Downtown Frankfort was filled with the sounds of banjos, fiddles and mandolins as the 16th annual Frankfort Bluegrass Festival welcomed award-winning musicians and music lovers for a weekend of free entertainment July 11-12.
The two-day festival featured 40 performances by 15 bands on three stages, drawing visitors to the village’s historic downtown for nationally recognized acts, hometown favorites and family-friendly fun.
“We are very proud to host the Bluegrass Festival in our beautiful downtown and welcome visitors and music lovers from all over,” said Steve Haberichter, a founding member of the festival’s all-volunteer bluegrass committee. “Our committee has done an amazing job of assembling such talented performers and creating a family-friendly event.”
What began as a community celebration of bluegrass has grown into an internationally recognized festival, attracting Grammy Award winners, legendary performers and musicians from around the world while remaining free to the public.
“The music captures the heart of American music, and we are continually impressed by the outstanding musicianship brought to all three stages,” Haberichter said.
Festivalgoers spent the weekend moving between performances at Briedert Green, Prairie Park and the Old Plank Trail Stage, where nationally acclaimed acts including the Dan Tyminski Band, Nick Dumas & Branchline, Trey Hensley Band, The Burnett Sisters Band and Darin & Brooke Aldridge shared the spotlight with regional favorites Fox Crossing Stringband, Special Consensus and The Grateful String Band.
The festival continued its partnership with the International Bluegrass Music Association for the third consecutive year through the organization’s International Band Performance Grant, bringing The Often Herd of Northern England to Frankfort. The quartet performed four sets over the weekend, introducing audiences to its energetic blend of traditional bluegrass, tight harmonies and contemporary influences.
Formed on the Isle of Mull in 2014, The Often Herd has built a strong following throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. The band earned the title of Best European Bluegrass Band at France’s La Roche Bluegrass Festival in 2018 and later appeared as an official showcase artist during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass conference. Their debut album, Where the Big Lamp Shines, further established the group as one of Europe’s rising bluegrass acts.
“The Often Herd have established themselves as a stand-out band in the vibrant European bluegrass scene, with a growing fan base across the continent,” Christopher Howard-Williams, an IBMA board member and founder of Bluegrass in La Roche, said in a statement. “I am delighted that they are receiving this grant, and I’m excited to see the reception they get from American bluegrass fans.”
Amanda Thompson, a founding member of Frankfort’s all-volunteer bluegrass committee, said welcoming the IBMA International Band Performance Grant recipients has become one of the festival’s proudest traditions.
“For the third straight year we’ve been honored to host the IBMA International Band Grant winners, and these young globetrotters relish the chance to perform for the Frankfort audiences,” Thompson said.
The Frankfort Bluegrass Festival previously earned the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Event of the Year award, recognition that has helped establish the village as a destination on the international bluegrass circuit.
Away from the stages, Prairie Park buzzed with activity as children made crafts, played games and learned about bluegrass music in the festival’s Kids Activity Area. Many stopped by the Down Home Guitar tent, where they had the chance to pick up a guitar, banjo or mandolin and try the instruments themselves.
“Our committee works year-round to bring two days of superior bluegrass talent to the public free,” Haberichter said.
“As always, our mission is to promote the preservation and education of bluegrass music, a true traditional American musical art form, in beautiful historic downtown Frankfort,” Haberichter said.
