This weekend, July 9 and 10, 2022, the Medford community will hold what they hope will become an annual event to be held each year the weekend after the 4th of July.
Grass on the Black, a Medford Area Bluegrass Festival, hopes to attract both existing bluegrass fans and newcomers who want to experience this American music phenomenon notable for its twanging banjos, three- and four-part harmonies, toe tapping melodies, and sing-along harmonies. The high-energy musical genre mixes traditional English, Scottish, and Irish ballads and dance music with the traditions of African American spirituals, and its birthplace is attributed to rural Appalachia in the 1940’s. Elements of gospel, folk, and country music are also evident.
Marilyn Frank, owner of Marilyn’s Fire Station located in downtown Medford, in conjunction with the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Medford, and other local businesses and Medford community sponsors, worked together to create the festival which will showcase bluegrass music throughout the city of Medford over the weekend. The Black River flows through downtown Medford, and hence the name of the festival.
Venues participating in Grass on the Black, a Medford Area Bluegrass Festival, on Saturday, July 9, include Marilyn’s Fire Station, 8th Street Saloon, Uncommon Ground, Cravings, Old School Saloon, 64 North, Hacienda, and the Grey Dog.
Medford Motors will provide a shuttle service van to the different venues in the city, and Krug Bus Service will provide transportation to and from Hacienda and 64 North. In addition to bands outside under tents (where possible), line dancing lessons and demonstrations such as square dance calling will be showcased.
The downtown Medford area will have streets closed off, and food trucks will be serving on Whelen Avenue: Merget’s Mouthwatering Mayhem, Everythang Tacos, The Brunch Box, and Big Papa BBQ. Outside of town, the Cravings food truck will be at 64 North, and they will also offer their regular menu for the event. All locations will have food and/or bar available on-site. Grandpa Choo Choo’s Popcorn and Kiwanis Sno-Cones will also be downtown.
Sunday morning will include more bluegrass at 8:00 a.m. at Uncommon Ground and at 10:00 a.m. at Hacienda, and Marilyn’s Fire Station will offer bloody marys.
More than a dozen bands/groups will perform 17 sets of music between Saturday and Sunday. Sewer Pigeon, The Good Time Gals, The Ottersons, The Blue Drifters, Doug Kroening, Central WI Line Dancers, Fennec Fox, Tuck Pence, Hemlock Chasers, Jared Hubbard, Dave Walters Old Pine Road, and Foragers are all scheduled to perform.
Organizers hope Grass on the Black will become an annual summertime tradition in Medford, and next year’s event has already been scheduled for July 8 and 9, 2023.