This past weekend, HawgFoodFireGrill.com needed help once again. This time for the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival. The festival was held at The Riverbend Park, next to the Colorado River. I didn't really know what to expect. I was told to expect Hippies and Deadheads....hmmm. I've never seen Hippies or Deadheads, this should be interesting.
As it turns out, this three day event is now in its ninth year and has become quite well known. The cost was $45.00 per day (not for me - free for vendors), and there was camping on site (amazingly beautiful) along the raging Colorado River, among the ancient Cottonwood trees.
The campground was about a quarter mile away. Vendors stayed in the park. The stage was maybe 60 yards from my backdoor, if that.
I can't say I enjoyed every band, but they were all very unique. They had a folkish, bluegrass style; some traditional, some contemporary, some undefinable. Many were well known, and have Cd's out. Some sold shirts and merchandise. More on the lineup can be seen here.. www.palisademusic.com
While some people got to party with the many cool people (hippies?) attending the show, I worked during all of the music. It worked out really well because I earned pay until the last band was over, then spent the evenings walking through the campgrounds. This is where all the fun was, for me. There were so many campers grouped together, it was like a small village of wonderfully diverse and talented people. Every few camps, there were musicians and singers, playing quietly in circles around a fire.. or under the full, bright Colorado strawberry moon. It was surreal. The music was good, and the smiles were contagious as flu. There was a very real sense of calm, peace... oneness with the people there. I will not forget it. I plan on coming back next year for sure.
Filling up with fresh water before leaving Palisade.
