The festival is saddened by the loss of a great musician and producer.  Kenny Edwards left us.  Thanks for your fine contributions to a world that needs more folks like you.

The EarthTrek campground for the American River Music Festival has a vibe all its own.  The riverfront section has a grove of pine trees with grass and shade for the festival tenters.  For those wanting a little luxury,  cool tent cabins are available as an upgrade.  These cabins have raised beds with comfy pads and decks overlooking the river.   ET has bathrooms, showers, a general store and a sand volleyball court.

Best of all, when you buy an EarthTrek festival ticket you are served 4 meals; Fri/Sat dinner and Sat/Sun breakfast.  Leave the commissary at home.  They ring the bell and your meal is served.  Sure makes this music festival simple and fun.

Performing at EarthTrek will be Garrin Benfield (looping workshop),  Bay Area singer songwriter Forest Sun, Karla Bonoff with Nina Gerber and Kenny Edwards and Forest comes back to do a Sunday morning Songwriting workshop.

American River Music Festival EarthTrek tickets are only $129 A.  This is all music, riverfront camping, 4 meals, free shuttles.  How great is that!

Thanks for supporting live music.

The American River Music Festival wouldn’t be what it is without our fabulous campgrounds for those wanting to enjoy the great 3 day vibe of this music festival.

Camp Lotus is 23 acres of riverfront beauty with grass, shade, bathrooms with showers, a general store, a beautiful swimming hole, and friendly staff.

When you buy a festival camping ticket at Camp Lotus (only $99 adult) check in begins at 9am on Friday the 17th.  Come early as spots are First Come First Serve.   Go on our optional river front guided hike or our wine taste both with great live music.  These are in the early afternoon, and our host will have directions and details.  Come back to the Bungee Jumpin’ Cows at the camp beginning at 5pm.  BJC is the far side of family fun.  Then at 7:30 sit in your lawn chairs looking over the river to music by renowned Slaid Cleaves.  That is a treat for sure.

Later, there will be plenty of folks jammin to their own music, so if jammin’s your thing, feel free to wander.

Saturday brings free shuttles to/from the main stage with all the great music and goings on there.  Then back at CL for music by the incredible Berkley Hart at 8:30 pm.

Sunday brings Anne Weiss to your campground in the morning for a Choral workshop @ 9:30 am.  This is so cool, because Anne will teach everyone one song to sing in harmony.  Then it’s off the main stage for another great day of music.  Back to camp where checkout isn’t until after Sunday’s music.

We have links to all our campgrounds on our site, with complete campground music schedules.  You’re welcome to any campground performance when you buy a festival camping ticket.  ENJOY!

We have three fab campgrounds that you can choose to stay at for the three days of the festival.

Our first profile is American River Resort.  Just a quick two miles from the main stage, ARR is 33 riverfront acres with a general store, swimming pool, hot showers, troublemaker rapid, an event center, shade, grass, and so much more.

The festival will feature 4 shows at ARR.  When you check in on Friday the 17th you can choose to go, first, on our guided hike on the river, or our wine taste both offering great music.

then back to ARR to Jonny Mojo, our fabulous local blues talent doing a workshop on blues styles at 5:00 pm on the patio.

Dinner is served, for those that want to make it easy on themselves, out in the lawn area starting at 6pm for $12.

at 7 pm begins a great night of entertainment with our showcase open mic night.  17 performers giving their best for 10 minutes with three “top performances” getting a tweener on the main stage.  These are working musicians coming to the fest to showcase their stuff.  very cool!

Saturday, the 18th brings all day shuttles from ARR to the main stage for 5 great sets.

Then back at ARR, Jesse Winchester (yes!!!) does a show beginning at 9pm.  get there early for a good seat.  that will be standing room only.

Sunday morning @ 9:30 out on the patio, Dana Hubbard, another fine fine bluesman does a famous harmonica songs shop.  then it’s off to the main stage for another day of great music.

And just arranged with ARR, you can stay till monday mornin.  Nice!

Thank you ARR for making this one of the best music festivals going.

three days riverfront camping,  all that music for only $99 bucks folks.

Thanks for supporting live music.

we’ve gotten some great “beans and rice” submissions.  thanks and keep it up.  deadline for entries is August 15th.  check our earlier blog for details.

KVMR community radio will be broadcasting the american river music festival live throughout Northern California on Sept 18th and 19th.  so if you can’t come, listen in at 89.5 on the dial.

The American River Music Festival is having a lyrics (a set of words that make up a song) writing contest!  Join in on the fun!

Here’s how it works:  The first line of the lyric must begin with the words, “I like beans and rice.”  That’s it!  To enter simply send an email to matt@americanrivermusic.org with the subject title, I like beans and rice.  Please include your name, phone #, mailing address and your lyrics.  One entry per person.  All entries will be posted at the main stage for everyone’s reading pleasure.

The winner reads their lyrics on the main stage, or make it a song (a short musical composition with words) and give us a performance.  How about build a little band for a one song main stage gig!  The “I like beans and rice” slot is Sunday the 19th @ 12:00 noon.  Hey, give us a beans and rice jam if you win!

Best of all, the winner will receive a beautiful Monterey Marquee acoustic electric guitar thanks to Monterey Mattress Company’s Monterey Marquee Community Supported Arts Program, which donated the guitar.  Also, a big thanks to Pam and Charlie Weber (Boat House Concerts and the Fifth Avenue Institute) for working with the Monterey Marquee Program and the festival to bring you this fun event!

Entry deadline is August 15th, and we will notify all entrants by September 1st.

We have some incredibly talented and renowned artists coming to the festival so we decided to blog a little profile of them.  first up..Jesse Winchester.

Jesse Winchester released his first album entitled, “Jesse Winchester” in 1970.  39 yrs and 13 records later he released “Love Filling Station” in 2009.

Known throughout North America as a renowned songwriter some of his legendary songs are “Yankee Lady”, “The Brand New Tennessee Waltz”, “You’re on my Mind”, “Biloxi”, and “Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding”.  We have a great video of SALDD on our site, but fair tear warning, get out the tissues first.

In 2007 Jesse was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)…amazing!

He’s coming to the festival all the way from Virginia.  You can see him on the main stage on Saturday, 18th at 12:00 pm, and Saturday evening at American River Resort Campground (reserved for campground ticket holders only) at 9:30 pm.

thanks for supporting Jesse and live music!