The Washington Acoustic Music Association’s (WAMA) annual Pickersfest Music Festival will take place the first weekend in August at the Oakview Grange in Centralia.
The festival officially starts on Friday, Aug. 1, and runs through the morning of Sunday, Aug. 3. This will be the 23rd annual festival, according to a news release from WAMA.
The three-day music event will feature acoustic music including bluegrass, gypsy jazz, Americana, Celtic and more, the release stated.
The artists performing include:
• Kenny and Amanda Smith — This duo has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, Dollywood, Prairie Home Companion and many other venues and events. Kenny was named the Guitar Player of the Year twice by the International Bluegrass Music Association and Amanda was named the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 2014.
• Ranger and the Re-Arrangers — This Northwest band was inspired by Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt and many others. They evoke the spirit of a Paris café with upbeat, high energy music on acoustic instruments, the WAMA stated in the news release.
• Trio Bistro — Violinists and cello make up this string ensemble. The members have backgrounds in classical and jazz music and they are also melodic improvisers.
• White Horn Crossing — A four-member group based in Portland, they sing and play mostly traditional Celtic music on fiddles, whistles, tenor banjo, guitar and other instruments.
• 5 Mile Drive — One of the Pacific NW’s newest bluegrass bands.
Festival attendees will be able to participate in jams of old-time, swing, bluegrass and Celtic music, so attendees are invited to bring their instruments. There will be a slow jam session on Saturday afternoon for musicians of all skill levels. The festival features workshops on guitar, mandolin, bass, fiddle, banjo and song-writing, all for no additional charge.
There will be open mic opportunities Saturday afternoon.
A weekend pass is $45 and a daily pass is $25. Camping is available at the grange for $15 per night.
Food is available at the festival. Pickersfest is also pet friendly.
For more information, visit www.wamapickersfest.org.
