We want to thank everyone for coming together to help make this event happen; pickers, campers, the many volunteers, amazing bands, instructors, the Chick Rose School of Bluegrass for kids, vendors, sponsors, South Mason Youth Soccer Park, and the City of Shelton. Thank you, we couldn’t do this without you!
2025 Sponsors
Mandolin Level $2500+
City of Shelton
In memory of Dick Pasilich
Mason County Tourism
Fiddle Level $1000+
All About Parties
Bowers Dental Group
Band Level $500+
AAA Septic
Dave Bayley and Family
Builder’s First Source (Shelton)
Castle & Coleman Logging
Edward Jones – Stefanie Dantinne
Green Diamond Resource Co.
Hunter Farms
KMAS 1030 AM/103.3 FM
KCBS FM Seattle
Lynch Creek Farms
Carolyn Olsen Family
PUD 1
Doc Olson
Shelton Mason County Journal
Sierra Pacific Industries
Tracing The Fjord
Shoppers Weekly
WAMA – WA Acoustic Music Assoc.
Stage Level $250
Belco Forest Products
Elma Feed & Farm Supply
Hood Canal Communications
Manke Lumber Co Inc
Pacific Asset Management - Josh Morin
Tozier Brothers Ace Hardware
Tuson Masonry
Contests & scheduling:
GREG LINDER (360) 490-8981
Event, camping & vendors: DUANE WILSON (360) 280-3917
LODGING: explorehoodcanal.com
Thank you for your media support!
Strings & Picks –
LOCATION:
Shelton South Mason Soccer Park at 2102 E Johns Prairie Rd, Shelton. This July will be our festival’s 20th year, and its 5th year at this outdoor location.
TICKETS:
Weekend Pass – $65
Family Weekend Pass -$130 (2 adults and up to 4 kids)
Evening/Afternoon – Adult $25 | 13-17 $15
All day Saturday – Adult $35 | 13-17 $22 Age 12 and under – free with adult Saturday Night Dance – free with any wristband or $15 at the door! Tickets are also available at Shelton Builder’s First Source, Shelton Music and Bobland Vinyl & Audio.
CAMPING (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun)
$15/night (you can also pay for this at the site). Camping pass requires the purchase of performance ticket.
FOOD:
There will be various food vendors available on site including two food trucks and the onsite “Snack Shack” with a full kithen serving breakfast, lunch and dinner items. There are also plenty of great restaurants in the area.
LODGING:
If you are not camping on site be sure to book early for choice lodging options. Many of the local accommodations are vacation rentals which may require a minimum stay. The Shelton Inn on Railroad Ave. was recently remodeled and has new owners. For a complete list of lodging visit explorehoodcanal.com.
YOUR HOSTS:
The festival is produced by the Kristmas Town Kiwanis Club and community members. When you meet volunteers at the festival, we hope you’ll let them know their efforts are appreciated.
2025 Headliners
SETH MULDER & MIDNIGHT RUN
Born in the holler of Tennessee’s first legal moonshine distillery, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run blend tradition with innovation through genuine songwriting and tasteful arrangements, bringing to life their original music and lost covers like no other in the genre. Combining elements of bluegrass, country, and folk music, their sound resonates with traditional and contemporary audiences alike. Formed in 2018, the band released their first studio album, “Traveling Kind” in 2020, followed by their second album, “In Dreams I Go Back,” released on Mountain Fever Records in 2022.
Seth Mulder – Mandolin & vocals
Tyler Griffith – Upright Bass and Vocals
Anthony Howell – Guitar and Vocals
Carter Lester – Banjo and Vocals
Mason Wright – Fiddle and Vocals
NEVER COME DOWN
Weaving together modern and traditional styles of American music, Never Come Down is a Portland, Oregon based band dedicated to thoughtful songwriting and dynamic arrangements that highlight polished technical skills. Formed in 2018, NCD released their first studio album “Better Late Than Never” in 2021. They’ve toured internationally and have found acclaim at international festivals.
Joe Suskind – Guitar
Crystal Lariza – Vocals
Kaden Hurst – Mandolin
Lillian Sawyer – Fiddle
MIDNIGHT45
This powerhouse band features some outstanding vocal and instrumental prowess. Based in Central and Western Oregon, Midnight45 specializes in bluesy vocal-based deep-groove bluegrass music with a solid traditional approach. They perform traditional & contemporary bluegrass, featuring original material as well as traditional country duets. Each member of M45 is a veteran musician, having played in some of the finest bluegrass bands on the west coast.
Jered Widman – Guitar and Vocals
Dale Adkins – Guitar, Banjo and Vocals
Josh Adkins – Mandolin and Vocals
Suzanne Adkins – Bass and Vocals
JIM HURST
Jim Hurst’s unique picking style and mastery of bluegrass guitar wows audiences and is revered by both novice guitar players and his musical peers. His vast, eclectic career has made him a remarkable performer, an experienced instructor and a highly sought after session musician. His affability and gregariousness make him one of the most approachable musicians of his caliber. Garnering numerous nominations, Jim received IBMA’s prestigious “Guitar Player of the Year ‘’ awards for 2001 and 2002. After recording and touring with several Country and Bluegrass artists, Jim embarked on a solo career. Jim has recorded 7 CDs and during the last ten years, Jim has been performing his
show full time and teaching at guitar workshops and music camps across North America and Europe. While he occasionally collaborates, his solo and Jim Hurst Trio performance have kept audiences mesmerized.
THE OLY MOUNTAIN BOYS
A South Puget Sound bluegrass institution they have been picking and singing around Olympia since 2008. They bring a Pacific Northwest sensibility to the bluegrass sound through traditional tunes and original compositions.
Tye Menser – Banjo & Lead Vocals
Phil Post – Dobro, Bass
Josh Grice – Fiddle
Derek McSwain – Mandolin
Tom Pell – Bass
Leif Halvorson – Guitar
Eric Schweizer – Guitar
WAY FAR YONDER
Way Far Yonder is a fairly new band hailing from Eugene, OR. The band consists of up-and-coming banjo picker
Henry Strid and champion contest fiddler Doug Fleener. Together they create an energetic dynamic with that classic fiddle/banjo sound!
RUNAWAY TRAIN BLUEGRASS
Like strong traditional bluegrass with an edge to it? Then you’ll like Runaway Train Bluegrass! This band is known for tight harmonies and clean pickin’.
A Pacific Northwest mainstay for many years, they perform on special occasions when time and availability permits.
Greg Linder – Guitar & vocals – Union
Kent Powell – Bass & vocals – Tacoma
John White – Mandolin & vocals – Olympia,
Gregg King – Banjo – Sequim
THE BAR-K BUCKAROOS
Host band for the Country Dance, playing traditional western swing dance – Bluegrass, Country and Swing, Jazz, Blues and Raggae’ to western swing and 20-40’s era swing music.
Brad Griswold – Guitar & vocals
Dave Quinton – Bass & vocals
Richard Thomasian – Lead Guitar and vocals
Tom Peake – Percussion
Scott Wagner – Trumpet
Barbara Collins – Fiddle
Grab your banjo!
One of the best things about bluegrass festivals is the jamming. In the workshops and out in the camping area, folks set up and settle down for some picking! Wander through the event and listen to the music. Some pickers are talented while others are beginning – but everyone seems to find their comfort level of experience.
Bluegrass jamming is special because people of all stripes come together for the music. They don’t care what you drive, how old you are, or whether you’re in fashion. They only care if you can pick or sing. There is a wonderful body of traditional bluegrass tunes that are universally known across the country. You can show up at any festival and these tunes will be played. Sure, there are plenty of new tunes all the time, but it’s wonderful to play music with strangers who already know many of the tunes.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Workshops will be held outdoors Saturday and Sunday by selected band members.
SATURDAY: 10 – 11 AM
Mandolin – Josh Adkins (Midnight 45) –mandolin for mortals. Survival strategies for 8 string situations. Solos, backup, chords.
Bass – Susanne Adkins (Midnight 45) – back to bass-ics. Starting from ground zero, playing by ear.
Guitar – Jim Hurst – rhythm to melody to solos.
Banjo – Henry Strid (Way Far Yonder) –5 string fun bluegrass banjo.
Blues Banjo – Dale Adkins (Midnight 45) – blues banjo – what makes a bluesy or happy sound? Hands on – bring your banjo!
Lead vocals –Jered Widman (Midnight 45) – fundamentals of strong delivery, harmony and phrasing.
Mandolin Tasting hosted by Seth Mulder (of Midnight Run)
We know it can be tough deciding which one to attend when you’d like to go to several. It comes down to logistics, available space, and teachers. The workshops are taught by the band performers, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn from an accomplished master. Please keep in mind that they also need to rehearse for their performance sets, have meals, rest and then go play on stage.
CHICK ROSE SCHOOL OF BLUEGRASS
SATURDAY, 10 AM – 2 PM
This intensive and fun workshop for kids is led by local musicians. Founded by Chick Rose, who passed away in 2012, it lives on in the music of the children who have participated. Kids are divided into groups according to experience and are coached by advanced musicians. The program culminates in a performance on Saturday on the main stage. There is no extra charge for this program.
SATURDAY NIGHT COUNTRY DANCE
Join us on Saturday night of the festival for a country dance hosted by the BarK Buckaroos. The dance begins after the main stage performances end on Saturday night. And since you will have burned a few calories, head over to the barbecue pit for our (in)famous Midnight Hotdogs! Admission is free with your festival wristband (weekend pass or day pass) or $15 without.
BAND SCRAMBLE
Sign-up to be in the band scramble any time after 10 AM on Saturday. The sign-up sheet will be located at the Showcase stage. Band assignments will be announced at 12 PM on Saturday. After being assigned into bands, participants will have 30 minutes to prepare one song with vocals and one instrumental tune (possibly more, depending on how many participants there are. Participants will perform their tunes at a contest performance on the Showcase Stage at 12:30 PM on Saturday. The band scramble is a time honored tradition at bluegrass festivals. If you’re not familiar with them, here’s the deal: Anyone who plays an instrument (at any level) can sign up to participate.
Names will be drawn for the bands. Ideally, each band will end up with a bass, a banjo, a mandolin, one or two guitars and possibly some instrument hardly anyone has heard of. Hopefully there will be some singers among them. It’s not an exact science and it’s mostly a lot of fun.
The newly formed bands have 30 minutes to meet, come up with an instrumental and vocal tune that they all happen know (or can learn quickly). Then they take it to the Showcase Stage for a live contest performance.
It’s a great way to meet folks, mingle and get up on stage. And it’s kind of like musical potluck—you never know what you’re going to get! Even if you’re not ready to join the scramble and brave the stage, just watching the show is worth the price of admission. It’s like a bluegrass reality show (if there was such a thing).
Thank you Doc Olson for your 2025 Band Level Sponsorship!
2025 Schedule
MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE
FRIDAY EVENING
7:00 PM – Runaway Train
8:00 PM – Jim Hurst
9:00 PM – Midnight45
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
1:50 PM – Band Scramble Winner
2:00 PM – Runaway Train
3:00 PM – Way Far Yonder
4:00 PM – Midnight45
5:30 PM – Dinner Break
SATURDAY EVENING
6:30 PM – Chick’s Kids performance
7:00 PM – Jim Hurst
8:00 PM – The Oly Mountain Boys
9:00 PM – Seth Mulder and Midnight Run
10:00 – 12:00 AM – COUNTRY DANCE with the Bar K Buckaroos
12 AM Midnight Hot dogs – Right after the dance, free, all are welcome!
SUNDAY
12:00 PM – The Oly Mountain Boys
1:00 PM – Seth Mulder & Midnight Run
2:00 PM – Never Come Down
2:55 PM – Grand Finale Show with all performers on stage together!
BLUEGRASS
SHOWCASE STAGE
SATURDAY
10:00 AM – 12 PM Chick’s Kids
10:00 AM – Workshops (meet by building)
10:00 AM – Sign up for Band Scramble
11:00 AM – Marv’s Slow Jam (in the tent)
12:00 PM – Band Scramble assignments
12:30 PM – Band Scramble Contest
1:15 PM – Open Mic
5:15 PM – Open Mic
SUNDAY
10:00 AM Workshops (meet by building)
10:00 AM Mandolin Tasting with Seth Mulder (in the tent) 11:15 to 11:45 AM – Open Mic
**Schedule is subject to minor changes **
Please remember to keep pets out of concert area. Dogs are welcome in camp grounds and other public areas, but must be kept on a leash.
