Music Echoes Through the Trees: it's the Bluegrass From the Forest Festival!
By Rachel Hansen | Photos courtesy of Explore Hood Canal
The Bluegrass from the Forest Music Festival in Shelton celebrates 20 years with headliner national Bluegrass performers: Seth Mulder and the Midnight Run, Never Come Down and Midnight45.
July is an exciting time for music fans in the Pacific Northwest with the arrival of celebrated bluegrass performers at the annual three-day festival, Bluegrass from the Forest. This year marks 20 years for this grassroots event that has grown to fill a 15-acre park in Shelton with main stage performances, free music workshops, jam sessions and the popular Chick Rose School of Bluegrass for kids.
With forested dry camping on site Bluegrass fans and families travel from as far as California, British Columbia, Idaho and Oregon to spend the weekend immersing in great music and learn some new skills while visiting and sharing memories with other music enthusiasts. With two stages, a beer and wine garden, food vendors, instrument “tasting” workshops between performances, band scrambles, as well as a Saturday night Country Dance, the event also includes some fantastic national Bluegrass bands!
Each year organizers invite headliner bands to fill the outdoor stage with music ranging from traditional to more progressive bluegrass. Friday the main stage music gets underway with local host band, Runaway Train Bluegrass Band. The performance is followed by legendary guitar soloist, Jim Hurst, a popular regular at BFTF. The Friday night headline band is Midnight 45. Based in Central Oregon, Midnight45 focuses on deep-groove bluegrass music with a strong traditional style. They play both traditional and modern bluegrass, including original songs and classic country duets.
After morning workshops and jam sessions, the main performance gets underway again Saturday at 2 PM with Runaway Train; Way Far Yonder, Oregon based, bringing an energetic vibe with a classic fiddle and banjo sound; and an encore performance for Midnight45.
Saturday evening the main stage includes Oly Mountain Boys and acclaimed, Seth Mulder and the Midnight Run, from Tennessee. Known as one of the most entertaining new acts in bluegrass today, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, mix classic and innovative vibes with authentic songs and new arrangements. Their music combines bluegrass, country, and folk, appealing to both traditional and modern listeners.
In all the weekend Festival program features four major concerts highlighting top talent from the Bluegrass community. A fun highlight is Saturday’s “midnight hot-dogs" after the evening country dance featuring The Bar-K Buckaroos. Around the circle of campers lining the event area in the tree-lined park areas, camp jamming halts momentarily as the pickers and families join the musicians for a midnight feast in the main tent.
On Sunday, don’t miss the Portland based up-and coming band, Never Come Down.
Bluegrass from the Forest is hosted July 11-13, 2025 at the Shelton Mason Soccer Park, 2102 E Johns Prairie Rd, Shelton, Washington. The event is hosted by the Kristmas Town Kiwanis with all proceeds going to support local children and family projects in Mason County.
This July will be the festival’s 20th year, and its 5th year at the outdoor location.
Tickets begin at 25.00 per person with special discounts for three day passes and families. Kids 6 and under are free. Camping (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) – $15/night, camping and parking are available on site. For additional details on band bios, ticket and camping reservations go to www.bluegrassfromtheforest.com.
Workshop schedule can be found here: www.bluegrassfromtheforest.com/schedule/workshops/