Like Southern Colorado’s Telluride Bluegrass, Maryland’s DelFest, or the now-retired Northwest String Summit, the 12-year-old WinterWonderGrass Music Festival has managed to become a staple within the bluegrass community. What started as a parking lot shindig in Edwards and Avon over a decade ago has since turned into a full-blown tradition that has grown deep and unshakable roots in Steamboat. The lineup is consistently the best of the best, with players being swapped out and switched around year after year to keep the performances as fresh and timely as possible. With Colorado having cemented its position as a leader in the bluegrass genre, it’s no surprise why local and out-of-town fans alike flock to the base of Steamboat Mountain each February to brave the elements to see their favorite bands.
Festival founder Scotty Stoughton is no stranger to the music industry, producing not only the Steamboat and Tahoe iterations of WWG, but their sister festival BajaWonderGrass and Billy Strings’ Renewal Festival as well. 303 Magazine spoke with Stoughton about the evolution of the iconic and beloved Steamboat festival and what to expect from this year’s weekend-long hootenanny, which kicks off this Friday afternoon and showcases music through Sunday night. Daily headliners are Kitchen Dwellers, Leftover Salmon and Trampled by Turtles, with supporting acts including Sam Bush Band, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, The California Honeydrops, The Brothers Comatose, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Fretliners, and many more.
READ: Review — Billy Strings Fills Ball Arena with Hope and Joy
303 Magazine: How have you seen the festival evolve over the past 12 years? Did you ever think it would be as renowned and popular as it is today?
Scotty Stoughton: I appreciate that you feel WinterWonderGrass is renowned! Wow, that means a lot. Our plan has always been to create something so memorable that fans and families will desire to return year after year, and that resonates with people. The amount of time and outpouring of love our team injects over the year to create a space that exudes a welcoming feeling is something people are picking up on!
303: How do you keep things not just running, but successful? Are there any business tips or personal tips that you can share?
SS: Don’t read the news, don’t listen to critics, step out of the online world and into nature. The mountains, rivers, and sea, are the core of our inspiration and we revere these sacred landscapes. Build something with kindness and inclusion and take risks. It has been a wonderfully rewarding journey peppered with heartache. To create art is to be a madman (woman), but a mundane life is not in our spirits.
303: What are you most excited about for this year’s WWG?
SS: The new bands. Hearing about new bands and their dream of playing WWG is gratifying. I will see as much new music as I can! We also added another main stage set each day. So much music!
303: Is there anything happening at this year’s WWG that’s new or never been done before?
SS: Not specifically, but we do make minor adjustments each season. As I mentioned, we are adding a main stage set and will make the three huge heated beer halls bigger. A new entrance, new beverage offerings, and upgraded ADA accessibility will be felt.
303: What are your goals for the future of WWG, and where do you see the festival moving towards in the next few years?
SS: We are like ship captains, focused on the present mood of the water and flowing where the wind takes us. Our strategy has never been to grow and grow but to develop mindfully in alignment with our values and those of our fans. We are bringing back our beloved Campout for the Cause event next fall in Salida, CO. Watch out for that!
303: How do you view the dichotomies between Winter and Baja WonderGrasses? How do they compliment and/or balance each other?
SS: Add in RiverWonderGrass, and we’ll build a nest of earthly inspiration! Naturally, the snow of WinterWonderGrass melts into the rivers that host RiverWonderGrass, and eventually into the Sea of Cortez and BajaWonderGrass. The root is the same family-friendly, kind, sweet gatherings that lead us to unwind and get back to ourselves. Same, but different.
A handful of tickets are still available for this year’s WinterWonderGrass in Steamboat. Buy tickets here.