We were thrilled to present SAUNDERSFEST 2020, bringing the festival from our porch to yours! Featuring world-acclaimed bluegrass and folk artists from across the country, the virtual Americana Music Festival was live-streamed on August 21, 2020 at 5 PM EDT on the Caroga Arts YouTube channel and Facebook page. By hosting the event virtually, we kept the spirit of SAUNDERSFEST alive, inviting audiences to join us and make music together on the porch where it all began.
2020 SAUNDERSFEST Performers
Praised by Alison Krauss, Tennessee-bred virtuoso mandolinist Sierra Hull made her first national appearance at the young age of 10 and made a surprise appearance at CLMF’s Caroga Chapel concert in 2019. The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist will make her first appearance at SAUNDERSFEST this year.
From Rochester, NY, The Crooked North is an acoustic band inspired by the energy of progressive bluegrass, the gritty soul of Americana, and the Rust Belt ethos of their Western New York home.
Guitarist and pianist Amos Rose rocked the show at last year’s SAUNDERSFEST as a member of Mama Juke, a New Orleans influenced blues, blue-eyed soul, funk, and folk band.
A local favorite, the Saunders Family Band from Canada Lake will be joined by fellow musical friends for a classic SAUNDERSFEST celebration! The multi-instrumentalist family band include Luann, Clark, Robert, Geoff, and Richard Saunders.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Stephen Smith
Artist Sponsor
Main Event Sponsor
Moriarty Family
Artist Sponsor
SAUNDERSFEST started 10 years ago on a small porch on Canada Lake in the beautiful Adirondacks, when the Saunders Family decided to invite their musical friends and family up to their cabin to enjoy each other’s company and the beautiful outdoors. Jamming inevitably ensued and they quickly overflowed next door to Uncle John’s Garage where they set up a small PA backline and hosted bands and projects that the various Saunders’ were involved in.
Neighbors from the surrounding lake community began to become curious about where all of the beautiful noise was coming from in this otherwise quiet and serene setting. As the Saunders further pursued careers in music, the caliber of guests and musicians they were inviting began going up. They have hosted acts such as the Grammy-winning Mark O’Connor Band, Brooklyn-based Thirdstory, the exuberating Americana rockers Mama Juke, and sophisticated song-writers Kate Lee and Forrest O’Connor.
In 2018 the Saunders’ decided to share the event in a more public setting for the whole community to enjoy for free. They partnered with the local Caroga Arts Collective and presented the first public SAUNDERSFEST at Sherman’s Amusement Park, a local historical landmark, as part of the Caroga Lake Music Festival’s Sherman’s Revival Series. Over 500 people were estimated to visit the grounds that day as we hosted bands on two stages with continuous music from 2pm until 10pm. The Caroga Lake Chamber Players started it off with a captivating performance of Aaron Copeland’s Appalachian Spring, followed by a Singer-Songwriter Circle featuring musicians from Nashville as well as local singers. The Saunders Family Band performed their annual set and the Crooked North closed out the night with some rollicking bluegrass.
In 2019 the SAUNDERSFEST was again presented by Caroga Arts at Sherman’s Amusement Park with headline artist Mama Juke and featuring performances by the Saunders Family Band, KASA Quartet, Empire Wild, and more.
