Brown County Hosts Four-Day Bluegrass Bonanza at the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Festival 2018

Enjoy some of the best in Bluegrass at the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Festival, September 19-22. The legendary bluegrass bash returns to Brown County for a 44th year, featuring four full days of entertainment. Taking place at the “home of bluegrass music” itself, over 30 bands will take the stage, delivering show-stopping performances. The fest also will include vocal, music, and instrument workshops, around-the-clock jam sessions, camping, food, and the induction of renown songwriters Miss Dixie and Tom T. Hall into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.

Named after the Father of Bluegrass, this festival will pay tribute to the late great Bill Monroe, while also showcasing some of the top bluegrass performers of today. Held at Bill Monroe’s Music Park & Campground, this festival’s unique venue is unlike any other around. With its relaxed atmosphere and rustic surroundings, Monroe’s “Mecca of Bluegrass,” provides the perfect locale for the festival and for celebrating some of the best in bluegrass.

Festival-goers can expect to see many world-class performers throughout the bluegrass bonanza, such as Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Paul Williams, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top X-Press, Band of Ruhks, Larry Sparks and Lonesome Ramblers, Sideline, Trinity River, Ralph Stanley II and Clinch Mountain Boys, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time, Danny Paisley and Southern Grass, Po' Ramblin' Boys, The Grascals, and more.

Miss Dixie and Tom T. Hall also will be inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, which was established in 1984. Hand-picked by Monroe, inductees began to be added to the Hall of Fame for their substantial and enduring contributions to bluegrass music, a tradition that continues to this day despite Monroe’s death in 1996.

Miss Dixie and Tom T. Hall have long been standouts in the bluegrass songwriting scene. Contributing more than 50 years and thousands of songs, this duo is most deserving of their induction. Aside from their prolific songwriting skills, the Halls also have had a positive influence on the genre by helping young and struggling artists and have even recorded a few songs themselves.

In addition to outstanding performances, the festival also will feature vocal, music, and instrument workshops, as well as food, vendors, camping, and more. Not to mention ongoing jam sessions, a guaranteed bonus that always can be found at Bill Monroe’s Music Park & Campground.

Tickets for the festival range $25 - $35 for daily tickets and $130 for a four-day fest pass. Each festival ticket includes admission to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Country Star Museum, a tour of Uncle Pen’s Cabin, plus all vocal, music, and instrument workshops. Camping and ticket reservations can be made by calling 812-988-6422.

Honor music legend Bill Monroe as you enjoy world-class bluegrass in Brown County, September 19-22. For more information on the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Festival, including tickets and a complete lineup of performers, please visit www.billmonroemusicpark.com or call 812-988-6422.

by Aubrey Sitzman, Brown County

About Brown County, Ind.: No matter what you’re looking for, escape comes naturally in Brown County. Eclectic boutiques and galleries, breathtaking scenery, welcoming accommodations, and endless outdoor adventures await in one of America’s original artists’ colonies. From art to the great outdoors, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, and for most, it’s only a short drive away. Unplug from daily life and reconnect with one another as you experience the rustic beauty and artisanal charm of Brown County. Plan your escape today…you’ll be glad you did.