swaggering, full-tilt stringband romp. For nearly a decade the all-gal quartet— KC Groves (mandolin), Rayna Gellert (fiddle), Abigail Washburn (banjo), and Kristin Andreassen (guitar)— won over the hearts, voices, and feet of their adopted hometown of Lyons. Then like last September’s floodwaters, they were gone, leaving
Noam Pikelny and Stuart Duncan Saturday 3:45 - 5:00pm
us only with hinted answers to the fundamental dilemma underlying every forward-leaning stringband: old-time versus our-time. Sure, we had their pair of essential Rounder releases, especially 2007’s John Paul Jones-produced Waterloo Tennessee. But the g’Earls were always a live band, thriving on the RockyGrass and Telluride stages. So as the currents of rebirth flow through Planet Bluegrass this Saturday, rise to your feet as we celebrate the rebirth of Uncle Earl.
24 | 12/5: RockyGrass tix go onsale; computers wrapped in blankets as cold reaches -11°F.
November 7–9, 2014 d Richard Thompson d Ellis with Moors and McCumber d John Fullbright d Kevin Welch d Kim Richey d Ray Bonneville d Kris Delmhorst d Hardin Burns d Birds of Chicago d Taarka d Shook Twins d Richard Tyler Epperson Festival Pass: $130 • Single Venue Pass: $40 435-259-3198 • MoabFolkFestival.com
The 16th Annual
Crestone, Colorado Sunday, August 3rd
Friday, August 1st Saturday, August 2nd
Paper Bird Ruthie Foster Charles Neville with
25 Acts on 2 Stages
Youthior & Sences Pri er 12 und d i K s REE! F
Youssoupha Sidibe & The Mystic Rhythms
Multi Genre Y Multi Cultural
Inte r na t i o n al C ui s i n e Y C olo rad o L i bat i on s C a mp i n g Y Ve n d o r s Y Family Fun
855-85-MUSIC
Y
719-256-4533
Y
www.crestfest.org
12/24: Governor Hickenlooper attends Christmas Eve service at Planet Bluegrass.
| 25
Steep Canyon Rangers Saturday 7:15 - 8:30pm
“It took a lot of work for us to nose our way into the bluegrass world and become a de facto representative,” says Graham Sharp. For the Steep Canyon Rangers—Sharp (banjo), Woody Platt (guitar), Nicky Sanders (blazing fiddle), Mike Guggino (mandolin), and Charles Humphrey III (bass)—that work includes 13 years of writing superb original material, rehearsing impeccable vocal harmonies, releasing 8 decorated albums (including 2012’s Grammy
1992 was a milestone year for RockyGrass: 1st year produced by Planet Bluegrass, 1st festival held at the Ranch in Lyons, 1st RockyGrass appearance for Alison Krauss. Alison was already a bluegrass star then, but she has never forgotten the kindnesses of RockyGrass Festivarians and the idyllic setting in Lyons. So when she heard of the September floods, she wanted to help. When the most decorated female in music (28 Grammy’s and counting) and the most
The Watergirls Sunday 11:00 - Noon
winning Nobody Knows You), winning accolades like the 2001 RockyGrass band contest, and yes, collaborating with a certain wild and crazy guy. Theirs is a true collaboration among consummate musicians—one that has exposed legions of new fans to the genre and to this highly original North Carolina quintet. On this RockyGrass Saturday we’re treated to our favorite representatives of passionate, freewheeling bluegrass: 75 minutes of pure SCR.
tastefully virtuosic band in acoustic music—Jerry Douglas (dobro), Dan Tyminski (guitar), Ron Block (banjo), and Barry Bales (bass)—re-routed their entire tour, we found a way for them to lend a hand: by lifting our spirits into the heavens on a glorious RockyGrass Saturday evening. For over 2 decades, AKUS have been peerless in their dedication to authentic and elegant contemporary bluegrass, the perfect soundtrack to an entire community’s emotional rebirth.
“Little rain came falling down…” We are gathered here today to sing about the recent past and dream about the future. Led by 6 strong Lyons women—Sally Truitt (clawhammer banjo), KC Groves (mandolin), Enion Pelta-Tiller (fiddle), Lauren Ling (fiddle), Cynthia Renwick (bass), and Monica Whittington (guitar)—the Watergirls (along with many special guests) share the ongoing story of Lyons biblical flood, from FEMA numbers to lost homes to anthems
Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas Saturday 9:00 - 10:30pm
of hope and strength. Never in the 4 decades of RockyGrass gospel sets, has this Sunday morning been so essential to the Festival experience—the community, the collaboration, the enduring power of music. On this Sunday of rebirth, the Watergirls take us down to the baptismal waters of the St. Vrain to heal themselves and our community through songs and music. “You can watch us stand our ground, but you can’t take our town!”
26 | 1/22: Water and sewer restored to Planet Bluegrass.
Balsam Range Sunday 12:15 - 1:15pm
In Western North Carolina, where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge, there is a majestic group of mountains called the Balsam Range. Hailing from Haywood County, in the center of these mountains, are five singers and musicians who have been climbing the national bluegrass radio charts over the past few years with 7 national #1 hits—including the 2011’s spectacular IBMA Song of the Year winner, “Trains I Missed.” With their unique vocal blend, topped
Multi-instrumentalist Matt Flinner has made a career out of playing acoustic music in new ways. Starting out as a banjo prodigy, playing bluegrass festivals before he entered his teens, Matt later took up the mandolin—winning the 1990 National Banjo Championship in Winfield, and taking the mandolin award there the following year. In the early nineties, Matt performed at Telluride Bluegrass and the Folks Festival as a member of Sugarbeat,
James King Band Sunday 3:00 - 4:15pm
by the distinctive high tenor of fiddler Buddy Melton, a Balsam Range track is instantly identifiable—and instantly lovable. Together with Tim Surrett (bass), Caleb Smith (guitar), Darren Nicholson (mandolin), and Marc Pruett (banjo), Balsam Range have developed a deep emotional connection with their audiences. On this RockyGrass Sunday, Balsam Nation finally extends to Lyons as Balsam Range make their long-awaited RockyGrass main stage debut.
recording their debut on Planet Bluegrass’ Blue Planet Records. Matt has recorded and toured as one-third of Phillips, Grier and Flinner with bassist Todd Phillips and guitarist David Grier, and his solo CDs, including The View from Here and Latitude, are considered classics in the new acoustic/modern bluegrass style. At RockyGrass, for the first time, Matt presents his current creative project, the Matt Flinner Trio with Ross Martin (guitar) and Eric Thorin (bass).
James King doesn’t so much sing, as let songs escape from his soul. Growing up in the cradle of country music, southern Virginia’s Carroll County, James found his inspiration in the gospel music of the Stanley Brothers. James learned to match the inflections and emotions in Carter’s vocals, and by the 1980s he was a featured member of Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys. For the past two decades, James has led an acclaimed band, winning
Matt Flinner Trio Sunday 1:30 - 2:45pm
IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year in 1997, and earning the nickname “The Bluegrass Storyteller.” Last year’s Grammy-nominated Three Chords and the Truth is a stunning bluegrass collection of country songs about hardship and loss, sung by an artist who has seen many hardships of his own. Joining James for his first RockyGrass since 1999 are Rodney Worley (mandolin), Merle Johnson (fiddle), Mitch Walker (banjo), and John Marquess (bass).
28 | 4/21: Crane places original roof on newly rebuilt Pavilion.
Darol Anger’s Big Chill featuring Tony Trischka Sunday 4:45 - 6:00pm
Freestyle fiddle guru Darol Anger has spent the past three decades reinventing American string music as a founding member of the David Grisman Quintet, Psychograss, and Turtle Island String Quartet. Never content to repeat himself, Darol celebrates our RockyGrass rebirth with an allstar only-at-RockyGrass band. Built around the core of Mr. Sun (former David Grisman Quintet guitarist Grant Gordy and former Gibson Brothers mandolinist Joe Walsh the Younger)
For over 30 years Hot Rize has defined Colorado’s traditional-yetprogressive bluegrass sound. During their full-time touring period of 1978 to 1990, Tim O’Brien (mandolin, fiddle), Pete Wernick (banjo), Nick Forster (bass), and Charles Sawtelle (guitar) brought their own original soulful bluegrass—along with their wacky but musically deft “alter-ego” country swing band Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers—to nearly every U.S. state as well as Europe, Japan,
Sam Bush Bluegrass Band Sunday 8:30 - 10:00pm
and young bassist Ethan Jodziewicz, Big Chill features two exciting special guests. Oregon-based vocalist and songwriter Emy Phelps has been performing around the Pacific Northwest since the ‘80s. Tony Trischka, a 2012 United States Artists Friends Fellow, has been one of the banjo’s consummate artists and innovators over the past 4 decades. Together they’ll be covering their favorite hits of the sixties, with passion, prodigious technique, and humor.
and Australia. Over the course of 5 classic studio albums they earned Entertainer of the Year at the inaugural IBMA awards, a Grammy nomination, and numerous #1 tracks on bluegrass radio. Three years after Charles’ 1999 death, the band reorganized with brilliant guitarist Bryan Sutton to perform a few select shows each year. Now on the verge of a new album this fall, Hot Rize return to the festival they hosted from ’85-’89, for their 17th RockyGrass.
Hot Rize featuring Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers
Sunday 6:30 - 8:00pm
If there was ever a moment of hesi- material and searingly in-the-pocket tation about a post-flood RockyGrass, grooves. But for one night every sumit was quickly quelled by the simple mer, the Kentucky-born mandolin question: how would we hear the (and fiddle) prodigy delves deeply into Sam Bush Bluegrass Band? As the his love for bluegrass music. This co-founder of the genre-expanding Sunday evening, the circle remains New Grass Revival and an in-demand unbroken as we close our rebirth celmusician who has played with every- ebration with the 13th performance one from Emmylou Harris to Lyle Lovett, from Sam’s only-at-RockyGrass Sam spends most of his year captivat- “Bluegrass Band”—featuring Scott ing audiences with high-energy Sam Vestal (banjo), Stephen Mougin (guiBush Band shows, renowned both for tar), Todd Parks (bass), and Chris their joyously wide-ranging choice of Brown (drums).
30 | 4/29: 7 acres of new sod arrive at Ranch courtesy of Yonder Mountain String Band.
Dates To Remember
2015 Ticket Lotteries
The Song School Sold-Out!
Visit Bluegrass.com beginning in October for details about purchasing tickets through our online lotteries, including RockyGrass Academy, RockyGrass on-site camping, and Telluride Bluegrass camping in Warner Field and Town Park. All other 2015 tickets go onsale in early December.
August 10-14, 2014
24th Annual Rocky Mntn Folks Festival August 15-17, 2014 3-day passes & single-day tickets still available!
Kinfolk Celebration September 19-20, 2014 Tickets and camping still available!
42nd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival June 18-21, 2015
RockyGrass Academy July 19-23, 2015
43rd Annual RockyGrass
Printed on FSC-certified 70# Neenah Conservation text - a 100% post-consumer recycled fiber, made with 100% renewable energy
FSC
July 24-26, 2015
9th Annual • September 12-14, 2014 Pepsi Amphitheater * Ft. Tuthill County Park
Flagstaff, Arizona
PETER ROWAN’S BLUEGRASS BAND TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS with BRYAN SUTTON
CLAIRE LYNCH BAND TOWN MOUNTAIN NEW REELTIME TRAVELERS
THE RAILSPLITTERS •RUN BOY RUN•
MORE!
kidzone • camping • jamming free workshops • band contest Pete Wernick Bluegrass Jam Class Beppe Gambetta Guitar Camp PRE-REGISTER NOW!
pickininthepines.org
32 | 7/20: Planet Bluegrass Ranch reopens for RockyGrass Academy!
welcome to ROCKYGRASS
win this bike
VISIT THE NEW BELGIUM TENT EACH DAY STARTING AT 10:30AM to find out the daily challenge. Complete the challenge to collect one stamp per person, per day. ONE STAMP = ONE TICKET FOR CHANCE TO WIN THE BIKE! First person to complete the challenge each day gets 20 TICKETS! DRAWING ON SUNDAY AT 2:00PM Must be on festival grounds to win! We will call you. If you don’t answer, we won’t leave a message and will call the next person. Keep your phone charged and ready.