This year’s Sooke River Bluegrass Festival might knock the shoes right off your feet – and one of the bands will be barefoot with you.
The Barefoot Movement is set to play at this year’s festival, which runs from June 15 to 17 at the Sooke River Flats.
The band was named by their fiddler, Noah Wall, who thought of it because he often heard the phrase, “Take your shoes off and stay a while,” while growing up in North Carolina.
The Movement plays every show barefoot, which Wall said symbolizes a connection to nature, and being comfortable while playing.
The band won a Momentum award from the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2014.
Another Momentum award winner playing at the festival is The Lonely Heartstring Band, and Momentum award nominee nominee, Ellie Hakanson, the fiddle player for Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, will also be playing.
Festival organizer Robert Remington said he had youth in mind when booking this year’s artists.
“Having so many young bluegrass artists with IBMA Momentum Awards reflects the youth and energy that is prevalent at this year’s festival,” said Remington in a press release.
This year’s lineup also includes The Clover Point Drifters, Victoria’s The Unfaithful Servants, Allison De Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves, Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, The Pine Siskins, The Small Glories, and Craig Marcuk. The Big Top Square dance will be called by Craig Maruck on Saturday night.
The festival opens at 6:45 p.m. Friday at the Sooke Flats, with a traditional welcome and prayer by the T’Sou-ke Nation.
Tickets cost $70 for a weekend pass, $20 on Friday and Sunday for day passes, and $50 for a Saturday day pass, and can be purchased online at brownpappertickets.com. For a discount, enter the code “Mirror” when purchasing the ticket.
For more information, contact info@sookebluegrass.com, or call 250-217-7738.
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