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 annual Minnesota Duet and Flatpicking Guitar Championships are coming up at the Minnesota State Fair, scheduled this year for Friday, September 3 (duets) and Saturday, September 4 (guitars) on the Heritage Square Stage from 2 to 5 PM each day. We have an exciting new cash prize to offer this year in the Guitar Championship - the Grand Prize this year is $600 PLUS a hand-built guitar by David Vincent Guitars!
Registration is on a first come, first served basis until filled. New this year: online registration
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Wow! We have been nominated a third time as IBMA Event of the Year for our 2009 festival! Our 2010 festival was held at El Rancho Manana the second weekend in August, The Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival, featured Blue Highway, The Gibson Brothers, Rarely Herd, and many more. You can see and get photos of the festival from Heirloom Art & Photography. |
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The Minnesota Homegrown Kickoff, a three-day outdoor music and camping festival featuring regional bands performing bluegrass, old-time stringband, and related forms of acoustic music, was held on June 4-6, 2010 at El Rancho Mañana Campground & Riding Stables near Richmond, Minnesota.
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The Lonely Pines Concert Series recently featured Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice with concerts in Maple Lake on Feb 12, Bemidji on Feb 13, and Stillwater on Feb 14. In the second weekend of the series three-time SPBGMA Entertainers of the Year The Expedition Show were featured in Mankato on March 19, Duluth on March 20 (part of a weekend long "Cabin Fever Reliever" festival), and in Savage on March 21. Watch for this series to return in 2011. |
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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 from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and private funders. |
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