Way down in the shady grove of Davis Creek Park outside of Washoe City, Nev., pickers of all kinds will converge this weekend to share in the sounds and community of the 31st annual Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival.
Organized by the Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association, this event features the best of contemporary traditional bluegrass music in a beautiful, peaceful setting nestled at the foot of the Carson Range.
“You’re going to see some of the greatest pickers in the country.” -Rick Sparks
“We’ve been able to upgrade our headliners to bring in more people,” says Association president Rick Sparks. “This year they just fell into my lap.”
The current lineup is topped off by Special Consensus, a quartet that took home the International Bluegrass Music Association awards for best recording performance and event in 2014 for their “Bluegrass Tribute to John Denver.” Other featured acts include the jazz/classical/folk meld of Telluride Band Contest winner Run Boy Run, and Bluegrass Etc., starring veteran country recording artist and Grammy-winner Bill Bryson.
With recent performances by Michael Martin Murphy, Blue Highway and Peter Rowan, the festival attendance grew to more than 600 last year. Sparks is hoping for 700 to 800 this time around.
“We advertise as the Biggest Little Festival in the West,” says Sparks.
In addition to the main stage events on Saturday, the festival features camping and impromptu picking throughout the weekend.
“A lot of people that are not pickers will come to see the show, and then there are a lot of people who play instruments themselves who will show up,” explains Sparks. A lot of people who like to jam come out for the whole weekend experience. They get the whole bluegrass experience, being able to go to the show, have meals with everyone at the campsite and jam with everybody after the shows are over.”
The fun kicks off Friday night with a performance by Spark’s own band, Ricochet, followed by a welcome night of jamming and connecting with neighbors in the campground. After the performances and late-night jam sessions on Saturday, Sunday morning will feature an old-time gospel show put on by The Gabardine Sisters.
“It’s like the old radio they used to have in the 20s and 30s,” says Sparks. “They do it like a broadcast: a microphone with call letters and everything.”
The event is a fundraiser for the Association, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving bluegrass, old-time, traditional and related folk music – acoustic music from a common American heritage – in the North Nevada area.
“Our main goal is to promote bluegrass, acoustic and folk music of old times in the area and help different organizations in the community that need aid and can use a little extra,” says Sparks. “We try to help the people who need the help.”
As part of their mission, the Association provides free acoustic instruments and lessons to disabled people with an interest in music. This program has been so successful that some of the beneficiaries have gone on to start a band called The Note-Ables, which perform every year on the main stage.
“It’s really a highlight of the show to have them there,” says Sparks. “Everybody loves them.”
The concerts will be held at an outdoor amphitheater in a meadow with lots of big trees. Although, vendors will be available, festivalgoers can set up blankets and lawn chairs and bring anything they want along to picnic and party. Both events on Friday and Sunday are open to the public for free and kids younger than 12 can attend free of charge all weekend.
“You’re going to see some of the greatest pickers in the country,” says Sparks. “It’s a great family event. You can’t buy any entertainment like this for that price.”
For more information or for tickets, visit bowersbluegrassfestival.org.
Aug. 12 | 7 p.m.
Ricochet and Jamming | Free
Aug. 13 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Main Stage Performances | $25 | Free 12 & younger
Aug. 14 | 10 a.m.
Gospel Show | Free
Bowers Mansion Bluegrass
The Biggest Little Festival in the West
