East Troy’s Bluegrass Festival is back for 24th year
The sounds of bluegrass music will once again fill the East Troy Village Square this weekend when Bluegrass Festival returns Saturday and Sunday.
The annual event is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year with a weekend lineup that includes two of the industry’s biggest acts, Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers on Saturday and Becky Buller on Sunday.
“We are so excited for this year’s 24th annual East Troy Bluegrass Festival, which is a big celebration of not only bluegrass music, but also community,” East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vanessa Lenz said. “The festival is outdoors with a laid back, family friendly atmosphere and it’s a good reflection of how vibrant downtown East Troy is right now.”
Melissa Sherman founded the festival back in 1994 inspired by her love for bluegrass music and East Troy Village Square Park, Lenz said. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day.
As a lover of bluegrass music from childhood, Sherman wanted to hold her own festival because she didn’t have as much time to attend bluegrass festivals and jam with her friends while running her East Troy business, Melissa’s Country Baskets and a Touch of Heart, Lenz said.
When John Losiniecki, a fiddle player from Milwaukee, stopped in her store, and he mentioned how the Village Square would be a nice spot to play bluegrass, Sherman was inspired to create the festival.
While small at first and free to anyone who wanted to play, the festival grew quickly with increasing crowds flocking to the event each year.
The event, which is sponsored by the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce, been a tradition in the village ever since.
“We look forward to seeing regulars who have been to the event from the beginning,” Lenz said. “Also, locals who have never been to the festival before, leave with a new appreciation for the classic American genre.”
In additional to the music, the festival fun includes jam sessions, contests, food vendors and a marketplace to shop for artisan goods, specialty items, crafts and more.
“We get some of the best players in the state, region and nation at our festival,” Lenz said. “Our incredible lineup this year is headlined by national acts, including Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers, known for traditional bluegrass sound, and Becky Buller.”
Staying true to the festival’s roots, local, emerging and popular regional bands will also pepper each day’s lineup.
Bluegrass lineup
Saturday, Sept. 9
10 a.m. Open Stage (bands, duos, trios)
11:30 a.m. Fiddle Contest
1 p.m. Black Horse String Band
2 p.m. Brewtown Bluegrass
3 p.m. Band Scramble
4 p.m. Bluegrass All Stars
5 p.m. Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers
Sunday, Sept. 10
10 a.m. Gospel Service featuring the Worthing10s
11:30 a.m. Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Contests
1 p.m. Noah John and Ringing Iron
2 p.m. Sawdust Symphony
3 p.m. Soggy Prairie Boys
4 p.m. Windy City Bluegrass Band
5 p.m. Becky Buller Band
Meet the headliners
Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers will be on stage at 5 p.m. on Sept. 9.
The band tours throughout Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and can also be found at major festivals outside their home turf.
In a quest to carry on the traditional bluegrass sound, the Bluegrass Mountaineers combine old time claw hammering, classic country yodeling and twin fiddles to showcase their unique style.
All members of the Bluegrass Mountaineers will take turns demonstrating their vocal and instrumental abilities, including Larry Efaw on mandolin and vocals, Edward Efaw (Beanpole) on rhythm guitar and vocals, Stanley Efaw on fiddle and vocals, Christopher Wilcox, 8, on mandolin, Anthony Prater on upright bass, Tom Isaacs on banjo and vocals and John Bryan on guitar and vocals.
On Sept. 10, the Becky Buller band will take the stage at 5 p.m., wrapping up the weekend’s performance.
In 2016, Buller was chosen to make bluegrass music history by becoming the first person ever to win in both instrumental and vocal categories at the International Bluegrass Music Association awards.
Buller, a St. James, Minnesota, native has become well known in the acoustic music world. She has received five International Bluegrass Music Awards in the last two years, including the 2016 Fiddler and Female Vocalist and 2015 Songwriter of The Year nods.
Since 2015, the Becky Buller Band has toured throughout the United States and Canada. The group has an exciting 2017 planned, beginning with the release of Becky’s fourth solo album on the Dark Shadow Recording label.
The two-day East Troy Bluegrass Festival, presented by the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10 at East Troy Village Square Park, 2881 Main St.
Admission is $10 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.
For more information, call (262) 642-3770 or email vanessa@easttroy.org.
