Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival – music and fun for everyone

By Jean Schurman

The setting couldn’t be more perfect. With the Ponderosa pines scattered around the field and the gently sloping hill creating the feel of an amphitheater, the hill above Forrest Hill Road between Hamilton and Darby is an ideal spot for the Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival. Although the lupine and grass will be cut down by Friday when the festival begins, the setting seems tailor-made for the event.

Organizers Mike and Tari Conroy said this wasn’t their first choice but when they saw the area, they knew this was the place. The couple had originally contacted Pat and Mary Thomas to see if they could hold the fledgling festival on their hayfield. While the Thomases said that would be alright, Mary told them to contact Tom and Janice Heiland who owned the field above the hayfield. Heilands gave the okay and the Thomas hayfield became the parking lot.

The first year, the stage was a flatbed truck and trailer. Although adequate, it really didn’t have the right feel for the festival. So in the time between the first festival and the one last year, Conroy and company built a permanent stage. Because he wanted the event to have the feel of the 1930’s, the stage is a front porch. It has a door (to nowhere), porch railing, flowerpots, a clothesline and one microphone. Although it looked brand new last year, the wood has weathered and it’s not a reach to think this is grandma’s porch.

“I keep telling them to build the rest of the house,” said Janice Heiland.

Completing the feel of the 1930’s is a 1930 Model AA Ford truck with a flatbed. The truck has been seen in different parades around the valley this summer, promoting the three-day bluegrass event.

There is no power at the site. Instead, the microphone is powered by a generator that sits down the hill. There are no speakers, no electric guitars nor amplifiers. It is an all-acoustic event with banjos, guitars, fiddles, bass and mandolins. Ten bands will be performing but the jam sessions before and after the scheduled events are every bit as good as what you’ll see on the stage. The bands come from as far away as Baker City, Oregon. There are also bands from Washington and Oregon as well as several Montana bands. Conroy said there is a band contest with the best band and the band with the most character winning garden goods. He said this is in keeping with the 1930’s theme when food was often given as a prize. The crowd votes on these two winners.

In addition to the bands, on Saturday six pioneers of bluegrass in Montana will be honored. Conroy said he selected these people because of their contribution to promoting bluegrass and helping the genre become as popular as it is today.

Fiddlin’ Jimmy Widner of Darby is the first honoree. He is a multiple winner of state fiddling championships and even a national championship. He’s 86 years old and still plays. Firp Redman of Hamilton is also quite well known in this area. For years he had a barbershop on State Street in Hamilton and when he didn’t have a customer in the chair, he was usually sitting in it, pickin’ on a banjo. Irene Abbey, formerly of Darby, will also be honored. Rounding out the six are Forrest Clark of Clinton, and Ila Matthews and Myron Walters of Athol, Washington. These pioneers of Northwest Bluegrass will be recognized and honored at 6:35 Saturday evening.

“I thought it would be fun to honor these people,” said Conroy. “We are just like one big family anyway.”

You might notice the specific time noted for the bluegrass pioneers. Conroy said that this festival runs right on time throughout the three days. It’s a pet peeve of his to go to a festival to see a particular band and have to wait because they are behind schedule.

“We have a big clock on the stage so we can see the time and know when to wind things up,” said Conroy.

There are vendors at the festival as well. There are a couple of food vendors but if you want to bring a picnic, that’s ok too. A fiddle repairman will set up shop along with honey and lemonade booths and a few crafts. Conroy wants to keep the atmosphere ‘old school’ and not create a carnival-type atmosphere. In keeping with that theme, Burma Shave type road signs will guide festivalgoers in from Highway 93 and up the winding road to the site.

The Festival kicks off on Friday night, July 22, at 5:40 when the landowners, or their children and grandkids, take the stage. Mary Thomas and her son Ben, Ted Heiland and others from the two families will entertain for 35 minutes. After a five-minute break, Blue to the Bone takes over. A new band is up every 35 minutes until dark. Saturday morning kicks off with ‘Kids in Bluegrass’ and the same 35-minute schedule is in place until dark. Sunday morning is devoted to gospel with a variety of players onstage. Regular bluegrass begins at noon with the Callenders out of Pendleton, Oregon. JD Webb and the Downstate Ramblers is the final band to take the stage at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The only non-music playing performers that will take the stage are Bitterroot Cloggers under the direction of Bob Adkin.

Some of the bands have cut CDs and will have their music for sale. Conroy said the musicians like to visit and share tips with one another and the crowd. He said it’s a good way for people to learn more about bluegrass.

Janice Heiland not only donated the use of their land but she also made a quilt to commemorate the event. The blue denim covered quilt features banjos and guitars and is a one-of-a-kind full sized quilt. The quilt will be raffled off during the festival. Bob Mitchell of Darby also contributed to the event. He donated a Marlin Ranger rifle to be raffled off as well. Tickets are $1 per chance or six for $5.

The Conroys wanted the festival to be affordable because just like in the 1930’s, the times are tough now. Whether you come for one day or for all three days, the cost is $10, total, for the weekend. Children 12 and under are $5 for the weekend. An additional $10 is charged if you are going to bring your camper, RV or a tent. Again, that’s for the weekend. Camping opens on Thursday at 10 a.m. and it’s on a first-come basis. So if you want the shade trees, get there early. Remember, it is a dry camp, so bring water as well. There will be port-a-potties on site.

There will be shade tarps strung from tree to tree to keep the sun at bay, or perhaps rain off. In addition, there are a few hand-made benches. The ground can get hard so it would be a good idea to bring lawn chairs, according to Conroy. For more information regarding the Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival, go to www.hardtimesbluegrass.com or call Mike or Tari at 821-3777.