The 10th annual Pickin’ In the Pines took place this past weekend and Bookmans was once again fully participating in the bluegrass and acoustic music celebration. Brought to you by Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music and arguably the biggest party to take place in our lovely little mountain town, Pickin’ allows for a community-wide celebration of bluegrass tunes and local band love. Bookmans looks forward to Pickin’ every year, counting down the days and months until we can hang outside in the lovely Flag sun at Pepsi Amphitheater for three days while enjoying some amazingly talented musicians. This year, as all the in the past, did not disappoint.

Pickin' In the Pines

Flagstaff has mad love for traditional bluegrass music. We have love for any music genre that allows for hippie dancing and requires little to no shoe wearing. No music fest is more freeing than one featuring a banjo or twelve. Grammy award winning musicians like Ricky Skaggs and newgrass jammers The Infamous Stringdusters killed it on the main stage. Local favorites Tony Norris and Jesse Anderson received a warm welcome from Flag locals. Phoenix band Haymarket Squares took home the Battle of the Bands crown with their bluegrass rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Hey You”. Bluegrass + Pink Floyd = pure concentrated awesome.

Pickin' In the Pines

At the Bookmans booth, Pickin’ patrons tested musical instruments including a National resonator ukulele and a rare strum stick. While adults chilled on the lawn listening to tunes, youngsters partied it up in the Kids Zone. We gotta tell you, that Kids Zone rocked with fun crafts and activities including a Bookmans raffle where little ones won Magic Tree House and Dear America books. With so much cool stuff to do and awesome music to listen to, it’s no wonder this event was packed to capacity all weekend long.

If you were unable to make it this year, be sure to put it on your calendar next year. Visit the Pickin’ website for more info on the three day jubilation of music and check out Flagstaff Friends of Tradition Music. They celebrate music year around with cool events the whole family can enjoy like their Young Jammers program and Contra Dancing.