NORWICH – Hundreds of bluegrass enthusiasts from all over the country are expected to gather throughout the week and weekend as the 26th Annual Norwich Family Bluegrass Festival rolls into town, and event organizer Mike Tirella has announced an all-star line-up for the yearly jubilee.
Hailing from the mountains of the Adirondacks, host band The Cabin Fever Band will be joined on stage by a number of regional and local groups including Pennsylvania-based bluegrass acts Texas Rose, Remington Ryde and Plexigrass, and New York-based groups The Matthews Family Band, Dave Nichols and Spare Change and bluegrass stalwart Smokey Green, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday.
In addition, national acts such as the Georgia-based Larry Gillis Band, The Gary Waldrep Band of Alabama and Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road of North Carolina will perform.
Tirella, who also picks guitar for The Cabin Fever Band, reported those in attendance are in for a special treat Saturday evening when headliners The Daughters of Bluegrass take the stage, one of only four performances the famed national ensemble puts on every year.
Karen May, stand-up bassist for the all-female group, said the band features a “rotating cast of musicians” and added it “depends on the area and who’s available” when the Daughters make an appearance.
Made up of national bluegrass performers, the band is fronted by mandolinist Lorraine Jordan who, along with other members of the ensemble, has been nominated for a number of International Bluegrass Music Association awards, presented in October in Nashville, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Mandolin Player of the Year.
The Daughters of Bluegrass have also been nominated, as a band, for Vocal Group and Instrumental Group of the Year, added May.
In addition to the powerful lineup of bands, Tirella said the festival is also a chance for those attending to play, and stated it’s typical to see campers and attendees performing late into the evening throughout the campgrounds.
“This is a big jamming festival,” commented Tirella, who said it’s traditional at festivals such as this for jam sessions to pop up anywhere at anytime. “Some people don’t even leave their campsite, they just sit back and jam all weekend.”
Even those who “come for just a day” should make it a point to “walk around and see what’s going on” out in the field, as there are “a lot of good musicians,” he added.
Other activities throughout the week and weekend include a guitar raffle by Dave Nichols Custom Pearl Inlay, mandolin, bass, guitar and banjo workshops all day Saturday and a chance for bluegrass musicians of all skill levels to perform, on the Open Stage, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday.
“The open stage is one of the most popular events,” said Tirella, the idea being to give people who are “just sort of getting up the nerve” a chance to play.
“It’s an opportunity for them to play on a stage they might not have the opportunity to otherwise,” added May.
In addition, Danny Stewart’s Jam Tent will be running “twenty-four seven,” reported Tirella.
Gates will open at noon today at the Chenango County Fairgrounds for campers and food and craft vendors will be on hand throughout the weekend, said Tirella. Restrooms and hot showers will also be available.
Music will run from 1 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Mike and Mary Robinson Gospel Sing will kick off Sunday’s performances.
Tickets for the Norwich Family Bluegrass Festival, made possible in part by the Chenango Council of the Arts, which is supported by public funds from the New York Council of the Arts, are $60 for the entire four days, including camping, and $15, $20, $25 and $15 for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.
For more information contact Tirella at (518) 334-6754.