February 2012 Update:
Randy and Heather Kennedy have safely survived the extensive flooding in Bridgewater caused by Hurricane Irene. Unfortunately, the flooding caused massive destruction to both the festival field and their home place upstream. They have been working hard for months to clean up their land and ruined belongings...a job that will continue for years. Much of what was lost to them on that terrible day can never be replaced. Their lives have been forever changed. Happily, their house and much of their festival equipment also survived.
The fate of their North Branch Bluegrass Festival remained uncertain for months until a series of extraordinary kindnesses from neighbors, family, festival fans, and the Bluegrass Community came to their assistance. Today, with overwhelming encouragement and help, Randy and Heather are pleased to announce a benefit bluegrass festival next Labor Day Weekend to help continue The North Branch Bluegrass Festival and help get Randy & Heather Kennedy back on their feet. While the field might not be entirely free of damaged areas, the Kennedys are doing their best to ensure a safe venue for a reunion with their festival fans. The benefit festival show will consist of 15 regional bluegrass bands, each of whom are volunteering their time and talents to create a festival similar to that which was lost to the flood of 2011. You are invited to please join us and bear witness to this wonderful event. Specific details will follow as they become available.
Randy and Heather Kennedy present...
Festival Aid: Life in the 'Breakdown' Lane
A Hurricane Irene Benefit Bluegrass Festival to Help
The North Branch Bluegrass Festival
Your Staycation Destination For Labor Day Weekend Every Year |
| Thursday | August 30, 2012 | Weekend Camping Begins after 3 PM OPEN STAGE at 6 PM |
| Friday | August 31, 2012 | Festival Show & Workshops 10 AM - 8 PM |
| Saturday | September 1, 2012 | Festival Show & Workshops 10 AM - 8 PM |
| Sunday | September 2, 2012 | Festival Show & Workshops 10 AM - 8 PM |
Early Bird Camping & Field Picking begins Sunday August 26th
| Early Bird Camping | Pet Policy |
Advance Tickets |
| LineUp |
Workshops |
Vendors |
| Camping |
Admissions |
Volunteers/Sponsors |
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For a 2012 printable festival flyer, click here!
Help us spread word of our festival by printing out a few extra flyers for your family, friends, and neighborhood bulletin boards. Thanks very much.
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North Branch Bluegrass Festival will be opening the gate early to campers and field pickers! Beginning at 10 am on Sunday August 26, 2012, we'll open up for 4 extra nights for a $10 per person additional charge to our $50 at-the-gate weekend festival price. Bring your well-behaved friends and field pick to your heart's delight.
Advance weekend tickets are available by mail for $45 each. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope and check or money order made payable to "Heather Kennedy" and send to: R & H Kennedy, North Branch Bluegrass Festival, 74 Chateauguay Road, Bridgewater Corners, VT 05035. If no SASE is enclosed, tickets will be held for you at the gate. Requests must be postmarked by July 10, 2012. Advance tickets are not refundable. Your weekend ticket begins after 3 PM on Thursday. Thursday night campers are asked to please stay out of the concert area until after 5 PM while we finish setting up the 6 PM OPEN STAGE.
2012 LineUp*
Festival Master of Ceremonies: Donnie "The Story Man" Sprague
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We're pleased to introduce you to our 2012 festival lineup. It's chuckerblock full of very gifted musicians, all promising to deliver you a great bluegrass show.
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Appalachian Uprising (NJ) Fri/Sat |
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| The Woedoggies (VT) Sat/Sun |
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Chasing Blue (MA) Fri/Sat |
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| Big Spike Bluegrass (VT) Fri Vermont's quintessential hard-driving bluegrass band...and unofficial favorite sons of North Branch! |
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The Plainfield Plowboys (NH/VT) Sun |
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Fairview Avenue (NY) Fri Don't let their city-slicker address fool you...this is real bluegrass at its' best! |
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Flat Top Trio (VT) Sat/Sun |
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Four Bridges (MA) Fri/Sat
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| The Whiskey Boys (MA) |
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Dusty Pilgrims (VT) Sat/Sun |
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| Mississiquoi River (VT) Sat/Sun |
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Willoughby Gap (CT) Fri |
Open Stage
6 pm Thursday August 30 th
featuring Opening Performer and Open Stage MC, Joshua James Gerrish
http://www.youtube.com/user/JoshuaJGerrish
For a festival schedule, click here
Camping!
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Free rough camping included with a 3 day Weekend pass. RV's, campers, and tent camping welcome.
See our Pet Policy below.
Camping Rules:
1) Camping on festival grounds is limited to those 18 years or over or else you must be accompanied by a parent or grandparent who can be legally responsible for you. At registration, liability waivers will need to be signed by ALL campers staying overnight at the festival.
2) Pack it in...Pack it out. Please leave the field as beautiful as you found it.
3) We currently have happy neighbors. We wish to be respectful of EVERYONE's right to a good night's sleep. You may play music all night long but a lower volume is appreciated.
4) Our existing "No Nonsense or Rude Behavior" policy, "No Visible Alcohol" policy, and all other festival rules must be obeyed at all times. We want everyone to have a safe and happy weekend.
5) No Open Fires - All fires must be contained in a firepit that will not damage or scorch the field. You must have a container of water nearby your firepit at all times in case of gusty winds. Please do not leave your fire unattended. No digging or rock fireplaces - Firepits Only.
6) Generators quiet 10 pm - 8 am.
7) Obnoxious persistent use of generators is not allowed at our festival.
Other Camping Information:
Access: The festival grounds is a huge open field that is essentially flat with a few rolling undulations. The soil is well-drained. We have safely accommodated campers and Motorhomes of all sizes on the field. If you have a really large vehicle, you may find the sharp left turn down the festival grounds at the end of the oak chapel bridge a bit challenging. If you stay on the tar road and drive up to the next bend, on the right is Martin Excavating's shop. It has a large parking lot which we are allowed to use as a turnaround. Please be courteous when using.
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES head up the dirt road (Braley Road) at the end of the oak chapel bridge...THERE IS NO TURNAROUND up the hill.
Dumping Station: Looking for a dumping station for your camper? We don't have one of our own but there's a nearby State Park in every direction from here that does. They charge $10 to dump and will be expecting you. Most are available to you from 9 am 'til 9 pm.
Water: There is a limited supply of non-drinking water. You will need to fill your camper tanks before you come. We'll have a small pump and a bucket you can borrow for refilling. Half-litre bottled spring water for drinking is available when the food concession is open.
Saved spots: Sorry, there are no saved spots at North Branch. It's first come-first served.
Camper Parking Shape: Campers must park in rows at our festival, we do not allow boxed in courtyards...we think they're unfriendly and unsafe in the event of a fire or medical emergency. Campers are most welcome to face each other awning to awning.
With 25 acres available, we have the perfect grounds for dogs to play and enjoy the festival. Unfortunately, insurance restrictions, our own liabilities, and local regulations require that we must limit the activities of your best friend. so, here's what we've come up with....
Dogs will be allowed at the North Branch Bluegrass Festival only under the following conditions:
1) No "day dogs". You must be a weekend camper in order to bring your dog.
2) You must have proof of vaccination certificate with you. No dogs will be allowed in without actual paperwork.
3) You must sign a waiver of liability form in order for us to allow you in.
4) All dogs must stay in the camping area. NO DOGS ALLOWED in concert area or parking areas.
5) You are required to clean up after your pet.
6) Dogs must stay on leashes (Town Leash Law).
7) Our "No Nonsense or Rude Behavior" policy applies to everyone...including your dog. If your dog barks too much or bothers folks, we'll need to ask you to leave for the good of the festival.
The North Branch Bluegrass festival is a field-picking musician's festival. Our professional musicians will be hosting 5 workshops each day throughout the weekend. These are free and are open to everyone, regardless of skill level. Festival goers are welcome to attend as many workshops as they like.
Workshop Schedule 2012
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11:30 AM 12:30 PM 1:30 PM 2:30 PM 3:30 PM
Day Tickets - Festival Show & Workshops Only.
No Camping Privileges With Day Tickets. Gate Opens Daily at 9 AM
$20 Donation Adults
$5 Donation Children Ages 5 to 15 With Supervising Adult
Under Age 5 Always Free
Friday August 31, 2012 Festival Show & Workshops 10 AM - 8 PM Saturday September 1, 2012 Festival Show & Workshops 10 AM - 8 PM Sunday September 2, 2012 Festival Show & Workshops 10 AM - 8 PM Weekend Passes* - Admission includes camping for eligible campers on Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday nights. Campers may stay until noon on Monday September 3, 2012.
*See Camping section for important eligibility requirements.
$50 Donation Adults
$20 Donation Children Ages 5 to 15 With Supervising Adult
Under Age 5 Always Free
Early Bird Camper Special - $10 Donation per person Arrive early to the festival anytime from Sunday August 26th through Wednesday August 29th. You must also buy your $50 Weekend Pass upon arrival. No prepayment or saved spots. Thursday night campers are asked to please stay out of the concert area until after 5 PM while we finish setting up for the 6 PM OPEN STAGE. Early Birds wanting to be helpful may introduce themselves upon arrival and sign in anytime over at the ticket booth. We'll put you to work from there if we need help with something. Thanks in advance for offering.
Advance Tickets - $45 Donation For Weekend Pass Only Must be postmarked by July 10, 2012. Please send SASE with payment made payable to "Heather Kennedy" to: R & H Kennedy, North Branch Bluegrass Festival, 74 Chateauguay Road, Bridgewater Corners, VT 05035
Please note: Out-of-State Checks and Electronic Money are not accepted at our festival
A growing festival takes dedicated help...and lots of it. 'Team North Branch' is always on the lookout for new team members. If you are an able-bodied helpful person who can follow directions without heading off on your own, we'd love to meet you. Please email Heather Kennedy at Info@NBBluegrass.com. It takes all year to prepare and several weeks to setup our mobil festival. We are always on the lookout for extra hands during the summer months, especially at festival time. Festival staff who work halftime during the whole festival earn free admission.
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North Branch Bluegrass Festival is seeking non-food vendors for 2012. Our 3 day rate for a 10' x 10' pop-up tent with fabric walls is available to rent for a prepaid fee of $75. Each vendor must also purchase an advance $45 weekend pass. Interested parties can please contact by e-mail or phone for a vendor application. Space is limited and acceptance is subject to our approval.
The North Branch Wishing Well
It's easy to believe in big dreams but much more difficult to privately finance them if you're regular working-class people like us. We've spent our life savings trying to bring this festival home to our Bridgewater. We hope that a positive annual event like this will help energize our local sense of community and sustain us through difficult times. If you wish to support our efforts, we welcome your donation or business sponsorship. Please call, write, or e-mail us. This is a privately run and funded festival. It's our personal attempt at fending for ourselves in our old age. Please understand that donations to the festival are not considered to be tax deductible contributions, but business sponsorships may be.
If you wish to be recognized for your donation by becoming a business sponsor, advertising space is available on our Website, Festival Posters, and Event programs. Stage display area for your business banner and Onstage mentions of your sponsorship are also available. We have worked very hard to earn our new reputation as good promoters and plan to continue our course. We'd be happy to answer any specific questions regarding potential monetary donations, equipment donations, business advertising sponsorships, volunteering, or any other offers of assistance to our festival.
Randy and Heather Kennedy
North Branch Bluegrass Festival
74 Chateauguay Road
Bridgewater Corners, VT 05035
1-802-672-3042
info@ nbbluegrass.com
