Wild Hare Music Fest Returns to Feature Future of Roots Music
You’re warned often these days to see your favorite independent music artists in smaller settings while you still have the chance. As we’ve seen with performers such as Tyler Childers, Cody Jinks, and the Turnpike Troubadours, once the word gets out, good luck securing tickets even as they play bigger and bigger venues and festivals. Independent music is on the rise, and in a big way.
Well what if you could see many of these fast rising names all in one place, along with other great names in the country, roots, and Americana realm? That is the experience the Wild Hare Music Festival is offering in Canby, Oregon this summer on July 15th and 16th.
Surging singer/songwriter Zach Bryan, reigning Saving Country Music Album of the Year winner Charles Wesley Godwin, previous Album of the Year winner Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, plus Vincent Neil Emerson, Red Shahan, Dalton Domino, Jaime Wyatt and a slew of other names that quite literally define the cutting edge of cool artists coming up right here, right now are all set to perform at Wild Hare.
Add on top of that some well-established titans in music such as Marcus King and Lucero, along with some of the best talent from the Pacific Northwest region such as TK and the Holy Know Nothings, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, Tylor and the Train Robbers, and the Lowdown Drifters, and it’s just about the perfectly curated experience to see who you want, and discover something new (see full lineup below).
“Our fans have told us they value the opportunity to see rising stars in a more intimate setting before they get so big that their only option becomes stadiums and mega-festivals,” says Wild Hare Saloon Owner and Festival Co-Producer Joan Monen. “Our festival is positioned to be an ’on ramp’ to becoming the next big thing, and a tremendous opportunity for artists and fans to connect.”
Not only that, but with the way the lineup connects, you know there will be some unique collaborations that transpire, like between best buds Zach Bryan and Charles Wesley Godwin, who’ve been touring with each other recently. The fest also will boast evening afterparties included with admission where you may get a chance to see even more intimate and collaborative moments.
Saving Country Music attended Wild Hare in 2019 (read review), and can vouch for the experience. Of course due to the pandemic, the fest has been dark over the past couple of years. This year they’re moving just down the street to the Clackamas County Fairgrounds & Event Center so they can over improved camping and RV options and parking areas, upgraded restrooms, and more amenities, while also keeping the more intimate setting.
And as strange as it may seem, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest is the epicenter for independent country music in the summer, especially with a Texas/Red Dirt flavor. Along with the Wild Hare, the Jackalope Jamboree, the annual Braun Broters Reunion in Idaho, and Pickathon in August also feature independent country and roots.
Tickets for the Wild Hare Music Festival will go on sale Friday, 2/25 at 10 a.m. Pacific at wildharemusicfest.com.
February 22, 2022 @ 12:27 pm
This is a pretty impressive lineup. Having attended the first two Wild Hares, it is an exceptionally well-run event (unlike some others, which will remain nameless (*cough BBR *cough)).
Gonna be a busy summer up here in the PNW. Back Country Bash hasn’t even unveiled their lineup yet. Also add Wheatstock to the PNW list, with Josh Abbott and Giovannie and the Hired Guns this year.
February 22, 2022 @ 12:28 pm
If you’re a country singer named “Red,” you’ve got to do a trucker album, right? “Red Sings Red and Red.”
February 22, 2022 @ 2:55 pm
It’s definitely time for some trucker songs to comeback into country mainstream. Some of my favorite songs are trucker songs.
February 22, 2022 @ 4:11 pm
I agree. I’m sure there have been some good ones in the past few years. This is the best recent one I recall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1gKOy2qNGY
February 22, 2022 @ 3:14 pm
Nice lineup, I’m not a festival person but this one looks good. Hopefully we won’t be seeing CWG so far down on the list much longer.
February 22, 2022 @ 3:18 pm
Sounds like fun.
I was wondering if the term “Wild hare” is a thing.
I Googled “wild hare” and all I really came up with is that “A Wild Hare” the title of a 1940 Warner Bros. movie shourt that is prized by cartoon and film buffs as the first official appearance of Bugs Bunny.
Having the kind of memory that I have for obscure bits of trivia, when I saw the phrase here it brought to mind the 1980’s Moe Bandy-Joe Stampley song “Just Good Ol’ Boys” where the boys sing “Other than a wild hare once in a while/ We can’t help it it’s just out style/ Good Ol’ Boys is all we’ll ever be.” Seems like that’s in line with the meaning that the festival promoters intend.
February 22, 2022 @ 3:59 pm
I think it’s equivalent to a “lark” or an impulsive action. In Easy Rider 88, Charlie Daniels said something like: “me and the boys got us some wild hair and figured we’d like to go somewhere.”
February 22, 2022 @ 5:02 pm
https://blog.wcs.org/photo/2015/01/26/rabbit-or-hare/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare
My grandfather had a stuffed hare/ jackrabbit on display at our hunting cabin. I believe he bagged it in Utah.
February 22, 2022 @ 5:02 pm
At the risk of sounding indelicate – there is a saying…
They have a wild hare/hair? up their a**.
Have been accused of that on multiple occasions.
Think it is mostly synonymous with, lots of energy, sass, drive, in a very fun way
February 24, 2022 @ 11:35 am
https://thewildharesaloon.net/
February 24, 2022 @ 1:54 pm
: D Well, This is Cool …
Your WILD HARE SALAD, AHI TUNA SALAD, & Bacon & Mimosas, from the menu sound pretty delicious!
February 22, 2022 @ 5:45 pm
Why would it be strange for the PNW to have a strong country and roots scene? Buck Owens worked here, as did Willie and Loretta Lynn. Don Rich was from Morton WA. We have massive farming, timber and fishing industries not to mention all other trades. On top of that in WA alone there are about 100 mountains taller than the tallest “peaks” in the Appalachians. The steel guitar came from Hawaii, I think it’s time to let go of the idea of country music (or agriculture/trades) belongs to any one region, religion or political group. Spoiler: the people in Mongolia are way more “country” than most in the US could even comprehend.
February 22, 2022 @ 6:22 pm
I don’t think it’s strange at all. I lived in Oregon for 2 1/2 years right after I started Saving Country Music, and have been traveling back there every year in the summer to attend festivals and scout for talent. I think it is a rich area for country and roots music, but I also think some may be surprised just how rich it is. That is why I try to highlight and attend events such as this. Some people when they think of Oregon, they think of Antifa and eepish jam bands.
February 22, 2022 @ 10:01 pm
We’re just thankful for the coverage Trigger!!!
February 22, 2022 @ 7:20 pm
Turned down a nuc. job in Everett Washington, in 2008.
After the morning tour, & working with the crew in nuclear, & cardiac stress lab that afternoon, was all about accepting the position.
Until, they called in Ms. UBER BITCH. Erin, dept. lead. They tried to warn me that Erin, was severe, not at all easy to get along with. This, from her coworkers.
H.R. dept. glossed over it, saying that they couldn’t keep techs. Looked at H.R. & said, “You brought me here because you have a problem.” They said, “Yes.”
Rolled my eyes, & smiled.
1st thing MISS THANG asked when she got to the dept. was, “Did you take any maths for this degree? Did you take math 101?” (Nuclear is nothing but physics, all day/every day. You know, the easy stuff)
Couldn’t help it, a little sharkey smile escaped my lips. Gave a little laugh, a small shake of my head.
Looked dead at her with a Huge smile and said, “Nice meeting you, bitch.”
She stormed off.
I headed to H.R. Told them they had a massive problem & needed to find out the dope she had on some of the Dr’s. & get her a** out of there.
Thanked them for the outstanding starting salary & package offer, told them i wasn’t in the mood to fix their problem.
Point being – i REALLY, REALLY, hated turning that position down.
Everett, Washington is Extraordinarily beautiful.
SeaTac very easy to fly in & out of.
February 25, 2022 @ 7:55 am
Impressive lineup. At the bottom of the is a local Oregon country artist named Olivia Harms. If you haven’t heard of her, she released a really good album last year titled Rhinestone Cowgirl, and recently released her single Neon Blue to Texas Country radio. Happy to see her get a awesome opportunity like this.