Bluegrass to mountain towns is what the Beach Boys were to Southern California. The sound, the culture, the message, the setting — it’s just a good fit.
And yet, before Jenny and Andy Hatch founded the Lake Tahoe Bluegrass and Beyond Music Festival two years ago, there was no major bluegrass festival at the lake.
‘[Mountain towns] are known for their bluegrass festivals every year, and we’d like to see Tahoe be the same way,’ Jenny said.
In its third year, the Lake Tahoe Bluegrass and Beyond Music Festival is back with an idyllic venue and a solid lineup of musicians. In the past, the festival featured mostly local bands and went down on the loading dock of Mt. Tallac Brewing Co.
‘It [bluegrass] crosses a lot of generations and different types of people,’ Jenny said. ‘The hippies and the cowboys — everyone likes it. I think that’s really great. It’s this unifying force.’
This year, the festival features Keller & the Keels, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Hot Buttered Rum, Danny Barnes, and more to play in one of Lake Tahoe’s most spectacular venues — Sand Harbor. Bring a beach chair and enjoy the string-strummin’ tunes of Keller Williams while gazing out at the lake.
‘We’re making [the festival] so much bigger this year,’ Jenny said. ‘Hopefully it will become a lasting tradition.’
Favorite local bands, including the Jug Stompers, Buster Blue, Bison, and the Trespassers, will return to the stage.
‘We’re trying to keep that relationship with [local bands] going,’ Jenny said. ‘We really respect them and we want them to keep going.’
The Hatches partnered this year with Pet Projekts to make all this happen. Pet Projekts is also hosting a late night event with Pimps of Joytime, Eprom, and Groove Session at MontBleu to keep the party going after the sun goes down at Sand Harbor. ~ Julie Brown/Moonshine Ink
Info: Doors open at 5 p.m., tickets $60/advance two day, $35/single day, all ages, full bar and beer garden, Sand Harbor State Park Outdoor Amphitheatre, late night show Aug. 27, 11 p.m., tickets $10/with Bluegrass and Beyond ticket, $15/door, MontBleu, tahoebluegrass.com
