Fans expect to find a new favorite at Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival

By John Garvey

Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival, while only about a quarter the size of Telluride Bluegrass Festival, attracts some of the world’s best bluegrass and Americana musicians. Tony Rice, Keller Williams, Yonder Mountain String Band, Big Richard and many other world-class musicians have graced the stage of this small-town festival.

2025 Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival
When: June 6-8
Where: Riverbend Park, Palisade.

Held each year in early June, Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival has an easygoing, hospitable bluegrass culture. But that energy dial can take a hard turn to the right – in the best way.

I wouldn’t be able to replicate the Palisade Bluegrass Festival in 100 years, but I know what’s in the secret sauce.

Asked about who she’s most excited to have at the upcoming festival this summer, festival co-organizer Amy Kimberly lists off … pretty much the whole lineup. She’s particularly enthusiastic to have the California Honeydrops, who were supposed to play at the festival in 2020. Kimberly, a long-time fan, has wanted to book them ever since. I realize while talking to Kimberly that she probably knows a few dozen bands you’ve never heard of that could practically change your life.

Co-organizers Josh Behrman of Mountain Groove Productions and Kimberly, former executive director of Carbondale Arts Council, have been the festival organizers since the outset. Both Behrman and Kimberly have an impressive acumen for producing and organizing a wide range of music and cultural festivals.

Last year’s lineup at Palisade was bluegrass-heavy, with Yonder Mountain String Band, Mipso, and Rapidgrass headlining. This year, Kimberly and Behrman set out to produce a more eclectic lineup with more “roots” – i.e., artists that could loosely be categorized as progressive roots and soul-fusion bands.

In addition to the Honeydrops, Kimberly’s excited to have Cousin Curtiss (“Roots-rock Americana with a Soulful Drip”), Pressing Strings (“Roots x Rock x Soul”), Natalie Spears (singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist folk musician), and LowDown Brass Band (“a one-of-a-kind horn ensemble weaving the rhythm of the streets with conscious hip hop, reggae, and soul”).

And could I possibly forget to mention that Yarn will be playing on Sunday? NO. In 2014, I saw Yarn, who describe themselves as “an Americana, Alt-Country, Rock and Roll band,” play their asses off at a venue in Golden that wasn’t nearly sold out. I have a theory that their mandolin player sold his soul to the devil. Yarn is outstanding on stage.

The secret sauce

Bluegrass is, in itself, more eclectic than people give it credit for. But this summer’s Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival will be distinguished by an unusually varied lineup.

It will also, as always, feature a thrill-worthy lineup of somewhat lesser-known and emerging artists.

“We don’t want to be Telluride,” says Kimberly. “… Our mark is that we bring emerging acts and we pepper it with a few acts that are nationally, internationally known.”

And that is the most important ingredient in the secret sauce. “I think that what I love about Palisade,” Kimberly says, ”is I would say 75 percent of the people come to Palisade maybe knowing one or two of the bands, but they leave just being so turned on by all the music they've heard. And I think that's kind of our secret sauce: we bring a lot of bands that … are on the verge of bigger things.”

Kimberly is most proud to have booked Devil Makes Three and The Wood Brothers when they were far lesser-known bands.

Behrman agrees. “I pride myself on … when no one ever heard of something, and then they walk away going, ‘F***! That was one of my favorite bands.’”

The bands Behrman is most proud to have booked over the years: “Asleep at the Wheel, Dave Alvin, Junior Brown, Wood Brothers, Elephant Revival, The Infamous Stringdusters.”

Kimberly and Behrman also credit a constructive partnership with the Town of Palisade, which owns the festival and whose leadership has always been supportive. The community has generally been great, Kimberly says:

“We had never been to this park before we started doing this festival, and I have to say that the town of Palisade is a really special place. Between the craft brewers and the winemakers and everybody. They all are so chill and so giving and so generous and love to share.”

The spirit of support is mutual. “All of our spirits are local. All of our beer is local,” Behrman notes. “Our wine is local. We have our own homemade chef that makes all of our food for us. And everything is local. So yeah, we like to think that we're a part of the culture.”

What to expect

There are three guarantees at Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival: an amazing overall musical experience, a pleasant crowd and excellent behind-the-scenes organization. Having been there the last three years, I can also make informed predictions:

You’ll fall in love with at least one band you’ve never heard of.
There will be at least one “off-genre” band that will delight almost everyone, also leaving you feeling pleasantly confused – like your first French kiss.
You’ll wonder about a thousand times how people can play string instruments so fast without them literally catching on fire.
Regardless of the weather, the world will feel like a sunnier place for a while.

“I used to say I wasn’t an artist,” says Kimberly. “And you know, I’ve always helped and administered so many artists, but then I finally realized that through my whole career that I am an artist. My artistry is creating experiences for people. And that’s what we do here.”