Lake Placid’s large sports venues have dabbled over the years in hosting concerts. The Grateful Dead played a show or two here, and I remember New Kids on the Block playing here when I was a pre-teen dying to see them (my parents wouldn’t let me go!). I saw my first Phish and Bob Dylan shows at the 1980 rink, and there have been some other great acts at various times at Whiteface and the Olympic venues throughout the years. But those venues don’t host music events regularly, so it’s always exciting when one is announced. The second I heard they were planning to hold a bluegrass festival this fall, I had to learn more!

The Lake Placid Bluegrass Jam is set to be held Saturday, Oct. 25, at the 1932 rink of the Olympic Center, with doors opening at noon and music running from 12:30 to 11 p.m. The exact schedule isn't finalized, but it should be released soon. General admission tickets are $55 pre-sale and $65 at the door. You can also get VIP tickets for $80 pre-sale or $90 at the door, and they include an exclusive viewing area, an exclusive bar, a limited edition poster, a T-shirt, complimentary water and sports drinks, and a festival laminate.

Jon Lundin, spokesman for the authority that oversees the Olympic venues, told me that his organization has been searching to bring concerts to the Olympic Center for some time, and bluegrass fit what they and the village is looking for because it's a popular genre that is good for all demographics. They liked the idea of creating a festival atmosphere with two stages in the 1932 rink. 

"The rink is also small, for an intimate setting, which we hope people will enjoy," he told me. "This type of setting, combined with general admission, will allow those who attend to be close to the performers."

He said they're shooting for about 2,000 people to attend. If you're coming from out of town, there are plenty of options for lodging in the area. 

The bill for the Bluegrass Jam is impressive, headlined with two legendary bluegrass acts, Sam Bush and the Del McCoury Band. They are padded out with a variety of other great musicians that will keep you dancing all day. Get ready for a pickin’ good time!

Sam Bush

Sam Bush is a mandolin player who is considered one of the founders of a bluegrass style called progressive bluegrass, or “newgrass,” which generally incorporates electric instruments or other elements from rock and other types of music, uses chord progressions you wouldn’t find in traditional bluegrass, and uses improvisation.

The 62-year-old Bush has an impressive resume, playing over the years with a pile of talented musicians like Bela Fleck, Doc Watson, Leon Russell, Lyle Lovitt and Emmylou Harris. He is also a well-celebrated artist:

• He has three Grammy awards.
• He was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Americana Music Association.
• He was chosen to host the 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards.
• The state of Kentucky passed legislation coining Bush the “Father of Newgrass,” and his hometown, Bowling Green, Kentucky, held a “Sam Bush Day” celebration in 1998.
• As a youngster, he became a three-time national junior fiddle champion.

Bush is known for playing a lively set, so don’t miss it!

The Del McCoury Band

For a more traditional bluegrass sound, check out the Del McCoury Band. Del McCoury, 72, has been playing bluegrass for more than 50 years.

He currently leads the Del McCoury Band on guitar and vocals, along with his two sons, Ronnie and Rob, who play mandolin and banjo respectively. The band is rounded out by bass player Alan Bartram and fiddler Jason Carter.

Del and his band have also been honored quite a bit over the years:

• Del received a lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
• Del was elected to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
• They have two Grammy-winning albums, and another that was nominated.
• Del has won 31 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards.

They have also had a big influence on a number of bands, including jam band behemoth Phish, which has covered Del’s “Beauty of My Dreams” numerous times over the years.

The Del McCoury Band is super fun to watch. I saw them last year at a rock festival, and they entertained the crowd more than most of the other acts there. Usually dressed all in suits, the band clusters together in the middle of the stage rather than spreading out across the stage as many acts do, and they have a great energy that the audience can’t help but get swept up in.

Amy Helm

The daughter of Levon Helm (drummer for The Band, and singer-songwriter Libby Titus), Amy Helm has been carving out her own niche in the music world for years now. She tours with several bands including: Ollabelle, the Midnight Ramble Band, and the Dirt Farmer Band; and she helped her father create and produce the Midnight Ramble series, a string of intimate concerts held at Levon’s farm.

Amy has a powerful voice and is skilled at playing both mandolin and drums. She played a popular Songs at Mirror Lake concert last year, so many locals and regular visitors know she will put on a good show.

The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys

This band is a trio of young brothers, Tommy, Robbie, and Jonny, from Lebanon Township, New Jersey. When I say young, I mean it - guitar player and vocalist Tommy is oldest at 16, and banjo player Jonny is the youngest at 11. They released their first album three years ago (when Jonny was 8?!?), another in 2012 and a third earlier this year. These kids make me feel very unproductive.

Though their music has old-school roots, the boys are making a name for themselves through newer means: they have 61,000 followers on YouTube, and they started drawing attention when a few videos of them practicing in their bedroom went viral. The boy band of the bluegrass world, they have made the rounds of evening talk shows to create even more buzz, and they say they hope to draw younger fans to bluegrass music. Come see their impressive skills!

The Gibson Brothers

Eric and Leigh Gibson are natives to the North Country, and their band always draw a great crowd when they play locally. The band is a five-piece, and though Eric and Leigh are the only brothers, they call their other bandmates their musical brothers.

The Gibson Brothers has had a prolific career, releasing 11 albums and winning a handful of awards from both the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards and the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America.

Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers

This band blends bluegrass with gospel music, performing heartfelt renditions of songs like “Jesus Loves Me.” According to their website, they incorporate “inventive instrumental work, a wide variety of vocal arrangements including a capella quartets and tasteful, down-home humor.”

Big Leg Emma

From western New York, Big Leg Emma is a band that infuses roots music with the jam band scene. The band has been touring throughout the U.S. since 2001. They have strong bluegrass, country and folk elements, but they sometimes get down into basic rock, with covers like Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall.”

Hot Day at the Zoo

HDATZ is a popular band from Lowell, Massachusetts, that used to stop by the Tri-Lakes area frequently, but we haven’t been graced with their presence very often in the last few years. They describe themselves as a “groove-friendly quartet [that mixes] folk, blues, ragtime and jazz with progressive bluegrass and Americana-infused rock and roll.” They play a super fun live show with a ton of energy. Don’t miss it!

Eastbound Jesus

These guys just stopped by the Waterhole’s Party on the Patio series in Saranac Lake in early September, and everyone had a great time. They’re from Greenwich, near Saratoga, and they’ve been playing music together since 2010, and have managed to release three albums in that short time. They have an interesting, energetic sound that is punctuated by a lap steel guitar.

The 52 Pick-up

This is a new band from Lake Placid with a contemporary type of style, so make sure you see them - so you can tell everyone you saw them when they were new :) 

Have a great time at the festival! We'll see you on the dance floor!