Don't Miss The Bluegrass Festival

East Hartford’s Annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival, selected by the International Bluegrass Music Association as the 2010 “Bluegrass Event of the Year” proudly announces the 2011 line-up.  The 16^th annual festival will feature performances by four-time Grammy nominated Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2006 and a winner of the IBMA’s Vocal Group of the year, seven times over.   Also performing will be Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. Cleveland is considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation, and a seven time fiddle player of the year. 

The festival will kick off on Thursday evening, August 4th in Martin Park with a performance by The Travelin' McCourys and two other bands.  The four-day event continues on Friday, the 5^th. Music begins at noon with the Fitzmaurice Band of Maryland and continues with many different groups throughout the day, including Steve Martin’s current band, The Steep Canyon Rangers and closing with a high energy set by Mountain Heart who takes the stage at 9:10 pm.

On Saturday morning, last year’s band competition winner, Katie Wilson & The Two Time String Band, from Connecticut will open the day to be followed by numerous national groups, including Sirius Radio DJ, Chris Jones and his band The Night Drivers.  Also there will be two sets by Swiss born Kruger Brothers who bring their fast paced and entertaining music back to the festival. The evening will close with internationally acclaimed Doyle Lawson.

Sunday will feature bluegrass gospel music by Donna Ulisse with The Poor Mountain Boys and the 2011 Band Competition.  Five bands compete for financial rewards and a recording session.   This year’s field includes; Grass Pistols from Russia, Travers Chandler and Avery County from North Carolina, Grace Adele & The Grand Band from Tennessee, Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys from New York and the Reunion Hill Band from New Hampshire.  Podunk’s Band Competition Captain, Jim Perry said, “This is by far our most fierce competition to date.  We expect the judges will have a difficult time choosing this year’s winner.”

The Pratt and Whitney Family Stage hosts activities for young and the young at heart throughout the festival. Many music-related workshops will be offered to attendees, free of charge. A Bluegrass academy will be open to all, offering three levels beginning with children 8 to 15 years old attending the festival, a young Adult and Adult division, giving young and old musicians a chance to improve and learn more about bluegrass music. There will also be numerous supervised activities available for younger children.

Plenty of craft, food and product vendors will be on hand, so come for a day or the whole weekend.  Bring a chair or blanket to sit on for the stage show.  Please NO high-back chairs, tents, dogs, bicycles or alcohol in the concert viewing area.Opportunities will abound for skilled and novice musicians of all ages to play bluegrass music with others in the campground area. 

Discount rates for camping and general admission tickets are available thru July 1.   Non-camping East Hartford residents are admitted free with proof of residency all days of the festival.  Camping in the rough opens at noon on Wednesday.

Visit our website and buy tickets at http://podunkbluegrass.net or contact Roger Moss at 860-291-7166 for more information. The Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.