Bluegrass on the Kootenai River
Heading into the second year of the Kootenai River Bluegrass and Beyond Festival, the entertainment lineup will “kick it up a notch.”
Those are the words of Ralph Stever and the festival’s director has good reason to show excitement for the July 17-19 activities. John Reischman and the Jaybirds will be the Troy event’s headline act.
“It’s probably one of the biggest acts in the Northwest,” Stever said. “They agreed to do an instrument workshop on Saturday morning. You can sit down with them for an hour-and-a-half and learn something from them.”
The band has toured North America and Europe, produced four critically-acclaimed albums and has earned various music award nominations.
The Canadian group will play on Friday at 10 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m.
Last year’s headliner, Jackstraw, returns to Troy and will play on Saturday at 4 and 10 p.m.
“People loved them and they wanted to come back,” said Stever, who described the Portland, Ore.-based band as the “steamroller of bluegrass.”
Jackstraw will also participate in the Saturday morning workshop sessions. Aspiring musicians or those who want to improve their skills can participate in workshops for bass, fiddle, mandolin, vocals and banjo. Workshops are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Another top group, Viper Central, takes the pavilion stage at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 4 p.m. Sunday. The group is one of the top bluegrass bands out of Vancouver, British Columbia.
“I knew a bluegrass association up there and we called Viper Central,” Stever said. “They were just getting clearance to play in the states.”
Viper Central’s appearance in Troy will represent the band’s American debut.
Loose Digits, a young “newgrass” band out of Seattle, will play at 8 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Representing an emerging genre of bluegrass outside of the traditional realm, the group fit a stop at Troy into its schedule while on a festival-to-festival tour.
Bryan Bowers, who should be familiar to Troy folks from last year’s festival and his appearances at the Hot Club, will serve as emcee.
“He did it the first year and said, ‘I’ll be your emcee as long as you do it,’” Stever said. “He’s kind of like the grandfather. Last year, he grounded the festival and calmed things down until the next act started.”
Bowers, who hails from the Olympic Peninsula area in Washington state, has earned a worldwide reputation for his 45 years performing on the autoharp.
Bowers will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Other bands scheduled to appear include Mike and Tari Conroy and Friends, Wise River Mercantile, Mighty Squirrel, Big Red Barn, and Ray and Shirley Jacobs.
Among the activities at the festival will be the band scramble at noon Saturday. Band members and those in the audience can bring their instruments to join forces and create tunes.
“They get together and draw lots for banjo, mandolin and fiddle,” Stever said. “We draw out names and they have 15 minutes to do one original, one traditional and a third song.”
Another activity will be the opportunity for musicians to come up with a tune to mark the county’s 100th birthday.
“We’re partnered up with Lincoln County Centennial – offering a song competition … who can write the best song for Lincoln County,” Stever said. “It doesn’t have to have words but a tune that fits our county.”
The winner will earn a $100 prize.
For those who want to be part of an inspirational event, the festival’s Gospel Hour is slated for Sunday at 10 a.m.
“All the bands that have that kind of gospel bluegrass to it take part,” Stever said. “They are beautiful songs, it’s less casual, there are less people and goes for one-and-a-half to two hours with the beautiful river in the background.”
Kootenai River
Bluegrass & Beyond Festival
July 17-19
at Roosevelt Park, Troy
Schedule
Friday, July 17
• 4 p.m. – Mike and Tari Conroy & Friends
• 5 p.m. – Wise River Mercantile
• 6 p.m. – Mighty Squirrel
• 7 p.m. – Big Red Barn
• 8 p.m. – Loose Digits
• 9 p.m. – Viper Central
• 10 p.m. – John Reischman and the Jaybirds
Saturday, July 18
• 10 a.m. – Instrument/vocal workshops
• Noon – Band scramble
• 1 p.m. – Ray and Shirley Jacobs
• 2 p.m. – Bryan Bowers
• 3 p.m. – Wise River Mercantile
• 4 p.m. – Jackstraw
• 5 p.m. – Mighty Squirrel
• 6 p.m. – Big Red Barn
• 7 p.m. – John Reischman and the Jaybirds
• 8 p.m. – Loose Digits
• 9 p.m. – Viper Central
• 10 p.m. – Jackstraw
Sunday, July 19
• 10 a.m. – Gospel Hour
• 1 p.m. – Bryan Bowers
• 2 p.m. – Ray and Shirley Jacobs
• 3 p.m. – Mike and Tari Conroy & Friends
• 4 p.m. – Viper Central
Tickets
Family – Three-day pass, $45.
Adults – Three-day pass, $25; Friday night, $10; Saturday, $15; Sunday, $10.
Teens (ages 12-18) – Three-day pass, $15; Friday night, $5; Saturday, $10; Sunday, $5.
Children (under 12) – Free.
To purchase tickets online: go to krbgf.org and click on the “Tickets” tab. Credit card purchases available only online. Payment with cash or check available only at the gate.