By By LAUREN MISCHEL / Niles Daily Star
In its seventh year, this year's Niles Bluegrass Festival continues to strive to bring some of the top bluegrass bands to Niles. This year's headliners are The Waybacks, Audie Blaylock &Redline, and Special Consensus.
San Francisco natives, The Waybacks, offer much more than is typically found in traditional bluegrass. After touring with Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir and playing at a huge range of venues and festivals, their sound has evolved and grown into something much more than traditional bluegrass has explored in the past. John Nash, founding signer, songwriter, and guitarist, examines the unpredictability of their music.
But that's only one of the 20 bands due at the Niles Bluegrass Festival, and only one option for fun. The festival offers a variety of entertainment from arts and crafts, camping, or making some of your own tunes with new and old friends in the Workshop and Pickers Tent.
Tom Majerek, festival organizer as well as Niles native, knows what runs this festival.
"There are many things that make this festival so special," says Majerek. "The main reason is that the community of Niles and its people are special. Everyone that comes to our festival is impressed with the beauty of our area and the accommodating people who live and work here. There are few festivals in the United States that have a more scenic venue than the Niles Riverfront Park."
Just because times are tough doesn't mean you have to put off your summer fun. The festival is free for all, so come down to the park and see what's happening. Whether you are looking for an "unpredictability" good time or just fun for you and your family the Niles Bluegrass Festival looks to be a jammin' good time.
For more information visit http://www.nilesbluegrass.com.
Special Thanks to our sponsors:
The City of Niles, The Parks and Recreation Board, Niles DDA Main Street, The Plym Foundation, The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, MCACA-Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Niles Optimist Club, Riverfront Optimist Club, Coldwell Banker R E Specialists, Wonderland Cinema, Huntington Bank, Tyler Automotive, Wing's Etc., Delta Machining Inc., Niles Vision Clinic, Majerek's Newsstand, Delta Machining Inc., Campbell Ford Lincoln – Mercury Inc., The Bell Building, Four Flags Antique Mall, Cassady, Neeser &Brassuer, MDS Delivery, Niles – Buchanan YMCA, SCI Alarm, Pilkington, Shelton's Farm &Market, Massimo's Pizzeria, Modineer Company, Cook Drilling Co. LLC, Abbey Carpet &Floor, American Tree Care, Inc., Fraternal Order of Eagles #2094, Greater Niles Community Federal Credit Union, Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, Haslett &Gaynor, P.C., Four Flags Area Apple Festival, The Hob Nob Bistro, The Paris, Riverfront Cafe, Cycle and Fitness, Joy's Johns, The Nuggett Downtown Grille, Michiana Recycling &Disposal, Veni's Sweet Shop, Save-A-Lot, The Niles Daily Star, Click Commerce, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 153.