51st RockyGrass festival brings bluegrass tunes to Lyons

Jul. 29—Lyons was filled with the sound of plucking banjos and lilting fiddles this weekend as thousands gathered for the annual Planet Bluegrass RockyGrass music festival.

Per usual, this year's festival was sold out, with 4,500 people in attendance each of the three days. When they weren't listening to lively bluegrass performances, guests spent time milling between vendor booths or beating the heat in the nearby St. Vrain Creek.

"There's so much fun music culture in Lyons," said Grace Barrett, director of communication and partnerships for Planet Bluegrass, on Saturday. "And it's because people come for the community and the friends."

This year also marks the 51st iteration of RockyGrass, over 30 of which have been held in Lyons at Planet Bluegrass Ranch. Barrett said the festival celebrated its 50-year milestone in 2022 with a few additions, like a photo exhibit, but wanted the emphasis to remain on the music.

"It's really like, come and just be here, and let the magic of the place speak for itself," Barrett said.

Saturday afternoon featured the preliminary round of the band contest, with 10 bluegrass groups performing songs under the shade of the ranch's Wildflower Pavilion. The band that wins the final round Sunday gets to play on the main stage at next year's RockyGrass.

"We were happy to go first and set the stage, set the volume, set the tone," said Daniel Elkin with Boulder-based band Salty Strings, the opener for Saturday's competition.

"We recognize the beautiful musical tradition of Boulder," added band member Jonathan Bastian. "So we just feel super-proud to be doing our best and hopefully be a part of a new wave of bluegrass that comes out of the city."

The festival pulled plenty of Colorado musicians as well as several from out of state, including groups from California and Kansas. It also hosted RockyGrass Academy a week prior with bluegrass classes and coaching for participants. Part of the academy was a kids' camp offering the same experience for young musicians ages 7 through 14.

"That's what's cool about bluegrass — it starts with the kids, and it's all an oral tradition that's handed down," said Jill Brzezicki, security supervisor for the festival. "They're hearing it, and they're repeating it. That's how it's been taught for 100 years, and it's such a cool legacy to keep going."

Brzezicki has been coming to the festival for more than 15 years. She called Lyons a town full of bluegrass fans and musicians.

"You could start a band just by walking out into the crowd and asking, 'Do you want to play?'" she said. "And most of them are good."