What's Going on at WMF26 in Florence Oregon 01/22-01/24/2026

---

The last weekend in January will again be a hot one at the Florence Events Center.

Over two days, seven outstanding groups will bring smokin’ hot bluegrass, heartwarming new and traditional folk, and foot-stompin’ Americana as the Florence Winter Music Festival returns.

The festival starts on the 22rd with the open mic “Take the Stage!” hootenanny. There will also be open jam sessions, performance and songwriting workshops, and great food and drink throughout the event. Once again, weekend passes to all activities go on 'early-bird pricing beginning on June 2nd, 2025.

“Our line-up of world-class performers includes Friday night’s headliners, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road with the amazing Thunder and Rain returning to kick off our festival performers. Saturday afternoon will be fantastic with three bands: Tuesday String Band, Midnight45 featuring Dale, Suzanne and Josh Adkins with Jared Widman, and returning from last years show , Tony Furtado and Friends. Saturday night will open with the Burnette Sisters Band and we will close out the festival with a 90 minute performance from Authentic Unlimited

Show tickets are available at the Florence Events Center's box office, 715 Quince Street, and its website, EventCenter.org.

A REAL DOWN HOME HOOTENANNY!

A now-annual favorite, the community open mic “Take the Stage!” all-comers music confab will be unleashed from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.  This  good ol’ fashioned gathering is -- free and open to all ages and abilities. Come sign up, sing and play for 10 minutes on stage, collaborate, and make new friends.  Spectators can expect to have fun cheering on  friends and neighbors on the Florence Events Center flat floor stage.

Take the Stage! is staged in the friendly confines of Rooms 1&2 of the FEC Flat Floor area.  Casual seating is provided, and performers will be provided with mics.  No drumsets or electric instuments. 

Oregon Pacific Bank’s Free Community Concert 

4:30 - 5:30 PM (Hwy 101 Florence) 

by the Tuesday String Band 

(no ticket necessary).

Thunder and Rain

Erinn Peete-Lukes (guitar), Amelia Ransom (fiddle), and Laura Ray (banjo) return to our Festival with their sensational Newgrass sound, weaving bluegrass instruments and luscious three-part harmonies into original songs with memorable choruses and storytelling lyricism.

https://thunderandrainmusic.com/

Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

Liam and his Cane Mill compatriots bring an infectious on-stage rapport teamed with incredible musicianship. Their eclectic mix of originals and standards pays homage to Doc Watson, Dylan, Lightfoot, and more. This vision of the future of Bluegrass/ Americana will delight our Florence audiences!

https://canemillroad.com/

Tuesday String Band

Bluegrass’ string band tradition is alive and well every Tuesday night in Western Oregon -- and in

Florence on January 24th. Come hear this rising young trio of professional musicians/ educators as they open the afternoon show at the intersection of “bluegrass, folk and old time funk.”

https://tuesdaystringband.com/

Midnight45

A “new” band -- of veteran Oregon bluegrass musicians! Enjoy the glass-shattering power of high tenor voices, perfect harmonies, incredible musicianship -- plus on-stage camaraderie. Midnight45 boasts a dream team quartet of Dale and Suzanne Adkins, Josh Adkins, and Jered Widman. Don’t miss ‘em!

https://www.midnight45band.com/

Tony Furtado and Friends

The evocative and soulful singing, songwriting, and styling of Tony on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele is mesmerizing. This award-winning Renaissance man is bringing his friends for a return visit to our Festival. Join in the fun as they close the afternoon show.

https://tonyfurtado.com/

The Burnett Sisters Band

Sisters Anissa, Sophia, and Aneli bring expert musicianship that honors traditional bluegrass, old-time, country, and folk with a modern flair, backed by guitar and banjo players Geary and Justin. “The best bluegrass has to offer in the 21st Century” says Bluegrass Unlimited magazine.

 https://www.burnettsistersband.com/

Authentic Unlimited

This triple 2024 IMBA Award winning band (Best Song/ Music Video/ Vocal Group) comprises Colton Baker, Stephen Burwell, Eli Johnston, Jesse Brock, and Jerry Cole. Each is a standout musician in his own right. Together, the AU powerhouse will bring our festival to a rollicking, unforgettable close.

https://www.authenticunlimitedband.com/

Linda Leavitt of Cascade Bluegrass and Tom Nechville, proprietor of Nechville Banjos, will anchor the action in Gallery Five. There you’ll find jams, pickin’ sessions, playing advice, and tall tales of festivals past including sparkling bluegrass reminiscences and spirited conversations! They’ll also be on hand for Take the Stage to keep the musical energy flowing.

https://cascadebluegrass.com/

https://www.nechville.com/ 

Throughout the Winter Music Festival you can expect plenty of informal jams, performer interactions, super merchandise sales, excellent food and drink, and great vibes. For more information on the Florence Winter

Music Festival visit WinterMusicFestival.org.

Tickets available on-line at https://aftontickets.com/fec

under the tab EVENT TICKETS.