An autographed John Hartford Model Deering Banjo is offered for sale. Click here for details.

A Special thanks to the Hartford family for assisting to set this up to support this festival.

I'm afraid after adding the information about John's banjo, I went & got sentimental and started thinking of when John & I were good friends back in the 50s. I'm sure that most of you have never heard these recordings before, unless you've visited a website I started several years ago & dug deep into the site. I want to share this now with you, to give you some insight into John's music when he was first beginning his music career. Click here for some memories of John.

Click here for festival merchandise for sale.

Occupy Bean Blossom next spring for the greatest mix of bluegrass, old-time, newgrass, jamgrass, country, camp jams and everything in between. You won't find this mix of music genres at any other festival in the country. I also think it's located at the best festival park in the world, the revered Bill Monroe Bluegrass Park & Campground at Bean Blossom, Inidana. The John Hartford Memorial festival is pet & kid friendly for sure. It's also pretty darn budget friendly as well. There will be about 60 shows to choose from over 3 days, for about a buck a show.

To fit all the performers in, two stages will be in operation all day, each day next year. We plan to have at least 10 shows each day on both stages.  They will start at 11:00 or 12:00 and run until about mid-night. It should allow you late night people time to jam around the campfires after the stage shows or shut down. The emphasis, as John would want it, is for both the fans and the perfomers to have lots of fun.

Vince Herman & Great American Taxi - Two days
Darol Anger - Three days
Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
Danny Barnes - Two days
Jamie Hartford & Friends
Larry Perkins
Mike Compton
Frank Lee & the Freights
Alligator Wine
The Atomic Duo
The Barefoot Movement
Bawn in the Mash
Betse Ellis of the Wilders more
Branded Bluegrass
220 Breakers
Carpenter & Clerk
Chicago Farmer
Deep Fried Pickle Project - more
Dodgy Mountain Men
Dry Valley Gamblers
Flatland Harmony Experiment
Goldmine Pickers
The Grass Pack - more & some more
Harvey Branch String Band
Henhouse Prowlers
The HillBenders - 2009 Teluride Festival band winners.
Brad Leftwich & The Hogwire Stringband
Hounds & Horns
The Howling Brothers
Hyryder
Johnson's Crossroad
Pete Kartsounes Band
Ray Lawrence Jr. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rym_dMfaYxA
The Lulus - Facebook - Sticking With The Union - Single Girl
Lexi Len Minnich
The Mississippi Sawyers
New Old Cavalry
Colin O'Brien
Sluegrass with Nathan Blake Lynn
The Stuttering Ducks with Pat Fiddle
Davy Jay Sparrow & His Well-Known Famous Drovers - video
Ryan Spearman - short PBS documentary
The Tillers - "Cincinnati’s traveling minstrels"
Wayward Roots 
Whiskey Bent Valley Boys
White Lightning Boys 
Woodstove Flapjacks

Ticket Information

All online ticket sales will be entered into a data base that will be available at the gate so that you may receive wrist bands for the festival tickets you purchased. Tickets will not be mailed. If you need a verification of your ticket purchase, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it requesting verification of ticket purchase.

Festival Dates: May 31st thru June 2nd 2012

Place: Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground - Bean Blossom, Indiana
Ticket prices before 5-1-2012: All single days $25 & all 3 days for $60
Ticket prices after 4-30-2012: All single days $35 & all 3 days for $90

Children 12 & under are free. Pets are welcome but need to be kept leashed. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for the shows. They can be left at stage for all 3 days to keep your same spot. You can bring your own drinks & coolers to the shows, but there will be plenty of food and drinks available from vendors close by.

Festival tickets do not include camping. There is plenty of primative camping at reasonable rates. The park has free showers & bathroom facilities. You don't have to make reservations for primative camping. If you have an RV & would like to have water & electric, you can reserve a site by calling the park office at 800-414-4677. Golf carts will be available for rental. 

   The Bill Monroe Music Park & campground is pet friendly. Pets should be kept on a leash. Golf carts will be available to rent. There will be a variety of food and merchandise vendors. Many of the performers will have CDs and other merchandise setup under a pavillion near the stage. Flush toilets, hot showers & a laundry facility are also available in the park. If you have any questions call the campground directly at 1-800-414-4677.

To send us a message please Click Here.

Links

Official Bill Monroe Festival Park and Campground Website

Official John Hartford Website

Steam Powered Preservation Society

John Hartford Fan Website

Fields of Bluegrass Radio

Redbud Radio

Eden Outfitters

John Hartford Documentary Project 

Jambase

Relix Magazine