Announcements
34th Annual MidSummer Bluegrass Headliners
The Tim O'Brien Band
Tim O’Brien is a Grammy Award Winning Singer/Songwriter who became a leading figure in the world of contemporary or progressive bluegrass—most notably in the quartet Hot Rize, which toured nationally over its 40-year tenure.
Seth Mulder & Midnight Run
Hailing from Gatlinburg, Tennessee where they are the house band for the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery, their high-energy style of Bluegrass has taken them worldwide, including festivals across the United States, Canada and multiple European tours.
The Mark Hembree Band
Mark Hembree was a co-founder of the Nashville Bluegrass Band and author of the book: “On The Bus With Bill Monroe.“ His 5 year tenure as a Bluegrass Boy with Bill Monroe gives this year’s Festival an extra stamp of Bluegrass authenticity.
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 (press link Festival Info to see list of Bill Monroe Bluegrass Boys who have performed here 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 34th 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.
Don't forget 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.