OrcasFest: Island-style music and dance ramble
Published 1:30 am Saturday, May 17, 2025
Submitted by Tashi Litch, OrcasFest.
OrcasFest is a new roots music festival coming to Orcas Island. This island-born celebration of folk and roots music takes place May 29 through June 1 and opens with a high-energy evening square dance with headliner musicians on Thursday, May 29 at the Odd Fellows Hall. Friday and Saturday, OrcasFest features a warm and welcoming array of live performances in intimate venues throughout Eastsound and features a blend of nationally touring artists and beloved local talent, most of whom will perform more than once across the weekend. One-day or full-festival tickets are now available online at orcasfest.com.
The idea for the festival started years ago when co-founder Tashi Litch, then a young local musician raised on Orcas, dreamt of organizing a festival on the island as a way to bring his island mentors and music community together with the friends he made and inspirations he found growing up playing bluegrass with his brother Kaj. Since then, the brothers have been off to college and continue to perform around the country, meeting music legends and emerging bands along the way.
Litch’s vision solidified while working behind the scenes at bluegrass festivals around the country, continuing to tour, now with his four-piece band The Litch Brothers, and after discussing the idea during a recording session with mentor and fellow Orcas-raised musician Caleb Klauder. Over the years, Klauder — who has had a long career as a touring musician with his partner, acclaimed singer Reeb Willms — also imagined Eastsound hosting a music ramble of its own.
With performances scheduled in small venues like historic chapels, hotels, churches, taverns and cafes throughout Eastsound, attendees will be able to wander the town and take in music in a variety of settings . OrcasFest intends to return annually, with plans already underway for an expanded 2026 edition Tickets are available at an intentionally low cost to keep the event as inclusive as possible.
