Historic Village Square set to host bands and contests this weekend
East Troy, home to Alpine Valley Music Theatre, has had a long musical connection and over the years, it’s evolved to become a popular destination for music fans from around the country.
On Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14, the East Troy Bluegrass Festival will continue this tradition with two days of unforgettable bluegrass music and string-scrubbin’ down-home family fun.
“East Troy Bluegrass Festival weekend is always a fun time – full of excitement and energy from the moment the first banjo string is plucked,” East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vanessa Lenz said.
The 21st annual festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day on East Troy’s historic Village Square, featuring a full line-up of bluegrass bands and contests, plus great food and East Troy Marketplace vendors.
With many top artists gracing the local stage through the years, including Bluegrass legends Bobby Osborne, J.D. Crowe and Jim and Jesse McReynolds, the East Troy Bluegrass Festival is slowly becoming a fixture in the regional and national bluegrass festival scene.
“The first bluegrass festival started from scratch in 1994 with less than 200 attendees. That number has steadily grown with roughly 2,500 people expected for 2014,” Lenz said.
Attendees include a mix of diehard bluegrass fans that travel for miles to hear the quality lineup and locals who come for the good food and camaraderie with others.
The event opens on Saturday with an open stage at 10 a.m., followed by a fiddle contest at 11:30 a.m. The bands start in the afternoon, with Milkhouse Radio at 1 p.m., Bluegrass Express at 2 p.m., Band Scramble at 3 p.m., Piper Road Spring Band at 4 p.m. and national headliner The Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show at 5 p.m.
The music resumes on Sunday with a gospel service featuring the Solid Ground at 10 a.m. followed by banjo, mandolin and guitar contests at 11:30 a.m. The bands return in the afternoon with Big Cedar at 1 p.m., Bluegrass Cavaliers at 2 p.m., The Burie Family at 3 p.m., Above the Town at 4 p.m. and national headliner Larry Gillis and The Hard Driving Swampgrass Band at 5 p.m.
Weekend wristbands are $5 per person. Children 15 and younger are admitted free. Attendees should bring their own lawn chairs. No alcohol is allowed at this family event.
The rain location is East Troy Middle School, 3143 Graydon Ave.
“The East Troy Bluegrass Festival continues because of the generosity of local sponsors with many key volunteers contributing over the years. We are so grateful to them for keeping the event alive,” Lenz said.
For more information, contact event sponsor, the Chamber of Commerce, at (262) 642-3770 or vanessa@easttroywi.org.
Here’s a preview of the festival’s headliners:
The Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show
Best known for their highly entertaining retro stage show, The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show keeps the sprit of the past alive with their authentic delivery of bluegrass and classic country music.
Their 1999 debut release went to the top of the charts resulting in the group becoming a household name overnight. The band has been recognized by organizations like the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America for their musical contributions to the industry.
Highly respected by fans and peers alike, bandleader Karl Shiflett is one of the most recognizable and identifiable names in bluegrass music. The rest of the current lineup includes C.J. Lewandowski (mandolin/vocals), Brennen Ernst (banjo/vocals), Billy Hurt Jr. (fiddle/vocals), Kris Shiflett (upright bass) and Dany Bureau (scrub board).
Larry Gillis and the Hard Driving Swampgrass Band
When it comes to hard driving bluegrass music, Larry Gillis is the man most people think of. Through the ‘90s, he and his brother John performed at just about every festival known to man. Once the Gillis Brothers hit the stage, they had the audience in the palm of their hands.
After taking a break, Larry Gillis has made up his mind to set the woods on fire all over again with a young, hard driving band to perform by his side. In late 2008, Larry released “Old Man Dreaming,” an album with original songs and great Gillis classics and started rising back to the top by early 2009.
Bluegrass Festival lineup
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13
10 a.m., Open Stage
11:30 a.m. Fiddle Contests
1 p.m., Milkhouse Radio
2 p.m., Bluegrass Express
3 p.m., Band Scramble
4 p.m., Piper Road Spring Band
5 p.m., The Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show
SUNDAY, SEPT. 14
10 a.m., Gospel Service featuring Solid Ground
11:30 a.m., Banjo, Mandolin & Guitar Contests
1 p.m., Big Cedar
2 p.m., Bluegrass Cavaliers
3 p.m., The Burie Family
4 p.m., Above the Town
5 p.m., Larry Gillis and The Hard Driving Swamp-grass Band
Food Court
Area restaurants and organizations will have food and beverages for purchase at the festival. They include:
• East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce – Soda, water, coffee;
• Gus’s Drive-in – Sprecher root beer floats;
• East Troy Area Historical Society – Elegant Farmer caramel apples and pie;
• The Grist Mill – Brats, hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef and shaved prime rib sandwiches and chips;
• Hometown Sausage Kitchen – The Bluegrass Reuben and Hometown Sausage Kitchen famous Packer Brat “Corn Dog;”
• LD’s BBQ- Pulled BBQ pork sandwich and chips;
• Loomis-Martin American Legion Post 188 – Roasted sweet corn; and
• Pops Kettle Corn – Kettle corn with the perfect blend of sweet and salty goodness.
