Grab a partner and put on your dance shoes, because the 14th annual Sooke River Bluegrass Music Festival is back and bigger than ever this weekend.
Featuring a captivating lineup of nine bands, the festival features artists from all around the region, including local stars John Reischman and The Pine Siskins.
“He’s [Reischman] one of the best mandolin players in the world, so we’re very excited to have him play here,” noted Larry Statland, a festival spokesperson.
Among them will be Twin Bandit, the beautiful duo of Hannah Walker and Jamie Elliott, who’ve been bringing intimate folk/roots melodies for several years now, along with the energetic oomph and indulging vocals of the Riverside Bluegrass Band.
In conjunction with the upcoming event, the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival Society will also do square dancing workshops at all the local schools, including Journey Middle School and Edward Milne Community School.
With all the bands coming into Sooke, Statland said they thought to put on an old time string band, along with a caller (the person who announces the dance moves). Following that, they will give away free weekend passes.
“They’re a real hoot, and the kids love it,” he said.
Without doubt, there is something special and memorable about a bluegrass festivals, as they’re not only music festivals, but arts festivals as well.
“What’s unique about a bluegrass festival is that it’s a little more participatory, so a lot of people come not so much to hear the bands, but to be with other musicians and play,” Statland said, adding that the real action at a bluegrass festival happens after the stage goes down.
“After everyone finishes playing, the jams start up, and that’s sometimes when the coolest music happens.”
On Saturday night, the group will do a big square dance, along with a caller and a traditional live string band.
“We bring in a huge circus tent, so we’ll have a live string band under the tent, it’s very retro, and pretty cool.”
The Sooke River Bluegrass Festival runs from June 17 to 19, at the Sooke River Campground.
Shows start at 7 p.m. on Friday and run until 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
For more info on show times and the complete band lineup over the weekend, go to sookebluegrass.com.
