A new music festival will make its debut Aug. 25 when Strawberry Jam brings reggae icon Marcia Griffiths, newgrass great Sam Bush and rising artist Mikaela Davis, among other acts, to the idyllic Strawberry Hill Farm in Stowe. Co-presented by Waterbury Center event space Zenbarn and Strawberry Hill Farm, which has been hosting weddings and other community events at its pastoral locale since 2017, Strawberry Jam is billed as “a family-friendly celebration of music, the outdoors and local love.
” The festival came about from a series of conversations between Zenbarn and Strawberry Hill Farm co-owner Molly Pindell. “Molly has a beautiful property in the heart of Stowe and was looking for ways to engage the community and let them enjoy it,” said Zenbarn co-owner Noah Fishman via email. “Zenbarn has also been seeking to bring more of its music and events programming beyond the walls of Zenbarn itself,” he added.
“We quickly realized we were aligned on the vision and have a shared love for music.” “Our goal,” said Fishman, “is to build community and culture in our neighborhood.” Pindell echoed the sentiment.
“Our intent at Strawberry Hill has always been to preserve this incredible piece of land and find ways to share it with the community,” she says on the Strawberry Hill Farm website. “Strawberry Jam is an invitation to come enjoy some world-class music and appreciate this very special place.” The festival will include local food and drink vendors, picnicking, family-friendly activities and a cash bar provided by Zenbarn.
Also performing are rootsy Vermont groups Beg, Steal or Borrow and Pappy & The Pards, led by Hinesburg banjo and guitar player Pappy Biondo of Pennsylvania-based band Cabinet. Here’s a look at some of the artists performing at the festival: A former member of the I Threes, a trio of female singers in reggae legend Bob Marley’s band, Marcia Griffiths “is widely regarded as one of the finest female vocalists” and “arguably the best-known and most influential woman in the history of reggae,” according to AllMusic. Now 74, the “queen of reggae,” as she’s known, is a reggae star whose career highlights include 17 solo records and more than 50 collaborations with such artists as Shaggy and Buju Banton.
Still as relevant as ever, Griffiths performs in support of her 2023 album, “Golden,” a compilation of previously released tracks along with four new tunes, and plans to release a new album with legendary producer Clive Hunt — the upbeat summer anthem, “Mek We Dance,” was released last month. “I just want to spread the love,” said Griffiths in a 2023 interview with Grammy.com .
“And I try to do it through my music.” Mandolin and fiddle master Sam Bush has been dubbed the “king of newgrass” — a genre that got its name from the New Grass Revival, a progressive bluegrass band with a rock attitude that Bush formed in 1971 at the age of 19. Now 72, the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame member remains “one of the most respected and loved bluegrass icons,” according to AllMusic, and is known for his spirited live shows.
Bush and his quintet perform in support of his 2022 album, “Radio John: Songs of John Hartford,” on which Bush plays every instrument — acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, electric bass and fiddle — on all but one of the 10 tracks. One of the more intriguing artists on the independent music landscape, Mikaela Davis is a classically trained harpist who makes compelling music that blurs genres and defies preconceptions. Davis and her talented five-piece group perform in support of her widely lauded sophomore album, “And Southern Star.
” Released a year ago, the spellbinding nine-song set seamlessly fuses twangy roots music, sunny pop melodies, psychedelic rock and Davis’ ethereal vocals and distinctive harp instrumentation. Formed over a decade ago to celebrate the music of iconic bluegrass group Old & In the Way, Northern Vermont-based Beg, Steal or Borrow has become one of the best bluegrass bands in the Green Mountain State thanks to killer live shows and solid original material. The kickin’ quintet performs in support of its sophomore album “One Eye for the Sun,” released in June.
Recorded at violinist Roland Clark’s Johnson home — a converted sugar house with many rooms — and mastered at Lane Gibson Studios in Charlotte, the inspired 11-song set of originals with a couple updated traditionals finds the five-piece firing on all cylinders. Beg, Steal or Borrow also performs with Bryan Bowers Band at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 25, at Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St. in Greensboro.
Tickets are $25, $10 for students (general admission); call 802-533-2000 or go online to highlandartsvt.org thomaswhuntington @hotmail.com.
