Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival is Back: Enjoy Live Music Alongside the Colorado River Again

Shinyribs. Photo by Wyatt McSpadden.

Western Colorado is known for its wonderful live music in the great outdoors; one of the first major musical events to kick off the season is the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival, which happens June 10-12, 2022.

The festival takes place in Palisade’s Riverbend Park, set beside the Colorado River, with views of the iconic Mt. Garfield to the northwest and Grand Mesa looking east. Festivities kick off Friday with an array of Colorado artists beginning at 3 p.m. with singer-songwriter duo Lizzy Plotkin and Natalie Spears, who play fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo and upright bass. 

The Red Mountain Boys follow at 5 p.m., with The River Arkansas taking the stage at 7 p.m. Rapidgrass, a band that blends classical, gypsy, bluegrass, pop, swing and other world rhythms, will close out Friday’s performances. 

Opening on Saturday at 11 a.m. will be the duo The Lowest Pair, followed at 1 p.m. by Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs — a band voted Best Bluegrass Band by Bozeman Magazine from 2017-2021. A North Carolina-based ensemble, Acoustic Syndicate, will perform at 3 p.m.

The Grammy-nominated, all female, string band Della Mae takes the stage at 5:30 p.m. The group is not a traditional bluegrass band; instead, they call themselves a “string or Americana” band, says singer and guitar and washboard player Celia Woodsmith.

Della Mae has performed previously in Palisade, and they’re excited to return, Woodsmith says. “We took a winery tour. It’s a great little festival.” (Check the website for information regarding festival-related events going on that weekend, like winery tours and bourbon tastings, as well as paddleboard and rafting experiences).

Jamestown Revival will close out Saturday’s music, with a show starting at 8 p.m. The group’s founders, Zach Chance and Jon Clay, began playing music together while they were teenagers growing up in Texas, where they both began writing songs at age 15. Clay plays electric and acoustic guitar, slide and dobro, while Chance plays piano and acoustic guitar.

“We don’t claim to be a bluegrass band. Although, we’re inspired by it and pull from the genre,” says Chance. “We call ourselves an Americana roots band pulling from blues, R&B, country and traditional folk.” In Palisade, they’ll have with a full band including Ross Holmes of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

The music and fun continue Sunday with The Dirty Grass Players opening at 11 a.m., followed by Brothers Comatose performing at 1 p.m.

At 3 p.m., the Austin-based, nine-piece band Shinyribs will take the stage. (After seeing this high-energy group perform in Ridgway, Colorado a few years ago, I’m especially looking forward to this show!) Founder Kevin Russell — who sings, writes most of the songs and plays guitar and ukulele — grew up in southeast Texas: “a pocket of Louisiana culture,” he describes. Along with country, soul and rock-and-roll, their music is heavily influenced by New Orleans, gulf coast, and rhythm and blues. “I love the alchemy of mashing genres together,” Russell shares. “It’s what makes American music so interesting.”

Steep Canyon Rangers will close out the weekend with their performance starting at 5:30 p.m.

Food vendors will be present at the festival, as well as locally crafted beer from Palisade Brewery and cocktails made from gin, vodka and whisky from Peach Tree Distillers in Palisade. While you can bring your own food to the festival, outside beverages are not allowed. Free water is available. 

Three-day festival ticket holders may also purchase camping passes until spaces sell out. In the campground, the music often continues into the wee morning hours — occasionally with festival artists joining in the jams.

The town of Palisade provides free shuttles to transport festivalgoers to local wineries and other festival-related events around Palisade. Bicycling (consider bringing your own bike) is also a fun way to get around town.

Stand-up-paddleboard yoga is offered on Saturday, and morning yoga on the grass is available both Saturday and Sunday. Paddleboards and kayaks will be available for rental throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. A float trip is another option via Palisade River Trips and Rapid Creek Cycles.

Check out the website to purchase tickets and for more information: palisademusic.com.

Jamestown Revival. Photo by Jackie Lee.

Originally published in the Summer 2022 of Spoke+Blossom.