Concert Window Takes the Bluegrass Festival Online in February Roundup

Bluegrass may feel old as the hills, but it’s a relatively recent art form, created after World War II when the legendary Bill Monroe gave a high-voltage jolt to country and traditional music, speeding up the melodies and adding that plaintive lonesome voice over the top. The roots of the music, the songs and tunes that echoed from porches, in kitchens, at dances, were experienced up close and personal, with audience and musicians interacting.

It’s no surprise, then, that the cream of bluegrass will be taking part in the inaugural Concert Window Bluegrass Roundup, running from February 20-28, with concerts aired online from all over the United States.

“A lot of people don’t think that bluegrass fits with new technology,” explains Emma Beaton, Artist Relations Manager for Concert Window. “But bluegrass artists have really embraced new technology, especially online. . We’re very proud to be the first company to ever run an online bluegrass festival, welcoming these artists to the Concert Window Community and the online stage.  We’re huge bluegrass fans and are  excited to have folks doing shows online.”

Bluegrass legend and former Bill Monroe bandmate, Roland White, will be hosting a “super jam” of Nashville bluegrass all-stars from a studio. Also on the bill are famed singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale, the mandolin duo of Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg, along with other heavyweights – Nedski and Mojo, Justin Moses with Cody Kilby and Sierra Hull, The Barefoot Movement, Chessboxer, Mipso, Wood and Wire, the Purple Hulls and more. Over the course of nine days they’ll all perform sets from different locations, ranging from a backstage concert area to hotel rooms. Best part? All these shows are pay-what-you-want, available right in your living room.

The platform offers the perfect coming together of artist and audience. Concerts can be broadcast through a laptop or iPhone/iPad, so they can happen absolutely anywhere with a broadband connection. It’s simple, and it’s free. As well as watching the musicians, fans will be able to communicate with them – and with each other – via chat and give virtual ‘tips’ to the performers. It’s a new digital stage for down-home music.

“The timing is just right for a digital bluegrass festival,” Beaton says. “We’ll overlap with the annual Folk Alliance conference at one end, and at the other with Wintergrass in Washington State. People are hungry for the music, and the audience is growing every year.”

This might be their first bluegrass outing, but Concert Window is no stranger to festivals. The platform holds one every month, the theme changing each time.

“We started last May,” Beaton says. “In November we did regional festivals, then December was a holiday theme. Last month we focused on new artists, and coming up is the Concert Window All-Stars, made up of groups of people who regularly perform on Concert Window.”

A digital bluegrass festival. It’s a 21st century idea that brings music to listeners in a wonderfully intimate way. Just like in the good old days.