GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to the Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival (Grass Valley, CA) 6/12-6/15
Tag: live music
GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Colorado) 6/19-6/22
GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to The Moss @ Fonda Theatre (Los Angeles) on 4/30
GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to Alison Krauss & Union Station ft. Jerry Douglas @ The Greek Theatre (Los Angeles) on 7/13
GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to Drive-By Truckers & Deer Tick @ Fonda Theatre (Los Angeles) on 6/5
PHOTOS: The 2025 Desert Bluegrass Festival in Marana, Arizona
The first Desert Bluegrass Festival was held in 2000. Its 2025 iteration took place over the weekend of March 7 to 9 just northwest of Tucson in a beautiful desert park in Marana, Arizona. Despite a windy and rainy Friday night, the festival artists played on Saturday and Sunday bathed in beautiful south Arizona sunshine. The festival is 100% volunteer-run and its mission is to bring “family-oriented, high quality bluegrass and acoustic music entertainment” to the community and to visitors.
Perhaps this was not a high-powered festival, but it stayed true to its ambitions by creating a friendly atmosphere and a comfortable way to hear and see some excellent performances. The sound system was first class, there was plenty of room to sit, stretch out, or to get as close to the stage as anyone could want. Festival organizers made sure there was enough shade for listeners to cope with the bright desert sun and the artists performed with the beautiful Rincon Mountains and a snow-capped Mt. Lemmon in the background. Several hundred people arrayed themselves around the stage. As is often the case at bluegrass festivals, artists were accessible and friendly. And there were plenty of well-behaved bluegrass dogs enjoying the music.
Saturday’s headline group was the Becky Buller Band. Band members had been slated to lead workshops during the lunch break, but due to the crapshoot that is airline travel they were unable to get to the venue in time. However, they did an engaging set to close out a beautiful evening. Fiddler and band leader Buller led her outstanding fellow musicians through a performance of the song cycle of her newest album, Jubilee, with its message of hope, survival, and healing. This, together with some bluegrass-ified versions of Simon & Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell, contributed a more contemporary feel.
JamPak Blues ‘N’ Grass Neighborhood Band kicked off Sunday morning’s program. Based in Chandler, Arizona, the venerable Mrs. Anni Beach leads this long-running community youth band. JamPak musicians start young and some have played long enough to do some very respectable picking. Musical values are strong, and JamPak has spun off several generations of performers, including another band featured on Saturday, Cisco & the Racecars.
This was never going to be a jamgrass festival (as one attendee grumbed), given that its headline act took the stage before sunset. But the 2025 Desert Bluegrass Festival achieved a good mix of contemporary and traditional music, with consistently high level performances. It was a good chance to catch some regional bands, listen to some good sounds, and enjoy the beautiful desert setting. – Peggy Baker, Mad Angel Photos
Saturday morning festival goers ready for the bluegrass action.
JamPak Blues 'N' Grass Neighborhood Band is all about getting kids into bluegrass, blues, old-time, and more.
JamPak Blues 'N' Grass Neighborhood Band show the future of bluegrass is bright with their Saturday morning set.
JamPak Blues 'N' Grass Neighborhood Band with JamPak founder Anni Beach.
Getting the bass to the green room.
The festival volunteers who made the Desert Bluegrass Festival run.
Joelle Tambe-Ebot heads to the stage with her upright bass.
Setting up sound for Cisco & the Racecars.
Fracisco Briseno and Joelle Tambe-Ebot of Cisco & the Racecars.
A lone fiddle, ready to jam.
Never Come Down are a Portland, OR based bluegrass group quickly on the rise.
The Country Gentlemen Show tune up backgrounded by the Rincon Mountains.
The Country Gentlemen Show pays tribute to the impactful music of the iconic Hall of Fame bluegrass band.
Here's who's on and who's coming up.
Becky Buller performs in the golden Arizona sun.
Becky Buller and her excellent band perform 'Jubilee.'
Becky Buller Band take the stage to the delight of the Desert Bluegrass Festival audience.
Saturday afternoon audience members at the Desert Bluegrass Festival.
North of Lonesome are a local, Arizona-based bluegrass band and staples at Desert Bluegrass Association events.
Colorado-based Blue Canyon Boys take the stage.
Becky Buller and Ned Luberecki give a little bit of fiddle and banjo.
All photos by Peggy Baker, Mad Angel Photos.
GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to The Avett Brothers with Charles Wesley Godwin @ The Greek Theatre (Los Angeles) on 4/12
GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to Larkin Poe with Parker Millsap @ The Fonda Theatre (Los Angeles) on 4/23
GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win Tickets to the Los Angeles Folk Festival @ The Bellwether 3/22 & 3/23
Watch A New Live Video of Tommy Emmanuel Performing “Gdansk” and “Tall Fiddler”
In a black ruffled shirt on a brightly colored stage, Tommy Emmanuel sits with his guitar and, like always, amazes the audience with his music. His latest video, “Gdansk/Tall Fiddler (Live at The Sydney Opera House)” is an upbeat and beautiful showcase of his songs that demonstrates the excitement and ease Emmanuel brings to his music. The medley is a single from his forthcoming album, Live at the Sydney Opera House, out March 21.
The clip starts off with a new original, “Gdansk,” named after Gdansk, Poland, where Emmanuel wrote the tune. It’s soft yet energetic, emulating the feeling of calm ocean waves on a sunny day that at the same time brings energy and joy to the music. The peaceful and uplifting melody might make you want to get up and dance.
“Gdansk” then beautifully leads into another tune of Emmanuel’s entitled “Tall Fiddler,” a number off Emmanuel’s 2006 release Endless Road that was inspired by the great fiddler Byron Berline. With fast licks and a rock and roll feel, he effortlessly transitions between a bluegrass fiddle tune and a heavy, rocking vibe.
It’s easy to see the excitement Emmanuel brings to playing and performing. The way he just “goes for it” is utterly inspiring – you can see how the music takes over him as he becomes the vessel that brings it into fruition.
Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen
