River Falls hosts Roots and Bluegrass Music Festival

Downtown River Falls is hosting a bluegrass festival March 16-19 featuring national, regional and local acts performing on multiple stages – as well as guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle how-to workshops.

River Falls musician and high school teacher Chris Silver agreed to help the Roots and Bluegrass Music Committee, born of the River Falls Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, as it brainstormed ways to bring people to town.

Silver said, “The chamber was looking for a way to promote tourism in River Falls.”

Silver’s idea was to hold a roots and bluegrass music festival over St. Patty’s Day weekend.

The idea of a music festival had come up before, so the chamber formed a music-savvy committee to pull it together. The festival’s major sponsors are the chamber and Brickhouse Music, but Silver says there will be many other sponsorship opportunities.

The festival will feature traditional American music: Bluegrass, Americana, folk, new grass, Cajun and blues.

The festival kicks off Wednesday, March 16, with Pat Donahue of “Prairie Home Companion” fame joining the Honkey Tonk Café at Junior’s Bar. The show is scheduled for 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Thursday’s (St. Patrick’s Day) lineup features Nicci Pepper at Bo’s N’ Mine and Tim Pan Alley Cats at Johnnie’s Bar from 3 to 7 p.m.

The Boys n’ the Barrels will play at Junior’s from 8 to 11 p.m., and Pepper will be back on stage Bo’s N’ Mine the same hours.

Friday’s featured performers include the Mill City Serenaders at River Falls Academy from 7 to 10 p.m., the High 48’s at Johnnie’s Bar starting at 7 p.m., Pert’ Near Sandstone at Junior’s at 8:30 p.m., and the Barley Jacks at Shooters Bar at 10 p.m.

Saturday night brings national acts Becky Schlegel, Brian Fesler and Pieta Brown to Junior’s Bar in the downtown Riverview Hotel and Suites.

Ten Buck Mukluk will perform at the Corner Saloon.

Tickets to the Pat Donahue and Honky Tonk Café show are $15. They’re available at Riverview Hotel and Suites, Whole Earth Co-op and online at www.tempotickets.com.

Admission to the Friday and Saturday night shows is $10, or $18 for the two nights.

A complete festival schedule and more information can be found online at www.rfchamber.com.

Tags: lifestyle, art, entertainment