2023 Bluegrass Festival features celebrated guest artists

Fifty years ago, a group of talented solo artists formed Muleskinner, a Bluegrass supergroup that blended traditional bluegrass music and progressive genres. This year, the Denison’s annual Bluegrass Festival will pay homage to their groundbreaking work through a series of student shows, and a guest performance with an original member of Muleskinner. The festival will also feature a concert and workshops with The McLain Family Band.

The work done by Muleskinner in 1973 expanded the ever-changing sound of bluegrass music, while “staying true to its roots,” according to Adam Schlenker, coordinator of American Roots Music Studies.

“Not only are these some of my favorite musicians, but this supergroup also represents an era when Bluegrass music was evolving. A new generation of musicians were building on the traditions established by the fathers of Bluegrass like Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt, but they were also incorporating elements of the emerging “country rock” scene and added to the song catalog via songwriters like Peter Rowan, Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons,” he said.

“To me, this is the epitome of our American Roots Music program here at Denison. My goal is for the students to explore and develop strong foundations in Bluegrass and other forms of Roots Music while working to develop themselves and their own music. Finding a balance between tradition and innovation keeps the music alive and thriving.”

The two-day event starts on Friday, Feb. 17, with an opening set by Denison’s Bluegrass and American Roots Ensemble, which will open for every concert of the series. Appalachian Swing, a group formed by Schlenker and featuring original Muleskinner lead singer and guitar player, Peter Rowan, will perform a tribute to Muleskinner.

“We were short one band member to complete the Muleskinner lineup. I reached out to Peter Rowan about this idea and after a very nice conversation, he agreed to join us at Denison for a night of Muleskinner music,” Schlenker said. “My hope for this concert is to honor these musicians and the music they made.”

The next day features workshops from noon to 3 p.m. in the Denison Museum, with the McLain Family Band, “internationally known as one of the most spontaneous, creative and spirited groups performing contemporary Appalachian Bluegrass music.” The workshops will build connections between musicians as students, members of the McLain Family band, Denison faculty and community members will form pop-up bands, rehearse for 30-40 minutes, and perform.

“This format allows musicians of all skill levels to interact and learn from each other,” Schlenker said. “We began doing this at last year’s festival and it was a blast!”

The final concert takes place Saturday, Feb.18, when the McLain Family Band performs in Swasey Chapel at 7 p.m. “This group has been active since the mid 60s and is still going strong,” Schlenker said. “They also have a Denison connection — their father graduated from Denison with a music degree in the late 40s.”