Announcements
2026 Special Guest The Mayberry Deputy
The Darling Family played Bluegrass Music on the Andy Griffin TV Show, and many of the Darlings were members of The Dillards, a California based band that put a significant stamp on Bluegrass Music. Also endearing about the TV Show was the spirit of Mayberry and the Deputy Barney Fife character.
David Browning has brought The Mayberry Deputy character alive at over 5,000 appearances covering a 40-year span. Audiences enjoy watching the Deputy patrol, mingle, joke around, pass out “citations” (autographed pictures) and perform standup routine/speech.
Maggie Peterson, Actor & “Charlene Darling” on “The Andy Griffith Show” had this to say: David “…truly captures the spirit of Mayberry, first with humor, then with a tug on your heartstrings. He brings his own essential honesty and understanding to the beloved Barney Fife character in a manner that compliments without compromising the original.”
On Saturday of this year’s festival, people are likely to be entertained and enlightened by the Mayberry Deputy character because it reminds them of a time gone by. “We live in a world where people are searching for their own Mayberry” Browning says, “I value this character for what it gives to people today…a laugh, a lift and memories.”
2026 Momentum Band The Burnett Sisters Band
The Burnett Sisters Band brings youthful energy and modern flair to every performance while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. To assign a single genre to The Burnett Sisters Band would be to oversimplify the breadth of their musical influences. At a typical show, an old-time fiddle tune might be followed by a George Jones classic, a driving bluegrass standard, or a soaring gospel number. Their on-stage chemistry is unmistakable—the kind only close siblings can share—revealed through exchanged glances, spontaneous smiles, superb harmonies and musicianship, that are both powerful and undeniable.
Beyond the stage, the sisters are deeply committed to keeping traditional music alive as instructors with the Watauga Junior Appalachian Musicians program and the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies program at Eastern Tennessee State University. Our audience will have an opportunity to hear them articulate their knowledge at their scheduled Meet & Greet Q & A. So have your questions ready.
To summarize, Daniel Tepper, North Cascades Bluegrass Festival, Bellingham, Washington offers his impression: “If ever there was a “sure thing”, the Burnett Sisters are it! With harmonies as pure as a mountain stream and enough musical talent to win awards, the Burnett Sisters are definitely the “real deal.” From an artistic and enjoyment standpoint, their show was a 10 out of 10 for us!”
2026 Featured Duo Barley Jacks: Brian Wicklund & Mike Cramer
Brian Wicklund and Mike Cramer, members of the Minnesota-based Barley Jacks, will perform as a duo at this year’s Midsummer Bluegrass Festival. As a 2025 Minnesota Music Hall of Fame Inductee and author of bestselling books American Fiddle Method, Brian’s list of elite credentials is quite extensive. Brian Wicklund is widely regarded among the top bluegrass fiddle performers and teachers in the country. As bandleader of the Minnesota-based Barley Jacks, he also showcases his formidable talents as mandolinist and songwriter.
Mike Cramer is a flat-picking guitar champion, author and jazz phenom. As the duo performs, one immediately notices how darn good Brian and Mike are. Then you see how much fun they have together. And these guys really play! Every show is different. Every song is unique. Come and watch them play.
2026 Headliner The Lonesome River Band
The Lonesome River is one of the most respected names in bluegrass music with nearly a 40-year history. Five-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Banjo Player of the Year, and winner of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, Sammy Shelor, leads the group and with his band will lead a jam session after their 11 PM performance Friday, inside the Cozy Cove. All jammers are welcome to participate!
2026 Headliner My Brother's Keeper
My Brother's Keeper is an award winning, contemporary bluegrass band from Cincinnati, Ohio. John Cowan of New Grass Revival fame, summed up his experience about them: "Amazing vocals, stellar playing, tremendous songs, and superlative young human beings." My Brother's Keeper will lead a jam session after their Saturday midnight set, inside the Cozy Cove. All jammers are welcome to participate!
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 37th 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.