Bluegrass festival at Warwick Valley Winery May 20-21

Warwick, N.Y. - The fourth annual Apple Blossom Bluegrass Festival, presented by Suzy Arnowitz and Mike Baglione, will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, at the Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery. Music and wine will flow throughout the afternoon in the orchard’s natural amphitheater featuring a hand-crafted outdoor stage. Tents will be provided for shade or unexpected inclement weather. Admission is $15 per day for adults; free for children five and under. “Bluegrass is a genre of music reminiscent of simpler times,” says Arnowitz. “Think rolling pastures, fiddles and banjos making a joyous sound, dancing barefoot in a meadow, picnicking on your grandmother’s quilt. It’s also music coming from the working class, helping us face our present day worries, sung with traditional high-lonesome vocals that pierce your heart. It can be sad and joyful at the same time.” Performers this year include Tin Roof, Mike Burns and Northcountry, Steve Lutke and Appalachian Uprising, Steve Toth and Rippling River, Straight Drive, McMule, Wickers Creek, James Reams and the Barnstormers, and a new opening band at noon. Tin Roof, the festival’s “house” band, will perform classic and original songs on both Saturday and Sunday. The band was recently featured on NPR’s radio show, “Dancing on Air. Originally from southeastern Kentucky, James Reams has been in NYC since the early 1980s, playing traditional bluegrass music with an old-time edge. Straight Drive’s name comes from the type of music they play: straight bluegrass with plenty of drive. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine describes Steve Toth as “one of the unsung masters of the Dobro.” His band features traditional and contemporary bluegrass. Mike Burns of Northcountry, hails from Purdys, N.Y., and has been a winner of numerous awards for his song-writing talents. The Wickers Creek Band from Westchester County, N.Y., plays traditional American string band music. Both Steve Lutke and Appalachian Uprising, and McMule refer to their bluegrass style as “newgrass.” Lutke’s banjo picking style incorporates a myriad of influences, ranging from Earl Scruggs to pianist George Winston, while McMule adds a twist of folk and blues to its electrified performance and harmonies. The Winery is located at 114 Little York Road in Warwick, NY. For directions, log on to wvwinery.com or call 258-4858. For the daily band line-up, log on to bigcowmusic.com. Attendees are requested not to bring coolers. Food, wine and beverages will be available for sale.