Past Events
Kevin Prater Band in Concert – March 7, 2017
University Park United Methodist Church
4024 Caruth Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75225
A good group of bluegrass fans enjoyed a special evening of bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music by the Kevin Prater Band at the University Park United Methodist Church on Tuesday night, March 7. The Kevin Prater Band (from eastern Kentucky) bases their sound on strong vocal harmonies. Built around high trios, their style is reminiscent of the classic Seldom Scene and 1970’s Country Gentlemen performances. They are steeped in the tradition of Gospel music and pride themselves on acapella hymns and great gospel songs. The band loves bringing old favorites to life. The band’s influences include the Osborne Brothers, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Red Allen, and The Stanley Brothers.
Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival – October 14-15, 2016
Farmers Branch Historical Park
2540 Farmers Branch Lane, Farmers Branch Texas 75234
The seventh annual Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cook-Off was held on Friday and Saturday, October 14-15, 2016 in the beautiful Farmers Branch Historical Park in Farmers Branch, Texas and was free and open to the public. The festival was presented by the City of Farmers Branch, Texas and Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. Incredible musical performances were provided by The Del McCoury Band with special guest David Grisman, Jerry Douglas presents the Earls of Leicester, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Tim O’Brien, Sister Sadie, the Band of Ruhks, the Gibson Brothers, Gold Heart, Texas & Tennessee featuring John R. Bowman and Steve Huber, and The Herrins. Jerry Douglas, a multi-GRAMMY-winning artist, was honored with the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation’s Bluegrass Star Award on Saturday. More information is available on our News page, and great photos are available in our Photo gallery. (more…)
Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard – July 2 2016
Ballard Avenue, Downtown Wylie, Texas 75098
The Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard was a great success again this year, with the fun all centered around the stage in the center of historic downtown Wylie, Texas. Thousands of folks enjoyed live bluegrass music as well as great food, a spectacular car show, pony rides, arts and crafts, and more – all free of charge. The Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard was capped off by a spectacular pyrotechnics high above the stage, courtesy of the City of Wylie. Check our photo gallery for great event photos.
The musical lineup included Greg Cahill and the Special Consensus, Texas & Tennessee (with John R. Bowman, Steve Huber, Alan Tompkins, and Ron Inscore), Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band, the Downtown String Band, Strings of Faith, (with Alan Tompkins, Gerald Jones, Dale Morris, Jr., and Michael Morrison), and Phil Ferguson & Texas True!
A highlight of the day was when Patience Newsom of Plano, Texas received her beginning banjo through the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program! Foundation president Alan Tompkins presented the banjo to Patience and her father at the Foundation table near the stage. Patience plans to take banjo lessons from Gerald Jones, so we should be seeing her on stage sometime soon!
We were thrilled with Mr. Phil Ferguson of Phil Ferguson & Texas True made a surprise presentation of a beautiful Yamaha 6-string acoustic guitar to the Foundation for use in the Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program. Mr. Ferguson complimented the Foundation for its efforts in making bluegrass musical instruments available to young people through the program, and expressed his hope that a future great guitarist might get his or her start on the donated instrument.
This event was made possible by Wylie Downtown Merchants Association, City of Wylie, North Texas Equestrian Center, the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, and many other fine sponsors. Photos by Bob Compere, Theresa Laney Clayton-Duffee, and Julie Tompkins.
Front Porch Showdown Bluegrass Band Contest – June 4, 2016
Dallas Heritage Village, Dallas, Texas 75215
The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation teamed up with Dallas Heritage Village, a shady, 20-acre tree-lined park with authentic 19th-century pioneer and Victorian homes located near downtown Dallas, for the third annual Front Porch Showdown Bluegrass Band Contest. Bluegrass bands from around Texas each had 15 minutes to take the stage, entertain the crowd, and clear out before the next band stepped in. A total of $1,500 in cash prize money was on the line. Judging was by audience ballot, with a great crowd on hand, and over 160 ballots were cast. The winning bands were:
1st: Bethlehem Bluegrass Band (Hallsville, Texas)
2nd: Salt Creek (Sanger, Texas)
3rd: FM 455 (Prosper, Texas)
4th: Pearl & the Polka Dots (Weatherford, Texas)
5th: Bluestem (Dallas, Texas)
Best Dressed Bluegrass Band: FM 455
Village Favorite: Pearl & the Polka Dots
Families explored the Dallas Heritage Village buildings and exhibits and enjoyed a picnic in the park all afternoon. Bluegrass music rang from the porches and pathways as jammers picked their favorite tunes. It was a day of family-friendly music and fun.
Lone Star Fest – April 22-23, 2016
South Oaks Baptist Church
5925 U. S. Highway 287, Arlington Texas 76017
Lone Star Fest 2016 was held on Friday and Saturday, April 22-23 at South Oaks Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. The festival featured performances by Flatt Lonesome, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Bobby Giles & Music Mountain, Pine Island Station, the Coleman Brothers & The Lone Star Boys, The Herrins, Robertson County Line, and Pearl & The Polka Dots. Bill Monroe’s last banjo player, official Blue Grass Boy Blake Williams, packed the house with his storytelling workshop entitled “Life on the Road with Lester and Bill.” Williams also emceed a portion of the festival and stepped in on banjo with the Coleman Brothers to play a crowd-pleasing rendition of Monroe’s GRAMMY-winning tune Southern Flavor.
Attendees enjoyed a great two-day stage show and a load of jamming all around the South Oaks Baptist Church Activities Building. Many festival participants also attended the guitar, mandolin, banjo, and dobro workshops that were conducted on Saturday by Kenny Smith, Buddy Robertson, Jacob Burleson, Kelsi Robertson, David Hallmark, Michael Stockton, Robert Duke, John Meyer, and Paul Harrigill. Festival attendees Jacob Williams and Dalton Bartlett received instruments through the Play It Forward! free instrument lending program on stage with help from Blue Grass Boy Blake Williams. More photographs are available in our Lone Star Fest photo gallery. Festival photographs courtesy of Bob Compere.
Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival – October 17-18, 2015
Farmers Branch Historical Park
2540 Farmers Branch Lane, Farmers Branch Texas 75234
The sixth annual Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cook-Off was held on Friday and Saturday, October 16-17, 2015 in the beautiful Farmers Branch Historical Park in Farmers Branch, Texas and was free and open to the public. The festival was presented by the City of Farmers Branch, Texas and Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. Incredible musical performances were provided by The Del McCoury Band, Hot Rize featuring Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers, Balsam Range, Lee Ann Womack, The Grascals, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Helen Highwater Stringband, The Hillbenders, the Snyder Family Band, and The Herrins. Mr. Del McCoury, a GRAMMY-winning National Heritage Fellow and member of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame, was honored with the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation’s Bluegrass Star Award on Saturday. More information is available on our News page. (more…)
Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard – June 27 2015
Ballard Avenue, Downtown Wylie, Texas 75098
The Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard was a huge hit, with all the fun centered around the big stage in the center of historic downtown Wylie, Texas! Thousands enjoyed live bluegrass music as well as great food, a spectacular car show, pony rides for the kids, arts and crafts, and more – all free with no ticket required! Check our photo gallery for lots of great event photos.
The musical lineup included Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Texas & Tennessee (with John R. Bowman, Steve Huber, Alan Tompkins, Gerald Jones, and Reggie Rueffer) Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band, In Achordance, Bobby Giles & Music Mountain, and Phil Ferguson & Texas True!
Highlights of the day were when Lottie and Olivia King of Alvarado, Texas came on stage with their musical hero John R. Bowman (formerly of Alison Krauss & Union Station, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and the Boxcars) to receive a mandolin and fiddle through the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program! Foundation president Alan Tompkins presented the instruments to the King sisters as their family watched the festivities.
Later in the evening, Joe Mullins made a surprise presentation of a new Recording King 5-string resonator banjo for use in the Play It Forward! Instrument Lending Program. Mr. Mullins eloquently complimented the Foundation on the good that had been done through the program, and expressed his hope that a future banjo superstar might get his or her start on the donated Recording King banjo. Mr. Mullins noted that Janet Davis Acoustic Music of Bentonville, Arkansas endorses his group and also contributed to the donation.
This event was made possible by Wylie Downtown Merchants Association, City of Wylie, North Texas Equestrian Center, the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, and many other fine supporting sponsors. Photos by Bob Compere.
Front Porch Showdown Bluegrass Band Contest – May 30, 2015
Dallas Heritage Village, Dallas, Texas 75215
The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation teamed up with Dallas Heritage Village, a shady, 20-acre tree-lined park with authentic 19th-century pioneer and Victorian homes and buildings located near downtown Dallas, for the second annual Front Porch Showdown Bluegrass Band Contest. Nine bluegrass bands from all over Texas each had 15 minutes to take the stage, entertain the crowd, and clear out before the next band stepped in. A total of $1,500 in prize money was on the line. Judging was by audience ballot, with a great crowd on hand, and over 160 ballots were cast. The winning bands were:
1st: Bobby Giles & Music Mountain (Fort Worth, Texas)
2nd: Strings of Faith (Plano, Texas)
3rd: Acoustic Sound Hounds (Scurry, Texas)
4th: Bluestem (Dallas, Texas)
5th: Pearl & The Polka Dots (Weatherford, Texas)
The crowd also enjoyed performances by Blue Valley Tradition, Philip Ferguson & Texas True, Pine Island Station, and Runnin’ Ragged. Families explored the Dallas Heritage Village buildings and exhibits and enjoyed a picnic in the park. Bluegrass music rang from the porches and pathways as jammers picked their favorite tunes all afternoon. It was a great day of family-friendly music and fun.
Lone Star Fest 2015 – March 13-14, 2015
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel
1980 N. Central Expressway, Richardson, Texas 75080
Lone Star Fest 2015 was held on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14, 2015 in the beautiful Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Richardson, Texas. Our generous sponsors for the event included Valley Solvents & Chemicals, J&S Body Shop in Frisco, Ironhorse Commercial Construction, and Brian “Doc” Hull. Incredible musical performances were provided by the Suzy Bogguss Trio, the Boxcars, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, Gold Heart, In Achordance, Dueling Hearts, the Sophia Johnson Band, and The Herrins. A crowd was on hand both days to enjoy the incredible music, workshops, and non-stop jamming. Guitar, dobro, banjo, and mandolin workshops were conducted by Adam Steffey, Keith Garrett, Ron Stewart, Gary Hultman, Sophia Johnson, and Luke Munday. More photos from the event are available in our Photo Gallery. Our sincere thanks to Bob Compere for the photographs. You can find out more about Lone Star Fest at the event website, LoneStarFest.com.
Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival – October 17-18, 2014
Farmers Branch Historical Park
2540 Farmers Branch Lane, Farmers Branch Texas 75234
The fifth annual Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cook-Off was held on Friday and Saturday, October 17-18, 2014 in the beautiful Farmers Branch Historical Park in Farmers Branch, Texas and was free and open to the public. The festival was presented by the City of Farmers Branch, Texas and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. Incredible musical performances were provided by Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Balsam Range, the Seldom Scene, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, the Gibson Brothers, the Rambling Rooks, the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Flatt Lonesome, and The Herrins. (more…)
The Spinney Brothers Band in Concert – October 9, 2014
University Park United Methodist Church
4024 Caruth Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75225
We were pleased to share a special evening with the internationally-acclaimed and award-winning Spinney Brothers, and their full band, at the University Park United Methodist Church! According to Neil Rosenburg of Memorial University, “The heart of the Spinney Brothers’ music lies in their duet singing that is as tight as you’ll find in bluegrass today.” Natives of the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada, the Spinney Brothers believe in freshness and excitement in traditional bluegrass music. Our venue was the beautiful Fellowship Hall of University Park United Methodist Church. Our thanks to the Spinney Brothers and University Park UMC for a great evening of international bluegrass!
Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard – July 5 2014
Ballard Avenue, Downtown Wylie, Texas 75098
The Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard was a huge hit, with all the fun centered around the big stage in the center of historic downtown Wylie, Texas! Thousands enjoyed live bluegrass music as well as a car show, pony rides, arts and crafts, and more, all completely free!
The band lineup included Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass, Texas & Tennessee (Steve Huber, Nate Lee, Alan Tompkins, Gerald Jones, and GRAMMY-winner Brad Davis) Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band, the Purple Hulls with guest bassist Alan Tompkins, Phil Ferguson & Texas True, and Nickelville Road! This event was made possible by Wylie Downtown Merchants Association, City of Wylie, Sears Home Appliance Showroom of Murphy, North Texas Equestrian Center, Farmers Electric Cooperative, and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. Photos by Craig Kelly.
Front Porch Showdown Bluegrass Band Contest – May 31, 2014
Dallas Heritage Village, Dallas, Texas 75215
The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation today teamed up with the Dallas Heritage Village, a shady, 20-acre tree-lined park with authentic 19th-century pioneer and Victorian homes and commercial buildings located in Dallas, for the first-ever Front Porch Showdown Bluegrass Band Contest and Show. Nine bluegrass bands from Texas and Louisiana each had 15 minutes to take the stage, entertain the crowd, and clear out before the next band stepped in. A total of $1,100 in prize money was on the line. Judging was by audience ballot, with a great crowd on hand, and over 250 ballots were cast. The winning bands were:
1st: In Achordance (Corpus Christi, Texas)
2nd: Bobby Giles & Music Mountain (Amarillo, Texas)
3rd: Nickelville Road (Wylie, Texas)
4th: Lonesome Ridge (Tullos, Louisiana)
The crowd also enjoyed performances by the Trinity River Mountain Boys, Bluestem, Sowell Family Pickers, Sabine River Bend, and Phil Ferguson & Texas True. At the conclusion of the bluegrass band contest, the amazing Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band expertly performed a set of contemporary and classic tunes in the acoustic-music style. Sgt Pepper’s received a standing ovation at the close of their set from a very appreciative audience! (more…)
A Special Evening with the Claire Lynch Band – May 9, 2014
Allen Heights Baptist Church
1309 E. Main Street, Allen, Texas 75002
A good time was had by all as we shared a special evening with reigning IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Claire Lynch, and her amazing band, at the Allen Heights Baptist Church! To quote Eric Thom, “If you’ve never heard Claire Lynch sing, your life’s not quite complete. For never was there a sweeter sound – never more fair from any songbird’s trill – than her voice. What she can do to a musical story has helped transform the art of bluegrass music. A true original, she’s a joy to behold and as deep, down soulful as can be.”
The band was terrific, with bassist Todd Phillips sitting in while Mark Schatz is on tour with Nickel Creek. We had a great crowd, and enjoyed wonderful hospitality by the folks at Allen Heights Baptist Church.
Red Wine in Concert – April 10, 2014
University Park United Methodist Church
4024 Caruth Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75225
Italian bluegrass band Red Wine has a style that embraces traditional and contemporary bluegrass, country, gospel, and swing, and they put on a great show for us at the University Park United Methodist Church in University Park, Texas on Thursday night, April 10, 2014. The band has played all over Europe and has appeared at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Fran, Wintergrass, Uncle Pen’s Memorial Festival in Bean Blossom, Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival in Guthrie, Walnut Valley in Winfield, and the Bluegrass & Chili Festival in Claremore. They made a lot of new fans in Texas on Thursday night, and went on to do the same at Old Settler’s Music Festival in Austin the next day!