Festival brings bluegrass band to Sisters

The Sisters Folk Festival launches its third annual Winter Concert Series on Friday with a performance by one of the most acclaimed bluegrass bands in the country.

The Steep Canyon Rangers perform at the Sisters High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 9.

"They're a fantastic band that happens to be playing the River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland, which has really become a premier event," said folk festival Executive Director Brad Tisdel. "They're a great act and I think we're fortunate to have them."

Tisdel describes the band as "young, energetic and entertaining," blending traditional bluegrass with original songs and mixing styles from straight-up bluegrass to honky-tonk and ballads.

The mix has worked well for the band, which is headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina. The band was named Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006 by the International Bluegrass Music Association and they have won critical acclaim across the country as they have been on the bill of major festivals.

Tisdel plucked the band from a major West Coast tour, which includes a full weekend at River City Bluegrass. In addition to their performance on Friday night, the band will also work in the classroom with Americana Project students.

The Americana Project is the educational outreach program of the Sisters Folk Festival. Tisdel told The Nugget that an intimate workshop with an ace touring band featuring bass, fiddle, guitar and banjo will be "a great experience for our students to appreciate."

This is the start of the third season of winter concerts staged by the Sisters Folk Festival, which hosts numerous events in addition to its three-day festival in September.

"The Sisters Folk Festival is a year-round cultural arts organization," said Tisdel. It's mission in staging the winter concerts is to "bring entertainment and cultural events to the Sisters Country in the off-season."

According to Tisdel, the effort to provide an off-season boost to the local economy is a key part of the program. To enhance that effort, the festival partnered with Five Unique Properties of Sisters to offer a lodging package that includes free tickets for the three shows in the series.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students.

"It's our mission to keep things affordable and family friendly," Tisdel said.

Tickets are available at Paulina Springs Books in Sisters and Redmond, the Foot Zone in Bend, on the Web at http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org and at the door

The Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series continues with a performance on February 26 by songwriters Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst. Legendary Scottish folksinger Dougie Maclean will perform on March 21.

A series ticket package is still available. For more information call 549-4979 or visit http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org.