Black & Bluegrass Festival Back With Bruising Genre-Bending Lineup

Back in 2014, Ottawa area musician Dan Rae was playing gigs mixing bluegrass and folk. But he was looking for something more, a community of artists who could network and create a brand of outlaw country that showed a grittier, rougher-around-the- edges edge.

"So I started asking people who maybe knew other bands that were in or around that genre of outlaw country or folk punk," Rae says. "I got a bunch of people sending me names from around Oshawa, Toronto and Montreal. I gave them all a message. 'Do you want to put together a little festival and see how it goes?' It was a shitload of fun and I had a great time. I just kept doing it every year."

The end result -- outside of the last two years due to the pandemic and restrictions -- is Black & Bluegrass, an annual festival whose 2022 version takes place outdoors on Sept. 17 at Rideau Pine Farms in North Gower, Ontario. The lineup includes Rae's band Bastards and the Buzzards alongside Screamin Sins, Vs The Borg, High Anxiety, Lucas Choi Zimbel and others.

Myke Pulito, who will be performing with his band Vs The Borg at this year's festival, has been part of Black & Bluegrass since the inaugural festival. He says the diversity of the music and bands involved is a huge selling point and attraction.

"One of the main reasons why it's grown over the years is that Black & Bluegrass isn't really beholden to any one type of music or genre," Pulito says. "While there are pretty obvious themes that run through it, you get this well-curated cornucopia of acts that mix various forms of folk, punk, country, bluegrass, rock and roll and everything in between, from the more traditional styles to something way out there. It's always been a place for me to find music that doesn't necessarily fit anywhere else.”

As for the name, Rae says it stemmed from his earlier musical influences such as Hank Williams III (aka Hank 3), The Devil Makes Three and Brown Bird and their intense live shows.

"They had this rough version of bluegrass and a lot of them came from playing in punk bands when they were teenagers or in their early twenties," he says. "I really like the idea of that because I grew up listening to metal and punk mostly. Once I found those bands and others like them it opened up my world.

"I was going to their shows and there would be these mosh pits for a bluegrass band. There was so much energy for it. I went to a bluegrass show and I'm coming out with bruises. So I thought black and blue like bruises."

Rae doesn't remember much about the inaugural festival but says it went better than expected. He also says a lot of the bands have returned to perform while new bands are added each year.

"Everybody that ended up getting involved in it just loved it," he says. "Everybody seemed they were there for the same reasons, to have some fun and share the music with each other. There were no egos involved, everybody just got along."

Rae says early versions were held at various spots in Ottawa such as the Murray Street Diner, the Rainbow Bistro and the Elgin Street Diner among others over the years.  Each year saw the festival grow and get a bit more traction over the previous year. However this year will see the event happening outdoors for the first time, something Rae hoped for since he created Black & Bluegrass.

"I had been playing at Rideau Pines Farms for people while they pick fruits and vegetables," he says. "I'd go and play a set while people are picking. Then play another set while they come over, have a beer and listen. The owner there is an awesome guy. I asked him if we could have the festival there and he jumped on it. So we have it now as an outdoor festival which is how I envisioned it from the beginning. It'll be fun."

Despite the problems a lot of festivals post-pandemic in terms of logistics and costs Rae says his biggest concern is fans and musicians leaving happy.

"Just thinking, 'I hope this goes well,'" he says. "A lot of the people that have been involved have helped me out doing a bit of promo or making posters. Everybody that has been involved has been solid. It hasn't been a huge struggle and I try to keep it casual. That's why I get a lot more local bands. I would like to get a bigger band or two at some point but I like keeping it modest and that way it makes things easier.

"I've never made a lot of money off it to be honest. I think there was only one year where I made a small amount of profit. Every other year I've given all the money to the bands so they can get some money for gas and stuff. We've all gotten to know each other so well over the years. It's just a great party we're having and trying to get new people in on it."

Pulito says the strong grassroots sense of community that's formed over the years is what keeps him coming back.

"I remember rolling up on the first one and not really sure what to expect and finding all these different types of musicians from all over," he says. "Just having out and trading songs on the front stoop of the venue. I've felt at home ever since."

Black & Bluegrass Fest 2022 takes place September 17 at Rideau Pines Farm. Find full details here.