Fresh Grass Festival at Mass MoCa
Three Days of Bluegrass Music
By: Philip S. Kampe - Aug 03, 2016
If you look at the poster of featured artists at the 2016 Fresh Grass Festival, you will obviously say, ‘How can this obscurely located art museum home to all of these musicians?'
The answer is simple, especially, if you have attended this truly unique bluegrass festival in the past. As much space as the museum has inside, it has an equal amount outside. Every nook and cranny at Mass MoCA is filled with music, whether it is a solo artist or a full turnkey bluegrass band.
This will be my third year that we will attend the festival. We have been counting the days, as I believe this musical and educational spectacle is ‘unique’ and is a ‘Must Attend’ event for anyone with whatever musical focus you have.
If you like Rock, this is for you. If you like Swing, this is for you. If you like Gospel, this is for you. If you like Heavy Metal, this is for you….variety abounds on the weekend of September 16-18 in North Adams, Massachusetts.
As one of thousands of replants, 34 years to be exact, the beauty, the history and the culture of the Berkshires, makes this area of the country a destination for many and an escape for others.
Mass MoCA has been at the forefront of the developing art world.
If you attend Fresh Grass make time to visit the area near North Adams that houses some of the world’s best art—especially the ClarkArt Institute and Williams College of Art in nearby Williamstown. Also, a short drive to Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts is a mere twenty minutes away. At the summit plan to enjoy lunch at Bascomb Lodge
Mass MoCA is home to a 19th century mill complex that has been turned into a 21st century museum. Located in North Adams, Mass MoCA is only three hours from NYC and under two and a half hours west of Boston. The museum is vast and houses some of the world’s largest installation art projects imaginable. Several years ago, a Ferris wheel occupied space in the museum. The galleries are open during the festival, so, if the same policies exist, entrance is free to all attendees of Fresh Grass.
This years Fresh Grass lineup includes:
Rosanne Cash
Ricky Scaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Alfie O’Donovan
Old Crow Medicine Show
The Famous Stringdusters
The Devil Makes Three
Glenn Hansard
Cold Chocolate
Berklee American Roots Music Program
Ramblin Jug Stompers
Long Journey
Pinedrop
M Shanghai
Common Folk Jam
Mamma’s Marmalade
Izzy Heltai and Secret Creature
Jeb Barry and the Pawn Shop Saints
Sierra Hull
Parsonfield
Stephane Wrembel
Ruthie Foster
Mile Twelve
Johnny Reischman and the Jaybirds
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Alison Brown
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Darol Anger
Glenn Hansard
Lau
Mr. Sun
Old Salt Union
Rana Santacruz
Zoe & Cloyd
The Grass’D Waltz: Alison Brown & Friends Play the Music of the Band
Fresh Grass brings together the best in bluegrass music, representing both traditional and cutting-edge styles. There are instrument-specific workshops, where you can learn from the professional musicians one-on-one.
Tickets for the three day festival are $99, students are $89 and a child from 7-16 are $46.
Camping is available for two nights: Tent is $90 and RV camping is $120.
The FreshPass, for $300, includes preferred seating, meet and greet opportunities, an exclusive tour of the galleries with a museum curator, access to the FreshPass lounge with unlimited snacks and beer.
Visit www.FreshGrass.com to book your tickets before they are sold out.