Announcements
Announcing:
Saturday & Sunday Afternoon Gospel Sets
Two Nashville Based Bluegrass Recording Artists’ Bands, The Larry Stephenson Band, and Tim Graves & The Farm Hands, will be performing Gospel Sets early Saturday & Sunday afternoons.
Notice:
“Perks for Pickers”
We are pleased to offer admission rebates and concession tickets to patrons who bring an instrument, engage in informal jamming sessions, or sign up to participate in our scheduled Open Mic Jams throughout the day.
Notice:
“Perks for Ukeleles”
We are also pleased to offer admission rebates and concession tickets to patrons who bring a Ukulele and are a member of a Ukeleles Club.
2025 Headliner Larry Stephenson and His Band
Playing Bluegrass, Gospel, Traditional Country, Americana and Folk music.
“Larry Stephenson has always been one of the great professionals in bluegrass music, and I'm proud to call him a friend! These days, he's working with one of the best bands in the business, and this new collection, long in the works, has proven well worth the wait.” – Kyle Cantrell, BanjoRadio.com
2025 Headliner Tim Graves & The Farm Hands
Tim Graves & The Farm Hands can honestly say they have Bluegrass DNA that has been handed down from the first generation of Bluegrass Music Greats. Tim Graves is the nephew of Bluegrass Hall of Honor Dobro player, Josh Graves (headlined the 9th Annual Midsummer Festival in 1998 with legendary fiddler, Kenny Baker), and Don Wayne Reno, the son of Don Reno, who in the early days of Bluegrass matched his banjo playing innovations with the great Earl Scruggs. The Farm Hands have won a sleuth of Bluegrass Awards including VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR, ALBUM OF THE YEAR, & GOSPEL GROUP OF THE YEAR. Terry Eldredge, bass/vocals, has been requested to sing songs he recorded while being a member of the Grascals Bluegrass Band: Mr. Fix It Is Coming Home, and Don’t Tell Momma I’ve Been Drinking.
2025 Feature Artist New Riverside Ramblers
The high-spirited Cajun dance music of the New Riverside Ramblers comes from the rich musical heritage of the bayous and prairies of south Louisiana. The band covers a spectrum from old-style fiddle tunes, lively two-steps, soulful waltzes, gritty blues to rockin' honky-tonk sounds – all the sounds from the dance halls and back porches of rural Louisiana.
2025 Feature Artist Molly & The Danger Band
You could call them a rock/country/jazz/bluegrass/Celtic band, but they are really an Americana band. The blending of different American roots music creates a unique musical cocktail. From classic covers, traditional and original music, no matter what you call it, you're bound to have a good time.
Celebrate Bluegrass Music With Good Friends
The Midsummer Bluegrass Festival provides a longstanding, annual opportunity in a natural, intimate setting to enjoy Bluegrass. Often flying under the radar in comparison to various pop brands of music, the premise behind this Bluegrass Show is the belief that by developing a taste for Bluegrass Music, you can set your quality of life apart to a higher degree by acquiring its appreciation. Bluegrass is sometimes referred to as that “happy” music because of the pep emoting from many of its tunes—so fun to toe-tap or dance to!
Those were some happy times when Bill Monroe (see picture above) founder of the original American art form, Bluegrass Music, stepped onto the Cove Cove grounds with his Bluegrass Boys, to perform on July 28, 1991. For more than 30 years since, everyone from tourists to camp counselors to bluegrass aficionados, could count on traveling to Manitowish Waters to see live bluegrass acts perform from all over the country (view this years Lineup/Schedule and also the Festival Archive to see list of Bill Monroe Bluegrass Boys who have performed on the Cozy Cove stage over the years, a mark of a true Bluegrass Festival).
You are invited to be part of Bluegrass history by attending the longest standing continuous annual Bluegrass Festival in the state of Wisconsin, the 36th Annual Midsummer Bluegrass Festival.
Patrons have also appreciated diversions in musical taste by including a limited number of performances from cousin genres such as jambase, blues, Texas Swing, rock, roots, Americana, acoustic jazz, Cajun and Celtic (press link Lineup/Schedule to see how the Lineup develops). Your suggestions for acts to perform at the festival are always appreciated.
Remember to bring your kayaks, canoes, bicycles or walking shoes. In between sets you may choose an excursion on the paved trail across the street from the festival grounds. There's 45 miles+ of winding trail through the beautiful Northwoods waiting for you. There are also swimming holes and waterfalls to discover within a relatively short drive from the festival.
Visit ManitowishWaters.org for a comprehensive list of fun opportunities in the area.