Picking and Grinning: Bluegrass Festival moves to Kettle Falls

By Liv Stecker

August 19-21, 2016, the newly initiated Crossroads stage in Happy Dell Park will host the Kettle Falls Camp and Jam Festival, an eclectic gathering of Bluegrass bands and musicians from the inland northwest. Formerly hosted in Newport, Washington, the festival has migrated west to the new outdoor venue in Happy Dell Park. In addition to a long and rousing list of bluegrass bands from around the area, the festival will also include workshops for budding local musicians throughout the weekend. 

Headlining the festival is a band out of Seattle, Jes Raymond and the Blackberry Bushes, an acoustic Americana Bluegrass band that draws on influences across the historical spectrum of bluegrass and jazz. Performances by bands including Bluestreak, The Fletcher Girls, Browns Mountain Boys, Rye River and The Willows will highlight the weekend, along with many more. Workshops for fiddle, guitar, mandolin and other instruments, as well as sound, voice and beginning musician sessions. 

The Kettle Falls Camp and Jam originated in Newport with a theme of “camping in mass with the aim of sharing and furthering acoustic music and friendship together in a family minded environment.” The three day event is filled with performances by skilled regional musicians who often stay for jam sessions and workshops with attendees. While camping is encouraged, day visitors also get to experience world class americana and bluegrass music and the jam sessions between performances. 

Saturday night, following Jes Raymond and the Blackberry Bushes, Spokane Contra Dance caller Nora Scott will be calling a contra dance for the gathering, along with the Browns Mountain Boys. Between scheduled shows, campers and performers alike can be found scattered around the village of tents, picking and grinning and jamming the weekend away. 

Utilizing the new Crossroads Stage in Kettle Falls, organizers are excited about the new location and facilities. Camping on site at Happy Dell Park is available all weekend for attendees, on a first come first serve basis. Weekend passes are $40 for individual, $80 for couple and $100 for a family pass. This includes camping. Individual day passes are $15 for Friday and $20 for Saturday - this does not include onsite camping. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Kettle Falls Camp and Jam Facebook page, or check out the website www.tricountymusic.org.