TEMECULA – Known as the best free festival on the west coast by bluegrass fans, this year’s festival featured 11 scheduled bands and dozens of impromptu performances throughout the six block

town of Old Town Temecula on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17.

The festival lineup included local favorites Silverado Bluegrass, Irish/Bluegrass Sligo Rags and The Wimberly’s – a family band often seen busking during the festival. 

Tail Draggers, Sweet Tidings, Next Generation, Old Haywire and Bluegrass Brethren filled out the remainder of the lineup.

Grammy nominees The Special Consensus headlined the 13th annual event and well-loved by the community Bluegrass Etc. was also present to entertain guests

along with Scott Gates and Salty Suites.

Concerts were free on Saturday and Sunday and took place Advertisement

[ Murrieta Volkswagen ] from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on two stages. A unique concert featuring The Special Consensus, Bluegrass Etc. and Silverado was at 7 p.m. on Saturday indoors on the Old Town Temecula Community Theater stage.

"Pickers" (a bluegrassers’ term for musicians) jam anywhere along the walkways of Old Town Temecula during the event. It is one of the most unique aspects as musicians of varying skills strike up a band and begin playing familiar reels.

Free workshops during the weekend were held in the Merc and helped instigate the free flow of jamming around town. Band members led the workshops and provided the audience a chance to pick and play with their favorites.