Head For The Hills

The Grateful Web just had an opportunity to speak with Joe Lessard, fiddle-player for Fort Collins based 'newgrass' act, Head for the HillsJoe talked with us about Head for the Hills' early beginnings at Colorado State University, why Colorado is a mecca for bluegrass and acoustic music, playing with bluegrass legends, and why now is the time for the

When Head for the Hills Fiddle-man Joe Lessard was asked in our recent interview what it is about Colorado that makes us Bluegrass Country, he replied “It must be something in the water, or a lack thereof.” The boys in the Fort Collins, Colorado born bluegrass band are at a pinnacle peak in their career.

Nestled high in the foot hills of the Poudre Canyon, the legendary Mishawaka Amphitheatre rests on the rocky banks of the Cache de la Poudre River. For the past 8 years, the Mish has served as the spring stopping ground for Ft. Collins’ favorite sons. And once again, this Saturday, May 12th, opening weekend arrived. It was time to Head for the Hills.

The night is young around midnight; the music loud, beads and balloons reflect the Mardi Gras aura at Fox Theatre with WhiteWater Ramble. The show, much like their music, is unpredictable to say the least. The evening consists of staple WhiteWater tunes, a few Mardi Gras classics, an always-packed stage of welcome accompaniments, and a crowd as wild as the performers.

It had been way to long since I last saw Leftover Salmon play together as a band. I recall the last time, way back in 2004, driving to the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in upstate New York, destined to see the band play as a festival headliner in one of their final gigs before ‘hiatus’.

The Front Range in Colorado has had a long lasting love affair with bluegrass. Something speaks so truly to the mountain-base dwellers that it could be the most active genre of music performed in much of the area.

The Northwest's premier acoustic music festival returns for its seventh year to beautiful Horning's Hideout in North Plains, Oregon, on July 18-20.  The event boasts three days of nearly all-acoustic music, culminating each night with main stage performances from musical hosts Yonder Mountain String Band, this year joined by special guest fiddler Darol Anger (David Grisman Quintet, Psychograss) and banjo/guitar virtuoso Danny Barnes (Bad Livers, Tim O'Brien Band).  Yonder Mountain String Band has been called "the

The state of Colorado can already boast two major bluegrass festivals, those being the world renowned Telluride Bluegrass and its spectacular younger cousin Rockygrass.  Well, a third of such would be the Yarmony Grass Music Festival, a bluegrass-featured gathering nestled deep in the Rocky Mountains.