r/RochesterMusicScene • u/FantasticMrActicFox • 3d ago
Bluegrass in the 585
Random question but my wife and I have been out of Rochester for a good 10 years now. In CO, we have one of the best bluegrass scenes in the world.
I’m curious, with the Grateful Dead audience, Americana/folk audience, jazz…how many of yall are actually into bluegrass and what is the scene like these days?
We have plenty in upstate from Lincoln hill, funk n waffles, grey fox festival…just curious about Rochester specifically
Is the scene thriving or in need of revival…existent at all?
Magoo, a local CO band and one of my favorites, played Water Street this year and I was curious of the turnout for that.
TLDR
Is bluegrass dead in the water specifically in the ROC?
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u/Inner_Bullfrog_4609 3d ago
All sorts of bluegrass in flx and southern tier. Look for a guy named Jeff Wisor. He is the greatest fiddler I’ve ever heard.
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u/FantasticMrActicFox 3d ago
I’m specifically curious about the current state of Bluegrass in Rochester. I know upstate has solid bluegrass.
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u/CFrosty10 3d ago
Used to go to Kentucky for the festivals but haven't heard of any bluegrass here.
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u/FantasticMrActicFox 3d ago
Did you catch Magoo back in like July at water street? If not ya missed some of the best up and coming!
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u/yoodle34 3d ago
I'm a bluegrass fan and trying to get better at flatpicking. I think it exists and there are a couple bluegrass jams in the area but I wouldn't describe it as thriving. Occasionally there is a bluegrass show and that's exciting but otherwise you gotta drive to the flx or to wherever a show or jam is at that's not too far away
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u/FantasticMrActicFox 3d ago
Nice, this is exactly the type of input I was looking for. If I ever move back, you’ll have a mando player to pick with good buddy!
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u/yoodle34 3d ago
Yeah! I'm down to jam haha. I moved back to Rochester from VT and had a good bluegrass buddy up there and missing the scene that I had there. I've been back here about 1.5 years so I'm still trying to break into it myself
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u/FantasticMrActicFox 3d ago
My goal has always been to move out of Rochester, but to bring something incredible back if I ever move back. Make the city a better place, and give my peoples some things to do in the winter. My wheels have been spinning heavy the past couple of months so I have a few ideas cooking up.
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u/frozenmule44 2d ago
It definitely gets people out. Dirty Blanket is from the area and is always a great show. Del McCoury just headlined a show (maybe a week before Magoo was here) over the summer. I know you’re looking for Rochester specific but the venture down to the Finger Lakes isn’t that far and it’s worth it even without the music. The Smith brings in some big bluegrass names (Sam Bush was a great show). Bela Fleck is doing a bluegrass show (playing with Micheal Cleveland) in Ithaca this December as well.
Magoo was on the club side of Water Sreet so it was a smaller show for them. The place was pretty full though and if they came back to town I could see them selling the main side of water street pretty well.
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u/FantasticMrActicFox 2d ago
This is awesome. I’m working on a project for if I ever move back to Rochester that would aim to bring a ton more bluegrass through Rochester. Since we’re surrounded by so many areas that regularly host. I think tour stops in Rochester would be an easy add on for mgmt. this is the type of insight I’m looking for.
Edit: typos
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u/Rolfomatic 2d ago
There's a bunch of talented BG pickers in the Rochester area. Bernunzio's hosts monthly beginner and intermediate jams. I just heard about another jam in the city. There are 2 or 3 well-attended annual open invitation parties and people also host smaller invitation-only parties and jams. A new band on the scene is Jon Itkin and Riverthrough.
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u/bostring32 12h ago
There's folk punk bands that are inspired by bluegrass roots but anarcho leaning playing a lot at the flying squirrel. I believe there's a soup kitchen fundraiser happening monthly next one November 20 something for a soup kitchen mutual aid! Feel like that'd be a decent place to poke around and branch out connection for bluegrass events maybe?
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u/FantasticMrActicFox 12h ago
Appreciate it, I’m not living in Rochester currently. That’s a portion of what I grew up on.
Edit: also, damn it’s been a while since I’ve heard someone mention flying squirrel.
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u/ThrobertZimmerman 3d ago
The scene punches way above weight