About the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association

Mission, Vision & Values of MBOTMA

MISSION

To preserve and promote bluegrass and old-time stringband music in and around the state of Minnesota, honoring tradition and encouraging innovation.

VISION

MBOTMA invites people to find a sense of belonging through experiencing, teaching, learning and participating in the creation of Bluegrass and Old-Time Music as part of a respectful and collaborative community.

VALUES
MBOTMA believes

That the love of Bluegrass & Old-Time Music builds communities across generations, backgrounds, abilities, genders, orientations, identities, faiths and cultures
That enjoyment of the music adds to our collective humanity
That participation in the creation of the music unlocks creativity and empathy
That involvement in passing down the music not only preserves a unique art form, but also builds a more resilient and inclusive community

History of MBOTMA

September 1975: First Newsletter

In September of 1975, bass player Tom O’Neill circulated a proposal to a group of people whose names had been gleaned from the personal address books of his bluegrass and old-time music playing friends including Ron Colby of the Platte Valley Boys. He sent out a preliminary newsletter announcing The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA), based on the San Diego Bluegrass Club and its newsletter format. MBOTMA got started with its first official newsletter, mailed to a new membership of 40, that October.

The newsletter has been published in one form or another ever since, currently called Minnesota Bluegrass Magazine, and is still distributed 11 times a year to nearly 1,000 subscribing members. A complete archive of the publication is here.

August 1976: Incorporation

During the first year there was a lot to do but the Association’s membership grew steadily and in August of 1976 MBOTMA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Minnesota. During the first three years membership grew to over 400 and many events were put on to try to raise money for the fledgling organization.

1980: First Festivals

The organization introduced its first three-day festival at Wildwood Campground in Taylor’s Falls (MN) in August 1980. This event would eventually become today’s Minnesota Bluegrass August Festival, now located near St Cloud (MN). 1980 was also the same year MBOTMA held the very first “Buy, Sell, Swap Meet,” which would develop into the Minnesota Bluegrass Winter Weekend, held annually the first weekend in March at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Plymouth (now the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West Hotel, where the event continues to this day).

1988: Move to Zimmerman and Kickoff

In 1988, the August Festival moved to Camp in the Woods Resort, near Zimmerman (MN). By the second year at this location volunteers had constructed a permanent stage facility that they were proud of, and over the years countless bands enjoyed performing there to capacity audiences.

The Minnesota Bluegrass Homegrown Kickoff was started in June 1993 at the same venue and provided a forum for MBOTMA Member Bands to show off their talent. This festival also flourished, but in 2001 Camp In The Woods was sold to a housing developer, the stage that the volunteers had worked so hard on needed to be abandoned, and a larger location with a long-range future was sought.

2002: El Rancho Mañana

The goal of moving the two summer festivals to a new home was realized in 2002 with a move to El Rancho Mañana Campground and Riding Stables located in the rolling hills of central Minnesota west of St. Cloud. The venue is large enough to accommodate increased interest in bluegrass and old-time music and offers amenities such as horseback riding and a swimming beach. In 2025, a new 10-year lease was signed, and the June and August Festivals will continue in this beloved space for years to come.

Volunteers designed and contributed much of the labor to build a new concert area and stage, much larger then the old one. It is now considered one of the Midwest’s most beautiful outdoor festival grounds.

Harvest/ Fall Jam & Cabin Fever

In recent years two more indoor festivals were added to the annual calendar. The Minnesota Bluegrass Fall Jam was first celebrated in 2006, is a multi-day festival featuring concerts, band development workshops and jamming in Minneapolis in the fall. The event was originally called Harvest Jam, and was held at a Marriott hotel in Minnetonka. The event has since moved to the Crowne Plaza, the same venue as Winter Weekend.

A late winter gathering was added to the annual calendar in 2011 – Minnesota Bluegrass Cabin Fever, which was held in early April in Duluth, but that has been set aside since the COVID pandemic.

Grass Seeds Academy

MBOTMA also runs the Grass Seeds Academy every March during Winter Weekend. This program, started in 2004, brings young bluegrass enthusiasts together to learn to play in bands, to sing harmony, to solo on their instruments and more. Over 600 kids have participated in the program. A number of past participants have gone on to careers in bluegrass music, and have graced stages across the country.

MBOTMA also sponsors or hosts various jam sessions, educational programs, and helps support many events presented by other organizations or its member bands.

50th Anniversary

MBOTMA is marking its 50th anniversary in 2025. Its monthly publication of the Minnesota Bluegrass Magazine has been voted “Best Newsletter” by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) twice. The International Bluegrass Music Association nominated the Minnesota Bluegrass August Festival “Event of the Year” in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2015 — and bluegrass and old-time music have never been better here in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest!

Showman & Coole

Through twenty-five years and thousands of shows together in bands such as The Foggy Hogtown Boys and The Lonesome Ace Stringband, John Showman and Chris Coole have developed a deep and instinctual musical bond. Their music lurks in a truly unique space that is somewhere on the outskirts of old-time, bluegrass, and folk. The songs of John Hartford, Hank Williams, Dock Boggs, and The Band share space with the fiddle tunes of Eck Robertson and Ed Haley. The duo’s original songs and tunes take in all these vistas and paint something both personal and timely.

They have performed across North America and Europe at festivals such as Merlefest, Rockygrass, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Mariposa, Wintergrass, Gooikroots, and The John Hartford Memorial Festival. In 2022, the duo released two albums; “ Afield” a collection of old-time fiddle tunes, and “Much Further Out than Inevitable – A Tribute to Some Music of John Hartford.”

“John Showman has made his mark as “one of the very best and most influential fiddle players in Canada” (Steve Pritchard, CIUT 89.5 FM).

“Renowned for his clawhammer banjo picking, Coole now establishes himself as a gripping songwriter.”
(Roddy Campbell, Penguin Eggs Magazine)

Po’ Ramblin’ Boys

In 10 years as a band, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys have covered a lot of miles. Their love of bluegrass — playing it, sharing it, growing it — has been the fuel for their remarkable journey through every corner of America and into the hearts of fans drawn to their hard-charging, true-blue sound. “We live what we play and sing about,” says bandleader C.J. Lewandowski.

Indeed, the band has weathered their fair share of the highs and lows that bluegrass songs are known for (except for the murders, of course). They’ve been road-weary, longing for home. They’ve felt the heartbreak of band members leaving and embraced the joy of welcoming new ones. They’ve worked hard to see their dreams come true, playing on some of music’s most celebrated stages. And they’ve been nominated for a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album (2019’s Toil, Tears & Trouble) and for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award.

Amid all their travels, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys have seen every nook and cranny of the country, met people from all walks of life, and kept a keen eye toward the truth, which rings out loud and clear in the songs they write. “Wanderers Like Me,” the title track from their most recent album and the band’s first No. 1 song on the Bluegrass Unlimited chart, shoots straight from the heart: “Wanderers like me don’t settle down for no one / don’t mind being lonesome, chasing dreams is all I ever need.”

Lately, they’ve been chasing their dreams in a new configuration, one that expands the band’s age span and geographical roots. Guitarist John Gooding from California and fiddle player Max Silverstein from “the great bluegrass state of Maine,” as the band likes to say during onstage introductions, are the newest additions, both in their 20s. They join Lewandowski on mandolin, Jereme Brown on banjo, and Jasper Lorentzen on bass, relative elders in their 30s.

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys have always been known for barreling bluegrass forward, and as they move into their second decade as a band, they’re maintaining that momentum, both onstage and in the studio.

T.H.U.G.

The Two Harbors Ukulele Group, affectionately known as T.H.U.G., was formed by Al Anderson in 2010. It has grown from five members to a performance group of sixteen and features soprano, concert, tenor, baritone and bass ukuleles, backed up by harmonica, melodica, drums and horns. The group plays a wide variety of music from 1920’s classics to ’60’s rock and roll to country music…yes, even some Frank Zappa music. Our group has played throughout Minnesota from Lanesboro to Grand Portage and will play almost 50 performances in 2023. We also host the Silver Creek International Ukulele Carnival in Two Harbors which is attended by over 300 ukulele players from over fifteen states and three provinces.

The Gated Community

The Gated Community is an Americana band with a nearly twenty year history. Formed in 2006 in Minneapolis’s storied West Bank neighborhood, the band is known for its gripping original songs, beautiful vocal harmonies, and multiple lead singers. Led by South Asian American singer/songwriter Sumanth Gopinath (aka Sonny), the band’s music is eclectic in style, encompassing country, folk, bluegrass, and rock. Born in Chicago and raised in Louisiana, Gopinath relocated to the Twin Cities in 2005, after stints in Texas and Connecticut. Current members have been in the band for a decade or more. Everyone in the band sings lead and plays multiple instruments. The band just released their sixth album, available on Bandcamp and all of the main streaming platforms. It was recently included in the Star-Tribune’s list of top 10 albums from Minnesota in 2025 thus far.

Double Down Daredevils

The Double Down Daredevils are a 6-piece Bluegrass/Americana band that has been entertaining audiences around the region for 10 years now.

The Daredevils put on a high-energy show that will have you tapping your feet, and leave you wanting more. They feature amazing harmonies on nearly every song from traditional bluegrass to a large and growing list of originals!

Uncle Muskrat

Uncle Muskrat is a five-piece string band from Minneapolis, MN. Through traditional bluegrass instrumentation and lush vocal harmonies, they put a unique modern spin on the sounds of the old, weird American folk songbook. With influences ranging from Dock Boggs to John Hartford to Billy Strings and beyond, their live performances across the upper midwest take audiences on a journey from the quiet of a mountain hollow through the swirling energy of the cosmic expanse with many familiar stops along the way.

Praised for their musicianship, respect for tradition, and ability to stretch the boundaries of traditional acoustic music, Uncle Muskrat delivers what your muskrat’s uncle never could!

Last Pick’d String Band

The band met at the Homestead Pickin’ Parlor “Beginners” bluegrass jam in Richfield, MN, directed by Gene Walton. That wasn’t enough, so we kept adding more jams to the calendar! Our breakout show as a band was in February 2018 and we’ve been refining our craft as a group ever since.

Our set list selections start with deep roots in traditional bluegrass, flavored with folk, country, and Americana. Everyone in the band sings, creating great harmonies and tasty sounds that appeal to a wide audience.

The Waverly Girls

The Lyver Family has been singing and performing together since the girls were toddlers, but they didn’t become an “official” band until 2022, when they entered a talent show at the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association’s (MBOTMA) August festival. They had to come up with a band name quickly, so using their home town’s name, The Waverly Girls family band was formed. After winning the talent show, based on their 3-part family harmony, they were encouraged to also play instruments. Meera had been playing the mandolin for years and was the only instrument in the band. Christmas 2022, the girls were gifted a Luna banjo and guitar, and they have been playing ever since! The Waverly Girls Family Band consists of mother, Meera, father, Cory (manager/sound) and their two teenage daughters, Chloe and Maya.

The Waverly Girls are known for their distinctive and beautiful 3-part family harmony, their musicianship comes in second as the girls continue to learn and grow with their instruments. They play Bluegrass, Old Time, Country, Gospel and Folk music, which appeals to audiences of all ages, but especially to the youth and family audiences. The Waverly Girls encourage and inspire other youth to try playing instruments and/or singing. They have helped out with Absolute Beginner Workshops and jam sessions. In 2025, they hosted the Family Area, at the MBOTMA August Festival. They strive to keep the Bluegrass genre alive by bringing in the younger generation and families and engaging them in both old and new, family friendly music.

Luna Guitars, support The Waverly Girls as official Luna musicians.

Jim Beloff

Jim Beloff is the arranger, and publisher of the Jumpin’ Jim’s series of ukulele songbooks with over 1,000,000 copies in print. This series includes The Daily Ukulele, one of the best-selling ukulele songbooks ever published. Jim’s “Dreams I Left In Pockets,” features 33 songs he wrote or co-wrote. In 1999, Jim composed and premiered “Uke Can’t Be Serious,” a concerto for ukulele and orchestra.

Brian Wicklund

Brian Wicklund is a renowned fiddler, mandolinist, composer, and educator with a rich history in the acoustic music scene. Growing up in a small prairie town in Minnesota, he began his musical journey with Suzuki violin training. His dedication led him to win numerous fiddle contests during his teenage years.

After earning a degree in elementary education from Gustavus Adolphus College, Brian chose to focus entirely on music. He has toured internationally with bands such as Stoney Lonesome, Judith Edelman Band, Kathy Kallick Band, Chris Stuart Band, and Brother Mule.

Beyond performing, Brian is a dedicated educator. He authored the best-selling “American Fiddle Method,” a series that has taught over 100,000 students to play the fiddle. His online platform, American Fiddle Method School, offers video lessons, courses, and fiddle camps, allowing students to learn at their own pace and connect with a broader musical community.

Brian’s commitment to music education extends to organizing Fiddle Pal Camps across the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and the U.K., where he shares his expertise with aspiring musicians.

Tim Stafford

From Kingsport, Tennessee, Grammy winner Tim Stafford co-founded the group Blue Highway, which is celebrating its 31st year in 2025. Tim is a prolific songwriter with over 300 cuts and several #1 Bluegrass songs. He has been named the IBMA Songwriter of the Year three times (2014, 2017, 2023) and the SPBGMA Guitar Player of the Year twice (2001, 2015). With Steve Gulley, he co-wrote the 2008 IBMA Song of the Year, “Through the Window of a Train” as well as the most-played song of 2023 in Bluegrass, “Lonesome State of Mind.” (with Bobby Starnes) In 2010, he co-wrote (with Caroline Wright) the highly-acclaimed authorized biography Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story. Tim has released five solo records and five duet records along with his recordings with Blue Highway and Alison Krauss. He was most recently the Artist in Residence at ETSU’s famed Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music program.

Martha Spencer & Lucas Pasley

Martha Spencer is a singer-songwriter, mountain musician and dancer from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She grew up in a musical family, attending community square dances and jams and learning to play several instruments and flatfoot dance. In addition to numerous other recordings, she has just released her third solo album Out in La La Land which placed on the Americana charts. A dazzling entertainer, she has performed across the US, AU, UK, CA, and EU and been featured in articles in Rolling Stone Country, Americana Highways, NY Times and Billboard.

Lucas Pasley is a songwriter and award-winning fiddler and banjoist from the mountains of North Carolina. He performs solo, with several regional bands, and with Martha Spencer & The Wonderland Country Band. Along with releasing several songwriter albums, he has devoted himself to preserving and spotlighting the traditional music of his region.

As a duo, Martha and Lucas deliver a powerful performance ranging from traditional Appalachian fiddle-banjo tunes from their families to heartfelt original songs.

PA Management with Aaron Niehus

The PA is the connection between you as a performer and the audience. It is critical that you have a solid understanding of how to make the most effective use of all the technology available to you. This workshop will be in 3 segments. 11 am will be setting up the PA then at 11:30 learn to work with the single Mic Everyone is welcome. Draw bands are highly encouraged to come. At noon Aaron will shift to PA Management

Song Analysis with Tim Stafford & Phil Nusbaum

Three songwriters will each present an original song. Tim and Phil then will offer thoughts and advice on structure and presentation. Phil Nusbaum will offer thoughts on what broadcasters are looking for when you seek to get your songs played on the air. You do not have to be a songwriter to attend or benefit from these perspectives. Everyone is welcome!

Stagecraft, The Art of Putting on a Show

With Brent Fuqua and Becky Schlegel These two veteran performers go beyond the setlist to discuss ways you can take your next show to a new level. Entertain your audiences, have more fun and get more bookings!

Stagecraft will be at noon on Saturday in Studio 2. Q&A is a big part of these Panels so bring your questions!

Booking and Promoting Your Band

With Ellen Stanley, Katryn Conlin and Tom Peschges

This panel promises to be a lively discussion of how to build an audience, and book better gigs! We will cover topics like, Websites, EPK’s, Booking emails, social media strategies and more. As with all of our panel discussions, please bring your questions!