A feast of bluegrass set to wow audiences in Newton Stewart this weekend

18 May 23
by Nathon Jones

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Over 19th-21st May 2023 musicians, performing artists and enthusiasts from across the UK make their way to The Vault Arts Centre for the 2nd annual SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival; 3 days of concerts, workshops and picking sessions featuring the very best of UK & International bluegrass music!

Jaywalkers performing in the Festival Marquee

Kicking off opening night on Friday 19th May are two of Scotland's top bluegrass bands, The Fountaineers and Good Guy Hank.

The Fountaineers feature the incredible talents of Callum Morton (Mandolin), Jerri Foreman (Fiddle), Michael Wright (Guitar) and Joe Smee (Bass); a collaboration of four individuals living in Glasgow, slowly drawn together through the city's dedicated Old Time music community. Blending vocal harmonies with buoyant musical improvisation, they are an entertaining outfit to discover through live performance.

Good Guy Hank are from the harmonious Heartlands of Scotland and the musical metropolis of Melbourne, Australia.  They bring all of the heartbreak, joy and everything in-between with blistering bluegrass country guitar, lightning mandolin, virtuoso fiddle playing and three-part harmonies galore.

Saturday 20th May kicks off from 12noon with a host of educational workshops aimed at all levels and ages, and offers a chance to learn bluegrass mandolin, fiddle, improvisation skills and songwriting.  Supported by the British Bluegrass Music Association (BBMA), workshops are free for under 25s to attend and are also included in the cost of a Weekend Pass ticket.

Saturday evening's concert features Bristol based multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Hannah Powson who is well known for her group Fritillaries.  Hannah is supported by Alan & Louise Mairs who are a dobro/guitar duo and legendary figures on the Scottish bluegrass scene.  To close the evening, the fantastic Quick are a 5-piece ‘newgrass’ band currently based in Glasgow but with a local connection through mandolin player and vocalist Willem McKie who is originally from Kirkcowan.

Jamming and picking sessions take place throughout the weekend in the Festival Marquee and The Vault Arts Centre as well as in venues throughout Newton Stewart and Minnigaff, with musicians of all ages coming together with friends, family and like-minded people to play, listen to and enjoy bluegrass music.

Project Co-ordinator & Festival Director Nathon Jones said "Last Spring the charity launched a new music festival in the region, riding high on the success of the much-loved mid-Summer traditional music festival and also because of the connections and passion both I and members of the Board of Trustees have for traditional bluegrass/americana music."

"SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival was born, and this year we're delighted to be hosting it again. The weather forecast looks very promising and The Festival Marquee and The Vault Arts Centre are ready to welcome visitors for another fabulous weekend of music and entertainment."