Bluegrass festival in 'make or break' year

While traditional and modern bluegrass music plays over the sounds of the Kootenai River in Troy, organizers of the second-year festival will be keeping a close eye on the numbers.

The Kootenai River Bluegrass and Beyond Festival at Roosevelt Park needs decent numbers to permanently establish its presence in northwestern Montana.

“This is a make or break year for the event,” festival organizer Ralph Stever said. “If we get a big enough draw, we’ll be able to continue it.”

The bluegrass festival debuted last summer with a $10,000 grant through the Montana Department of Commerce’s Travel Montana program. In this second year, the festival received $5,000 and if the event continues to grow, would receive another $2,500 next year.

The grant program is designed to help support economic development in communities through the creation of annual music events. Stever had indicated that the festival was shooting for an attendance figure of around 1,500 this year.

With the Travel Montana funds dwindling and eventually disappearing, the festival will rely more and more on sponsors – which this year number between 20 and 25. Stever mentioned various ideas to keep money coming in, such as the type of 50-50 raffles that you might see at a high school sports event.

Depending on the numbers, the festival could simply be downsized to three or four bands next year. This year’s event features 10 acts.

“It’s too much work to raise the money,” said Stever, referring to the difficulty of sponsors having the ability to contribute much because of economic challenges. “We also need about 50 people to pull it off. We need a herd of volunteers.”

Stever advertised the festival aggressively throughout the Northwest, including on public radio stations in college towns. Bluegrass association newsletters, four private radio stations and other news products also got a share of advertising dollars. Plus, there has been an effort to spread the word through cyberspace.

Advance ticket sales are up a little over last year, Stever said, but he’s not sure how many folks will show up until the festival arrives.

In the meantime, Stever is doing his best to spread the word about an event that stimulates Troy’s economy by bringing visitors to town.

“We have this beautiful valley with all these attractions,” Stever said. “You can come for two purposes – listen to bluegrass and camp. I see this as something that could really grow over the next 50 years.”

The festival did undergo a few changes – such as the name. “Beyond” was added to the name in reference to some of the “newgrass” music that will take the pavilion stage.

“This festival has universal appeal, whether you’re 10 years old or 90 years old,” he said. “Whether you’re in a motorhome or sleeping under a tarp … hopefully, it’ll work good this year.”

Another change was to try to accommodate both genres of bluegrass fans. For example, last year some of the traditional bluegrass fans were upset that people were dancing in front of the bands. Many enjoy watching the musicians and how they create such incredible sounds with their instruments.

To try to solve the problem, the dance area was moved off to the side so audience members can have a clear view of those playing.

“All these bands can go toe to toe,” Stever said. “Half like to experiment and move it to the next 50 years of bluegrass. Traditional bluegrass people enjoy older songs.”

What has Stever learned from the festival’s first year?

“The main thing I’ve learned is I can’t do it myself,” Stever said. “Also, if you get quality musicians, that’s what makes it work. If they have their hearts into it, that’s what comes out.”

Kootenai River Bluegrass & Beyond

July 17-19  at Roosevelt Park, Troy

Schedule

Friday – Mike and Tari Conroy & Friends (4 p.m.); Wise River Mercantile (5 p.m.); Mighty Squirrel (6 p.m.); Big Red Barn (7 p.m.); Loose Digits (8 p.m.); Viper Central (9 p.m.); John Reischman and the Jaybirds (10 p.m.)

Saturday – Instrument/vocal workshops (10 a.m.); Band scramble (Noon); Ray and Shirley Jacobs (1 p.m.); Bryan Bowers (2 p.m.); Wise River Mercantile (3 p.m.); Jackstraw (4 p.m.); Mighty Squirrel (5 p.m.); Big Red Barn (6 p.m.); John Reischman and the Jaybirds (7 p.m.); Loose Digits (8 p.m.); Viper Central (9 p.m.); Jackstraw (10 p.m.)

Sunday – Gospel Hour (10 a.m.); Bryan Bowers (1 p.m.); Ray and Shirley Jacobs (2 p.m.); Mike and Tari Conroy & Friends (3 p.m.); Viper Central (4 p.m.).