Brown County will be an epicenter of the sounds of Americana this weekend during the John Hartford Memorial Festival, which continues through Saturday.
The historic Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground will ring with sounds of the nation’s finest “Newgrass” in celebration of the life, music, and legacy of the late bluegrass musician John Hartford.
The family-friendly event will feature over 40 performers on three outdoor stages, around the clock campground jamming, children’s activities, workshops, an all-star collaboration, and fiddle and banjo contests.
The festival honors the innovation and talent of Hartford, whose unique musical style paved the way for today’s updated version of bluegrass, better known as “Newgrass” or Americana music.
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A jam-packed lineup of performers are on the docket for this year’s festival, including headliners Steep Canyon Rangers, Travelin’ McCourys & Jeff Austin Present: The Grateful Ball, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Vince Herman & Friends, Pert Near Sandstone, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Run Boy Run, Molly Tuttle, Dead Winter Carpenters, Larry Keel Experience, Mountain Sprout, and The Tillers.
A complete line-up of performers is available online at www.johnhartfordmemfest.com.
Music performances on the three main stages will be ongoing each day from late morning through late evening. Guests also can expect acoustic jamming to continue 24/7 at the campground throughout the duration of the festival.
This year’s Old Time Fiddling Contest, a crowd favorite, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday on the Boogie Stage, with the Songwriting Showcase and Banjo Contest slated for Friday.
Full four-day festival tickets can be purchased online in advance at www.johnhartfordmemfest.com/tickets for $120 or can be purchased at the gate for $135 (if available). Single-day tickets also can be purchased online, ranging from $40 to $50, or $50 to $60 at the gate while supplies last. Children 12 and younger are free when accompanied by a paid adult.
Guests are welcome to bring their lawn chairs for the day or opt to camp on site at the beautiful Bill Monroe Campground. Camping through Bill Monroe’s Campground, as well as Dancin’ Dave’s, is not included with the purchase of festival tickets. Additional camping information can be found at www.johnhartfordmemfest.com/camping.
