Bluegrass Roundup – world’s first online bluegrass festival

Bluegrass Roundup from Concert WindowWhat would you be willing to pay for 9 straight nights of live bluegrass, cybercast right into your home?

Well it doesn’t much matter, as the folks at Concert Window who have scheduled Bluegrass Roundup, their first ever multi-day bluegrass festival online, will be offering most of the concerts on a donation-based, pay-what-you-want basis. 50 different acts, from all across the US, are scheduled to perform back-to-back sets, festival style, using the Concert Window performance application.

Some will be beamed your way from concert stages, others from a performer’s home, or a hotel room. All will be delivered to your digital device, computer or TV set (depending on software and connections) in high definition video and sound. You can pick and choose the sets you’d like to watch, or plop down and watch them all, end to end.

The Bluegrass Roundup will run from February 20-28, starting each evening at 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. (EST) and running until 11:00 or 11:30. There will be traditional bluegrass from artists like Roland White, Mountain Faith, and Circa Blue; more contemporary grass from Jim Lauderdale, Sierra Hull, Lonely Heartstring Band, Railsplitters, Front Country, Town Mountain, and Barefoot Movement; and groundbreaking new sounds from Mr. Sun, Bryan Sutton, Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg, Jim Lauderdale and more.

There will also be instrumental workshops with Ned Luberecki (banjo), Lauren Rioux (fiddle), and Sierra Hull and Casey Campbell (mandolin).

Concert Window’s Artist Relations Manager, Emma Beaton, herself a contemporary bluegrass artist, says that grass is the perfect match for an online festival.

“A lot of people don’t think that bluegrass fits with new technology. But bluegrass artists have really embraced new technology, especially online. We’re very proud to be the first company to ever run an online bluegrass festival, welcoming these artists to the Concert Window Community and the online stage. We’re huge bluegrass fans and are excited to have folks doing shows online.”

There will be a set from a Japanese bluegrass band, The Blueside of Lonesome, and from college  programs like The Bethel University Bluegrass Band (under the leadership of Stephen Mougin) and The ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band (under the leadership of Daniel Boner).

This week long event is being pitched to listeners of all types of modern acoustic music, hoping that fans of one group will log in for their favorites, and stay to experience other artists they may not be familiar with. Talent buyers and label representatives can benefit as well by hearing a lot of new acts from the comfort of their home or office.

70% of all monies raised is shared with the artists performing, and Concert Window can be viewed on any device that can connect to the Internet.

A full list of players and bands scheduled during Bluegrass Roundup can be found on the Concert Window site.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.