It’s a family tradition Top, left: Polina Savich played guitar and sang. Top, right: Kids always have fun at NedFest. Bottom, right: Proper headwear is important when attending a festival. Bottom, left: Smokin’ guitarist Logan Green of Flash Mountain Flood is a longtime NedFest veteran. PHOTOS BY DAVE GIBSON[/caption]

During three days at the end of August from 1999 through 2018 at Jeff Guercio Memorial Ballfield, a music festival attracting up to 2,000 concertgoers was held. It was known as NedFest. Created by promoter “Michigan Mike” Torpie, over the years, it featured big name acts such as Dr. John, Los Lobos, Hot Tuna, Taj Mahal, David Grisman, Ricky Skaggs, and Ralph Stanley. Local bands or members of Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, and The Motet were mainstays. After Torpie’s untimely death on November 26, 2011, his friends and family decided to carry on the tradition that he poured his heart and soul into. Lasting a full 20 years, to the dismay of many, it also passed away.

Five years later, Torpie’s friend and NedFest event organizer Kristen McFarland thought it would be fun to reunite some of the musicians, volunteers, and past attendees this year for a celebration of the bygone event and the close friendships that formed then. On August 26 and 27 at The Caribou Room, her vision became a reality with the NedFest Family Reunion.

Showcasing the same kind of great acts and tunes that NedFest was known for, the first day began with The Mountain-Ear’s very own Jamie Lammers on guitar and vocals followed by Flash Mountain Flood’s American roots jam band music. Kylie Brock, Smooth Money Gesture, Happy Fuzzy and Analogue, Rocket Parade, and the Blackdog Jazz Trio entertained the afternoon away as kids blew giant bubbles and hula hooped on the newly installed lawn of The Caribou Room. As if the previous bands weren’t enough, from 8 to 9:30 p.m., a supergroup of notable performers was fronted by 7-time Grammy Award winner Joan Osborne on vocals. An energized Fruition wrapped up the evening inside.

One of my favorite parts of NedFest was when local kids took the stage to begin the last day of the festival. Improving from year to year, some of them became quite good at their newfound pursuit. This year’s crop showed the same potential and talent. As a finale, As a finale, Blue Garcia Paine of Nederland High School sang a beautiful rendition of “Long Long Time.”

Sundays always had a more relaxed kind of bluegrass vibe. The habit continued as the No Go Gilbillies strummed and picked their way through a few Bill Monroe tunes and original numbers that banjoist Adam Pause joked someone once asked him if they were “real” songs. Their drummer was missing and rumored to have locked himself in his car. Eric Stone provided a soulful tweener.

Dango Rose and Bridgette Law of Elephant Revival, Dave Johnston of Yonder String Band, Taylor Simms, and Silas Herman collaborated to a highly appreciative audience. I swear I saw sparks flying from Herman’s mandolin. The Hillbenders brought it on home with more bluegrass.