Yonder Mountain String Band

I can hardly believe it’s almost October – it seems it was just a few weeks ago YMSB’s Harvest Music Festival 2013 was playing its final notes. This year, The Jayhawks are slated for an IOU performance they missed last year. Also on the lineup are festival namesakes Yonder Mountain String Band – they’re playing with Jerry Douglas this year in lieu of Jeff Austin leaving the band.

A year ago, Planet Bluegrass was in shambles. The North St. Vrain Creek, which carves a path along the venue’s northern and eastern borders, overflowed during a torrential downpour that lasted nearly a full week in mid-September. The 2013 Colorado Flood created a state of emergency in 14 counties and hit especially hard in Lyons. The town’s crown gem, which hosts the annual RockyGrass and Folks Festivals, was submerged under four feet of water.

No single thing makes a festival the “best festival ever.” Sure, one great band can make it really good. Or maybe the campground scene was where it was at. But it’s really when you group those moments with the ones of unbearable laughter, silly dancing, and inspirational people that a festival becomes the “best ever.” And you know what? The Northwest String Summit consistently brings the best.

Another year and another successful Bonnaroo adventure can be checked off the list.  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was rocking out to Sir Paul with my parental units at Bonnaroo 2013.  Where does the time go?  With each year I attend this festival, one thing does remain constant, change.  I was in attendance the first few years when