Sixth annual event to bring people from around the U.S. to Lake Wilson for a weekend filled with live music, festive atmosphere and scenic views
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
RUSSELL COUNTY—Once again, Bluegrass music will fill the air at Wilson Lake during the sixth-annual Lovegrass Music Festival.
Scheduled Aug. 10 through 12, the event brings people from across the U.S. together to celebrate and enjoy traditional music, nature and camaraderie formed around the truly American art form.
Located in the Hill Creek area, near the Lake Wilson Marina, executive director Aimee Riegel said six headline acts will be featured Friday and Saturday, along with a band performing on the water Saturday.
The event kicks off Thursday with a social event, with an open mic at 6 p.m. and a jam session at 9:30 p.m.
“If you play an instrument, bring it out,” Riegel said. “We'd like to do some pickin’ and grinnin’.”
Friday and Saturday morning will then feature educational workshops.
Friday night’s concert will feature Arkansas-based Arkansauce. Front Porch and John Depew with Andrew Morris will begin at 5 p.m.
Arkansauce “came out last year for the first time, and they were a crowd favorite,” Riegel said.
Saturday afternoon Old Fangled will perform from a pontoon in a nearby cove below the festival grounds.
The night’s concert will feature Emporia-based Fireside Collective with the Whisky Mash Band and Weda Skirts as openers, starting at 5 p.m. as well.
Together the bands will represent the spectrum of the Bluegrass style.
“We have anything from a kind of more of like a progressive type Bluegrass, where they get a little bit more into the instrumental type jamming to harmony singing,” Riegel said.
The event is free to attend, but registration is requested through the Lovegrass website, lovegrassmusicfestival.com. A full schedule of events is also available.
And support for the non-profit is appreciated, Riegel said.
“If you feel like you would want to give a certain amount for your ticket, you can do that online,” she said. “That keeps us sustainable.”
Registration also helps the organization collect demographic information that assists with procuring grant funding.
With the music-filled weekend, Riegel said she hopes to provide further access to live music in the area.
“That's why we do this,” she said. “We want to let everyone access live music, especially in rural areas.”
Strengthening the northwest Kansas economy is also important to the organization.
While the weekend is the keynote event, Riegel said planning, fundraisers and other concerts happen throughout the year.
“Each year, we have to start fresh,” she said. “Our fundraising efforts start now for next year's events.”
“And any money that we make during this festival will go toward next year and future events.”
Funds are supplemented by a volunteer workforce.
“I think right now we have around 40 to 50 volunteers to help us out,” Riegel said. “We give them free breakfast every morning, kind of a fun family-type event there. And some other free perks like camping for free in our primitive camping areas.”
Signup information can also be found on the Lovegrass website.
“We have people of all ages, all different cultures,” Riegel said. "It is super fun. We just have this really great vibe and family feel.”
“We love people who want to come out and lend a hand and join our Lovegrass crew. It takes an army to put something on like this, especially for setup and teardown… but it's all worth it in the long run. It's such fun, and we really appreciate those that lend a hand to us.”