Past Events
Use for events that have already occurred.
2025 Texas State Championship Guitar and Banjo Contest Winners Crowned
August 2, 2025
The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation was excited to present the 2025 Texas State Championship Guitar and Banjo Contests on August 2, 2025 in conjunction with the 2025 Farmers Branch Bluegrass Festival. Photos are available in our gallery.
The Championships were held at the DoubleTree Hotel near the Galleria in Farmers Branch and were sponsored in part by the City of Farmers Branch Texas, Central Texas Bluegrass Association, Southwest Bluegrass Club, Paluxy River Bluegrass Association, Bay Area Bluegrass Association, J&S Body Shop, Camp Bluegrass, and Huber Banjos.
The top three finishers in each contest received cash prizes of $500, $250, and $100, along with commemorative plaques and other items donated by contest sponsors. Both contests had a strong field of contestants, and the winners on each instrument were as follows:
Guitar (1st): John-Samuel May (Waco, Texas)
Guitar (2nd): Jed Clark (Nashville, Tennessee)
Guitar (3rd): Scott Owen (Garland, Texas)
Banjo (1st): Luke Lastelick (Dallas, Texas)
Banjo (2nd): Read Horton (Savoy, Texas)
Banjo (3rd): Kalip Cole (Deville, Louisiana)
We were thankful to host so many excellent pickers here in Texas and hope for another great round of contests next year. The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation thanks all the contestants, volunteer staffers, sponsors, and fine folks in attendance who made this Championship successful.
Nu-Blu In Concert
Friday March 18, 2022 at 7:15p
University Park United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall (across from Smith Park)
4024 Caruth Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75225
A good crowd gathered for a special night of acoustic music with Nu-Blu in the Fellowship Hall of University Park United Methodist Church on Friday, March 18 2022.
North Carolina-based Nu-Blu established themselves as one of the top roots-music acts in the industry, delivering a set of songs that range from the melancholy to the exuberant. They are working to bring bluegrass music to the masses, serving as the permanent host of nationally-syndicated TV show “Bluegrass Ridge,” which airs in 160 million homes worldwide.
Hailing from Siler City North Carolina, Nu-Blu’s heart and soul is husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Carolyn Routh. Carolyn’s soprano is one of the band’s defining traits. Daniel is the group’s backbone, a multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist who also handles band management. Austin Hefflefinger on banjo and Justin Harrison on mandolin round out the quartet’s warm, layered, Appalachian sound.
A Special Evening with David Grier
November 24, 2021 at 7:30p
University Park United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
4024 Caruth Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75225
A nice crowd joined us for a special show with David Grier on Tuesday night, Nov. 24, 2021. David provided an entertaining evening of amazing guitar work, vocals, and stories from the road.
Grier began playing guitar at age six and is now regarded as one of the premier acoustic guitarists in the world, along with his early influences – Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and family friend Clarence White. He was ecognized by Acoustic Guitar Magazine in 2000 as one of the Artists of the Decade and has been named Guitar Player of the Year three times by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Bluegrass Saturday Night – Nov. 13 2021
Featuring Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
McKinney Performing Arts Center
111 N. Tennessee Street, McKinney, Texas 75069
A sold-out crowd was on hand for our Bluegrass Saturday Night 2021 in historic downtown McKinney Texas, the final performance ever in Texas by GRAMMY-nominated Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member Doyle Lawson is one of the most important architects of the bluegrass genre. Highly awarded and recognized over the course of his impressive 58-year career, Lawson is one of the most respected and revered performers in bluegrass music.
Many consider Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver as the “Ivy League” of bluegrass, with Lawson as the dean of students; no other band leader has mentored more musicians who have gone on to become major players in the bluegrass industry and beyond. His show included a varied array of many important tunes from his Quicksilver years.
Opening the show for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver were the “At The Very Least” banjo brothers The Gerald Jones and Alan Tompkins, who provided a quick twin-banjo opening for the capacity crowd. Pictures from the show are in our Special Events Photo Gallery. This event was funded in part by a grant from the City of McKinney Arts Commission, with thanks from the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. Photos courtesy of Julie Tucker, Alan Tompkins, and Kitty Antonsen.
Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard – June 26 2021
Wylie Olde City Park, 112 S. Ballard Ave., Wylie, Texas 75098
This year was our EIGHTH year for the Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard and it was a fine day of live bluegrass music on the big stage in Olde City Park in downtown Wylie Texas. After a missed year of fun and social activity in 2020, folks were more than ready to get out and enjoy the music and jamming. It was a great day of food, fun, live bluegrass music, a record-setting car show, and more – all free of charge thanks to our sponsors like Blue Star Plumbing, Aire Texas, and the Credit Union of Texas. Check our photo gallery for more event photos.
The musical lineup included the Becky Buller Band, the Farm Hands, Randy Collier & Grassland, Salt Creek, Bobby Giles & Texas Gales, and the Downtown String Band.
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 Nathaniel Dalzell and Alan Tompkins.
Bluegrass Saturday Night – Nov. 14 2020
Featuring Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
McKinney Performing Arts Center
111 N. Tennessee Street, McKinney, Texas 75069
An enthusiastic (and socially-distanced COVID-compliant 25% capacity) crowd was on hand for our Bluegrass Saturday Night 2020 in historic downtown McKinney Texas, for an outstanding performance by 2020 GRAMMY winner Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. According to the Boston Globe, “it’s obvious Michael was destined to become one of bluegrass music’s contemporary stars,” and the band certainly did not disappoint!
Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill says “Michael plays fearlessly, and it’s intoxicating to play with him because he makes you play fearlessly! He takes no prisoners, but he plays with restraint and a soul. He plays without abandon.” Michael Cleveland is IBMA’s most awarded Fiddle Player of the Year with 12 wins, has won Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year six times, and fronts the 6-time IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year. Michael’s Flamekeeper band included members Josh Richards (guitar), Nathan Livers (mandolin), Jasiah Shrode (banjo), and Chris Douglas (bass).
This event was funded in part by a generous grant from the City of McKinney Arts Commission, with thanks from the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation.
Bluegrass Saturday Night – Nov. 16 2019
Featuring Kenny & Amanda Smith Band and Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band
with special guest Downtown String Band
McKinney Performing Arts Center
111 N. Tennessee Street, McKinney, Texas 75069
A great crowd was on hand for our Bluegrass Saturday Night in historic downtown McKinney Texas. The show featured the GRAMMY-nominated Kenny & Amanda Smith Band and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band, along with special guest Downtown String Band. Pictures from the show are in our Special Events Photo Gallery. This event was funded in part by a grant from the City of McKinney Arts Commission, with thanks from the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation.
Winners of the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year award, the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band combines gutsy, heartfelt vocals and brilliant instrumental talents to create one of the most compelling sounds in bluegrass music today. Kenny, a two-time IBMA Guitarist of the Year, is considered one of the most influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. Amanda is a winner of the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year award and delivers some of the most soulful vocals in bluegrass today.
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Bluegrass Band offered amazing musicianship and vocals on innovative bluegrass interpretations of Beatles songs like Eleanor Rigby, Come Together, Back in the USSR, Blackbird, and more. The Downtown String Band highlighted the bluegrass and traditional music of Gerald Jones, Mike Jump, Michael Morrison, and Alan Tompkins.
About McKinney Performing Arts Center
This was the third production by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation at the McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC), the multi-purpose theater in the historic Collin County Courthouse. MPAC is the center of the McKinney, Texas historic district and is surrounded by a variety of restaurants and boutiques.
Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival – October 18-19, 2019
Farmers Branch Historical Park
2540 Farmers Branch Lane, Farmers Branch Texas 75234
The tenth annual Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival was held on Friday and Saturday, October 18-19, 2019 in the beautiful Farmers Branch Historical Park in Farmers Branch, Texas. The festival was presented by the City of Farmers Branch and Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. Incredible musical performances were provided by the Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush Band, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, the Travelin’ McCourys, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Kruger Brothers & Dallas Symphony Orchestra Quartet, Sierra Hull & Justin Moses, Chatham County Line, Texas & Tennessee featuring John R. Bowman and Steve Huber, and the Purple Hulls. Photos are available in our Photo gallery.
Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard – June 29 2019
Wylie Olde City Park, 112 S. Ballard Ave., Wylie, Texas 75098
This year was our SEVENTH big year for the Wylie Jubilee – Bluegrass on Ballard and it was a great day of music happening on the big stage in Olde City Park in historic downtown Wylie, Texas. A great crowd was building early in the day until we were interrupted by a large thunderstorm that shut things down on the main stage from about 4:30p-7:30p. Fortunately, many folks stuck around under the tents in the park and got to enjoy a short acoustic set by Breaking Grass under the tents, with more Breaking Grass on the main stage, and a big finale by Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band on the big stage! It was a great day of food, fun, live bluegrass music, a spectacular car show, and more – all free of charge. Check our photo gallery for great event photos.
The musical lineup included Breaking Grass, Texas & Tennessee, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band, Salt Creek, Bobby Giles & Texas Gales, and the Herrins Bluegrass Band.
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 Craig Kelly and Nathaniel Dalzell.
A Special Evening with Tim May & Steve Smith
Friday February 22, 2019 at 7:15p
University Park United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
4024 Caruth Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75225
A great crowd of folks joined us for a special evening of music with Steve Smith & Tim May on Friday night, Feb. 22 2019, including a whole busload of folks from Temple Baptist Church in Flower Mound, Texas. Mandolinist/vocalist Steve Smith and Nashville guitarist/vocalist Tim May brought us an evening of original, traditional, and swing music. These two have collaborated in studio and on stages nationwide, and their show featured tight vocals and guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin, and twin mandolin works in a broad range of styles. “The” Gerald Jones even stepped in to provide banjo accompaniment and his usual comic relief!
Cuts from Tim & Steve’s latest record, a tribute to the music of the Carter Family, were featured. The duet album includes a swing version of Little Darlin’ Pal of Mine and a haunting acapella duet of Sailor Boy. Over 250 songs were considered for the album, and the duo narrowed the selection down to their eight favorites. Our thanks to Tim and Steve for an evening of terrific acoustic music.
