Finger-pickin' good

This year, the 26th annual Blueberry Bluegrass & Country Music Festival, the largest bluegrass festival in western Canada, showcases some of the top finger-pickin’ talent in North America at its stage in Stony Plain.

This year’s three-day family event, to be held July 29 to 31 at Heritage Park, includes a mix of jam bands, traditional bluegrass artists, some progressive bluegrass and a bit of country thrown in for colour.

This year’s big draw is singer/songwriter Marty Stuart, a road warrior with over four decades experience playing mandolin, guitar and banjo. The four-time Grammy winner and platinum record seller, who is now based in Nashville, has developed a signature style that meshes rockabilly, honky-tonk and traditional country.

“He’s a god in the country-bluegrass world. He’s been at it for so many years. He takes the stage and suddenly an hour has gone by. He’s so engrossing,” says festival entertainment director Pat Guider.

Also performing several separate sets is Stuart’s wife Connie Smith, a gospel/country singer/songwriter with a string of hits such as Once A Day. The voice of the Sundowners, she is regarded as one of the last remaining authentic country vocalists in existence.

“She has such a long country legacy and we’re proud to have her,” Guider says.

With its bold new brand of acoustic sound, the young, Grammy nominated Grascals have provided recording and tour support for Dolly Parton and were part of Hank Williams Jr.’s Rowdy Friends Tour.

“Right now they’re one of the hottest bands in Nashville. They’re young and their music is endearing, emotional and heartfelt. And they have great instrumentation.”

Also from the United States is Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, a socially conscious bluegrass band infused with strong gospel elements. “He’s very strong in the Christian tradition and Doyle will lead the traditional Gospel Hour on Sunday.”

The festival usually attracts anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 fans annually. But what sets bluegrass festivals apart from rock and country fests is “the parking lot of tailgate picking” at the closing of each day.

After the last act performs, both stars and fans pull out their lawn chairs, park them around the motorhomes and start pickin’ together until the sun comes up.

“It’s a bluegrass thing,” Guider says. “It helps you develop as a musician and it helps you become more proficient. You learn another way to play chords and can show off playing solo.”

Adds vocalist/guitarist Penny Malmberg of Back Porch Swing, “It’s a pure joy to play and the audiences are so educated. The parking lot picking becomes one of the best jams of the bluegrass festival.”

The St. Albert four-piece cowjazz band performs Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m., singing a mix of originals and traditional covers off their new album, Back Porch Swing Live.

Blue Horizon from Nova Scotia struck a particular chord with Guider, who likes to program an East Coast kitchen party sound at every festival. “They are energized, fast pickers with nice, clean, clear music.”

Also from out of the province is The Willms’, a British Columbia family band with three daughters in their late teens. “We are a family festival and this group fits right in.”

In addition, acclaimed Edmonton duo Marc Ladouceur, guitarist for Down to the Wood, and jazz/folk singer Anna Sommerville are channelling their prodigious talents along with Rob Baker. “They are very talented musically and we’re lucky to have them grace our stage.”

The Canadian Country Music Legends, a hot four-piece band with a traditional salute to the greats, retains some old world sensibility, whereas Kayla and Erin, protégés of the Northern Bluegrass Society, have put together a band with more creative arrangements.

But as Malmberg points out, the festival’s success lies as much in the friendships made as the broad-based lineup organizers program. “A lot of the crowd plays music, and a lot of people go to the concert to meet up with people they met the year before for some parking lot pickin’. It’s one of the best festivals we’ve played at.”

For more information, visit the festival’s comprehensive website at www.blueberrybluegrass.com.