How the Bluegrass Music Festival Season Saved Bluegrass Music

Summergrass takes place in August, here in San Diego.

Have you ever wondered why bluegrass music is not readily available on terrestrial radio, or why it is so prominent in festivals? Here’s the short answer.

Bluegrass music originated in the 1940s with the founding of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys by Bill Monroe, who is considered the father of bluegrass music. Flatt and Scruggs and other pioneers soon joined in. (Note that Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs were part of the original Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys when they broke away to form Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys in 1948. Bill Monroe harbored bitterness for many years against his bandmates for breaking away.)

During this early era in the late 1940s and 1950s bluegrass music was made popular by The Bluegrass Boys, Flatt and Scruggs, and a handful of other pioneers on AM radio, early TV shows of the time, and by live performances. In the 1950s, with the meteoric rise of Elvis Presley and other early rock ‘n’ roll stars, by the end of the decade bluegrass music was all but pushed to the side from the airwaves. While still popular among live audiences, it was hard for bands of the time to economically sustain themselves. For example, it was during this time period that Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys also performed in baseball games to help make ends meet. They would perform a concert, put down their musical instruments, and take up baseball gloves!

Then, in 1961, Bill Clifton organized the first bluegrass-only music event. Carlton Haney followed with the first official bluegrass festival in 1967 at Bean Blossom, Indiana. These early festivals proved so popular that the bluegrass festival season was born and took off giving new life to the music and a new source of gigs and revenue to performing bands. Bluegrass music festivals are now a key sustaining element essential to performing bands trying to make a living.

Philly & the Cheesesteaks will be one of four top bands at Bluegrass Day at the Fair.

Here in California multi-day festivals include Summergrass here in San Diego, Huck Finn in the L.A. area, CBA’s Father’s Day Festival in Grass Valley, and lots of other smaller festivals. The festival season also extends extensively through Appalachia, New England, and the Midwest. One can find festivals in every part of the US and in Europe, Japan, South America, and elsewhere. It is not an exaggeration to say that bluegrass festivals saved bluegrass music. Our music is still rarely on terrestrial radio, but is alive and doing well in the extensive festival circuit. Thanks Bill Clifton and Carlton Haney for your vision!

If you’ve never been to a bluegrass music festival, give it a try. Summergrass is coming August 15-17 and it’s right here in Vista. Great music, lots of jamming, kids activities, workshops, camping, and good food. Read all about it here: https://summergrass.net/

Bluegrass Day at the Fair. July 5 from 11am-5pm will be Bluegrass Day at the Del Mar Fair. The action will be on the Avenue Stage and will include concerts by top bands. Philly and the Cheesesteaks will play at 11:15; Muddy Mountain West will be on stage at 12:15; Sunnyside Strings at 3; and Gone Tomorrow will close the event at 4. In between there will be a demonstration by Emma’s Gut Bucket Band at 1:15, and a band scramble at 2. This would be a great day to come to the fair. Be sure to stop by the Avenue Stage, say hello, and enjoy the action.