Strums, hums, and voices of many gifted musicians lifted the spirits of all who attended the third annual Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival at Laketown Ranch in Youbou this past Father’s Day weekend. New to the bluegrass festival scene, I was excited to take it all in, but was only able to attend the final afternoon on dad’s day, as musician John Lennon once said, ‘Life is what happens when you are making other plans.’
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Sunday’s wet weather could not dull the shine of the performers, nor the moods of all those in attendance as great music was made and shared at the family friendly three-day event. Those who arrived early were delighted by the fancy footwork of flat footing with Craig Marcuk under the big top. Acts began to hit the main stage at 11 a.m., and it was Old Time Religion with the Doggone Brothers, Under the Rocks, and The Mighty Teardrops up first. Veranda took the stage at 12 p.m. followed by Golden Shoals at 1 p.m.
Attendees were either lounging in their own lawn chairs, grabbing some ground, or dancing under the cloudy sky as the sweet sounds of bluegrass filled it. I made my first ever vist to Laketown Ranch as New York’s Michael Daves, and Jacob Jolliff took the main stage, and for two smaller framed guys with acoustic instruments they filled the air with big bluesy sounds that brought attendees to their feet on more than one occasion as Daves big voice belted out and Jolliff created musical magic with his mandolin. They were even called back out for an encore performance.
Many hopefuls waited for the winner of the Martin acoustic guitar to be announced before the final act took the stage. Jack Johnson was called to the stage to receive his acoustic axe only to announce he was gifting it to a woman at the festival who recently had her guitar stolen. A sweet act of kindness was followed by the sweet sounds of The Po’Rambling Boys out of Nashville, Tennessee.
Referred to as the quintessential bluegrass band of their generation, this was the second time the Po’ Ramblin Boys graced the stage at the three day festival as they were also the second last act to play on Saturday. Closing the festival the band brought high energy through their voices and the sizzling sounds of their acoustic instruments which included banjos and fiddles.
Stringing together tremendous talent throughout the three day festival, the Cowichan Bluegrass festival was surely a silver lining for acoustic music lovers this weekend.
chadd.cawson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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