Festival returns to Haines Junction from June 7 to 9
Music. Mountains. Magic. The tagline of Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival (KMBF) is all of what three-day Haines Junction bluegrass extravaganza promises. Taking place this summer from June 7 to 9, the festival will see some of the top names in the bluegrass genre travelling up to the Yukon to deliver an unforgettable experience to both themselves and audiences.
“The artists love to come and play here,” said artistic director James Faulkner. “It really allows us to punch above our weight in terms of getting the top people to come. We really can’t afford to pay them what they would normally get, but we offer some nice perks on the side.”
This year’s KMBF lineup features Verana, Pharis and Jason Romero, Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, The Lonesome Ace Stringband, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, and the Darren Nicholson Band, joined by local and area acts Bob and the Barnburners, Ella Korth, Relative Harmony, Sour Do Re Mi, Treble Makers and Wolf Creek.
“I think most kinds of music are better live,” said KMBF board president Mark Nelson, who fell in love with the musical style upon moving to the Yukon and seeing the festival for himself. “But with bluegrass, in particular, the amazing musical ability of the musician, you really get to see it.
“When you see someone go into a ripping mandolin solo or something like that and you actually get to watch it, it steps it up a level. It’s impressive enough on the record, but even better live.”
Nelson goes on to call bluegrass the “punk rock of country music,” saying that the hard-driving nature and attitude of the genre is able to come through live and provide a different experience to audiences than only listening to the music would.
It’s hard for both Nelson and Faulkner to quite pin down what they’re most excited for, since the whole weekend will be packed with a diverse and eclectic collection of performances, workshops and events, and Nelson makes sure to note that there is something for everyone in the lineup, since the bluegrass encompasses many different sounds.
“You’ll find something you love no matter what your style is,” he said. “There are a lot of different flavours in this festival for people to choose from.”
KMBF has been going on since 2003, starting, as Faulkner explained, as essentially a pipe dream that nobody would have seen and still going on over two decades later. Faulkner himself was in a bluegrass band called Disturbing the Peace, and the enthusiasm he and his bandmates saw from audiences gave them the idea to start a festival, though Faulkner said it’s amazing they pulled it off.
“There were some rocks in the road, like COVID, of course, and there was one year where there was a forest fire threatening Haines Junction just at the festival time,” Faulkner said. “There have been some ups and downs, but generally it’s been quite successful.”
Year after year, the festival continues to draw out enthusiastic crowds, something Faulkner credits to the vast appreciation for the arts, in general, among Yukoners, many of whom are musicians and artists themselves. Nelson agrees, adding that a festival taking place in the wilderness of the Yukon is a unique experience you won’t get just anywhere.
“The tagline being ‘Music. Mountains. Magic.’—the high-caliber musicians and the setting—
you get to go spend a weekend hanging out and walking out looking at the Saint Elias Mountains, every day, it’s a pretty stunning combo,” he said. “It’s hard to turn that down.”
Both Faulkner and Nelson make sure to acknowledge the commitment of their team, each saying that all aspects of the festival come together as a team effort, from the booking of bands and arranging flights and accommodations, to the rigging of sound equipment.
“It’s just a huge package of things that need to be done,” said Faulkner.
To learn more about KMBF and this year’s lineup, as well as to get information on the schedule, history, sponsors and volunteer opportunities and to purchase tickets, visit yukonbluegrass.com.
With most plans in place for this year, the KMBF team are excitedly discussing ideas for future editions and getting ready for a packed weekend of live music and community.
“The whole experience is just a highlight for me,” said Faulkner.
