Wade Entezar And The Gray’s Harbor Bluegrass Festival Music That Matters
The Annual Grays Harbor Bluegrass festival is an event that you definitely want to be part of! The residents of Hoquiam City have always been proud with their love affair with this genre of music that got its start from the end of the Second World War and continued on to be a favorite among communities who like Hoquiam are made up of hard working people who like to hear good stories that touch your heart. Bluegrass bands both professional and amateur, fans from all walks of life gather for a few days in Hoquiam’s Olympic Stadium to sample the high lonesome sound that is distinct with true bluegrass melody.
Hoquiam’s love for bluegrass music can be readily explained by its history and heritage, two very important and valuable ideas to someone from the Grays Harbor area. The community was built, lost and found again by people who worked hard for their keep and hard work it was indeed and still. Bluegrass emanated tunes that reflected people’s wants and needs for the body and the soul in gritty spontaneous tunes that people find easy to connect with. So go on ahead and get a front row seat and fall in love with bluegrass.
During the festival you will be amazed as to the different pace and rhythm that each bluegrass band churns out their music, some fast and catchy with a nip of country genre but still not to be mistaken as such and other tunes being melancholic and heartfelt that the audience would feel like praying to the divine. This crescendo of notes is climaxed by the showdown between two of the bands members who alternately play tunes that are spontaneously dished out in an effort to wow the crowd and inspire or rather challenge the other guy to do better and this is all played out with two entirely different instruments, such as a mandolin going against an acoustic guitar or a banjo. Can you picture the excitement running through the audience at that point?
Most traditional bluegrass bands use a mixture of stringed acoustic instruments that deliver continuous melodies that touch the heart and soul of those who listen in a lively sort of manner, instruments like the banjo, acoustic guitar, violin and mandolin are all played together or in sequence or support to the main musicians’ efforts.
In bluegrass the climax of the performances are centered on the delivery of the instrumental solos that are played creatively without any rehearsal that on the spot challenges the skill and talent of the musician performing it.
Bluegrass music is very much alive in Grays Harbor and Hoquiam city, the festival brings together fans, bluegrass scholars and of course bluegrass musicians who enjoy each other’s company and talent. In Hoquiam’s Bluegrass festival it is not unlikely that some of the bands will play gospel songs and for the uninitiated this is considered as part of the bluegrass repertoire.
Aside from the well loved and much focused on traditional bluegrass music genre, other bands tend to be progressive in their use of other musical instruments to enrich their own style of bluegrass with some bordering their music play with instruments more commonly identified with mainstream country music, these type or form of progressive bluegrass is often referred to by avid bluegrass scholars and traditional fans as “Newgrass”.
If you love good ole music and enjoy amazing company and sumptuous food go lease an RV and go to Hoquiam during the Annual Grays Harbor Bluegrass Festival and sample bluegrass music at its best!