Submitted by Washington Acoustic Music Association
The Washington Acoustic Music Association’s annual Pickersfest Music Festival will take place the first weekend in August at the Oakview Grange in north Centralia. This will be the 23rd annual festival. The festival officially starts on Friday, August 1 and runs through Sunday morning, August 3.
The three day music event will feature acoustic music including Bluegrass, Gypsy Jazz, Americana, Celtic and much more! The artists performing both Friday and Saturday include:
· Kenny and Amanda Smith – this duo has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, Dollywood, Prairie Home Companion and many other venues and events. Kenny was named the Guitar Player of the Year twice by the International Bluegrass Music Association and Amanda was named the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 2014. They have opened for George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White Skaggs said “We love Kenny’s guitar playing…and Amanda is one of our favorite Bluegrass singers today!”
· Ranger and the Re-Arrangers – this great Northwest band will charm you with their version of Hot Club Swing music! Inspired by Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt and many others they will evoke the spirit of a Paris café with upbeat, high energy music on acoustic instruments.
· Trio Bistro – violinists and cello make up this string ensemble. The members have backgrounds in classical and jazz music and they are melodic improvisers par excellence!
· White Horn Crossing – a four member group based in Portland, they sing and play mostly traditional Celtic music on fiddles, whistles, tenor banjo, guitar and other instruments.
· 5 Mile Drive – one of the Pacific NW’s newest bluegrass bands!
Festival goers will be able to participate in jams of Old-Time, Swing, Bluegrass and Celtic music, so bring your instrument(s)! There will be a slow jam session on Saturday afternoon for musicians of all skill levels. The festival also features workshops on guitar, mandolin, bass, fiddle, banjo and song-writing, all for no additional charge! And there will be open mic opportunities Saturday afternoon.
A weekend pass is only $45 and a daily pass is just $25. Camping is available at the Grange for only $15 per night. And, of course, there will be many opportunities to join jam sessions during the day and into the night!
Food is available at the festival. Pickersfest is also pet-friendly! For more information, visit our website.
