July 14-16, 2023
Shady Grove Bluegrass Festival
Sundre Rodeo Grounds, 410 2 Ave. N.W., Sundre, Alberta
Schedule:
Friday, July 14 6:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 15 12:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Workshops
Sunday, July 16 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Tickets:
Weekend passes: $125
Youth 16 and under: FREE
Friday Pass: $45
Saturday Pass: $65
Sunday Pass: $35
Shady Grove is one of the longest running music festivals in Alberta. Started in 1990 by the Late Ken Wishart and wife, Rosemary, it was held for the first three years on their property in the small town of Nanton. Ken and Rosemary played, loved and embraced traditional bluegrass and made that the theme for the festival a theme which remains firmly in place to this day. In 1993 it moved to Broadway farm, an event farm just east of Nanton, its new home is now in Sundre.
The festival was operated as a non-profit organization by committee until 2006, and was dormant for two years until Foothills Bluegrass Music Society of Calgary stepped in to rejuvenate it in 2009.
Over the years, much of the talent has come from Alberta and other known Canadian bluegrass bands, but many of the bands were high profile groups from USA the likes of The Special Consensus, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Bluegrass Etc., Chris and Sally Jones, Lost Highway and Jeff Scroggins and Colorado.
There will be an open mic, workshops, and great performances. there will also be a saloon, beer gardens, food trucks, and performances by some of the best bluegrass groups from western Canada. There will be workshops and facilitated jams, so expect to get some sore fingers by the end of the weekend.
The quality and presentation of talent has always been top notch, and the volunteers make it run smooth as silk. Combine this with the charm and uniqueness of southern Alberta and it becomes one of the most unusual musical venues one would hope to find.
There is ample unserviced camping space and a family run food concession. Gates open at noon on Friday with first music after supper, then all day Saturday and closes mid-afternoon on Sunday.
2023 Lineup:
Under the Rocks, The Barrel Boys, John Reischman and Old Acoustic, Jake Vaadeland and The Sturgeon River Boys, The Lost Prospectors, Morningside, The Lonesome Town Painters, Leah Mae Gardiner and Kids, Over the Moon, The Slocan Ramblers, and more.
