Bringin' bluegrass to a Comstock crowd

It was a trip to a bluegrass festival that ripped Vicki Hass away from her classical music background and caused her to embrace what she calls "homegrown music."

Beginning Friday night, Hass hopes to provide that same chance to others when the bluegrass festival the she helped organize kicks off its second year.

"We want to promote bluegrass and use a great venue like Virginia City to promote the music," Hass said.

The Bluegrass on the Comstock Festival begins with a jam session at 8:30 Friday night. The scheduled entertainment runs from noon-8 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Miner's Park.

Nine bands, including Hass' The Back Forty and a Texas family band called Digger Davis are among the acts scheduled to appear.

"We want people to experience the music. There isn't one particular band that is better or worse to see, just come for the music," Hass said.

In addition to the performances, the event also features a song writing contest and a band scramble.

Performers have one day to write music and lyrics to a new song, which will be judged Saturday afternoon.

During the scramble, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and bass players put their names in a hat. One of each is drawn, and the newly formed band must come up with a name and play several songs for the crowd.

"Some of the bands are actually pretty amazing for never having played together, but we have never had a really bad band," Hass said. "Most of these guys are professional musicians, so they know what they are doing."

The eventual goal of the organizers is to expand the event into a three-day festival and increase the number of acts that perform.

"It's just good music. It's homegrown and it's family fun," Hass said. "More than anything else it's music that comes from the heart."

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

If you go

What: Bluegrass on the Comstock Festival.

When: 7:30 p.m. jam session Friday and Saturday nights; scheduled performances from noon to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Jam session are at the old V&T Freight Depot. Scheduled entertainment will take place at Miner's Park, E and Mill streets.

Price: $25 for a two-day pass or $15 for a one-day pass. Children under 12 are free.

Call: 882-6013 or go online at www.bluegrassonthecomstock. com