Bluegrass festival brings crowds to Lafayette
JamGrass features concert performances, family activities
Several vendors had tents set up during the JamGrass Festival as they sold artwork and other items to visitors. Photo by SCOTT KRISKA
LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP – The Medina County Coon Hunters Association grounds were the site of a three-day festival of bluegrass music, good food and fun activities June 22-24. The JamGrass Festival included performances from more than 15 bands throughout the three-day event.
JamGrass coordinator Kevin Cunningham said the first of these events took place in Medina County in 2014. He said a total of six JamGrass Festivals have been held since then.
“Most of what we do is support Ohio music and we also support the region’s Americana and bluegrass bands,” he said.
Some of the Ohio-based bands that performed this year included Blue Moon Soup from Yellow Springs, Drunken Sunday from Kent and Crooked from Hinckley. The festival also featured performances from three Columbus bands – Kris B’s Midnight Railroad, the Pupils of Groove and 710 Ashbury, as well as five bands from Athens – Acrylic Grooves, Serpentilia, Mountains Lost, Blue Moth and Curious Camels. Yet, other bands that performed at this year’s JamGrass originated from nearby states, such as Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. One band from Memphis, Tenn., The Rusty Pieces, also took the stage at the festival.
But the music was not the only highlight of the three-day extravaganza. Visitors had the opportunity to participate in various activities for the whole family. Among these activities were yoga, fishing and workshops in tie-dying, juggling, storytelling and poetry. Several vendors also had tents set up throughout the event.
Cunningham said the idea of JamGrass came from a party he attended with one of his friends.
“I was asked to be a best man for one of my best friends at his bachelor party,” he recalled. “We had a couple of bluegrass bands perform then.”
Cunningham said that combined with the fact that he owns a food truck gave him the idea to hold a festival combining bluegrass music with food. He added he was also inspired by DelFest, a similar bluegrass festival held annually in Cumberland, Md., started by bluegrass singer and guitarist Del McCoury.
Cunningham also pointed out JamGrass serves as an affordable camping trip for camping enthusiasts. Many of the visitors pitched tents to camp in throughout the three-day festival.
As another successful JamGrass gathering ends, Cunningham said he hopes all who attended enjoyed this family-friendly celebration of the bluegrass music genre.
“It’s a great time,” he said. “Everybody loves it.”
JamGrass coordinator Kevin Cunningham said the first of these events took place in Medina County in 2014. He said a total of six JamGrass Festivals have been held since then.
“Most of what we do is support Ohio music and we also support the region’s Americana and bluegrass bands,” he said.
Some of the Ohio-based bands that performed this year included Blue Moon Soup from Yellow Springs, Drunken Sunday from Kent and Crooked from Hinckley. The festival also featured performances from three Columbus bands – Kris B’s Midnight Railroad, the Pupils of Groove and 710 Ashbury, as well as five bands from Athens – Acrylic Grooves, Serpentilia, Mountains Lost, Blue Moth and Curious Camels. Yet, other bands that performed at this year’s JamGrass originated from nearby states, such as Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. One band from Memphis, Tenn., The Rusty Pieces, also took the stage at the festival.
But the music was not the only highlight of the three-day extravaganza. Visitors had the opportunity to participate in various activities for the whole family. Among these activities were yoga, fishing and workshops in tie-dying, juggling, storytelling and poetry. Several vendors also had tents set up throughout the event.
Cunningham said the idea of JamGrass came from a party he attended with one of his friends.
“I was asked to be a best man for one of my best friends at his bachelor party,” he recalled. “We had a couple of bluegrass bands perform then.”
Cunningham said that combined with the fact that he owns a food truck gave him the idea to hold a festival combining bluegrass music with food. He added he was also inspired by DelFest, a similar bluegrass festival held annually in Cumberland, Md., started by bluegrass singer and guitarist Del McCoury.
Cunningham also pointed out JamGrass serves as an affordable camping trip for camping enthusiasts. Many of the visitors pitched tents to camp in throughout the three-day festival.
As another successful JamGrass gathering ends, Cunningham said he hopes all who attended enjoyed this family-friendly celebration of the bluegrass music genre.
“It’s a great time,” he said. “Everybody loves it.”