A Celebration of the Mabon

Thanks for everyone who joined us for the completely sold-out 2007 Mabon celebration with Adam Aijala and Ben Kaufmann. Thanks to all the musicians, the cooks, the kids, and the perfect September weather, the spirit of the Mabon is alive on the Planet Bluegrass Ranch.

We call it MAY'-bahn. The Autumnal Equinox. Myrrh and Sage. Acorns, gourds, and pumpkins. One final celebration of song, dance, summer, and festivation. An intimate day-long celebration of autumn for our festivarian friends in Colorado and beyond; To celebrate the magical time when the day and the night are divided equally; To prepare for the coming months of rest, relaxation, and reflection; To store up enough festivarian love to survive the long, lonely winter until we next meet again at the Wildflower in 2008.

Music of Mabon

Turn your sun dial back to our summer solstice together in Telluride, June 21. It was a magical day capped by the Avett Brothers, Jackie Greene, the Telluride House Band, and and in the penultimate spot — between Emmylou Harris and Counting Crows — a beautifully played 'tweener set: Adam Aijala on guitar and Ben Kaufmann on bouzouki.

Ben & Adam on the 2007 Summer Solstice

If you were there, you're probably still talking about it. As much as any set on that unforgettable day, it caused a stir; four lovingly rendered songs including "Amanda Rose" and "Old Tin Can" performed by two of our favorite musicians from one of the most vital bands in acoustic music, Yonder Mountain String Band.

As we celebrate the end of summer, the fall harvest, and the Autumnal Equinox, it seems only fitting that we invite Ben and Adam to share in the musical feast on the other end of the summer calendar. A historic occasion like the first Mabon celebration in our new Wildflower Pavilion requires a historic performance like the first-ever full-length duo set by Ben and Adam.

Whether trading vocals on some of the most beloved songs in the YMSB catalog (including some not often heard these days), covering a broad swath of traditional music from Celtic to Americana, or trading leads on guitar, banjo, bouzouki, and mandolin this will be a show befitting the summer's delicate finale.

Throughout the day music will ring out over the Planet Bluegrass Ranch, including sets on the Wildflower Pavilion stage from Taarka (5:30-6:30pm), bagpipes on the cliffs over Planet Bluegrass, and more.

'Tis a Gift to Be Simple

Autumn skies on the Planet Bluegrass Ranch

For the past six years our grand Mabon celebration has occupied the main stage, the workshop stage, and vendors, artisans, and folk performers all over the Planet Bluegrass Ranch. As we've refocused our energies to constructing the beautiful new Wildflower Pavilion and the inaugural Wildflower Concert Series, we have decided to simplify this year's Mabon celebration to its essence - music, Autumn, and the magic of Planet Bluegrass.

The intimate 300-seat Wildflower Pavilion replaces the main stage as the focus of live music. Craft and food vendors will be limited, but we plan to offer grilled sandwiches and chili (prepared by former North Routt Chili-Cookoff champion Sean Reid) throughout the day. Sadly, the swordfighting of the Wolves of Dunvegan and the Irish horses will not be joining us, but many of our musical friends from the local old-time, Celtic, and bluegrass communities will be casually jamming among the trees along the St. Vrain River.

A Day of Mabon

Tickets to this year's intimate Mabon celebration - $20 per person - will be limited. We'll open the gates at 2pm, serve food and hearty beverages all day, and welcome musicians (Celtic, bluegrass, old-time, folk, whatever) to join us for an afternoon of pickin' under the trees. A ticket is required to access the Planet Bluegrass grounds throughout the day.

Plan to camp - $10 per person - under the redstone cliffs on Planet Bluegrass, as the Mabon bonfire will likely go late into the night. Who knows... we'll likely even spy a stray bagpiper wandering the Ranch as a reminder of the Mabons of yore.

The Feast of the Mabon

A Mabon Feast will be served at 6:30pm. The menu, prepared by chef Chad Soulia, will include:

Corned beef brisket with soda bread
Sauteed Kale with Irish Bacon
Smoked Salmon hash
Cream of Potato Soup
For Vegetarians: Vegetarian Alfredo Lasagna
And for the kids: organic hot dogs and mac & cheese ($5)

Reservations for the Mabon Feast are $10 per person. They will also be sold (cash-only) on-site.

All day long we'll be serving organic Coleman beef burgers, vegetarian burgers, and a special batch of Prime Rib Chili prepared by North Routt Chili Cookoff Champion Sean Reid. This food will all be sold ala carte. Cash Only.

The libation station will be open starting at 2pm, serving hot spiced cider, Dale's HomeMade root beer, lemonade, hot chocolate, wine, and a selection of beer from Oskar Blues: Dale's Pale Ale, Old Chub Scottish Ale, and Gordon's strong ale.

Mabon Camping

Gates open at 2pm for camping, jam circles (Celtic, bluegrass, old-time, whatever), food, and drink.
Camping will be available for Saturday evening for $10 per person. Camping is sold per-person not per-site. Only the front campground area closest to the Wildflower Pavilion will be used.
Burgers and chili (prepared by former North Routt Chili-Cookoff champion Sean Reid) served throughout the day.
Campground closes at noon on Sunday, September 23.

Thanks to everyone who camped, danced, played music, ate, and helped us celebrate the Autumnal Equinox here on Planet Bluegrass. Share your comments and stories in the Festivarian Forum...