The Coloma/Lotus area in El Dorado County approximately 36 miles northeast of Sacramento is strangely connected to the river. In 1848 James W. Marshall first discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, leading to the California Gold Rush. Over 160 years later, the South Fork of the American River still breathes life into the area’s few, lucky residents, as well as countless tourists seeking adventure on the water.
“The river, without it, this would be just another one of those oddly dry foothill spots,” says Matt Semonsen, a longtime resident of Lotus, Calif. “But because it’s such a gorgeous natural resource, most people are completely connected to the river in one form or another.”
Semonsen was a river guide in the late ‘70s, and he points out that there are a ton of people that live in the Coloma/Lotus area that are also ex-river guides, or current ones.
“It’s a really amazing small-time community that way,” he said. “If you aren’t connected with moving water somewhere, you are somewhat out of place.”
Being a huge fan of live music, Semonsen founded the American River Music Festival six years ago to connect the small river community with musicians and concertgoers from all over. This year the festival will take place from Sept. 14—16, 2012 and will feature dozens of performances from top-notch musicians handpicked by Semonsen as well as three campsites for attendees to choose from, a 14-mile whitewater rafting trip that includes a secluded riverside acoustic concert halfway through the float, a hike along the river that includes a tribal percussion jam circle, live art, food and so much more.
“Part of our identity is bringing national talent to this region that normally never makes it here,” Semonsen said. “We have a little bit of blues, we have a little bit of singer/songwriter, we have a little bit of jam, we have a little bit of rock.”
This year’s main stage performers include eight-time Grammy nominee and world renowned slide guitarist Roy Rogers (with his band the Delta Rhythm Kings); South Carolina-based roots rock group Dangermuffin, whose newest album Olly Oxen Free recently topped the Homegrown Music Network radio charts; the Tony Furtado Band; Poor Man’s Whiskey; Wheeler Brothers; The Joe Craven Trio; Birds of Chicago; and many more. For Semonsen, building the lineup is fun, albeit rather stressful.
“We’re broadcast live by KVMR out of Nevada City,” he says, noting that because the station generously allots so much of its airtime to the festival, it adds extra pressure when choosing which acts will perform. But Semonsen finds ways to have fun with it, too, by challenging himself.
“One of the guys who heads up the collaboration between the fest and KVMR is a guy named Wesley Robertson, that guy’s been on the air for 20 years,” Semonsen said. “The guy knows his music up, down and sideways. I always pride myself on bringing somebody that he’s never heard before.” This year Dangermuffin and Wheeler Brothers were the two acts that Semonsen stumped Robertson with.
“I think those bands are both really, really fine,” he said.
Whether you hit up the American River Music Fest for just one afternoon or you decide to do the whole shebang and camp out for the weekend, you’re sure to discover some great new music and make some new friends, all while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Disconnect from your computers, iPhones and Androids and head up to the Coloma/Lotus area to experience something different. You’ll witness a small river community being transformed into a music mecca.
“The festival kind of immerses the community in music throughout that whole weekend,” Semonsen said. “Everybody always has a lot of fun. It’s really dialed.”
To learn more about American River Music Festival and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.americanrivermusic.org/. There is also a “Fest Best” giveaway that you can enter until Aug. 15, 2012 where two people will win all access passes worth over $500 that includes riverfront camping, entry to all concerts, access to the whitewater rafting trip, free meals and more.
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