“Our mission at Angry Lobster Events is to bring music and the arts back to Rhode Island,” said Tom Bousquet, co-founder of the new organization.

This July Fourth weekend, Angry Lobster Events, in association with the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance, will be holding the first annual “Bluegrass on the Pawtuxet.”

“We are hoping it will be well received,” Bousquet said. “It’s America’s music on America’s holiday at one of America’s most historical sites, where the Gaspee was burned in the first act of the Revolutionary War.”

For three days, the 4th, 5th and 6th of July, Pawtuxet Village will be transformed into a bluegrass dreamland; with gourmet food trucks, farmer’s market, and craft vendors. Local bluegrass musicians will be playing acoustic sets at Aspray Park and throughout the cafes and restaurants in Pawtuxet.

On Friday and Saturday night, Grammy Award winning and nationally recognized stars will be at the Rhodes on Pawtuxet. Performers include Blue Highway, Steel Drivers, Tony Trischka, Pete Wernick, Kropp Dusters, Carter Brothers, the Bill Thibodeau Band, Lizzy James and Greystone Rail.

Angry Lobster Events is a new nonprofit hoping to bring Rhode Island to new musical heights. Tom Bousquet and co-founder Chris Jennan held their first event last month at The Met in Pawtucket with a Master Class Workshop. With every act they book, the organization also tries to contract the musicians to participate in master class workshops.

“It is great to see the interaction between a musician and fans. It is such an amazing opportunity to learn from the best and it can be just as fun to be a fly on the wall and watch a musician do what they’re best at,” Bousquet said.

The master class allows participants to have a personal and intimate lesson with some of the best artists in the Bluegrass tradition. Classes include banjo playing with Mike Kropp, guitar playing with Tim Stafford, songwriting or vocal workshop with Suzahn Fiering, a mandolin-playing workshop with Shawn Lane, and many more. Master class openings are extremely limited. If you would like to participate, call 489-9714 or email info@angrylobsterevents.com at the earliest possible time.

“We really hope Rhode Island embraces the potential for this to be a destination event. We have already received a bunch of calls from all over the country and even some from other countries about lodging, if there is camping available. This could bring a lot of tourism into the state,” said Bousquet.

Angry Lobster Events is also creating an after school music program for kids. As of now, the organization is still trying to acquire new instruments to distribute to children with developers and companies. Their hope is that local musicians can be connected with kids who really want to learn music but don’t have the means to do so. With many public schools scaling back music programs, instruments are no longer available for students.

“There aren’t the opportunities there used to be for kids to be involved in music. It is a magical thing when you put an instrument in the hands of a kid. Music is really important and not every kid has the opportunity to be involved,” Bousquet said.

During the day, the festival is free, but master classes and tickets for the concerts at Rhodes on Pawtuxet on Friday and Saturday will have to be purchased prior to the weekend of July 4, 5, and 6. Tickets are $35 for Friday. Saturday is $37.50 because there are more performers. The cost is $65 for both nights. Members of the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance can purchase discounted tickets. Tickets can be purchased at www.etix.com, www.angrylobsterevents.com or www.ribluegrass.org.

For more information on the schedule of events and the festival itself, visit www.angrylobsterevents.com.