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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2025 announces initial lineup for 52nd event

Telluride Bluegrass Festival tickets went on sale earlier this month for the 52nd event which will take place June 19-22 in Town Park and are nearly sold out. Camping at Town Park is sold out. Planet Bluegrass typically puts refunded tickets up for resale each spring. For more information on one of the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious music festivals, visit https://bluegrass.com/telluride.

From the good folks at Planet Bluegrass:

Dearest Festivarians, 
Today, the sun will reach its minimum declination across the sky, leading us into the longest night of the year. The winter solstice marks a moment of quiet stillness on Planet Bluegrass—a time when the world seems to pause around us, holding its breath in anticipation of the return of light. Personally, we have a time-tested strategy for brightening the darkest day of the year…

Out of the darkness, a Bluegrass lineup takes shape! It’s a solstice tradition, you know? Take a look!

Planet Bluegrass

This year’s lineup has an historic amount of Telluride debuts, as well as return performances from folks who haven’t made their way to the box canyon in years. We’re in for such a treat! You can find more information (including which day each artist is playing) on our website here.  

Single day, 4-day, and camping passes are still available online! It’s time to solidify your summer solstice plans. 

Buy Telluride Bluegrass Passes & Camping at this link

The countdown is officially on… See you in 181 days!


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Women of bluegrass dominate nominations for International Bluegrass Music Awards in Raleigh, N.C, on Sept. 27

After Molly Tuttle’s impressive win at the 2017 International Bluegrass Music (IBMA) Awards as the first female IBMA guitarist, Becky Buller leads the field for the  2018 International Bluegrass Music Awards with eight nominations followed by Tuttle’s six. Close behind with five nominations each are Special Consensus, and The Del McCoury Band/The Travelin’ McCourys, with strong showings by Rhonda Vincent, The Earls of Leicester, Balsam Range, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Results of the balloting will be revealed at the International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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ROMP Festival will celebrate the roots, branches of bluegrass on June 21-24, 2017

Founded in June 2004 by the International Bluegrass Music Museum, ROMP Festival has been celebrating the roots and branches of bluegrass ever since and this year is no exception.

Scheduled for June 21-24, 2017, in Owensboro, Kentucky, ROMP’s impressive lineup includes: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Punch Brothers, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass, Los Lobos, Rhiannon Giddens, Yonder Mountain String Band, Jerry Douglas Band, Peter Rowan, The SteelDrivers, Pokey LaFarge, Dailey & Vincent, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, We Banjo 3, Billy Strings, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Scythian, Becky Buller, Dustbowl Revival, Kelsey Waldon, The Wooks, Driftwood, Snyder Family Band, High Fidelity, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys and Hogslop String Band.

I am particularly excited to see Scythian, We Banjo 3, Rhiannon Giddens, The SteelDrivers and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are on tap to be there. Would love to hear who you are interested in seeing and hearing at this festival that is sure to be a good time.

To purchase tickets visit: www.rompfest.com or call (270) 926-7891.


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On Huffington Post: Exclusive Premiere of Milwaukee-Based Trio Dead Horses Single ‘Ain’t Got Time’

This post originally appeared on The Huffington Post here.

If you’re a fan of American roots music – Mandolin Orange or Elephant Revival, for example – you must give a listen to the newest album by Dead Horses, a Milwaukee-based folk trio with a unique sound and even more insightful lyrics.

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42nd Telluride Bluegrass Festival initial lineup includes historic collaboration of Cooder, White and Skaggs and new faces among usual suspects

I’m using my least favorite day of the year, Winter Solstice, to tell you about a show you don’t want to miss on my favorite day of the year, Summer Solstice: the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. This festival holds a special place in my heart. It is the first bluegrass festival I ever attended. One of my best friends and fellow music lover, Lynn Holt, introduced me to the magic of the box canyon that is topped by the twin Bridal Veil Falls and a river running through its lush valley. If Kevin Costner’s dad in “Field of Dreams” showed up there, he would ask if it was heaven. You seriously have to see it to understand how amazing it is. Continue reading