5 Must-Visit American Bluegrass Festivals - BY JAY MCDOWELL - AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE
A bluegrass festival can be as small as a few campsites with some live music provided by the campers themselves, or it can attract 50,000 people gathered at multiple stages featuring some of the best musicians in the world. Often, there are workshops where the musicians talk about their instrument and how they approach it. It’s a very low-key atmosphere where festival attendees can interact with the musicians. Some of the best performances occur in the campsites after the main stages have gone dark.
1. Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, Morgantown, Indiana (early-to-mid-June)
The original Bean Blossom Celebration started in 1966. Bluegrass legend Bill Monroe founded the event and avoided the word “festival” because of its hippie connotation. Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys performed there regularly. Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements, Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Osborne, and J.D. Crowe are just some of the legendary bluegrass musicians to have graced the stage. The park includes a campground that accommodates RVs and camping, and has cabins for rent.