More than 50 bands and performing artists are slated to appear over eight days during the Bill Monroe Memorial Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, June 14-21, in Bean Blossom, Indiana.  There’s also bound to be plenty of informal pickin’  at the campgrounds.

Now in its 42nd year, the oldest, continuous running bluegrass festival in the world is expected to draw thousands of music lovers from near and far to a small rural town in Southern Indiana’s Brown County that the Father of Bluegrass considered to be his second home.  Bean Blossom was cited as one of “10 Top Places to Hear Authentic American Music” in USA Weekend’s May 16-18 issue.

The festival’s musical lineup includes Dr. Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, The Grascals (who are profiled in an article that is archived in this section), Cherryholmes, The Seldom Scene, John Cowan Band, Gene Watson, Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top X-Press, J.D. Crowe & New South, Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys, Larry Sparks & Lonesome Ramblers, Ronnie Reno & Reno Tradition, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, IIIrd Tyme Out, The Lewis Family, Alecia Nugent, Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain, James Monroe & The Midnight Ramblers, Eddie & Martha Adcock, Dave Evans & Riverbend, James King Band, Paul Williams & Victory Trio, Randy Waller & Country Gentlemen, Lonesome River Band, Ronnie Bowman & The Committee, Lizzy Long & Friends, The Dailey Vincent Band, Kenny & Amada Smith, Ralph Stanley II, Special Consensus, Larry Stephenson Band, David Parmley & Continental Divide, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Tim Graves & Cherokee, David Davis & Warrior River Boys, Karl Shiflet & Big Country Show, Beth Stevens & Edge, Pine Mountain Railroad, Dan Paisley & Southern Grass, The Doerfel Family, The Muellers, and more.

The Bill Monroe Memorial Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival also features a wide array of music and instrument workshops taught by the performing artists, a Bill Monroe Sunset Jam, band showcases, and Bluegrass Now’s Youth Activity Tent.

Discounted tickets for the festival are available until June 1.  Single and multi-day tickets range from $15 to $125, while children under 12 will be admitted free.  Admission to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Country Star Museum is included.  In addition, a limited number of spots are available for youth ages 6-18 in a Youth Bluegrass Boot Camp, to be held June 17-19.  An additional $35 fee applies for this.  The festival has general admission, and folks are advised to bring lawn chairs.  On-site festival camping is available at the Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park and Campground on property that Monroe acquired and opened in the early 1950s and where he staged his first bluegrass festival in June 1967. 

More information on the Bill Monroe Memorial Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival is available online at www.beanblossom.com.