2027
WAMA
Pickersfest
August 06 - 08, 2027
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Winlock Pickersfest
Jim Lauderdale and Jimmy Ritchey
Jim Lauderdale
At any given time, you’re likely to find Jim Lauderdale making music—whether he’s laying down a new track in the studio or working through a spontaneous melody at his home in Nashville. And if he’s not actively crafting new music, he’s certainly thinking about it.
“It's a constant challenge to try to keep making better and better records, write better and better songs. I still always feel like I'm a developing artist,” he says.
This may be a surprising sentiment from a man who’s won two Grammy Awards, released 38 full-length albums (39 on the way), taken home the Americana Music Association’s coveted Wagonmaster Award, and recently become a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The North Carolina native is only continuing to hone his craft.
What others have said:
“Jim Lauderdale is a consummate entertainer, a sharp dressed man as well,
a terrific songwriter and a great singer."– George Strait
“He’s my favorite part of Americana music” – Ketch Secor, Old Crow Medicine Show
“He’s a man of great style, an exceptional songwriter and tremendous singer” – Elvis Costello
“Jim Lauderdale could easily be called a renaissance man. He’s a great singer,
great guitar player and there’s no way you could miss his work as a songwriter.” – Ricky Skaggs
Listen to one of Jim Lauderdale's latest hits.
"My Favorite Place"
Jimmy Ritchey
Producer | Songwriter | Multi-Instrumentalist
Nashville-based producer and multi-instrumentalist with over 30 years at the top of country music. Raised in Centralia, Washington, Ritchey cut his teeth performing at fairs, rodeos, and honky-tonks across the Pacific Northwest before relocating to Nashville in 1995.
His production credits include Vince Gill, LeAnn Womack, Clay Walker, Randy Travis, Jake Owen, Mark Chesnutt, Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan, Tracy Byrd, and Tracy Lawrence. Hit songs to his name include "I Met a Girl" (William Michael Morgan), "The One That Got Away" (Jake Owen), and "I Can't Sleep" (Clay Walker).
A respected music executive and Centralia College Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Ritchey continues to shape the sound of contemporary country music from Nashville, Tennessee.
Rio Con Brio
Mike Burdette (Guitarist), Tim Connell (Mandolinist)
Rio Con Brio captivates audiences around the country with their intimate performance of the beautiful and esoteric Brazilian repertoire known as choro, the early 20th Century street music of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Influenced by equal parts Afro-Brazilian rhythms and the contemporary cafe music of Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, choro is both exotic and familiar, evoking in turn the carnival of Rio and the cafes of Paris.
Guitarist Mike Burdette and mandolinist Tim Connell exhibit finesse and passion in their playing, while displaying a sincere love of the choro repertoire and connection to their audience. An evening with Rio Con Brio is a delightful tour of European and New World music as experienced by the mandolin and guitar and as told by two soulful, intelligent, modern musicians – a beautiful intersection of Brazilian rhythm, classical technique and jazz improvisation.
Links:
Chris Guenther
Born and raised in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Chris Guenther grew up on a family farm near Winston Creek, an outlying area near the town of Mossyrock, in Southwest Washington. His experiences raising and marketing livestock through 4-H and FFA youth programs afforded him his first performances, often packing his guitar to local livestock shows, county fairs, meeting and serenading other exhibitors and the public. In his teens he formed his first band and began playing dancehalls, local club venues, old-time fiddle festivals, and an occasional cowboy gathering. These early experiences helped Chris develop his fiddle and guitar skills and establish his abilities as a songwriter
His passion for agriculture led him to Washington State University, where he earned a History and Agriculture Education teaching degree. Soon, he landed his first job as an agriculture teacher, instructing students on animal husbandry, farm & ranch management, and livestock evaluation. A teacher’s schedule has allowed him to continue his musical pursuits, performing at night and touring in the summer months for supplemental income. Chris has written and recorded nine albums in the past twenty years including original country and western songs. He has supported his album releases with tours throughout the western United States, continually developing his authentic blend of Americana music.
Dear Crow
Old-time tunes, original and trad songs, sweet double fiddles and lyrical banjo, tight vocal harmonies: a sound that is both nostalgic and bright with possibility. Dear Crow is the musical partnership of Brian Lindsay and Penka Jane Culevski.
Penka Jane began playing fiddle as a child and has been singing since she first heard the radio. Her forthright and emotive fiddle playing pulls the listener along the journey of every tune, and since she began songwriting in earnest in 2018 she’s become known for her timeless and lyrically potent songs. When she started playing with Brian Lindsay, they found kindred spirits in each other. Brian is half of the powerhouse acoustic duo Countercurrent, and is nationally sought after as a contra dance fiddle player, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. In the heartfelt and vulnerable arrangements of Dear Crow, the harmonies ring easily, the songs pluck your heartstrings, and the tunes roll and tumble with the energy that only dance musicians can muster.
The Cowchips
Neil Massey (Guitar, Banjo, Vocals), Al Miotke (Mandolin, Guitar, Vocals), Jeff Anderson (Cowboy Harmonica, Swinging Clarinet), Bob Johnson (Bass, Vocals)
The Cowchips band plays a mix of western swing, bluegrass and cowboy tunes with a tight musical sound and three-part harmony reminiscent of Western swing bands from the 1940's. The group’s current lineup all play multiple instruments and have been together since 2004. Al Miotke, the newest member of the group, brings a background of country, oldies and classic rock while providing melodic mandolin, guitar and vocals to the group. Jeff Anderson, well known for his talent in Dixieland Jazz, can't be topped for cowboy harmonica and swinging clarinet. Bob Johnson and his big ol' bass fiddle holds down the rhythm section and sings high harmony. Neil Massey, the heart of this old-timey group, plays guitar, banjo, fiddle and delivers some of the best darn cowboy vocals anywhere. You're sure to be smiling and tapping your feet when the Cowchips take the stage.
Eel Sallad
Eel Sallad can be best categorised as Pacific Northwest Americana Rock - with influences ranging from rock to reggae, from classical to grunge.They can sound like a folksy rock band when acoustic, or a fun grunge band when the drum kit and electric instruments come out. Led by powerful vocals from the dynamic Dallas Lee (Eel Sallad backwards), their contemplative songwriting and passionate instrumentals creates a soulful high energy sound that you can't help but move to.
Listen to one of Eel Sallad's tunes.
"Three Finger Jack"
Pickersfest Audio Technician
Darrell Johnson
Pickersfest Emcee
Brian Mittge
