The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters Folk Festival is planning three days of live music over the traditional festival weekend, September 11-13

“Close to Home 2” is designed to be a comfortable, socially-distanced outdoor concert at the Sisters Artworks venue located at 204 W. Adams Ave., in downtown Sisters.

Artists all hail from the Pacific Northwest. Performers on the bill include: Judith Hill, John Craigie, Thunderstorm Artis, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Kristen Grainger & True North, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms, and Central Oregon’s own The Parnells.

Each day will be a slightly different variation of these artists, with daily lineup to be announced soon. Organizers plan to announce at least one more artist in the coming week.

“Close to Home 2 will deliver great songwriters and musical artists to Sisters for the weekend,” said SFF Creative Director Brad Tisdel. “As an organization, we have needed to reimagine how to produce live shows amidst the ongoing COVID-19 challenges, and will continue to innovate and create new opportunities, while keeping patrons, artists, production staff and volunteers safe. Between Close to Home 2 and our creativity camps, we continue to serve our mission in the best way possible, with more to come.”

Under the current Phase 2 reopening in Oregon, the entire gathering will be limited to a 250-person maximum, including ticket holders, musicians, staff, contractors, vendors, and volunteers. There will only be 190 admissions available for each day to the public, and seating will be sold in “pods” for two- or four-person social groups.

Attendees will need to bring their own low festival chairs and/or blankets for seating. Only seating in the back row will accommodate standard height chairs.

“The SFF organization has put a lot of thought into incorporating best practices to keep this gathering as safe as possible during COVID-19,” Tisdel noted.

The venue is configured with one way in and one way out. The wearing of masks or face coverings (properly, over the nose and mouth) will be required and enforced when patrons are outside of their reserved, socially distanced seating pods. Concert-goers will be able to purchase food and beverages and then take them back to their seating area to enjoy. Organizers ask that all attendees comply voluntarily with mask wearing to help keep yourself and others safe. If for any reason that is a hardship, or you anticipate having difficulty complying for any reason, organizers ask that you please stay home and enjoy the concert via live stream.

The venue opens at 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with music taking place from 5 to 10 p.m. On Sunday, check in starts at 11 a.m. with performances scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. There will be one or two food vendors, on-site beer, wine and cider sales plus bike racks available, sponsored by Blazin Saddles. Attendees are encouraged to bike or walk to the concert if possible.

Tiered pricing for all seating pods will be offered starting Friday, August 28 at 10 a.m. For tickets, artist information, and a complete listing of the lineup, visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org.