Heyo Neighbors, welcome back to another cold January week around The Campfire. This week, we’re continuing down our road to the WinterWonderGrass Festival 2025. Today’s artist spotlight shines on Dan Andree and his band, The Fretliners.
We’re continuing down our road to the WinterWonderGrass, with this unique festival just around the corner, running from February 27 – March 2, 2025, in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Veterans of the festival, Dan and The Fretliners will be featured at this year's event.
If you want to see Dan and his bandmates play in Steamboat next month, I've partnered with good folks at Bonfire Entertainment to offer MFP Neighbors the chance to win two (2) complimentary GA passes to this one-of-a-kind winter music festival.
The Fretliners formed in 2022 and quickly established themselves as one of the freshest sounds in contemporary bluegrass. The band features an impressive lineup of talent. The band features our guest Dan Andree on fiddle, Tom Knowlton on guitar, Sam Parks on mandolin, and Taylor Shuck on bass. Their journey began with casual jam sessions that evolved into a full-fledged project after just one performance.
In 2023, The Fretliners took home top honors at both the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest and RockyGrass Band Contest, a feat that elevated their profile in the national bluegrass scene.
During our conversation, Dan talks about everything from his beginnings a classical violinist, his transition to bluegrass fiddle and what attendees can expect from them and the winterWonderGrass vibes in Steamboat . He also shares updates on their upcoming performances, their new EP out in 2024 and plans for larger tours that will take them far away from the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Click play and check out my conversation with Dan to learn what's in store for The Fretliners in 2025.
The Florida Sand Music Ranch, with its unique blend of natural beauty and modern amenities, sets the perfect stage for this vibrant, multi-day celebration.
This year's full lineup was announced this week, headlined by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Big Something and Andy Frasco & The U.N. Attendees can also look forward to performances by Sicard Hollow, Grateful Shred, LaMP, as well as regional and local bands and artists.
Beyond the performances, the festival offers a variety of activities designed to engage and entertain attendees of all ages. Festival-goers can participate in late-night silent discos, sound meditation sessions, yoga classes, and kids' arts and crafts workshops. These activities ensure that there is something for everyone, making it a perfect event for families and friends alike.
The Florida Sand Music Ranch provides a comfortable and accommodating environment, featuring amenities such as RV and tent camping options, hot showers, bathrooms, shaded pavilion areas, and ADA-accessible facilities. Tickets are available in multiple tiers, including 3-day, 2-day (Friday & Saturday), and 1-day passes, with music and camping tickets sold separately. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sunshinegetdown.com. Make your plans now and secure your tickets now at the festival website at sunshinegetdown.com
With the 2025 Line Up set to drop next week, the 2025 edition of the 4848 Festival at West Virgina's Snowshoe Mountain Resort has been announced. This year's fest will take place from July 17th - 19th at it's usual home in the mountains of West Virginia.
Spanning 11,000 acres in the Appalachian Mountain Range, Snowshoe Mountain includes the second highest point in West Virginia at 4,848 feet (hence the festival namesake), providing a stunning festival backdrop for all Neighbors in the crowd.
Attendees can look forward to performances on two main stages featuring 20 genre-busting bands over three days and nights. Beyond the music, the festival offers a variety of activities, including scenic lift rides, swimming, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, hiking trails, and more. The resort's amenities, such as Split Rock pools, eurobungy, and a climbing wall, enhance the "festivacation" experience.
Whether opting for room packages or camping, festival-goers can enjoy comfortable accommodations amidst the natural beauty of Snowshoe Mountain. With average July temperatures ranging from highs of 82°F to lows of 60°F at the elevation, the festival promises a comfortable summer retreat filled with music, outdoor adventures, and welcoming community vibe.
For more information and updates, visit the official festival website at 4848festival.com.
This annual indoor music festival, curated by The Werks, promises an exciting lineup that spans a variety of genres including jam, funk, and electronic music.
Attendees can look forward to performances from The Werks, who will be playing both nights, along with other notable acts such as Tropidelic, The Floozies, and Mihali (formally of Twiddle). The festival also features artists like Spoonbill, Artifakts, and Chalk Dinosaur, ensuring a killer mid-winter musical experience.
This venue's distinctive ambiance creates a unique (and somewhat revertant...) festival experience for fest enthusiasts. For those interested in attending, the Winter Werk Out offers more than just music. It is a celebration of creativity and community, bringing together a wide array of artists and fans.
To learn more about the festival and to purchase tickets, visit the official festival page at liveatthebluestone.com.
Widely celebrated as one of the best mandolin players on the planet, Hull brings a dynamic mix of bluegrass, rock, and folk to the Salmonfest stage. A child prodigy, Hull released her first album at the age of 10 and quickly joined the ranks of bluegrass royalty. She is a multiple-time Grammy-nominated artist, a six-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, and a sought-after collaborator, having worked with music legends like Dolly Parton, Béla Fleck, Billy Strings, and Brandi Carlile.
Salmonfest is known for its robust blend of music, art, and environmental advocacy, particularly focusing on the preservation of Alaska's salmon and their habitats.
Each year, this festival features over 60 bands across four stages, and showcases a wide range of musical genres. The event also offers a variety of activities, including the Smoked Salmon Super Bowl Competition, which highlights the state's rich culinary traditions. The festival is family-friendly, providing a dedicated area for children's activities and arts and crafts projects.
Tickets for Salmonfest 2025 are on sale now, with early bird pricing available. Visit salmonfestalaska.org for more information and to grab your early bird tickets at the lowest price.
If you like what you read, watch and listen to, please make sure to rate the show wherever you get it. 🙏
Next week, we're going to continue with our WinterWonderGrass 2025 artist previews with another fiddler — one who has already had a long and decorated music career. I am talking with Deanie Richardson from the all-girl bluegrass band, Sister Sadie.
This Nashville-based bluegrass combo, has earned numerous accolades, including three consecutive wins as IBMA Vocal Group of the Year (2019–2021) and making history in 2020 as the first all-female band to be named IBMA Entertainer of the Year. The group’s 2019 Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album further cements their standing as new trailblazers in the bluegrass genre.
Deanie and I dig into her background and long career, her passion for teaching and the bands their latest 2024 album No Fear. We'll also chat on the band's upcoming performance at WinterWonderGrass. Make sure to tune in next week for that conversation.
Within the month of January, you'll notice a new contests page on the site that will house ticket giveaways for various festivals throughout the year, including CaveJam, WinterWonderGrass, InkCarceration and many more to come. Make sure to get on the list so that you can enter to win free passes to some killer fests!
You can also connect with me on Instagram @neighborn8fests or drop me an email with suggestions, new festival tips, or just to say “heyo.” If you see me out at a fest, don’t hesitate to come say hello.
Hats off to Turner Moore of Obsession Productions for producing great festivals in Florida. The video below is the official recap of the 2024 Sunshine Hootenanny Music and Arts Festival that featured bans including headliners Dogs in a Pile, Karina Rykeman and moe.
The festival took place place from November 21-23, 2024, at the beautiful Florida Sand Music Ranch in Brooksville, Florida. This video does a nice job of really capturing the vibe at the Florida Sand Music Ranch, and I'm honored that some of my MFP footage was included in the highlights. The jam you hear was from Friday night's performance my moe.
Video Credit: Obsession Productions