he first annual Newgrass festival kicked off on Saturday, March 15 at the Chehalem Cultural Center, drawing bluegrass lovers from the Willamette Valley and beyond.
March: Knuckle Grease Station performs at the first Newgrass Bluegrass Music Festival at the Chehalem Cultural Center on March 15. (Branden Andersen / Newsberg)
NEWBERG, Ore.—The first annual Newgrass festival kicked off on Saturday, March 15 at the Chehalem Cultural Center, drawing bluegrass lovers from the Willamette Valley and beyond.
Starting with a free pancake breakfast hosted by the Newberg Rotary Club, the day was filled with 8 scheduled performances (with a few pick up performances) and workshops from 9 a.m. to nearly 11 p.m.
According to festival organizer Christian DeBenedetti, the idea for Newgrass came about during weekly bluegrass jam sessions at his brewery, Wolves & People. He approached Sean Andries, executive director of the Chehalem Cultural Center, who took the Newgrass Festival vision and helped make it a reality.
Corral Creek Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergCaravan provided free coffee for Newgrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsgrassCorral Creek Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsgrassRotary Club provided a free pancake breakfast. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergCorral Creek Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergLocal performers perform for growing crowds at Newgrass Festival in Newberg. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergLocal acts were recorded and photographed during the event. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergPups like Filson made appearances around the Newgrass Festival. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergA festival goer reads a description below festival organizer Rachael Bonnett’s local bluegrasss artist gallery. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergSawtooth & Sons performing at Newgrass Festival. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergTwo local performers warm up and test the mics. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergLocal performers take the lobby stage during the Newgrass Festival. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergThompson Guitars was a sponsor of the event, providing guitars for Broken Compass Bluegrass for the festival. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergChristian DeBenedetti opens the first LaJoie Theatre performance at the Chehalem Cultural Center during Newgrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergSawtooth & Sons performing at Newgrass Festival. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergAttendees watch acts at the LaJoie Theatre. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergRollie Champe and Hal Spence of Sawtooth & Sons performing together on the LaJoie Theatre Jim Halladay stage. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergLocal band Sawtooth & Sons performs on the LaJoie Theatre Jim Halladay Stage. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergNewgrass organizer Christian DeBenedetti joined Knuckle Grease Station on stage for a performance. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergNewgrass organizer Christian DeBenedetti joined Knuckle Grease Station on stage for a performance. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergNewgrass organizer Christian DeBenedetti joined Knuckle Grease Station on stage for a performance. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergChristian DeBenedetti and Dave Sumner enjoy Knuckle Grease Station’s show at Newgrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergLocal act Knuckle Grease Station takes the lobby stage. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergKnuckle Grease Station. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergLocal act Knuckle Grease Station takes the lobby stage. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergKnuckle Grease Station. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergFestival organizers Christian DeBenedetti and Rachael Bonnett introduce the headlining act, Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergSam Jacobs of Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergKyle Ledson of Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergBroken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergBroken Compass Bluegrass played an intimate encore to the fans who stayed until the end, which wrapped around 10:30 p.m. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergSam Jacobs of Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergMei Lin Heirendt of Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergBroken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergDjango Ruckrich of Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergMei Lin Heirendt of Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergBroken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergDjango Ruckrich of Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergBroken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergKyle Ledson of Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergChristian DeBenedetti and the surrounding crowd enjoys the encore show from Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergBroken Compass Bluegrass played an intimate encore to the fans who stayed until the end, which wrapped around 10:30 p.m. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergChristian DeBenedetti, Rachael Bonnett, and the surrounding crowd enjoys the encore show from Broken Compass Bluegrass. Photo: Branden Andersen / NewsbergBroken Compass Bluegrass wraps their Newsberg performance. Photo: Branden Andersen / Newsgrass
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Branden Andersen
Branden Andersen is the founder and publisher of Newsberg, an independent, community-focused news outlet serving Newberg and Dundee. He began his journalism career in 2007 with the Hickory Daily Record and went on to study at the University of Oregon, where he wrote for every campus publication. Andersen has contributed professionally to outlets including Portland Monthly Magazine, The Bend Bulletin, Northwest Brewing News, New School Beer, and Oregon Public Broadcasting. Through Newsberg, he focuses on accessible, neighbor-driven reporting that connects residents with their local community.
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