The WinterWonderGrass Festival came to Tahoe and honestly I wish it had never left.
Three days and nights of music, old and new friends and so much love. With a large main outdoor stage and two smaller stages, music was a plenty. The venue none other than Squaw Valley, with mountains and trees all around, this is the place many of us call home. There were also late night music events that took place at Moe’s in Tahoe City and at the Olympic Village Inn in Squaw Valley.
All who know me will say I love a good music festival, and this is an absolute, as sure as I stood in the pouring rain listening to Nicki Bluhm sing her heart out. A good music festival fills your soul and keeps you smiling and dancing long after the festival is over. It is all about the music, but really it is about so much more.
The promoters of WinterWonderGrass Festival are incredibly generous and loving folks, and the pleasure was all mine, getting to talk with and hang out with them on many occasions during the festival. Lots of folks randomly received a “miracle” festival band, meaning it was gifted to them by the promoters. Gifted on chairlifts, gifted on ski runs, gifted in town, such wonderful acts of kindness!
There is no beginning and no end to the music, it was all fantastic. The musicians put their all into their performances. The Infamous Stringdusters, the California Honeydrops, Elephant Revival, the Dead Winter Carpenters, Fruition, Tyler Grant, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Scott Law, Trampled by Turtles, Greensky Bluegrass, the Brothers Comatose and on and on.
Did I mention Sam Bush? Sam is a legend and took to the stage with many a band and it was an honor to see and listen to him 
playing with so many fine musicians.
How great for the Tahoe community and the surrounding areas to have so many folks around, hotel stays, restaurants and shops buzzing and busy. This festival, besides sharing music and love, certainly helped out our local business folk. On the tail end of a winter lacking snow and with the lack of snow came a sluggish local economy, thank you WinterWonderGrass Festival, to all involved, and to all who attended. Supporting live music, what better way to spend a weekend.
And as it came from the heavens, on Sunday evening while Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers were on stage, with Scott Law joining them and then Sam Bush, the rain started, and it was coming down hard, and the winds were howling and the sleet pounding. The crowd danced and sang in the rain. Our little slice of heaven was getting some well needed moisture.
A winter roots and bluegrass festival, all about sustainability and supporting local non profits and the arts. WinterWonderGrass Festival, we love you. See you next year.
-Clare Foster
