8th annual Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival
by Sharon Sullivan

Palisade, Colorado’s outdoor music season kicks off spectacularly with the eighth annual Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival, June 10-12, in the town’s Riverbend Park.

The venue is lovely, with shady cottonwood trees and the Colorado River nearby, and stunning views of Grand Mesa, Mt. Garfield and the Book Cliffs mountains.

Headlining the three-day music festival Saturday evening is The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience.

“David Grisman is the quintessential bluegrass artist,” festival promoter Josh Behrman said. “He has an incredible history.”

Grisman has embraced many musical genres and traditions over the years, mixing jazz and bluegrass at times to create his own unique style. The mandolin player collaborated with Jerry Garcia, Peter Rowan, and Vassar Clements in the band Old and in the Way.

The festival kicks off Friday, at 3:30 p.m. showcasing Colorado’s “hottest” bands, Behrman said, opening with Destinee and the Sink Creek Band.

Friday’s lineup also includes Running Out Of Road; Jeff Scroggins and Colorado; and the Caribou Mountain Collective. Rapidgrass, winners of the 2015 Rockygrass band competition, closes out the day with a performance starting at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the music begins at 11 a.m., with Run Boy Run, a five-piece band that “blends bluegrass, folk and the old timey American vernacular with touches of classical.” Winners of the 2009 Pickin’ in the Pines contest and a two-time guest of Prairie Home Companion, Run Boy Run also performed at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2011.

Next up is Wood and Wire, a young acoustic band that has played at several notable festivals recently, including Austin City Limits Music Festival, and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

The banjo-playing duo The Lowest Pair, comprised of Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee, performs at 3 p.m.

While exploring different musical genres via banjo is unique, it’s their contrasting harmonies that people are most drawn to, Winter said during a phone interview. In addition to their original material, the pair performs a few traditional and old-time bluegrass tunes.

The name “The Lowest Pair was taken from a John Hartford poem from his album “Mark Twang.”
“We bonded over our love for John Hartford,” said Winter, who along with Palmer, also plays guitar.

Performing at 5:30 p.m., are The Hillbenders – a Springfield, Missouri-based band known for its bluegrass opry version of The Who’s classic rock opera “Tommy.”

On Sunday, the music resumes at 11 a.m. with The Blackberry Bushes Stringband, whose sound has been compared to Gillian Welch and the Infamous Stringdusters.

Mandolin Orange, currently on tour with Elephant Revival, also performs Sunday, followed by the Portland, Oregon-based band Fruition.

Closing the weekend festival will be Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, known for their YouTube “Van Sessions” and Hall and Oates, plus Paul McCartney cover tunes, Behrman said.

Bring a picnic, or enjoy the offerings of the many food vendors, which typically include Greek food, pizza, sandwiches, ice cream and more.

Palisade-brewed beer and wine will also be for sale, as well as mixed drinks with gin and vodka made at the town’s Palisade Distillery. Remember to bring your glass from last year for a discount on drinks!

Grand Junction resident Mollie Shores attends every year: “I enjoy the festival because it is laid-back, with happy people listening to live music. The food and drinks are good. Who could ask for more than that?”

For more information on tickets and camping onsite, visit: www.palisademusic.com or call 970-464-5602, and be sure to mention you read about it in Moab Happenings.