LONG BEACH – The first-ever Long Beach Bluegrass Festival got under way last weekend with larger than anticipated audiences, although many in the crowd seemed unfamiliar with what the music was all about.

Bluegrass music originated in the Southern states in the late 1800s, with musicians often reworking old folk tunes from their native lands into more upbeat numbers featuring much improvisation by the players. The up-tempo music was popular at dances, as well as on the front porch. The slow, waltz-like ballads were good for dancing, as well.

Though numerous and respectful, those in attendance Saturday at the Long Beach Elks Lodge for the second night of the festival were a bit on the reserved side, especially for this style of music. The stoic crowd enjoyed the breakdowns by the bands, with cheers coming after a nice mandolin solo by Dave Elliott during the set by Fern Hill, a Rainier, Ore., band. Fern Hill played a very modern take on the traditional Bluegrass style, perhaps less historically accurate to the roots of the music, but fitting with many of the recordings made in the late 1950s.

“We got some requests for this one after we played it last night,” said guitarist Paul Smith of the tune “Uptown Blues,” which was lead by fiddler Katie Keller.

Each band played two sets over the weekend, giving those in attendance a chance to get familiar with the different flavors they each brought. Part of that style was in how each group dressed. Fern Hill was decked out in matching attire of blue jeans, black shirts with red string ties and white cowboy hats.

Adding to the differing styles was the Olympia band Looking Glass, dressed all in black and bringing a very textured, clean-sound. Their set was tight and well-practiced, with four-part harmony coming from the members, who played guitar, banjo, fiddle and stand-up bass.

“I hope we do something good for you here tonight,” prefaced Lanny Mackey, guitarist and leader of the group. “I’m kind of in a cloud up here, playing with all these other great bands.”

The band was in good spirits and shared a story with the audience about when they were rehearsing upstairs at the Elks Lodge prior to coming on stage. Bass player Joan Smith said that Mackey jokingly asked her steal for him a sign that read “exalted leader.”

“I’m just getting used to calling him ‘fearless leader,'” she said with laugh.

“I’d rather be in some dark holler where the sun don’t ever shine, than in some big city … with you on my mind,” sang Mackey as they kicked into their first tune.

Mackey introduced their next tune as “time for the Gospel song,” saying, “I don’t know if you needed a map to get here – there’s only one road in and one road out – but when it comes to your soul, this one might help you out,” before singing about using the Bible as a road map.

Toward the end of Saturday evening, organizer Ruth Ann Hocking was very pleased with how the event had gone, saying that the attendance was above expectation.

“We had probably about 100 last night; we’ve got probably 150 in here today,” which is 50 more than expected for each night, she said.

Hocking said she was very pleased with how the show had run, thanking the large group of 30 volunteers who had helped make it happen.

“The community has been extra special. With sponsorships and the raffle items, the community has really gotten behind us,” she said.

And it wasn’t just the local community that turned out, Hocking said she knew of some people who came from as far away as Canada to see the show. One couple sitting in the front row said they had came from Salem for the event, saying they regularly travel to these types of festivals

“We really like it. It’s great seats, we can sit in the front row and talk to everybody,” the man said. “The groups play and then they mix in. The town, of course, is a very nice place to come and visit. We’ve seen Lost Highway and Sawtooth Mountain Boys before. This was the first time we saw Fern Hill, and are really impressed with them. It’s been really great.”

Hocking was on the board of directors for the Ragtime Rhoadie Dixieland Jazz Festival, which the Bluegrass Festival has now replaced, and explained how they came to this junction.

“The Dixieland music was lessening in popularity because of the age group,” she said. Bluegrass is also a style that has been gaining in popularity in the last few years. But Hocking said she had a more personal motivator. “I enjoy it. It’s kind of my first love, and I went to a lot of festivals last summer so I could hear the bands myself.”

Hocking said there are ways the festival can improve next year, but overall she was pleased with the outcome.

“There is several things I’m looking at. We want to bring more people into the community.”

The bands made it obvious they’d like to see this become an every year event, too.

“An annual means they got to do it again,” said Fern Hill’s Dave Elliott.