With a unique mix of old world charm and modern activities, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a great place for a unique getaway. The surrounding landscape is beautiful in its simplicity with scenic parks, Amish farmlands, and a diverse collection of natural features. The city is conveniently located just 90 minutes from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Founded back in 1709, Lancaster is recognized as one of the oldest cities in America. In fact, on September 27, 1777, Lancaster served as the capital for the American Colonies, when Philadelphia was captured by the British. Now, Lancaster has over 60,000 residents and is one of the leading American cities for historical preservation and culture.
No matter your taste, background or age, Lancaster will have something for you. Residents in the city are friendly, warm, and are always welcoming people into their great community. The historical sites, museums, and educational opportunities are numerous and you’ll get a comprehensive look at early American history. Take a step back in time and visit one of the local Amish farms, where you’ll find beautiful surroundings and an accurate representation of how life was lived by settlers hundreds of years ago. The city also is home to a diverse culture and vibrant art scene, each of which are on display at the numerous local art galleries, shows, and museums. Live music and entertainment are everywhere, along with plenty of shopping and dining options. One of the best ways to experience this city is by participating in one of the local festivals like Lancaster Roots & Blues Music Festival.
Being a newer addition to the Lancaster festival scene hasn't stopped it from rising to one of the most anticipated events in the region. With 12 different indoor stages and 70 different artists performing, you won't find a better music showcase in the region. All of the venues are within blocks of each other and allow you to experience the unique historical surroundings. You’ll find also many restaurants, bars, and clubs in close proximity to the shows, perfect for grabbing a bite to eat before or after. This event is 21+ so find a babysitter and gather your friends for an experience you’ll never forget. ResortsandLodges.com got the chance to interview Mark Vogel, the Director of Marketing for the Lancaster Roots & Blues Music Festival, to talk about the event.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
MV: We feature 70 artists performing 90 concerts on 12 indoor stages, over three days. Lancaster is one of the country’s most historical and vibrant cities, and the venues are all within one or two walkable blocks of each other. We also have a heated shuttle bus running every 20 minutes between all venues.
Overall, the festival is an “over 21” event since many of the venues offer a full bar. However, we do have a one day, Saturday-only ticket for all ages. This includes artists who are performing at alcohol-free venues, plus our five Master Classes. Our ticketholders cover a wide demographic, and travel from across the US and Canada. However, the core demographics are typically couples between 30 and 55 who live in the mid-Atlantic region, usually within two hours’ drive of Lancaster or via Amtrak. Two-thirds have college degrees and more than half have six-figure household incomes.
RAL: What makes this event unique?
MV: This is the largest music festival of its kind during the winter in this part of the country. Since all stages are indoors, and within a block or two of each other, it is unlike any other festival. We anticipate nearly 10,000 attendees to converge on Lancaster over the three days, giving the city a “Bourbon Street New Orleans” feel. Sidewalks are packed, restaurants and bars a filled, and retail stores are all open late. Surrounding our venues are dozens of art galleries, retail shops, jewelers, cigar bars, craft breweries, coffee shops, and an endless assortment of bars and restaurants of all styles and flavors.
RAL: Tell me about what people will find at the festival.
MV: Attendees typically print out our three-day schedule, check off their favorite artists, and create an agenda. Some people prefer mostly blues, some prefer folk, some prefer bluegrass, some prefer rock, and others enjoy just wandering from stage to stage to get a taste of a variety of musical genres. We’ll have three Sunday brunches and attendees can choose from a Blues Brunch, a Gospel Brunch and a Bluegrass Brunch. On Saturday, there are five Master Classes featuring a variety of our premier artists, including presentations by the classically-trained musicians of The Stray Birds, saxophone artist Derek Brown, a discussion on the early days of the blues with performances on actual antique instruments, and two classes for children (one for those under six years, and one seven to twelve years).
Among the 70 artists performing, some highlights include the reunion of The Innocence Mission, celebrating their 30th anniversary. Maceo Parker is one of the greatest rhythm-and-blues artists of all time, and has played with James Brown, Ray Charles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band, and continues to tour today with Prince. The Stray Birds are a folk trio who recently returned from non-stop sold-out shows throughout Europe.
The Wood Brothers are another folk trio, and recently performed a series of sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall. Blues guitar god Tinsley Ellis has a new album that was recently nominated for Album of the Year by The Blues Foundation. Another blues guitar genius is 20-something Selwyn Birchwood, acknowledged as the future of the blues. Albert Cummings is a guitarist and singer/songwriter who has been compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan, while blues vocalist Dana Fuchs appeared on Broadway playing Janis Joplin in “Love Janis”. Yes, she’s that good.
Some outstanding vocalists in the jazz or pop genres include Kate Davis, Morgan James, and Ruthie Collins, who was named by Rolling Stone Magazine as “One of the Next Women of Country.” Several bluegrass artists are in the national spotlight, including American Aquarium, 10 String Symphony (whose recent album topped Billboard’s Bluegrass chart), Frog Holler and Vinegar Creek Constituency. Sam Baker’s 2013 album was listed as one of the Top 10 Country albums by Rolling Stone Magazine.
RAL: Tell me about what people will find for local lodging?
MV: While The Marriott Hotel is attached to the Convention Center, The Hotel Lancaster is also in the middle of all the venues. It has just undergone a complete restoration and refurbishing. The Lancaster Arts Hotel is set in a former tobacco warehouse built in 1881, and is a unique, art-filled boutique hotel. The Cork Factory Hotel was built in the original Armstrong Cork factory, dating back to the 1800’s. The Eden Resort is located just outside the city, and features 301 rooms, 160 suites, an indoor pool, two restaurants, and more.
Throughout Lancaster County are more than 70 family-owned B&B’s, including stately Victorian mansions and country farms, some dating back to the pre-Revolutionary War era. There are many privately-owned inns throughout Amish Country and even one in an antique caboose rail car. Most of these inns are less than a 30-minute drive to the venues. When attendees drive into town, they’ll find six parking garages and additional open lots directly attached or next to our venues. The Lancaster Amtrak station, recently renovated and one of the busiest in Pennsylvania, is five short blocks from our venues.
RAL: Why should people come?
MV: The Lancaster Roots & Blues Music Festival is an ideal getaway in the middle of the winter. It’s not just for music lovers or festival aficionados. It’s an opportunity to be introduced to a broad array of new music, or hear some of the finest musicians in the world in their respective genres. The venues are clean, intimate, and convenient. Even if it’s cold outside, our heated shuttle bus makes it easy to go from concert to concert. Attendees can come for one, two or all three days, or choose a VIP Experience with special perks. While attendees aren’t at the festival, they can shop at Central Market – the oldest market in the US, open both Friday and Saturday, conveniently located right in the middle of the festival. Lancaster County – known as the Garden Spot of America, and Pennsylvania Dutch Country -- is one of the nation’s leading tourist destinations, and includes major retail outlets, historical sites, museums, and much more. Visitors could make a week of it, capped off with the festival.
For more information about the Lancaster Roots & Blues Music Festival, please visit their website.