2026 Festival Schedule
Thursday, July 23rd
Opening Night Performances
Outdoor Main and Side Stages or Inside Cozy Cove
For Artists' Pics & Bios, click plus (+) sign to the right on their time/listing box.
Chris Skinner might be one of the top 10 Chapman Stick players in the world. Enjoy the listening experience that only the Chapman Stick can provide.
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.
To be announced...
To be announced...
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.
To be announced...
To be announced...
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.
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.
Friday, July 24th
Chris Skinner might be one of the top 10 Chapman Stick players in the world. Enjoy the listening experience that only the Chapman Stick can provide.
Open to anyone who wants to get on stage.
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.
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!
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!
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!”
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.
4:15 PM Bluegrass Institute of the Northwoods Intermission
My Brother’s Keeper, Meet & Greet Q & A
(Please have your thought-out questions ready and/or email them ahead of time)
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!
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.
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!
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!”
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!
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.
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!”
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!
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!
Saturday, July 25th
Chris Skinner might be one of the top 10 Chapman Stick players in the world. Enjoy the listening experience that only the Chapman Stick can provide.
Open to anyone who wants to get on stage.
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.
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!
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!
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!”
To be announced...
4:15 PM Bluegrass Institute of the Northwoods
The Burnett Sisters Band, Meet & Greet Q & A
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.
5:00 PM Bluegrass Institute of the Northwoods
The Lonesome River Band, Meet & Greet Q & A
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!
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!
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!”
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!
To be announced...
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!”
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!
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!
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!
Sunday, July 26th - Gospel Hours
Chris Skinner might be one of the top 10 Chapman Stick players in the world. Enjoy the listening experience that only the Chapman Stick can provide.
Open to anyone who wants to get on stage.
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.