Arts and Entertainment
December 24, 2024
From: Winter Music FestivalThe festival starts on the 23rd with the open mic "Take the Stage!" hootenanny. There will also be open jam sessions, performance and songwriting workshops, and great food and drink throughout the event. "By popular demand, we added more two-day passes for 2025," said Co-producer Rachel Pearson. "As of November 1st those passes are almost sold out. However, single show tickets are still available."
"Our line-up of world-class performers includes Friday night's headliners, The Henhouse Prowlers, with Kristen Grainger & True North opening. Saturday afternoon will be fantastic with three bands: Whiskey Deaf Duet; Thunder & Rain, and Tony Furtado with Luke Price. Saturday night will open with returning favorite Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band and Della Mae closing out the festival."
Schedule of Events:
January 23, 2025
Thursday Night
A REAL DOWN HOME HOOTENANNY!
A now-annual favorite, the community open mic "Take the Stage!" all-comers music confab will be unleashed from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This good ol' fashioned gathering is free and open to all ages and abilities. Come sign up, sing and play for 10 minutes on stage, collaborate, and make new friends. Spectators can expect to have fun cheering on friends and neighbors on the Florence Events Center flat floor stage.
Take the Stage! is staged in the friendly confines of Rooms 1&2 of the FEC Flat Floor area. Casual seating is provided, and performers will be provided with mics. No drumsets or electric instuments
January 24, 2025
Friday Night
Henhouse Prowlers
This group is in its second decade, honing the unique, high-energy vibe that makes them an unforgettable stage presence — be it in Chicago, Siberia, or the Middle East. These musicians are official Cultural Ambassadors for the
US State Department, and they show the world what American bluegrass is all about
KRISTEN GRAINGER & TRUE NORTH is a bluegrass-leaning Americana powerhouse of terrific songwriting, lush vocals and crazy-good instrumentalists. Kristen has collected accolades and awards at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Wildflower Arts & Music Festival, Merlefest, Kerrville and, together with Dan Wetzel, at Wintergrass . She also won Common Ground‘s 2022 Acoustic Roots Songwriting Contest, and 2019 Roots Northwest songwriting competition. On stage, the band deftly delivers the stories, mind-blowing harmonies and mad instrumentals audiences love. As Folk World (UK) put it, "What comes over loud and clear is that one is in the presence of some seriously talented musicians.
About Kristen Grainger & True North – Kristen Grainger and True North
January 25, 2025
Saturday Afternoon
Whiskey Deaf Duet
The Whiskey Deaf Duet performs bluegrass, old-time and early country, mostly drawn from early pioneers in the music, and brings to the stage many years of professional experience and skill. Their shows are always spontaneous, entertaining, and joyous, and feature exciting instrumental work and a unique repertoire of interesting songs and tunes.
Whiskey Deaf Bluegrass Band | Portland OR
Thunder & Rain
Thunder and Rain is a newgrass band based in Nashville. They weave together bluegrass instrumentation with award winning songwriting inspired by pop, country, classic rock and old time. Three part harmony and sing-along choruses support image-rich lyricism and thunderous banjo / fiddle drive. In their decade-long career, the band has shared the stage with Billy Strings, Krueger Brothers, Peter Rowan, and The Brothers Comatose. “Run With You,” a single released in 2020, was selected for the IBMA Songwriter Showcase 2023.
Thunder and Rain
Tony Furtado with Luke Price
Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso on multiple instruments, adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele. He mixes and matches sounds and styles with the ?air of a master artist (he's also an accomplished sculptor, but that's another story). All of the music of America is in Tony's music. Relix online magazine said it best when writing of Tony: “True talent doesn't need categories."
Saturday Night
Della Mae
This GRAMMY nominated, all-women string band is made up of founder and fiddle player Kimber Ludiker, lead vocalist/guitarist Celia Woodsmith, guitarist Avril Smith, and bassist Vickie Vaughn.
Hailing from across North America and reared in diverse musical styles, they are one of the most charismatic and engaging roots bands touring today. They have traveled to over 30 countries spreading peace and understanding through music.
Their mission as a band is to showcase top female musicians, and to improve opportunities for women and girls through advocacy, mentorship, programming, and performance.
Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
Coming off an amazing 2024 WMF performance, Brothers Miles and Teo Quale with bassist Andrew Osborn and 2023 National Flat Pick Guitar Champion Ian Ly have continued to shake up stages in the USA, Japan, and Europe -- with their vibrant mix of Bluegrass, Dawg, Jazz and original acoustic sounds. Since their first appearance at our Festival in early January, they've been in demand at festivals world wide, played at the Grand Ole Opry last May.
Date: January 23 - 25, 2025
Location: Florence Events Center, 715 Quince Street Florence, OR 97439