Washington Bluegrass Festival A Big Success

By Staff, 05/22/17 11:06 AM

WASHINGTON – The Washington Bluegrass Festival held Saturday May 20th may have had to move inside due to showers but a large crowd turned out anyway, almost filling the Washington Presbyterian Church to capacity at times.

The program featured six groups including the Hempstead County Melody Boys and Bluegrass Reunion from Hope, High Mountain Grass from Magnolia, the McWilliams Family from Caddo Gap, Ray Wingfield and Cool Wind from Texarkana, and Eddie and Martha Adcock from Nashville, Tennessee. Eddie Adcock is one of the world’s greatest Bluegrass banjoists known for his work with Bill Monroe, the Country Gentlemen, and for the last 40 years with his wife Martha. Adcock is the 2015 winner of the “Steve Martin Award”, an annual prize named for the famous movie star who is also Bluegrass banjo picker.
The festival had a steady stream of visitors including Bluegrass Festival regulars and first-time visitors who were visiting Historic Washington State Park.
Of particular note were the McWilliams Family’s “Sister Strings”, a classical string trio featuring the McWilliams sisters whose treatment of “Ashokan Farewell” brought the house down.
Many of those visiting also enjoyed a buffet meal at Williams Tavern Restaurant which was served for lunch and dinner.