With a storm system moving toward the area, Melody Brunsting decided she better have Plan B ready for this weekend’s free, largely outdoor Temecula Bluegrass Festival.
(wmshc_kiwi/Flickr Creative Commons)
The popular annual event drew about 7,500 bluegrass enthusiasts to Old Town last year, said Brunsting, who organizes and promotes the $30,000 city-funded event.
This year, the event features 12 bluegrass artists playing on indoor and outdoor stages.
Brunsting said that new restaurant and bar GrandDadz Hot Dogs, which has ample space, agreed up to help out in case of a downpour.
“It has a lot of cover. There are heaters. It’s just the ideal location for us,” Brunsting said Monday. “Very open, very friendly, great people — so it will be good.”
Brunsting said she knows bluegrass fans will appreciate being able to eat and drink while listening to some aficionados.
“Everybody’s always so happy when we have a backup plan that has food,” she said.
But she hopes for the sake of the event that it doesn’t rain, despite the fact that the area is in need of a little precipitation.
“Bluegrass is more fun outside,” she said.
She said Old Town’s quaint and aged appearance with its nooks and crannies makes for an ideal spot for jamming.
This year’s event will feature a $15 indoor concert at Old Town Temecula Community Theater at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by outdoor and indoor performances Saturday and Sunday. A main stage will be set up at the city’s Town Square.
Free concerts will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
An indoor show with Laurie Lewis will be held inside the theater at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
This year’s lineup consists of all California-based acts, which was not a purposeful lineup decision on Brunsting’s part.
She just wanted to make sure the artists she selected had not been to the area recently.
“We try to give everybody something different,” she said.
The event will feature performances by San Diego’s Bayou Brothers, which bring their Cajun sound to the bluegrass mix.
“I brought them in because … they’re fun. They’re kind of a little bit different to expose people to different music,” she said.
For more information on the festival, visit temeculacalifornia.com.
Email rachael.recker@swrnn.com or follow her on Twitter
Loading ...
