This year’s Upper Hudson Bluegrass Festival will be Aug. 17-19 at Ski Bowl Park in North Creek with 12 bands, including at least four national headline acts: Audi Blaylock and Redline, Goldwing Express, Vern Young and James King.

At this time last year Audi Blaylock and Redline had the number one bluegrass song in the country, “Cry, Cry Darlin.” Goldwing Express performs over 200 shows on stage in Branson, Mo. each year.

Vern Young has been performing over 60 years and has won the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America mid-west vocalist of the year award six times, most recently in 2003. Hard-core Virginia bluegrasser James King’s biggest hit is “Bed by the Window.”

Regional favorite Remington Ryde is returning along with HoneyGrass from Ontario, Canada and newcomer No One You Know Band from West Virginia will be appearing for the first time in this area. Smokey Greene will perform Saturday and will provide the closing set Sunday.

The line-up is rounded out with The Atkinson Family, Dave Nichols and Spare Change, Rivergrass and Cedar Ridge.

Five other local and regional favorites round out the stage performers.

The gates will open for camper parking at 7:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 17. The music starts at noon and continues to about 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, music begins at 9 a.m. and continues to about 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, the day starts at 9 a.m. with a gospel hour and continues to about 5 p.m.

Tickets at the gate are $60 for the weekend, $25 for Friday, $30 for Saturday, $15 for Sunday and $10 for nights after 5 p.m. Ages 15 and under are admitted free with parent.

Camper parking is free with a weekend ticket. There will be food and craft vendors.