In the wake of an awful set of circumstances, faced with the possibility of a non-existent fall music extravaganza, the fabulous folk of Deadhead Productions have again stepped up to the plate with their announcement of Hillberry 2: The Harvest Moon Festival.  Earlier this year we told you all about the 1^st Hillberry Music Festival that occurred this August on the Farm outside Eureka Springs, Arkansas… well party people, get ready to do it all over again!

There was a decidedly day-glo hue to the bluegrass played at this year’s Northwest String Summit (July 16-19). Many of the musical merry-makers, and deadicated patrons alike, appeared to still be basking in the warm fluorescent after-light of the “Fare Thee Well” experience.  The haunting presence of the now officially departed Dead continues to populate and positively inform a new generation of musical/spiritual adventurers.

Fruition and Grant Farm shared the stage September 25^th at the Bluebird Theater in Denver to release their 4-song joint EP titled Meeting On The Mountain. The combination of Fruition’s bluegrass-Americana and Grant Farm’s country twang made for a great show with lots of friends, high-fives, and dancing.  Denver was Fruition’s second stop in an 8-show tour showcasing the new album.

Every summer music festival season brings a slew of new concepts and destinations for “festivarians” to pick and choose from. You have to marvel at the fact that so many continue to thrive year after year considering the number of options that are out there. In Colorado alone, thousands of tourists from everywhere come to enjoy countless summer music festival options. Maybe you made it to Rockygrass in July and rejoiced in the revival of a flood-ravaged site miraculously sprung back to life with true roots community effort.

Portland, Oregon based Fruition have emerged as a must-see band on the Americana scene and have captured audiences with their soaring 3-part harmonies and new-grass string arrangements. With no signs of slowing down, Fruition are heading back on the road and headlining their first East Coast run following successful tours with Greensky Bluegrass and The Infamous Stringdusters.

Fruition Tour Dates

08-20 Crested Butte, CO - Live! From Mt. Crested Butte

This August, Pacific Northwest new-grass troubadours Fruition hit the road with headline and festival dates across the U.S. with over 30 performances slated during the months of August and September. Fruition are logging the miles with shows from Santa Cruz, California to the Carolinas and back. Stops also include performances in St. Louis, Chicago, NYC, Atlanta, Denver, and Seattle.

No single thing makes a festival the “best festival ever.” Sure, one great band can make it really good. Or maybe the campground scene was where it was at. But it’s really when you group those moments with the ones of unbearable laughter, silly dancing, and inspirational people that a festival becomes the “best ever.” And you know what? The Northwest String Summit consistently brings the best.

Leftover Salmon is thrilled to welcome special guest Bill Payne (of Little Feat) to their Thanksgiving shows at the Boulder Theater and to the New Year's shows at Park City Live in Utah and the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, WA. Fruition will also join the festivities in Seattle.

Fruition is a great word.  We all love realizing the fruits of our labors and when ideas emerge from dreams into real world successes.  The band Fruition, hailing from Portland, Oregon has these good things happening with their 11 track album, Just One Of Them Nights, scheduled for release July 30th.  Starting as a collection of street musicians, Fruition is a band of musicians that exemplifies, the sentiment, “For the sake of the song.” Fruition is:Mimi Naja: Mandolin, piano and vocals