Grass on the Black expands line-up, venues for 2nd year

The Grass on the Black event was an outstanding success last year and organizers were quick to bring it back again for a second run to be held July 7-9.

Organizers were pleased with last year’s turnout and are hopeful the distinctive twang of banjos and three and four part harmonies will bring people running to downtown Medford and the surrounding areas.

Grass On The Black a Medford Area Bluegrass Festival is scheduled for July 7-9 with performers at multiple venues featuring a dozen different performers and groups in downtown Medford and throughout the area the event will be sure to be a draw for both bluegrass veterans and those new to this purely American music scene.

As with America itself, the roots of bluegrass stretch back to the musical traditions of English, Scottish and Irish ballads and traditional dance tunes. This was liberally mixed with the blues and jazz traditions brought by African Americans moving north and bringing those sounds with them.

All of these influences came together in the rural Appalachian region in the 1940s where it was tempered with labor struggles, poverty and hardscrabble existence, as well as joy and beauty.

Bluegrass is a music that can find its way into your soul and have you tapping your toes or singing along to the harmonies. Unlike modern country and other styles of music, bluegrass primarily features acoustic stringed instruments and emphasizes the off-beat. Notes are anticipated, creating the high energy characteristic of the music and a style welcoming to each musician taking their turn in improvising and playing with the melody.

“It’s so relaxing and it touches on everything from country, to gospel, to folk,” said Marilyn Frank, owner of Marilyn’s located in Downtown Medford and a lead organizer in the event.

Frank said she attended her first Bluegrass festival in River Falls with her daughter in 2016 and has become hooked on the distinctive sounds and general welcoming atmosphere.

Frank had wanted to bring that sound to Medford for more people here to experience it. She has talked to other tavern and business owners and found that the excitement about bringing a festival to the Medford Area was contagious. Working with the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce, the support of the city of Medford Hotel/ Motel Room Tax fund and a number of local business and community sponsors, they were able to bring it to realization.

The excitement has only grown with many additional venues joining the schedule and an expansion in the bands offered. In addition, the schedule has expanded with full slate of entertainment Friday night, all day Saturday and all day on Sunday.

Streets in the downtown Medford area will be closed for the event with food trucks on site. All other locations will have food and/or bar available. In addition, there will be other food vendors in the downtown sharing treats.

As interest grew, the number of venues increased beyond the core of downtown Medford to include the entire community. Venues are in and around the city of Medford with the focal point along the Black River which runs through the heart of the community.

This year’s event includes 41 sets of music performed throughout the weekend. The following groups will be performing: All Shined Up, Carl Jackson and the Barn Dance, Hemlock Chaser, Biscuit Creek, Old Pine Road Band, Dig Deep, Catfish Stephenson, Jared Hubbard, The Ottersons, Sewer Pigeon, Maple Ridge Band, Miss Meaghan Owens, Tuck Pence, Sloppy Joe, Hand Picked Bluegrass, Woodland Spring Band, Sweet Corn, Highbridge, River Valley Rangers, Doug Kroening, Blue Hills Travelers, Central Wisconsin Country Line Dancers, The Good Time Gals and Highview Bluegrass.