Camp Greensky Competition is shifting from Michigan to Iceland in 2023

KALAMAZOO — The band calls it a “rigorously cultivated Greensky journey.”

Kalamazoo progressive bluegrass powerhouse Greensky Bluegrass has introduced its well-liked annual Camp Greensky Competition will relocate from Michigan to Iceland in June 2023.

The three-day music competition, held final summer season at Shagbark Farm in southern Kent County, will roll out greater than 2,900 miles away in “the extremely beautiful” Eldborg Corridor contained in the Harpa Live performance and Convention Centre in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Dubbing it “the journey of a lifetime,” the three-night affair will characteristic keyboardist and Michigan native Holly Bowling in addition to particular friends Fruition, Neighbor and The Lil Smokies (the latter two of which characteristic Greensky members).

Tickets for the June 3-5 competition are being bought through a lottery system, with particulars on-line at greenskyiniceland.com. Pre-sale lotteries are underway for premium “full session” ticket packages — priced at $629 plus service prices — and for normal ticket packages price $285-$375 (primarily based on seat location).

“The Iceland journey introduced a novel alternative to curate a unique kind of occasion,” band member Paul Hoffman advised Native Spins. “The venue is spectacular and we’ve got heard glowing evaluations from bands and followers alike.”

Harpa Convention Centre hosts a number of music festivals yearly. It’s dwelling to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera.

Harpa’s web site describes the 11-year-old venue as “one in every of Reykjavik’s most putting landmarks and a middle of cultural and social life within the very coronary heart of town.”

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Bowling often joins Greensky Bluegrass on stage, and has even been considered the band’s sixth member. The keyboardist, born in Ludington and raised in Grand Haven, performed two sold-out exhibits with the bluegrass band final June on the rooftop at Pier 17 in New York Metropolis and is featured on the title monitor of Greensky’s newest album, “Stress Desires.”

As for the competition’s future at Shagbark Farm, property proprietor John Crissman mentioned he’s “nonetheless making an attempt to kind this out.”

Hoffman mentioned band members “will always remember our dwelling and are already planning some new exhibits within the Mitten.”

“Sadly, we had been going to be unable to drag off Camp Greensky in Michigan, and since these dates aligned, we thought it might be enjoyable to take it overseas for a yr and take a look at one thing totally different,” he mentioned. “The occasion is focused extra towards our followers touring with us there, however I hope to draw some Icelandic followers and undoubtedly cannot wait to take a look at the brand new place.”