Bean Blossom, Indiana (June 17, 2024) - The 59th Annual Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival commenced on Wednesday, June 12th in Bean Blossom, Indiana with the traditional Bean Supper and local entertainment including a white-hot set from Derek Dillman and friends that set the bar high for the weekend. Over 500 people were served at the dinner. Owner Rex Voils said that he'd never seen so many people at the Wednesday evening open jam, and there were even several encores. The vibe was positive and…

For thoroughbred racing, it’s the Kentucky Derby. Golf has the Masters. The greatest spectacle in racing? The Indianapolis
500.

"Traditional bluegrass? That’s Bean Blossom.
Only a handful of bluegrass festivals have accomplished as
much and lasted so long to have achieved first-name status among
the bluegrass and old-time country faithful. Names like Galax, Winfield, and Telluride. To hear each, condensed to its geographic essence, evokes instantaneous recognition and perspective in bluegrass fans. Against that…

5 Must-Visit American Bluegrass Festivals - BY JAY MCDOWELL - AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE
A bluegrass festival can be as small as a few campsites with some live music provided by the campers themselves, or it can attract 50,000 people gathered at multiple stages featuring some of the best musicians in the world. Often, there are workshops where the musicians talk about their instrument and how they approach it. It’s a very low-key atmosphere where festival attendees can interact with the musicians. Some of…

First, let’s get through the obvious:

If you have never attended any music festival at the Bill Monroe Music Park (BMMP) in Beanblossom, Indiana, do so soon. The main stage is hallowed by both bluegrass and country music legends. It is a place that all fans of live music need to make a pilgrimage to visit.

Hearing Sam Bush on that stage blowing up the hot summer night at the Americana Bean Jamboree (ABJ) was a real treat. If you haven’t seen Sam Bush live, shame, shame and get it done. He talked about…

Starting Bluegrass 45 was initially “just a fun thing to do”, Otsuka says, with their early performances taking place at a coffeehouse called Lost City in Kobe. Otsuka and the band recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first US tour, at Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom Festival in Indiana.

“We left Japan on 17 June 1971, and we got into Bean Blossom the next day,” says Otsuka. “By the second day, we were on stage.” He recalls seeing Ralph Stanley, whom the band had seen play in Japan only a month…

BEAN BLOSSOM, Ind. (AP) — A rustic southern Indiana music park founded by bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe is getting a state historical marker celebrating its musical heritage.

The Indiana Historical Bureau will dedicate the marker June 7 outside Bill Monroe's Memorial Music Park and Campground at Brown County's Bean Blossom village.

The marker titled "Brown County Bluegrass Music" will pay homage to bluegrass music's importance in Indiana. The dedication will be followed by a jam of Monroe's music.

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