At the Marana Bluegrass Festival, the performance isn’t limited to the stage.
Amateur and professional musicians jam together in the parking lot and at impromptu gatherings. Improvised music from various sources fills the air, harmonizing in a down-home tapestry that puts smiles on attendees’ faces.
Bluegrass guitarist Dan Crary will headline the festival, which runs from 9:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road.
Musician Peter McLaughlin, who will perform at the festival with his band, the Sonoran Dogs, said the event is all about a sense of community and free-form musical appreciation.
“It’ll just be fun,” he said. “Outdoors, should be great weather. I think there will be a chance for anybody who wants to play. It’s not just what’s happening onstage, but also the outer edges of the festival grounds. People will be jamming, and probably doing workshops and things like that.”
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Festival organizer Jim Sanchez said he’s pleased with the way the festival has established itself since starting two years ago. The event is a partnership between the Desert Bluegrass Association, which Sanchez is a part of, the Arizona Bluegrass Association and the town of Marana.
“The atmosphere is pure festival,” he said. “We’ve got food vendors and arts and crafts vendors. It’s people bringing out their lawn chairs and listening to music. It’s really a family-fun atmosphere.”
McLaughlin said bluegrass is a naturally community-minded musical genre.
“It’s very inclusive. It’s the kind of music that welcomes everybody to participate,” he said. “Even if you don’t play anything, you can sing along. Or you can participate by shouting out requests. Most bluegrass bands are willing to accommodate those kinds of things.”
Dave Polston of 2 Lazy 2 Ranch Band said he sees the festival as a launch pad for his group, which formed in 2012 and plans to start touring the festival circuit.
“We’re hoping to put on a very hard-driving, toe-tapping, exciting show to get the crowd motivated for the weekend,” he said.
During downtime, Polston plans to join the crowd and soak up the environment.
“One of the great things about the atmosphere at a bluegrass festival is the jamming,” he said. “It’s definitely one of the cool things at all bluegrass festivals. The jamming and campgrounds go hand in hand. You’re playing new songs and playing with other people.”
