Dear friends and Bluegrass lovers
The biggest festival dedicated exclusively to Bluegrass music in Europe will not take place this year. Nor will the camp and workshop in the week before. The health of everyone, artists, volunteers and you, our festival visitors, is of primary importance for us, before any other consideration. This has been the main factor in the difficult decision of the organising committee, in agreement with the Town Council of La Roche-sur-Foron, to cancel. We must consider all the first line responders and health workers who have already given so much of their time and energy to combat the disease. We do not want to contribute to further pressure for them. We also think affectionately about all the Bluegrass artists in Europe, the USA and around the world, having to deal with the disease and the financial impact it has on their careers. And we think of our loyal partners and sponsors, private and public, for whom the current context also creates many difficulties. Please help us to help them by supporting them where and when you can. Be assured, we will be back in the summer of 2021 to bring you the best of Bluegrass at the 15th edition of La Roche Bluegrass Festival. Promise! For now, take care of yourselves and your loved ones. And please listen to some of the many Bluegrass musicians in the US and Europe who are playing live shows on social media platforms. You can support them by listening to their show, liking it with a message from La Roche Bluegrass Festival (they appreciate the love) and, even better, by giving them a “tip” through the funding links they provide. With love to you all from La Roche-sur-Foron The Organising Committee european band contest winners 2019The winner of the band contest was Czech band Professional Deformation. They are invited to play at Rapidgrass Festival in Colorado and to headline La Roche Bluegrass Festival in 2020.
New Aliquot, also from Czech Republic, came second with Slovak band Blueland in third place. Winning bands also receive cash prizes from La Roche Bluegrass Festival and from European Bluegrass Music Association. |
new festival filmWatch our new 10-minute film about the festival made for us by our friend Fred Glas and finished in March 2020.
newsnew TOWN HALL STAGEA growing number of duos and trios apply to play the festival.
With the current configuration it is difficult to schedule more than one or two each year, even though many of them are talented and play music close to the Bluegrass traditions. For this reason, we would like to test a 3rd stage exclusively for duos and trios. The stage will be on the main square in front of the Town Hall and will operate from 4 pm to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday. Bands will play 45-minute sets and play under the same conditions as other bands. Festival 2019See concert extracts, slideshows presented to volunteers at our "Thank You" party and links to band photos from 2019
Go direct to website of official festival photographer Emmanuel Marin.
IBMA DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMMENT AWARD FOR CHRISTOPHER HOWARD-WILLIAMS
Christopher with Alison Brown
La Roche Bluegrass Festival is proud that Nashville Based IBMA gave its second highest award (after Hall of Fame) to La Roche Bluegrass Festival founder and chairman Christopher Howard-Williams at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Ceremony in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 27, 2018.
The award was presented by Compass Records founder and CEO Alison Brown, herself an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award recipient, IBMA Banjo Player of the year and 2-time Grammy winner. See article in Bluegrass Unlimited on Christopher Howard-Williams festival securityIn line with measures taken throughout Europe on safety in public places, all people coming onto the site will be submitted to a search of their belongings by our security staff. We thank you for your cooperation and your understanding. |
