“Because these musicians are amazing. Every single one of them has given us chills. They are the truest in this genre of music. They love what they do. We are approaching this the same way with the artisans and the food vendors as well. They are all true makers. Everyone involved in this festival is doing it because they have a passion and they love what they are doing.” Those were the words that Jill Turpin spoke to me before we hung up from a phone interview 6 months before last year’s Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival and if you were at the inaugural weekend fest last year you know that no truer words could have been spoken.
Jill and John may have founded an event that just kicked off with huge success last August, but the idea and love for this music and the musicians making it has been percolating in their minds for a long, long while. They again celebrate music and community this summer from August 15-18th at Hunter Park as GMBR plays host to, yet another, incredible line up of artists.
The ideal here is pretty simple. There won’t be 7 different stages spread what seems like miles apart. You won’t have to hike forever from your campsite to get to the festival grounds. Everything is compact in a way that makes this festival feel intimate, comforting and friendly in a way that most fests are unable to even come close to. And, while there is one stage by day, and one stage by night, we still feel like there are a few acts per day that you really need to make sure you are deep in it for.
So, here’s our day to day breakdown for GMBR 2019. Get your tickets, like yesterday, but today is good too.
Thursday, August 15th
Last year’s Thursday evening set was on fire. Twisted Pine blew the roof off of that tent. And with a real local flair with VT favorites Beg, Steal or Borrow and Saints & Liars capping that quickfire kick off, it set the pace for what would end up being one of the most beautiful weekends I have had in recent memory.
This year is no different, with Beg, Steal or Borrow reclaiming the throne as Thursday night’s ass kickers that will be sure to make you dance and give that tent its rightful claim to its name (The Dance Tent…). With a brand new record in tow they will steal some hearts and sling some records I’m sure.
Last year one of the most special things to unravel was the Lamplighter Session, which sadly only occurred on one evening due to some weather that closed down a Phish fest, but GMBR festival goers didn’t let them keep them down. This year local luthier and multi-instrumentalist Will Seeders Mosheim will host an old time jam late into the evening with what I am sure will end up being a plethora of incredible guests (maybe some of those earlier bands). Get your sleep in on Wednesday night because you are going to want to be up all night and into the sunrise hours for this one.
Friday, August 16th
Once you have slept off the music hangover from Will’s late night jam the night before, grab some local coffee from one of the on site trucks, or spin into Manchester proper to grab a bite at one of the local breakfast spots, get ready for the day with some of the earlier morning activities (yoga perhaps?). Hang out around your site for a bit and pick, but then get over to the main stage right on time as its going to be one hell of a day.
Sam Bush. I feel like thats all I need to say. A juggernaut of the genre. Sam is the reason so many of the younger artists on the line up make music in the first place. I also wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Sam pop up and jam with some other folk during their sets, so make sure you keep an eye on the side stage…and get good seats because Mr. Bush is going to take us all for a ride.
Last year Donna the Buffalo had to bail due to weather at the fest, but they are back. So be sure to catch them this time around.
Friday is also a day packed will collaborative sets. Eli West & John Reishman; Barnes, Gordy & Walsh; Martha Scanlan & Jon Neufeld. Collaboration is one of the core values of GMBR and there will be some incredibly special moments when more than one brilliant artist joins together in song…don’t miss those moments folks.
Saturday, August 17th
Well, be sure to be there for the Strength in Numbers tribute…because well, you will probably see all of the artists form that day on stage in some respect. So, if you don’t miss one set, don’t miss this one!
Speaking of legends, Darrell Scott. Yeah. One of the finest songsmiths that we have in roots and bluegrass music today will grace the GMBR stage.
I haven’t yet had the chance to see Hawktail live, but have been maw wide open, jaw dropped seeing all of the individual artists in this quartet live, so you know, 4 of them together on stage is going to be a real treat.
Sunday, August 18th
Honestly, just park your booty in front of the stage on Sunday and stage put. It is Mandolin Orange day to some effect and anything and anyone that touches the brilliant golden guilding of that band is special.
But for seriously.
Andrew Marlin doing a set of his Buried in a Cape. A record that from the first listen moved to the top of my all time favorite albums list.
Christian Sedelmyer…who will undoubtedly make multiple other appearances throughout the weekend and become one of your favorite musicians…I mean, anything he does will be fantastic.
Josh Oliver, who I consider to have the greatest voice in the history of roots music doing his own set of material. Beautiful songs from a beautiful human being
Bobby Britt, who closed last year’s festival with Andrew and Emily of Mandolin Orange with other special guests including GMBR founders Jill and John Turpin…also, he made me cry multiple times with just how appreciative and heartfelt his performance was.
And the big one, Mandolin Orange…the band who’s last record I called “Beautiful, exquisite, masterpiece” and used phrases like “once in a lifetime” band and “greatest of all time”. Be there.