Local musician joins Sisters Folk Festival

Sisters musician Travis Ehrenstrom has returned home after three years as a professional musician to join up with Sisters Folk Festival as the organization's new assistant festival director.

Seattle was home base for the Sisters High School graduate and Americana Project alum while he was on the road, but he grew homesick. He loved playing in front of crowds, but now he is choosing to stay local.

Travis loves the job and the community, and he doesn't have any ambition to go back on tour. He performed all over the Seattle area, and also in the Portland-metro area, while he attended Portland State University a few years back. Then he hit the road playing bass for standout indie songwriter and bandleader Noah Gundersen.

Ehrenstrom hasn't given up on music; he has simply found a new direction.

He chose Portland State University partly because he wanted to perform in bigger venues during school, but now he is back in a small town, performing on smaller stages, and he has taken a step back to try other things.

He has found his niche, and it isn't on a main bus route. It isn't near rush-hour traffic, and there isn't a parking meter. It's right here in Sisters, setting the stage for other musicians to reach their heart's ambition.

Travis has worked loosely with the folk festival before as a performer and as a teacher with the Americana Project, and when a staff position became open, he applied to become the assistant director.

"I wanted to be in a community, and being part of the Sisters Folk Festival allows me to be part of that hub," he said. "I'm really proud that the folk festival chose to hire me... I feel very grateful to have the position."

Ehrenstrom has been busy with his new full-time assistant director gig, but he is still finding time for his own music. He recently began recording a new album with Echo Ridge Music, a new local recording studio owned by Brent Alan. He is a polished guitarist and compelling vocalist. His music can be found at http://www.bandcamp.com/travisehrenstrom.

Travis first developed interest in acoustic guitar when he saw one sitting in his older brother's dorm room. His ear changed to acoustic music from hip-hop, which he listened to up until eighth grade.

"I still flip the station over and listen every once in a while," he said. "Don't tell anybody."