Pickersfest comes to Winlock this weekend

Richard Smith

Winlock Pickersfest is this weekend, August 2 through 4. This year it's not just bluegrass, but several different music genres. They have quite the lineup with everything from classical, jazz, blues, modern progressive bluegrass and swing.

Richard Smith is the headliner this year, he plays classical, jazz, blues and incredible ragtime music. Richard stated, "I will be bringinging finger picking music with the likes of Chet Adkins. I will play a little of everything from bluegrass, jazz and maybe even some classical." Richard was in Winlock a few years ago and is looking forward to coming back. "I was in Winlock and had a great time," he said. "We are going to turn it up this time."

They will also have a Celtic jam session with Steve Buckner on Friday, old time jazz with Doug Coppinger and swing jazz with Neil Massey, all on Friday afternoon. Friday night will have Ash Creek who plays bluegrass, then Eric Skye and Tim Connell who are jazz musicians. Then the Cowchips will play swing music and then Richard Smith.

The lineup for Saturday is just as incredible as Friday, but packed with a day full of fun.

Saturday starts with workshops for those who enjoy acoustic instruments. The first set of workshops starts at 10:00 a.m. with the fiddle, then the Dobro with Tim Dawdy at 11:00 a.m. At noon, enjoy the workshop with Kent Powell on the bass, then at 1:00 p.m. spend some time with Richard Smith on the guitar and at 2:00 p.m. hang out with Clayton Hess on the banjo. The final workshop is with Clay Knight at 3:00 p.m. on the mandolin.

Saturday at noon there will also be a slow jam and kids activities from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will also be an open mic from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The performances start at 4:00 p.m. with Ash Creek, 5:00 p.m. you can hear Runaway Train, 6:00 p.m. The Chowchips, 7:00 p.m. The Portland Radio Ponies, and finally at 8:00 p.m. you can hear headliner Richard Smith.

Sunday morning is open and free to the public. You can listen to The Portland Radio Ponies at 10:00 a.m. and then at 11:00 a.m. you have the opportunity to listen to Runaway Train.

This is a wonderful event and opportunity for the community. There are many different music genres. Food will be available near the Winolequa Park Board stand.