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First year fun

Bandit County Fair Music Festival
Gunner's Bar and Campground
DeSoto, WI
June 13 & 14, 2008

Cutline and Photos by Matt Schwenke

Despite heavy rains that caused a change in venue just days before the festival and flooding that cut off major routes from the other side of the state, the first-ever Bandit County Fair Music Festival just south of La Crosse, WI drew more than 300 campers and festers from throughout the upper midwest for two nights of music centered around bluegrass along the Mississippi River.

It took festival organizers The Smokin' Bandits and a crew of their friends to complete construction of the half-built permanent stage the day before the festival, but the sound was dialed in as the acts got going Friday and the lighting was adjusted in between acts. A host of volunteer staff helped keep the logistical side of things in check, and somewhere between the laid-back environment and all the sunny weather, all the bands turned in quality, and some even inspired, sets.
Smokin' Bandits
Smokin' Bandits
Fester
Fester
Bombay
Bombay
Stealin' Strings
Stealin' Strings
Shoeless Revolution
Shoeless Revolution
Two Many Banjos
Two Many Banjos
Festers
Festers
Smokin' Bandits
Smokin' Bandits
Fat Maw Rooney
Fat Maw Rooney
Chuff
Chuff
Smokin' Bandits
Smokin' Bandits
Two Many Banjos
Two Many Banjos
Houses in Motion
Houses in Motion
Down Lo
Down Lo
Clock
Clock
Paulie
Paulie
Shoeless Revolution
Shoeless Revolution
Grounds
Grounds
Too Many Banjos
Too Many Banjos
Campgrounds
Campgrounds

More Bandit County Photos

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