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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