WELCOME
Welcome to the official web site of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA), a 501c3 nonprofit, volunteer-based organization serving Minnesota and the Midwest. Our mission is to preserve and promote bluegrass and old-time string band music in Minnesota. Our activities include four annual festivals, plus numerous concerts, dances, jam sessions, workshops, educational programs, and a monthly magazine called Inside Bluegrass. Our events and programs keep people who love to play and listen to traditional acoustic music busy all year around throughout the state of Minnesota. Check out our calendar of events for a full list of what is coming up.
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The Harvest Jam Acoustic Music Experience
Friday through Sunday, November 20-22, 2009 at the Marriott Minneapolis West Hotel. Three days of concerts, jam sessions, workshops, contests, vendors, and fun — featuring Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands, The Whistlepigs, Pert' Near Sandstone, The Mill City Grinders, Bob & Lynn Dixon, Due North, Hello Stranger, and Kip's Live. Get a room and make it a stay-cation. You won't want to leave this acoustic music experience.
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The Lonely Pines Concert Series will be featuring four time IBMA award nominees Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice plus the three time SPBGMA Entertainers of the Year Williams & Clark Expedition. Concerts will be in Maple Lake on February 12, Bemidji on February 13, Stillwater on February 14, Mankato on March 19, Duluth on March 20 (part of a weekend long "Cabin Fever Reliever" festival), and in Savage on March 21.
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The Minnesota Bluegrass Community Concert Series has just been announced and tickets are on sale now. The Mark Kreitzer Band will be in Nisswa on February 19, New York Mills on February 20, and Grand Rapids on February 21. Duck For The Oyster will be featured in a combination concert and dance in fergus Falls on April 9 and East Grand Forks on April 10. The Whistlepigs will be in Moose Lake on April 15, Nisswa on April 16, Bemidji on April 17, and Grand Rapids on April 18. |
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The Tom O'Neil Endowment Fundaiser will be held Friday and Saturday January 29th & 30th at Dulono's in Minneapolis with six groups performing each night. Check out our entire calendar of events for more information.
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recent events...
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The judges have spoken and the results are in for the 2009 Minnesota Flatpicking Guitar & Duet Championships, held at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, September 4 (Duets) and Saturday, September 5 (Guitars). Congratulations to Barb Yotter & Kelton Parrish for winning the Duet Championship and taking home the pair of “Baby Taylor” travel guitars from guitarrodeo.com. Clint Birtzer is our new State Champion Flatpicking Guitarist and the proud owner of a hand-built “Slope D” Dreadnought Guitar by David Vincent Guitars. For a list of all the 2009 winners, see the results page. |
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It was our 30th Anniversary! The Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival took place August 6-9, 2009 at El Rancho Manana. The festival featured the legendary JD Crowe & The New South on Thursday, the 2008 Entertainers of the Year Dailey & Vincent on Friday, and the 2007 & 2006 Entertainers of the Year The Grascals on Saturday — four days and nights of music on multple stages, great national and regional bands, workshops and showcases. You can see pictures from the festival on our photographers website. Once on the website, go to galleries and select a day of the festival to view the pictures. Next year's festival will be August 12-15, 2010 with Blue Highway, The Gibson Brothers, Rarely Herd, and many more. |
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Funding for Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Assocation events is provided in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and private funders. |
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