What happens at Flutestock?
MUSIC
All-comers open mic, all day
Professional flute players
Evening concerts
Flute lessons
Flute workshops
COOL STUFF TO BUY
Flutes
Art & crafts
T-shirts
Silent auction
Raffle prizes
Food
MORE FUN
Aztec dancers
Camping nearby
What we do…
Flutestock builds and nurtures community among Native American-style flute players, makers, and fans; enhances players’ skills, and honors the instrument’s roots.
What we value…
Community
Friendship
Equality
Humility
Integrity
Learning
Diversity
Compassion
Acceptance
Kindness
Fun
Where we gather…
​
Flutestock's first five festivals, from 2017 to 2023, were hosted at the Elkton Community Education Center in Elkton, Oregon. That site is on the traditional ancestral territory of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe.
By 2023, there was a growing demand from Flutestock fans for a new venue with more lodging options, closer to the I-5 corridor. After some searching, the Flutestock board voted to relocate the festival to Island Park in Springfield, Oregon. The new site is on traditional ancestral lands of the Kalapuya tribes.
​
Wherever we gather, we always express gratitude to those Indigenous people who have lived on and cherished this land in the past and present. Those of us in the United States are encouraged to be mindful and respectful of the Indigenous people whose land we stand on, wherever we live, work, or visit.
How we began…
In 2008 Alby Thoumsin happened to meet John Eley, an Oregon flute maker from the UK, who gave Alby his first flute. Alby said he didn’t know how to play it, but John* said “You’ll learn.” And so he did.
After he met Tim Fields-Lardie, a Lakota flute maker who became one of Alby’s closet friends, Alby’s joy in playing flute grew. There was just one disappointment: Alby had met hardly anyone else with the same interest. That’s when he decided to create a local flute festival.
Soon, Flutestock was born. With much help from Steve O'Brien and Dean Armstrong, Alby launched the first Flutestock in 2017 at the ECEC, making his dream a reality.
​
*The gift of Alby’s first flute is why John Eley is sometimes called “the grandfather of Flutestock.”
About Island Park
Island Park is adjacent to the Willamette River and downtown Springfield. Blessed with large shade trees, paths for easy access, lush lawns and open spaces including a modern playground, the 14 acres park also includes an open stage at its western end often used for music events during summer.
