Photos, Videos & 10 Highlights From WinterWonderGrass Tahoe 2017
By Ian Stone Apr 11, 2017 • 9:01 am PDT
Photo by Ian Stone
Words, Images & Videos by: Ian Stone
WinterWonderGrass Tahoe :: 03.30-04.02.17
Squaw Valley :: Olympic Valley, CA
Squaw Valley :: Olympic Valley, CA
View Ian’s photo gallery and videos below his list.
Historically festival season comes with the turning of the spring to summer, and as the temperature rises so does the number of festivals to attend. WinterWonderGrass is shifting that paradigm by bringing the festival setting to places where warm jackets and gloves are needed and is slowly turning festival season into a year-round affair. WinterWonderGrass Tahoe was founded after a successful year running the festival in Colorado, and now in its third year is starting to become a well-oiled machine. With headliners like Greensky Bluegrass and Yonder Mountain String Band, it’s no surprise that the festival runs out of tickets faster than they run out of beer.
After California has experienced drought conditions and well below average snowpack for the first two years of the festival, which even saw storms with rain and sleet, the weather this year was beyond perfect. I suppose third time’s a charm applies here as this was hands down my favorite year yet. In the years past the high camp hot tub located at 8200’ elevation was the pre-party scene, this year it was covered in more than 15 feet of snowpack and couldn’t be dug out in time. That was just fine, as it left more time for skiing and amazing on-mountain events, free music in the squaw village, and much more. In many ways they did not limit the festival to the concert grounds itself, and was very much integrated into the entire resort.
Although there were millions of incredible moments, I picked out 10 highlights that made this year’s event one to remember.
10. The Jam In The Tram
On Saturday afternoon some of the artists from the festival played a super secret set inside Squaw’s aerial tram. The performances took place inside the cable car that ascends from the base to high camp, reaching a peak of 8,200 feet.
9. Free Beer Tastings
Each day from 2 to 5 p.m. in all three of the side stage tents a number of breweries were on hand offering free samples. They would only fill the four ounce festival supplied cups, but it was free and nobody seemed to complain!
8. Dead Winter Carpenters Covering “High on a Mountain Top”
The rendition included special guest and Jenni Charles’ father Pete Charles, who is a 30-year veteran ski patroller at Squaw. The local Tahoe-based band also welcomed members of Leftover Salmon and Fruition during the crowd-pleasing performance.
7. Pickin’ On The Dead At The Pickin’ Perch Side Stage Sunday Afternoon
The group kept the energy going for what seemed to be a tired group of festival goers. The audience respond well to favorites like “Throwing Stones” and “Shakedown Street” and Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm.”
6. Yonder Mountain String Band Covering “You’re No Good”
YMSB’s Allie Kral took the band through a riveting version of the Linda Ronstadt hit that had the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs. The crowd participation was particularly notable among the women who seemed to connect with Allie for what was an incredible moment.
Photo by Ian Stone
5. Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Performing At The Village at Squaw
The set included Bevin Foley from Trout Steak Revival sitting-in, as people danced in ski boots and shared pizza. The ability to take a few runs, stop down and see some amazing music while having lunch, only to ski more before waltzing into the festival is an experience that is unmatched.
4. The Dustbowl Revival Joined By “Shredder In Chief” Jon Stickley
This collaboration resulted in one of my favorite covers of the weekend – “Up On Cripple Creek” by The Band. The cover was wisely chosen as it effectively got the crowd up and onto their feet, emptying the side tents as people flocked to the dance floor.
3. Greensky Bluegrass Welcoming “Sixth Member” Sam Bush
The GSBG WWG performance made Mr. Bush the most frequent guest to share their stage. The set featured energetic and psychedelic version of “Foxy Lady” by Jimi Hendrix. The lights were incredible and this was likely the most packed the mainstage area was the entire weekend.
2. Jon Stickley Trio’s Sunday “High Noon” Set
A stage was set up at approximately 8,800 feet elevation at the top of the upper mountain at Squaw Valley, overlooking the valley and Lake Tahoe. The trio played an over two hour long set for a growing crowd of sunbathers, beer drinkers, and ski-bladers decked out in their favorite spring ski gear. The weather was warm and perfect – no jackets needed. For this you needed a Squaw lift ticket, but it was a huge bonus on top of the great skiing. They busted out some incredible covers, including Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
1. The People
Truly the No. 1 thing about this festival was spending time with good friends in the mountains, as well as making new ones. All smiles, all the time and it showed. A unique collection of folks, with a Cali-meets-Colorado sort of vibe.
