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Hotchkiss bluegrass festival comes of age

Published June 13, 2007

By Bob Borchardt
Staff Writer

The fourth annual North Fork Valley Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival kept its promises — a great time, great food, wine and an extraordinary blend of Americana, traditional and contemporary “roots” music. The event was held June 8-10 at the Delta County Fairgrounds in Hotchkiss.

Now a major community event, the festival delivered some of the finest traditional, down-home bluegrass, with an eclectic mix of fresh new high energy modern bluegrass, Americana and “roots” music. Completing the entertaining mix, there was some folk music, some old-time gospel, and a sprinkling of country and blues.

Bob Borchardt/DCI
Toes were tapping and feet were jumping as the audience danced to the excellent music of this year’s North Fork Valley Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival in Hotchkiss June 8-10.

And the really “cool” thing — the festival “filled” with blue grass festival goers from across the nation, and enjoying the shady, tree-covered park inside the Delta County Fairground near the Gunnison River. The West Elk Mountains dominated the skyline while national, regional and local talent filled the place with incredible music.

Dubbed the “Sundance of Bluegrass Festivals,” the North Fork Valley Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival expanded its musical genre to include a wider range of Americana and roots music, while continuing its tradition of featuring new cutting edge bluegrass talent.

“We’re still pretty much a bluegrass festival, but we’ve added other genre of “roots” music for flexibility and wider audience appeal, including folk, acoustic blues and even an old time contra dance,” said Jody Andrews, co-founder of the event.

In so doing, the festival came of age this year, evolving into the quintessential music festival of its kind anywhere on the Western Slope

This year’s talent was an excellent blend of performers, including Blue Moon Rising; Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch and Fats Kaplin; Diana Jones, with Beau Stapelton; Cadillac Sky; Bearfoot; Wayword Sons; Hi Beams; Long Road Home; Spring Creek; Hot Fingers; Stray Grass; Catharsis; and The Metamoocil Mountain Boys.

Musicians and concert goers alike commented that they truly appreciated to be able to listen to some really great music while relaxing in the comfort of the giant shade trees in the park.

“I love it!” said Diana Jones, an emerging musician in the “country-Americana” tradition and recently nominated as Emerging Artist of the Year and Song of the Year by the Folk Alliance. “The people here are great, the staff and volunteers are so helpful, they really make it easy for us to do our job.”

Beau Stapleton, her accompanist on the mandolin and “1927 Martin” tenor guitar, agreed. “This place is great, you know! The people, the other musicians, the shade. This is great.”

For vintage guitar buffs, 1927 was the first year that Martin made a tenor guitar, noted Stapleton.

Phil Barru, a spectator from Golden, commented, “This is the first time I’ve been here. This is beautiful. The concert area is pleasant and the hospitality shown by the community is just great. We’ll be back.” Barru also expressed interest in the organic agricultural farms of the North Fork Valley.

“It just keeps getting bigger and better,” said Hotchkiss resident Fran Stein, who has attended every festival. “It’s great to have something like this in our own backyard, and I hope it continues for another 25 years . . . and if it does, I’ll be here.”

Cedaredge resident Shari Owens agreed. “This is so awesome.” A recent transplant from Nashville, Tenn., and an avid country and bluegrass music fan, Owens said she really appreciates the relaxed, real down-home, relaxed family friendly atmosphere.

According to Owens, the music scene in Nashville is a whole lot more raucous.

Another Hotchkiss resident, Elaine Brett, admitted that this was the first time she had been at the North Fork Valley Bluegrass Festival. “I’ve just gotten into bluegrass music,” said Brett, “and I really like the variety of music that they are performing here.”

All-in-all, there was something for everyone — great music, jam sessions, camping, workshops, a playground for kids, vendors, beverages, etc. And if folks needed to stretch their legs all they had to do was walk a block or two to enjoy the hospitality of the host community of Hotchkiss, and enjoy the art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants that line the streets of “the friendliest town around.”

Ticket sales coordinator Marlene Searle said that with more than 2,300 people attending this year’s festival, the attendance was “definitely up over last year’s festival.”

To complement the activities on stage, a variety of workshops took place Saturday and Sunday, offering aspiring acoustic musicians the opportunity to hone their “pickin” skills and pick up some free tips and licks from many of the musicians, with the group “Bearfoot” offering pointers on song writing and vocal harmony.

North Fork Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival!
June 8th, 9th & 10th, 2007 Hotchkiss, Colorado

It's official! Spring is here! It's time to plan for the 2007 music festival season!

Hey!— it's also time for the Fourth Annual North Fork Valley Music Festival, and it's going to be a great time, complete with gourmet food, wine tasting and an extraordinary blend of Americana, traditional and contemporary “roots” music. So, mark your calendars for June 8th, 9th & 10th, in Hotchkiss, Colorado!

This is a chance to share old memories, lean back, relax and think — Colorado —  clear blue sunny skies, mountain air and mild temperatures and reminiscing with old friends.

Now, imagine, a bluegrass, folk, acoustic blues & old-time music festival in a relaxed "down home" family setting, in the shade, near the Gunnison River; a Friday night Honky Tonk Dance; a Saturday Contra Dance; jams; workshops; micro brews; food; and craft vendors. There are campground jams; Saturday and Sunday morning workshops; and an open stage from 9 to midnight in the "Sandbox."

With the West Elk Mountains, and the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-top mountain) for backdrops. What more could you ask for?

The North Fork Valley is ripe with organic orchards and wineries that nestle up to near by majestic mountains. The concert venue itself is a surprising gem – a tree-covered shady park inside the Delta County Fairgrounds – right in downtown Hotchkiss. There is a covered arena in case of rain and Heritage Hall will be the setting for late night entertainment.   There is camping between the cottonwoods near the river for tent campers and acres of rough camping for those RV owners.   

And, while you're at it, treat yourself to some incredible, organically grown, hand picked, made in the shade music during the 4th Annual North Fork Valley Bluegrass & Roots Festival, You're definitely gonna get much more than you paid for.
 
Did we mention, “It's in the Shade!” Concert goers tell us they appreciate being able to listen to great bluegrass music while relaxing in the comfort of the giant shade trees in the park.

Also known as the “Sundance of Bluegrass Festivals,” the North Fork Valley Music Festival, best known for showcasing up-and-coming national, regional and local talent on the move, is expanding it's musical genre to include a wider range of Americana and roots music, while continuing its tradition of featuring new cutting edge talent, along with an eclectic mix of fresh new high-energy modern bluegrass, classic bluegrass, folk, acoustic blues and old-time music.

This year, along with an excellent Bluegrass lineup, we are bringing in top talent from the Americana charts, featuring a great mix of performers, some on the “cutting edge.” This year's line-up includes; Blue Moon Rising; Kieran Kane/Kevin Welch/Fats Kaplin; Diana Jones; Cadillac Sky; Bearfoot; Wayword Sons; Hi Beams; Long Road Home; Spring Creek; Hot Fingers; Stray Grass; Catharsis; and The Metamoocil Mountain Boys.   

Proven popular, a variety of workshops are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday mornings during the festival. The workshops offer an opportunity for aspiring acoustic musicians to hone their “pickin ” skills and pick up some free tips and licks from many of the musicians, including pointers on song writing and vocal harmony.

The North Fork Bluegrass Festival was established in 2003 by founders, George Gertz and Jody Andrews, who, following a brief “testing of the waters,” at Crystal Meadows, moved from Glenwood Springs, to Hotchkiss, to put together and organize the event. Performers are chosen from the International Bluegrass Music Association Showcases, from other bluegrass events and music festivals, band contests, recommendations from friends and demo CD's. “We're still pretty much a Bluegrass Festival, but we've added other genre of “Roots” Music for flexibility and wider audience appeal, including Folk, Acoustic Blues and an old time Contra Dance,” said Jody.

Remember, this is a family affair — bring the kids, camp, relax on lush green grass under the tall shade trees or just sit out in the open, kick-back and enjoy three days of some of the finest old-time traditional and contemporary acoustic “roots” music to be found anywhere. There's something for everyone — music, jam sessions, camping, workshops, kid's stuff, vendors, beverages, etc., and if folks need to stretch their legs they can walk a block or two into town and enjoy the hospitality of the host community of Hotchkiss.   Art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants line the streets of “the friendliest town around."
 
The concert area features an open stage, set in a large park adjacent to the Delta County Fairgrounds, filled with tall shade trees (did we mention it's in the shade?), and a kids playground. Restrooms, concessionaires and craft vendors are nearby. The park is fenced in so parents can enjoy the show and keep an eye on the kids at the same time.        

The festival includes wine from Jack Rabbit Hill, micro-brew and sarsaparilla from Palisade Brewery, vegetarian fare from Island Noodles, grilled meats & breakfast from the Al Packer Concession, gourmet food from Scenic Mesa Ranch, organic coffee & smoothies from the Coal Train and of course, Kettle Corn.  Chef Gus will be serving VOGA approved organic breakfast burritos & coffee in the campground and downtown Hotckiss is just a short walk away.

Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams will bring their brand of boot-scootin’, honky-tonk music to the Friday night dance, and on Saturday night a contra dance, with the band, Catharsis winds up the days events.

And don't forget to dust off and tune-up those instruments. This year's “Learn to Jam Camp,” May 18-20, in Hotchkiss. will feature "Finding Your Voice" with Rebecca Folsom! Coal Creek will be back to coach bluegrass students and the Metamoocil Mountain Boys will be on hand for acoustic blues & fingerstyle folk guitar.

Rain or shine, this festival is gonna’ happen, so bring your rain gear, an umbrella, some sun block and, oh yeah, dress in layers just in case -- you know, better safe than sorry!

For more information, or to purchase tickets on-line, go to www.northforkbluegrass.com, or call (970) 872-8000.

North Fork Bluegrass Festival in Hotchkiss has much to offer

by Rock Cesario -- Grand Junction Daily Sentinel Out and About

Festival season is upon us already with the big one, Telluride Bluegrass (in name only) Festival in mid to late June with the usual stellar lineup of musicians from many different genre’s of music. Some folks who went to the festival since its genesis in the early 1970’s don’t go anymore because the music has changed and the crowds are very large. A lot of folks go to the festival every year because of those very same reasons. The good thing about it is because of the festival in Telluride there are now many more to choose from so you can find one that fits your style.

            The festival I want to talk mostly about today is the North Fork Bluegrass & Roots Music Festival in Hotchkiss, Colorado June 8th-10^th. This three day event will feature Kieran Kane / Kevin Welch / Fats Kaplan, Cadillac Sky, Blue Moon Rising, Stray Grass, Wayward Sons, Halden Wofford & the High-Beams, Diana Jones, Barefoot, Long Road Home, Spring Creek, Hot Fingers, Catharsis and The Metamoocil Mountain Boys. Some of these artists I know very well, some I have only heard of, a there are some I know nothing about. I have been traveling to the North Fork Valley for almost 50 years and it is one of the most beautiful areas in the state.

            Stray Grass is made up of four local musicians that I am proud to call friends, Garry Tu1lio who writes, sings and plays a variety of instruments, Guy Sttephens on acoustic guitar mandolin and some vocals, Kerry Youngblood, who writes, sings jokes and plays the Guitjo. Pete Langford is the man that holds it all together by providing the virtuoso back beat on Bass Guitar.

Haldon Wofford & the Hi-Beams are a terrific classic retro honky-tonk band with a sound that is all their own. This in part is due to Woffords incredible lead guitar work. They have a new CD out with songs on it like Betty Boop and Hippie in My House.

Cadillac Sky is a new band with one CD out on the market “Blind Man Walking” on Ricky Skaggs Skaggs Family label. We really like their CD here at Triple Play. It is a seamless mixture of folk, bluegrass and country-rock making it easy to see why Ricky Skaggs would sign them.

Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch, and Fats Kaplan have all worked together several times recently. I first became aware of Kieran Kane in the late 1980’s when he was in the O’Kanes with Jamie O’Hara. The O’Kanes were a terrific ‘Americana ‘ folk band that was about 10 years ahead of their time. I have followed Kieran Kanes’ career ever since and personally own all of his recordings. I became aware of Kevin Welch through his “Western Beat” album and his covers of John Hiatt’s Train to Birmingham and Joe Ely’s me and Billy the Kid. Kane Welch and Mike Henderson formed Dead Reckoning Records in order to get their music out in the 1990’s because they couldn’t get a contract. The label was named after Kane’s first solo LP. Kane and Welch have worked together on three separate and terrific recording’s, 2000’s “Live In Melbourne”, and “You Can’t Save Everybody” from 2004 and 2006’s “Lost John Dean”. I am going to attempt to interview Kane and Welch if possible for a future column. In the meantime contact Triple Play Records, call the Festival number at (970) 872-8000 or go to www.northforkbluegrass.com for more information.

THE NORTH FORK VALLEY BLUEGRASS & ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
by
Bob Borchardt

Treat yourself to some incredible, organically grown, hand picked, made in the shade music during the 4th Annual North Fork Valley Bluegrass & Roots Festival, June 8 –10, 2007, in Hotchkiss, CO. Faithful to its tradition, the festival promises to feature new cutting edge talent.   

Dubbed the “Sundance of Bluegrass Festivals,” the festival has expanded its musical boundaries to include more variety while at the same time highlighting traditional and contemporary Bluegrass, Old Time, Classic Honky-Tonk along with the finest in Acoustic Roots music.   

Bands include; Blue Moon Rising, IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year finalists whose single, “This Old Martin Box”, spent 10 months on BU’s Top 20; Cadillac Sky, just signed by Skaggs’ Family Records whose CD, “Blind Man Walking,” is climbing the Bluegrass and Americana charts; Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin whose first two CD releases, “You Can't Save Everybody,” and “Lost John Dean," soared to #1 on the Americana charts; Diana Jones, recently nominated as Emerging Artist of the Year and Song of the Year by the Folk Alliance, will grace the stage. She has been compared to Gillian Welch and Iris Dement among others; and Bearfoot Bluegrass will journey from Alaska to present their brand of swing, blues and bluegrass.

Regional favorites include; The Wayword Sons with Benny “Burl” Galloway and Long Road Home, this years RockyGrass Band Contest winners; Stray Grass; Spring Creek. Local favorites, Hot Fingers and The Metamoocil Mountain Boys round out the line-up.  

Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams will bring their brand of boot-scootin’, honky-tonk music to the Friday night dance, and on Saturday night a contra dance, with Catharsis and caller Andrea Earley, winds up the days events. The band features outstanding dance and old time musicians.

Proven popular with many festival participants, a variety of workshops are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday mornings during the festival. The workshops offer an opportunity for musicians to hone their pickin' skills and pick up some free tips and licks from many of the musicians, including pointers on song writing, clogging and vocal harmony.
 

Like the music, the setting for the festival is pure “down home.” The North Fork Valley is ripe with organic orchards and wineries that nestle up to majestic mountains. The concert venue itself is a surprising gem – a tree-covered shady park inside the Delta County Fairgrounds – right in downtown Hotchkiss. There is a covered arena in case of rain and Heritage Hall will be the setting for late night entertainment. There is camping between the cottonwoods near the river for tent campers and acres of rough camping for RV owners to set up their own jam town.   

An open stage with sound will be available in the evenings. Motels, hotels and fine B&B’s are also available, but you will need to book early!    

There's something for everyone — music, jam sessions, camping, workshops, kid's stuff, vendors, beverages, etc. And if folks need to stretch their legs they can walk a block or two into town and enjoy the hospitality of the host community of Hotchkiss.   Art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants line the streets of “the friendliest town around.”   

Tickets are available online, by phone or at selected ticket outlets. Please go to www.northforkbluegrass.com for detailed information or call 970 872-8000.

by Robert Borchardt

North Fork Valley Music Festival
June 8th, 9th & 10th, 2007 Hotchkiss, Colorado

'A chance to share old memories'

Lean back, relax and think — Colorado —  clear blue sunny skies, mountain air and mild temperatures, reminiscing with old friends.

Now, imagine this— A bluegrass, folk, acoustic blues & old-time music festival in a relaxed casual setting near the Gunnison River, with shade trees, great camping, the West Elk Mountains, and the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-top mountain) for backdrops. What more could you ask for?

Hey, it's the Fourth Annual North Fork Valley Music Festival, and it's going to be a great time, complete with gourmet food, wine tasting and an extraordinary blend of Americana, traditional and contemporary “roots” music.

Fast becoming a major event, the North Fork Valley Music Festival promises some traditional, good old-fashioned, down-home bluegrass, with an eclectic mix of fresh new high-energy modern bluegrass, featuring original singer-songwriters. There will be a little folk music, some old-timey gospel, some mountain music (Appalachian of course) and a sprinkling of country and blues.

Popular with many festival partakers, a variety of workshops also take place on Saturday and Sunday mornings during the festival. The workshops provide an opportunity for aspiring acoustic musicians who want to hone their “pickin’” skills to pick up some free tips and licks from many of the musicians, along with some pointers on song writing and vocal harmony.

Now, notwithstanding the awesome beauty of the mountains and canyons surrounding Hotchkiss, the chief attraction may well be the lesser known bands that the event brings to the stage each year. Dubbed the "Sundance of Bluegrass Festivals," the festival is best known for showcasing up-and-coming national, regional and local talent on the move. You may not have heard of many of the performers before, but once you've heard them you won't be able to forget their names.

George Gertz and Jody Andrews, founders and organizers of the Festival, spend much of their time journeying to bluegrass festivals across the country looking for the best talent to bring to Hotchkiss.   Performers are chosen from the International Bluegrass Music Association Showcases, from other bluegrass events and music festivals, band contests, recommendations from friends and demo CD's.

Hey folks, it's a family affair — festival goers can bring the kids, camp, relax on lush green grass under the tall shade trees or just sit out in the open and enjoy three days of some of the finest old-time traditional and contemporary acoustic “roots” music to be found anywhere. The concert area itself is a large park adjacent to the Delta County Fairgrounds, filled with tall shade trees and a kids playground. Restrooms, concessionaires and vendors of all kinds are nearby.      

Improvements for 2007 include a Wine and Food Garden, with gourmet food from Scenic Mesa Ranch, Micro-Brew and Sarsaparilla from Palisade Brewery, and a "Wine Tasting Room" featuring regional wines at the Creamery Art Center, located nearby in downtown Hotchkiss.

And don't forget, come rain or shine, this festival is going to happen, so bring your rain gear, an umbrella, some sun block and, oh yeah, dress in layers just in case -- you know, better safe than sorry!

For more information, visit www.northforkbluegrass.com

---

Fourth Annual Bluegrass Festival In Hotchkiss Features a Spicing of Folk and Americana Music

By Thomas Wills
    
     With the 2007 schedule shaping up, this summer’s North Fork Bluegrass Festival is looking to be mixing it up a bit more. First the festival, in its fourth year, is now the North Fork Bluegrass and Roots Music Festival In past year’s the festival has stuck mostly to bluegrass or oldtime music with an occasional potstirrer like last year’s Adrienne Young and Little Sadie thrown in. Or the roadhouse boogie dance with Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams who may be hard to peg, but they aint bluegrass. This years lineup ups the ante.
     For example the one local band (out of a dozen regional and national acts) this year is the talented Howard Berkman and his gypsy guitar jazz duo with bassist Jeff Reynolds, Hot Fingers. This is some smoking all acoustic music for sure and something not often heard at Bluegrass Festivals outside of Telluride.
     Halden Wofford returns to head up the dancing. Then there is Americana supergroup, Kiernan Kane, Kevin Welch and Fats Kaplin. David Dawson of which Beat magazine says, “Don’t mistake this for alt country - it’s real roots country delivered in its purest form."   I’ve been told by “them that is supposed to know” that having these guys at the Hotchkiss festival is a really big deal.
     Another timely booking is emerging country- Americana, New Song   recording artist, Diana Jones. Jones is looking at a breakout year in 2007.   Last year she won the Kerrville (Texas) Folk Festival’s New Folk Songwriting contest, and has been nominated for tons of awards. "Jones is on the verge of a critical breakthrough.   Increasingly compared to the likes of Iris DeMent and Gillian Welch, Jones just might be the best American songwriter most people have never heard of." says Chrissie Dickinson of the Chicago Tribune. Whoa!
     Also playing are the more traditional bluegrass bands including: Blue Moon Rising, Cadillac Sky, Wayward Sons, Bearfoot, Catharsis, Long Road Home, and Spring Creek.
     The Festival this year runs from June 8-10th at the Delta County Fairgrounds in Hotchkiss. The main stage and seating is in the shady Fairgrounds Park.   For more info go www.northforkbluegrass.com.   
For Tickets just call (970)872-8000.