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There’s again something to be learned and heard, from both old school and newer musical courses, at several-band RF bluegrass festival

The 2017 version of the bluegrass and roots music festival in River Falls is continuing its tradition of pushing ‘grass tunes to their limit, while keeping in tune with their origins.
This weekend, there will be several such bands who are prominent, and some that are more known regionally to enable the listener to explore the musical substance in and around customary bluegrass, while not straying too far from that course. The action begins early Friday evening, with a tasting event that remains true to what’s made bluegrass what it is today.
Getting even moreso into the verve this year, is the West Wind, on the north end of town and by a matter of miles the first festival venue you’ll encounter if coming from the interstate. The supper club and bar is on the right side of the main drag and features a comfortable, relaxed and friendly setting. This weekend, in two shows, it will feature traditional and not-so-traditional bluegrass.
West Wind has the Fishheads from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday and Blue Groove from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Blue Groove is relatively new to the scene and is the only band in the festival that you can choose to take in on Sunday.
With a mix of island music, vintage rock, funk, folk, blues, Texas swing and reggae — in addition to bluegrass — all wrapped up in a crazy spontaneous atmosphere and 22 years of experience, the Fishheads have played all around the region and shared the stage with top acts like .38 Special, The Legendary Wailers and even traveled halfway around the world to play for troops in the Persian Gulf.
You will find old rock standards from the Bee Gees, Aerosmith, Steve Miller, AC/DC and Johnny Cash, as well as pop unusuals like Elle King and Jessie J. The Fishheads hail from Duluth and are fronted by a married couple, bringing to the stage instruments as varied as their sound — dombro, pedal steel guitar, banjo and mandolin.
Add upright bass and fiddle and you have Blue Groove, a multiple award-winning bluegrass band that leans more toward a contemporary vibe (Alison Krauss and Rhonda Vincent), while maintaining ties to traditional bluegrass (Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs), with improvisation and harmony singing, and even some originals.
Is it already four years? That’s how long Juniors Bar and Restaurant has hosted the Friday evening, signature beer and wine tasting event at the bluegrass festival. It runs 5-8 p.m. and tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. You also can again enjoy bluegrass music by the Good Intentions, led by the local-and-longtime veritable musician Chris Silver. The premier sponsor is Fulton Brewing, and also having host brews are Barley Johns, Rush River, Summit, Surly, Swinging Bridge, Pitchfork, Oliphant, State Fair and Madison Avenue. Offering beverages as well, are 65 Vines, Crispin Hard Cider, Belle Vinez, Maiden Rock and Chateau St. Croix.
Juniors also will host the Kind Country band, which using its own lingo is jamgrass playing cosmic American music, with a little Allman Brothers and Bob Marley thrown in, and featuring a lineup of between six and eight players. They perform from 8-11 p.m. Saturday. Next-day at Juniors, in addition, is the annual singer and songwriter competition from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and the festival-themed band contest from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Pushing Chain, a folky-tonk duo, features Boyd Blomberg on guitar and Adam Moe on fiddle, and both on vocals, and they will be at Riverwalk Square from noon-3 p.m. Saturday. Their act has an impressive list of bands with which the stage has been shared, including John Hiatt, other prime fests for which they have been even more prominently featured, and also additional ones where their play has won them awards, such as at the Minnesota State Fair and exactly three years ago at the band contest right here in River Falls. Its Americana-roots sound has been brought forward by Boyd, the former frontman and songwriter for the national touring band, the Gooneybirds. Pushing Chain is signed with Kingswood Records. The people at Riverwalk Square were very happy with Pushing Chain last year, and were buoyed by the fact they could be so popular away from the bar setting. Available at their show is a deli counter with sandwiches, salads and the like, and wine from Belle Vinez.
Family Fresh has an open jam with Ari, a Minneapolis-based musician who has been popular on the college scene in large part because of his instrumental, so he should fit well if you’re a student at UW-RF — or are a bit beyond that age. Ari is on, with guest singers and players, on Saturday from 1-3 p.m.
Other notable gigs at this year’s fest include: Olive Sings from 6-9 p.m. at Johnnie’s Bar, Sawdust Symphony from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. at Maverick’s Corner Saloon, La Terza Classe from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Shooter’s Pub, all on Friday night; Lou Shields from 1-3 p.m. and sponsored by Swinging Bridge Brewing Company, the Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperence League from 2-5 p.m. at Bo’s ‘N Mine, Scrapegoat Skin and Bones from 4-7 p.m. at Lazy River, Bernie King and the Guilty Pleasures from 5-8 p.m. at Johnnies, Roe Family Singers from 6-9 p.m. at Bo’s ‘N Mine, New Riverside Ramblers from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. at Maverick’s, and Black River Revue from 10 p.m.-2 a.m., all Saturday.

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