Two Mill Creek area families turned tragedy into triumph by creating a legacy that gives musical artists a “leg up” and entertains hundreds of local residents while doing it. The 3rd Annual Redfellow Music Festival (RMF) was held on July 20th, 2024 in front of an enthusiastic audience of music lovers who relaxed in a beautiful country meadow while up-and-coming artists sang their hearts out. From indie rock to singer-songwriter, jazz, folk, and funky blues, the artists delivered an incredible afternoon of music…all just 10 minutes from downtown Mill Creek! 

So how did Mill Creek become such a hotbed for musical talent? It began with 22-year-old musician Reed Baldwin, who died in a car accident on Bothell Everett Highway on April 1st, 2021. “Since we could no longer support Reed’s hopes for a music career, we decided to help other artists move their music dreams forward,” said Reed’s parents, Brick and Connie Baldwin. The nonprofit event is named the Redfellow Music Festival because Reed used the moniker “Redfellow” to publish his first album, “The Peppermint”, in June of 2020. He was born with a glorious head of copper red hair, hence the name "Redfellow". 

 

Along with the help of dear friends Erik and Michele Rufer, who pioneered a local open mic for young artists, the Redfellow Music Festival was born in 2022 with a handful of musician applicants performing for a modest crowd of 100 paid attendees. Fast forward to 2024, and the event has grown in both size and scope. Held at the Baldwin’s event venue, Starlight Meadows east of Mill Creek, the 2024 RMF had 58 artist applications from which they cherry-picked nine to perform. The event opened to a near-capacity crowd of 300 and required the help of 30 volunteers. Delicious meals were served from The People’s Burger food truck (with proceeds donated to the event), ice cream and snack concessions were offered, and a new Beer Garden that helped quench the attendees' thirst on the warm summer day.

 

The festival looks for emerging artists and highlights their original music to help them get seen, heard, followed, and discovered. The nine solo artists/groups each performed 4 songs during the 4-hour event. The Royals, a festival favorite, surprised everyone by debuting an original composition they called “The Redfellow Blues”. Their music and vibe was so great it spawned an impromptu dance party where audience members jumped up to dance and, after the 4th song, screamed “encore” for more…and the band played on. 

“The day was magical; we loved that some of Reed’s best friends volunteered as the sound technicians, emcee and guest support. Even the lovely person who held our son at the accident scene in 2021 volunteered to help make it a successful day. The great music, sunshine, and joyful dancing created a healing moment which we all need given the state of the world right now. Music truly is medicine,” said the Baldwins.  

Attendees rated the event with five stars, describing it as “the perfect Nano-Woodstock” and said, “Every artist brought something beautiful to the table”. The RMF co-founders decided to expand the concept and, after bringing Michelle Nims on as Treasurer, created the nonprofit “Redfellow Foundation” in Spring of this year to further the RMF mission to elevate and celebrate emerging artists.  

Next year’s event will be held on July 19th, 2025 and the organizers plan to continue its success. Artists can submit an application to perform starting February 1st, and tickets will go on sale April 1st. For more information, to learn about volunteer opportunities, or to make a tax-deductible donation, go to www.RedfellowFoundation.org. To discover the featured artists on social media go to @RedfellowMusicFestival.