There’s a reason the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival is one of the longest running musical festivals in the state — anyone can get in on the act.
The festival may be known throughout the country for drawing some of the top bluegrass musicians in the U.S., but the experience is about far more than the talent on the stage. Wes Pettinger, promoter for the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival since 2013, still remembers the first time he experienced it.
It was 1973 and he was only 9 years old, but he can still remember the feeling he had attending that first festival with his dad. Everything about that moment, from the music to the people, ignited a passion within him for everything bluegrass.
“It’s all about the relationships,” he said. “A lot of friendships were made over the years, many that are still strong today. It’s always been a nice, family atmosphere.”
The musical atmosphere extends from the stage to the campgrounds where it is not uncommon to find musicians of all skill levels jamming together.
“One can expect everyone from the normal stage acts to a whole campground of different musicians in various jam sessions,” Pettinger said. “This can range from a couple of instruments with beginner’s to well seasoned players with five or more jamming together.”
Pettinger said the relationships are forged through the love of music.
“The cool thing is that there is usually every talent level of musicians in the park so those who are at a certain level seem to seek each other out and thus new friendships are made from various parts of the country and state,” Pettinger said.
This year’s festival takes place at the Eaton County Fairgrounds Thursday, June 16 through Saturday, June 18. You can also find bluegrass performers playing throughout the community that weekend in an effort to connect with the Celebrate Charlotte Festival.
This year’s lineup includes Steam Powered Bluegrass, Heart to Heart, Breakline, Deadwood, Harbourtown, and Spinney Brothers on Thursday; Sugar Creek Bluegrass, Tim Shelton & Guest, Rob Baker, Donna Ulisse, Special Consensus, and Russell Moore & iiird Tyme Out on Friday; and New Country Grass, Edgar Loudermilk Band feat. Jeff Autry, Blue Mafia, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Becky Buller, and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper on Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased for each day’s performance or for the entire weekend. Tickets are available online at CharlotteBluegrassFestival.com, your Charlotte Performing Arts Center or at Elderly Instruments in Lansing.
