Dubbed the 17th Annual ‘Midsummer in the Northwoods’ Bluegrass Festival, the open, fresh air and natural acoustics of the Northwoods make it the perfect atmosphere to gather, sit back and toe-tap while listening to some great tunes. This is family entertainment at its best.

The Ann Arbor-Observer reviewed Steppin' In It with the words:: ...These shiny-tressed young gents are seriously adorable.  People crowd the dance floor at Steppin' In It shows.  Anyone who's worried about the future of traditional roots music and its place in a society that watches shows like American Idol can rest assured: things are in very good hands.  The Isthmus points out: ...their acoustic renditions of bluegrass, old-timey country, blues, cajun dance tunes and Texas swing are chock full of poignant work on dobro, harmonica, guitar and fiddle.  Their energy level never lacks.

The Midsummer Bluegrass Show has been described in the past by Sonny Osborne (Hit Song: Rocky Top) as one of the “dancingest” of bluegrass festivals. With a dance area in front of the main stage, and nightly dances inside the pine-paneled walls of the Cozy Cove,  plus the scheduled dance sessions led by The Cajun Strangers, Cisco & Sayles, and Steppin' In It confirm this. In short, this festival tends to be good for the circulation.

Fine food and concessions are also a tradition at this family oriented event. Children value this event and may grow-up to wonder where was the subliminal source of their passion for appreciating all kinds of music. Toddlers can often be seen making sandcastles in the middle of the music meadow in front of their parents and grandparents, in direct line of view of the main stage.

For information, camping rates and advance tickets call 715-543-2166, write Cozy Cover Tavern, c/o Jerry Florian, 32 North US Highway 51, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545, e-mail him at jerryf@onemorebluegrassshow.com or check out the website www.onemorebluegrassshow.com.

The main stage concert commences at 11 AM Thursday, and continues into the late evening with a similar pattern through Sunday.  Alternatives to the main stage concert are offered free of charge for festival patrons. For example, scheduled during the afternoon hours, generally at  2:30PM and 4:30PM each day starting Thursday, you may choose to attend the workshops with the masters.  At the workshops, curious newcomers to Bluegrass can ask direct questions from legendary bluegrass performers and walk away knowing something they wouldn’t ordinarily know about the music business. (Bluegrass and Cajun music are set apart because of this intimate accessibility to the performers). Also, rifts learned by aspiring or proficient musicians at the workshops can later be heard at the numerous campfire jam sessions that go on into the early morning hours. Many patrons find this aspect of the festival to be most entertaining.
 

At the completion of the main stage concert by 11 PM, it’s a short stroll to the Cozy Cove, an air conditioned tavern and restaurant that is open all day. This vintage 1930’s roadhouse is adjacent to the main stage music meadow. Generally speaking, the air conditioner is not needed because the naturally cool fresh air of the Wisconsin Northwoods gives sufficient reprieve from the hot city life of the more southern summer climate.

At between the hours of 7 and 9 PM an unparalleled opportunity for understanding the subtleties of the Bluegrass performers is offered within the pine-paneled walls of the Cozy Cove.  As the finale concert and dance of the day commences inside the Cove and overlaps with several hours of main stage concert, the tug-of-war choice between the two events has patrons pleasantly strolling from "the Cove to the Music Meadow to the Cove."  (Perhaps during one of your strolls into the Cozy Cove, your mind will wander to retro year when Bill Monroe played in similar haunts during the early part of his career in the roadhouses found in the back hills of Kentucky). You may find yourself getting goose bumps as you notice the unpretentious charisma and timing of the entertainers’ close-up, qualities that too often go undetected from the main stage. Paradoxically, once you attend to the intricacies of the performers up-close, you will notice such traits even from the nosebleed seats at later concerts you might attend throughout the rest of the year.

As excitement and energy fills the air, and dance movement shuffles over the floor, you look at the clock on the wall only to find the time is up for the evening inside "The Cove." You then wonder, perhaps, where your apprehensions about staying up late went. Maybe you’ll be asking the same question again as you stand around one of the numerous campfire jams you stroll past on the way to your camp or vehicle.
 

To summarize a description about the special ambience this Wisconsin Northwoods Bluegrass Show provides is difficult. Noticing the ceiling lined with 8 x 10 custom made wood-framed pictures of past performers that resembles a constellation of stars that could easily give fair representation of the "Who’s Who" in Bluegrass Music, is a good place to start. Many patrons return each year drawn by the knowledge that the "Midsummer In The Northwoods" Bluegrass Festival, going on for its second decade, has become one of the most unique and elite places to hear that authentic American Art Form---Bluegrass Music. Along with this Bluegrass achievement, ultimately this festival strives for a tradition denoted in the Wisconsin Motto:
"You're among friends."