Bluegrass roots remain strong in 42nd year of Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival
In Harrison, Illinois, east of Durand, the Two Rivers Blue Grass Festival holds a rich history.
This festival started over 40 years ago when Lloyd and Vivian Gaines decided that they wanted a place where people could go to an alcohol free event and listen to bluegrass music.
Bluegrass music has roots that developed in the 1940's in the Appalachian region of the United States.
After Lloyd's passing almost 30 years ago, Vivian continued the tradition and kept the event alive with the help of the Coon Club.
Eventually Vivian passed the event on to Jeff and Liz Wagner who have been carrying the torch of organizing the event for the past six years.
“This is the last year that Vivian will be directly involved with the event, “Liz Wagner said. “She turned 90 this year!”
Behind the scenes members of the Coon and Fox Hunters Association of Northern IL., Inc. was in charge of the facility which includes getting the grounds ready, parking, clean up, camping, obtaining sponsorship, and road signage,
The Wagner's oversee lining up the bands, Facebook publicity, sound equipment, instrument raffles, T-shirts, and overall organization of the event. The Wagner's also serve as Master of Ceremonies.
The 2025 Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival drew around 1,300 people who came out to listen to a variety of Bluegrass styles, near the end of September, leaving everyone in great spirits.
“This is the largest attendance since we started keeping track in 2017," organizer Liz Wagner said.
No festival is complete without food which was prepared and sold by the Coon and Fox Hunters Association of Northern IL. On the menu were pork chop sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked potato and root beer floats.
Around 20 bands took the stage, performing in their unique style during this three day event.
Bands come in from Rockford and Stockton,IL, and Wisconsin.
One of these bands was Falkner, Chesney and Hoggatt. This trio hails from Lake Mills and Ixonia,WI.
The trio has picked together for many moons in various groups.
The Magtones, Maggie and Tim Magnuson, a husband and wife duo from Rockford have returned to play numerous times at the Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival.
Bert and Lindy came back to make music again.
Bluegrass Express featured cross picking,
The Carl Bentley Band who performed “Ninety Degrees in Dallas" as one of their numbers.
Part of local father and son duo, The Steve's set were the songs "How Does He Yodel, Whiskey Before Breakfast and High On the Mountaintop."
Grass Attack, which the event organizers are members of was the host band to those aforementioned.
The Bluegrass Reunion Band was established in 1971 and based out of Rockford, IL. Band members are John Lindblade on guitar, Mike Bratt-bass, Steve Strombeck-fiddle and mandolin, and Dave Goodwin on the banjo. The Bluegrass Reunion band plays a combination of uptempo traditional and contemporary bluegrass.
More musical stylings were heard from Coffee Creek, Hank's Neighbors. Holy Crowe, Soundbillies from Madison, Land of Enchantment, Greensville Trestle, Bluegrass Express, Texas Plains with Special Guest “Mamma Coyote Laura ”, Norm Ealey and Friends, Truman's Ridge, and No Worries Band, each performed with their own unique flair.
The Unknown Suspects, including singer, songwriter Bobby Frantell and Banjo Picker Chris Falkner from Fort Atkinson, and Ixonia teamed up with Grass Attack to perform a rendition of "They Call the Wind, Mariah."
Flat Creek Hwy was newly welcomed to this year's festival.
All played in a stage sponsored by Ye Olde Pub in Rockton.
Many enjoyed a pancake breakfast on Sunday as sounds of Bluegrass Gospel filled the grounds, marking the fourth year of this genre.
“Though the entire weekend is Bluegrass themed, some bands tend to lean a little more in the Americana category, but playing acoustically is the key.” Wagner said,
Adding extra musical fun notes to the festival was a spontaneous jamming session where musicians of all abilities get together and play music as one big band.
More fun came in the form of 50/50 raffles plus a guitar raffle. Vinnie Bell won the Fiddle. Dwight Morris emerged the winner of the Seagull guitar.
The Wagner's said, “We would like to continue what the Gaines started over 40 years ago, to have a place where people can listen to good music in a family friendly environment.”
