The Lower Shore Land Trust will be hosting a night of live bluegrass music, locally grown and produced food, local beer, and dancing on Saturday, December 8th. The event, title Get Bluegrass, is a way to raise money for the non-profit organization based out of Berlin, MD. 

“It is important to think about land conservation, especially after all of the coastal flooding issues we’ve seen lately. It’s more important now than ever,” said Kate Patton, Lower Shore Land Trust Executive Director.
 
Get Bluegrass - Chester River Runoff - Snow Hill, MD
Get Bluegrass Crowd - Lower Shore Land Trust - Snow Hill, MD
Get Bluegrass, an event supporting the Lower Shore Land Trust

Tickets are $20 per person (which gets you in the door and covers your first drink) and can be purchased at the door or online via the Land Trust’s website or by calling the Land Trust office at 410-641-4467.

 
“This year is going to be bigger and better than last year’s event. We have more sponsors and more support than ever before,” said Patton. A recap from last year’s event can be seen on ShoreBread: Photos from Get Bluegrass.  
 
The Old Snow Hill Firehall (West Green Street) will open their doors to attendees at 6 pm on December 8th. The Saltwater Stringband will take the stage at 7 pm followed by Chester River Runoff at 8 pm. 
 
The Saltwater Stringband hails from Ocean City, MD and is known for their Appalachian Newgrass style. Chester River Runoff is a 4-piece traditional bluegrass band that is best known for their loud harmonies, tight instrumental work, hillbilly humor, and warm spirits. The combination of guitars, banjos, bass, and fiddles will have the crowd moving all night.
 
“Both bands are awesome and have quite a following. We’re really excited to have them helping out cause and the Get Bluegrass event for the Land Trust,” said Jim Rapp, a member of the Land Trust’s Board of Directors for Wicomico County.
 
A group of local business and individuals have also supported the Land Trust’s causes.  The Dispatch, the Forestland Group, Vision Forestry, Dogfish Head Craft Beer, Burley Oak, Studio C, Mike Weisner Real Estate, Avery Hall Insurance, Bank of Delmarva, Harvest Moon, Farm Credit, Clear Channel, South Moon Under, Laura and Buddy Jenkins, APPI Energy, and several others have contributed their support to Get Bluegrass and the Lower Shore Land Trust.
 
A large group of blue-grass fans, farmers, nature-lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts and supporters will gather to enjoy earthy music, drink, dance, and bid on items in a silent auction. Tommy Mason’s Barbeque and local downtown restaurants will be offering deals on food during the event.  Several varieties of beer will be on tap, as well.
 
“We are psyched because this year’s beers are Dogfish Head and Burley Oak. Both breweries are sponsors of the event,” said Patton.
 
The Lower Shore Land Trust was founded in 1990 as a way to, in its simplest form, protect land on the shore. The founding members found it vital that the Eastern Shore’s land, heritage, rural characteristics, and sprawling landscapes be protected. The Land Trust watches closely over environmental activities in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. By assisting landowners and implementing acts of land preservation, the Eastern Shore landscape will ecologically prosper for years to come.
 
For more information, visit the Lower Shore Land Trust on the web or on Facebook. For more details about the event (or for a chance to win neat prizes) check out the event page on Facebook.
 
Photos by Ami Reist.
 
ShoreBread photos and articles from the 2011 event: