Pickathon 'Indie Roots' Lineup Announced

It’s hard for music festivals to distinguish themselves these days. Disregarding their locations and the whole “different musicians at each one” aspect, most are pretty similar, yeah? So maybe the people organizing Happy Valley, Oregon’s “Pickathon” have the right idea by keeping their music marathon specific to a genre they probably made up.

An “Indie Roots” festival, they call it – but not like, the Roots of Independent Music. Headliners will absolutely not include Hüsker Dü, Aztec Camera or the Jesus and Mary Chain. No, these Oregon hippies, god bless them, mean roots music done up indie-style. They mean a weekend of bluegrass, folk and country-influenced ditties by artists like the Avett Brothers, Erin McKeown, Handsome Family and the Gourds.

“Music soulfulness is required and polished fluff is not invited,” says the press release. The website adds, “If you are a beginning to advanced musician plan on bringing your instrument as picking will be everywhere.” Picking will be everywhere. Ubiquitous picking and hostility toward extensive production techniques, these are the qualities that define our roots, as determined by Pickathon.

Now in its ninth year, Pickathon lasts from August 3-5 on Pendarvis Farm. For people who might go into panic attacks from constant, inescapable picking, the area has numerous hiking trails to mellow out on. Visit the links below for prices, a full schedule of events, and information on Pickathon’s environmental programs.

Related links:
Pickathon.com
TheAvettBrothers.com
ErinMcKeown.com

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