We set the scene for Mountaingrass Festival in Beechworth Victoria
Haywood Billy Goats – 2016
Mountaingrass is one of the most significant bluegrass and roots festivals in Australia – it is the official event of the Australian Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association of Australia (ABOTMA) and is held annually in November.
In 2018 the festival will move from its home for a few years, the alpine village of Harrietville, and be held for the first time in the historic and picturesque town of Beechworth Victoria about three hours north-east of Melbourne, running from November 9 to 11. Specifically, this year’s site will be the George Kerferd Hotel, just a twenty-minute walk from the town centre.
Mountaingrass is a specialist event focusing on two forms of roots music: bluegrass and Appalachian Old-Time. The festival presents performances of bluegrass and traditional (American) old-time music from acts from the United States, New Zealand, most states in Australia, and in some years other countries. It also features both bluegrass and old-time music slow jams, a fully acoustic concert, a blackboard gospel concert on Sunday morning, an instrument makers display (and sales), and many opportunities for all attendees to share with each other through jamming and picking sessions. ABOTMA is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of bluegrass and American old-time music in Australia. The festival is organised by volunteers primarily for members of ABOTMA and lovers of bluegrass and old-time music.
The full line up for Mountaingrass 2018 is (Australian unless otherwise noted):
Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – USA
Blue Ridge Broadcasters – USA
Bryant & Brown – USA
Cameron DeWhitt – USA
The Pipi Pickers – NZ
Rhodeworks – NZ**
The Kissin Cousins
The New Macedon Rangers
Knott Family Band
Copperline
Nine Mile Creek
The Barkers Vale Brothers
Slim Dime
My-T-Fine Stringband
The Willing Ponies
The 3 Jimmies Plus 1
Backwater
Bluegrass Junction
Crooked Road
You can bring an instrument to Mountaingrass and get some pointers on your playing and jamming. Jammalong is catered specifically to emerging musicians, and is just one of the many great workshops running over the weekend. The Beechworth Celtic Festival will be held the same weekend as this year’s Mountaingrass, just to add even more to the colour and fun.
Listening Through The Lens will be there to cover each day – watch this space for our thoughts and images. You can review our previous visit, in 2016.
** Winners of the inaugural ABOTMA Young Performer Grant (2018).
Rhodeworks – 2016
We set the scene for Mountaingrass Festival in Beechworth Victoria
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