Boats and Bluegrass Turns 10

The following is part III in a series entitled “Making A Scene” from the Fall 2014 issue of Inspire(d) Magazine.
Part I – featuring Tanya Gertz & the Luther College Center Stage Series can be found here.
Part II – featuring James Ronan / Dance and Stay Young can be found here.

Interview by Benji Nichols
Images courtesy of Boats & Bluegrass.

*Please note, the 2014, 10th Anniversary presentation of Boats & Bluegrass is sold out. We offer up a giant high five to Tom Fassbender and his crew for presenting such a fantastic event in our region. Buy your tickets early next year!

Ten years ago Tom Fassbender threw together an idea to help promote a fledgling outfitter company – take some great regional bands, have them play on the backwater of the Mississippi near Winona, schedule some paddle time…see what happens. What was created is a source of local magic that has magnified into one of the best small festivals in the Midwest: Boats & Bluegrass. The 2014 edition features more than 40 bands, plus paddling trips, family outings, and all the regular festival fun. Located on Prairie Island, with camping just a skip and a jump from the festival site, this event has grown to be a regional favorite. Boats and Bluegrass runs September 25-28, 2014. www.boatsandbluegrass.com

How’d you get into presenting events?

I guess helping with events all started back in High School with “field parties” on summer nights. So that puts me at about 25 years. I’ve always had a desire to make people happy. Music has always played a huge roll in that and in my life. I enjoy making places where people feel comfortable and can relax – so being able to present music really ties it all together.

Do you have a most “exciting” live moment?

I have been blessed to see and be a part of many shows (good and bad). I learned more from the bad ones than the good ones, but I would have to say the one that has stuck with me the most was one of my first experiences at a show. I was maybe 12 and fighting my way to the front at an Iron Maiden show. I bumped into a big guy with long hair who stood over six feet tall – he turned and looked down at me and gave me what I thought was a big thumbs up. I returned the thumbs up, but before I knew it he had picked me up and swiftly plucked me on his shoulders – turns out I had accepted his invitation. His desire to help a kid enjoy the show has stuck with me, and been a bit of a mantra for me.

If you could present one show with anyone in the world – past or present – who would it be, and why?

My first thought is Jerry Garcia, just on a selfish note. On a more practical note, I guess I would say Bill Graham (1960s promoting legend, owner of the Fillmore / Winterland /Fillmore East, etc). Over the course of his life he was able give the world the gift of music – not always in a way I necessarily agree with but I think he cared about the “show”. Today I think that can get lost, and it would be great to experience how he did things.

What are you excited about in the near future?

This year’s 10^th anniversary lineup is exciting. We are also planning to release a live compilation album from this year’s Boats & Bluegrass festival to celebrate 10 years. I’m looking forward to working through this process and hope to release the album around the first of the year.

— The 2014 10th Anniversary presentation of Boats & Bluegrass is SOLD OUT. Congrats to Tom and his crew, and buy your tickets early next year. Cheers to supporting live music!

Benji Nichols is the co-owner of Inspire(d) Media with his wife Aryn, and daughter Roxie. He’s been making things noisy since the early 1990s and is even known to make a living at it occasionally. Currently he is a partner in the Courtyard & Cellar in Decorah, makes magazines, and rides bikes while not being a Dad.