Bluegrass festival comes to Natick area
The Sheraton Framingham Hotel will be hosting the 34th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival later this month. Those from nearby Natick who are fans of this genre of music will not want to miss this event.
The festival was named for Joe Val, a pioneer as a bluegrass musician and member of the hall of Fame of the International Bluegrass Music Association. He worked with many big names in bluegrass throughout his career and helped to increase the popularity of the genre in the Northeast.
Gerry Katz, of the Boston Bluegrass Union, said the festival is designed in part to pay tribute to Val and to focus on teaching in his honor, as his goal was to train new generations of musicians.
Among the activities at the festival will be over 20 performers from the region and up-and-coming bands on the Showcase Stage. There will be a free Bluegrass Academy for Kids for those between the ages of 5 and 17, who can learn about singing, playing, and performing bluegrass music, as well as other classes for people of all skillsets. Over 20 jams will be held hosted by teachers from the area, including Natick, Maynard, Hudson, and Lincoln.
Print shops can be hired for such festivals to print schedules of activities, classes, and performances. The festival runs from this Friday, February 15, until Sunday, February 17.