The Grapevine Bluegrass Festival is this weekend at Tuscan Hills Winery in Effingham for its second year. The festival features live music all weekend, food vendors, and a kid’s area. Music at the festival begins at 6 p.m. Friday night.
“It’s one of the great American styles of music [bluegrass],” said Bill Passalacqua (Poss). “It was invented by Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, and Lester Flatt and those guys came up with this sound. It was sort of a hillbilly sound that incorporated banjo and mandolin and fiddles and they emphasized that certain beat that gives it that drive.”
According to Poss, while bluegrass can be fast or slow, the acts playing this festival mostly play “hard-driving” bluegrass. Bands come from near and far including, local favorite, Firebox and the headliner from last’s festival, Karl Shiflett and the Big Country show, that hails from Texas. Other groups playing the festival are traveling from Tennessee, Kentucky, and downstate Illinois.
“I think this a great event that people can bring their older parents to. I mean, a lot of these folks looking for something to do with older parents, they don’t have to drive to St. Louis or Indianapolis. They can stay right here in Effingham and have a great time. Do something that whole family can enjoy,” said Poss.
Several food vendors will be attending the event and a family friendly atmosphere will be encouraged. The festival is outdoors and will continue rain or shine. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. A weekend pass is $35 before midnight Friday and kids under the age 15 enter for free. For more information on the show click here! A shuttle will running from Tuscan Hills to Camp Lake and Country Inn and Suites to accommodate participants.
You can listen to our interview with Bill Poss here!