Bluegrass legend Pete Wernick continues to play bluegrass festivals around the world but he can’t wait to travel back to Qualicum Bay for the Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival June 27 through 30 this year.
“There’s probably bigger and fancier events we could be playing but there’s none better than this one,” said the musician, teacher, songwriter and author, from his home in Colorado.
Wernick, aka Dr. Banjo, was the founder of the acclaimed bluegrass band Hot Rize, with which he toured for 12 years around the world.
He has performed with music legends like Doc Watson, Bill Monroe and Jerry Garcia and in 2005 he performed on David Letterman with Earl Scruggs and Steve Martin.
“I’m 67 now and I’ve had an amazingly interesting life I think as a performing, recording, touring musician.”
Wernick wrote a bluegrass banjo instructional book, in print since 1974, and since then has sold over a half-million instructional books and videos. He invented the Wernick method of teaching bluegrass jamming, which he’ll be teaching at the Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival June 27 and 28. Instead of teaching imitation, where people may only learn a small number of songs, Wernick teaches people how to jam along with many bluegrass songs. Although some of this style of music seems complicated to play, it can be fairly easy to jam to, Wernick explained.
“You might think, ‘I’ll never be able to do that its too hard’, but right there you’re looking at the higher rungs of the bluegrass ladder. But the first rungs are right next to the ground, [and] very easy to get on.”
Once people learn to jam they can experience a late night bluegrass session at a festival, which can be an incredibly fun experience, he said, lasting to the wee hours of the morning.
Sign up for the jam camps at www.drbanjo.com.
Besides teaching at the festival, Wernick will perform with his band Long Road Home, an “excellent, classic, five-piece bluegrass band,” of which Wernick is the oldest member. He’ll also perform with his wife and musician Joan Wernick.
Pete said people who have never been to a bluegrass festival may not realize all the benefits of one of these incredible musical experiences.
“It’s a beautiful activity, in my mind makes me think of heaven on earth, literally.”
The music and environment appeals to all ages, he said, and is very safe for little kids, who often run around and dance to the music. The Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival in particular has a lovely location, it is run by professionals who know what this type of festival should be like, he said, there’s a great sound system, good food vendors and a nice little stage, he added.
Also playing at Lighthouse Bluegrass is local award-winning musician Annie Lou Genest, Victoria’s Cloverpoint Drifters, Scout Mountain from Powell River, Maple Mountain Boys from Chemainus, Hub City Ramblers from Victoria and Qualicum Beach’s own Backporch Banjo.
There are some free workshops to take part in, draws, and a bluegrass band contest where the winners take home $200 and a paid gig at next year’s event.
Saturday and Sunday morning of the festival will see pancake breakfasts at the Lighthouse Community Hall complete with bluegrass entertainment.
Both tenting and RV sites are available for the weekend and there are showers and flush toilets on site.
Wernick said he hopes the Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival flourishes because a good bluegrass scene is good for any area, he said, bringing people for potentially year round events, as well as great music and unforgettable experiences. When he was asked last year if he would return to play the Lighthouse festival this year the answer was simple, he said.
“They said, ‘we’ve got to get you back next year’, and I just said ‘yes’, it was as simple as that.”
Advance tickets to the festival receive a discount and can only be purchased until midnight May 31, otherwise tickets are available at the gate. For ticket and event information visit www.lighthousebluegrass.com or email info@lighthousebluegrass.com.
