COVENTRYVILLE – An exciting weekend of music and friendship in a family-oriented atmosphere is on tap for all those who prefer their grass blue. The annual Penny Memorial Day Bluegrass Festival will be held this weekend from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon at the Wrench Wranch, Rte. 206, Coventryville, NY. It’s located between Bainbridge and Greene and is just six miles west of Bainbridge.
“We’re trying to promote and maintain Bluegrass which has seen its share of highs and lows over the past 40 years,” said Gene Clayton, an organizer of the event. Since the early 1980s, the festival has been held at the “Wrench Wranch,” which started out as an annual impromptu gathering of family with a devout love of the Bluegrass movement.
Popularity of the genre has wavered over time, with turnout hovering at just less than 500 from the nearly 1000 that turned out following a boost in Bluegrass culture after the release of the popular hollywood hit “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” in mid-2000.
“We are in a unique position in that we don’t have to raise money for the event, we just have to break even. We focus our efforts on promoting the acts that we bring to the stage and donate our proceeds to those in need, at our discretion,” said Clayton.
Clayton indicated that while the festivals’ musicians are compensated, their pay is based on gate fees and they play for the love of playing – which is an uncommon practice that many traveling musicians are having to face in the current state of the performing economy.
“Memorial Day weekend is very competitive when it comes to booking and there are several other activities going on all over the place – but these musicians chose to be here with us, for the love of the music,” added Clayton.
Penny (Pennsylvania-New York) Country and Bluegrass Music Association is a nonprofit group whose goal is to encourage and support old time country and bluegrass music by offering authentic Bluegrass and Americana acts in a relaxed, festival atmosphere.
This year’s lineup will include the timeless and unique sounds of Cedar Ridge, Gospel Way, Slygo Creek, Lonesome Road Ramblers, Coal Town Rounders, Hot Wings & Cold Feet, Louis Setzer, LykenValley Slewfoot, Spare Parts and of course – Wrench’s Wranglers.
The festivities are set to begin Thursday night with a potluck supper at 6 p.m., followed by an open stage. On Friday, at 1 p.m., the booster club will have an auction, then music begins around 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. Saturday, music begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m.
