Michigan once again proves itself as a top State for Bluegrass music, with the Ionia Freak Fest drawing 60,000 people to the Ionia fairgrounds over two days.
The Ionia Free Fair Association and Billy Strings, supported by other Michigan favorites Greensky Bluegrass, Full Cord, Lindsey Lou, and Mark Lavengood, along with Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Sierra Hull, and Leftover Salmon, hosted two nights of Bluegrass in lower Michigan this past weekend to a sold out crowd.
Thats a lot of firepower on one stage!
Very cool to see the BG scene thriving
"Who are all those folks up there with Billy Strings?"
;^)
Ira Gitlin I was absolutely amazed by the number of people that were absolutely obsessed with Billy Strings and said Bluegrass was their #1 favorite genre ever, but they'd never heard of Flatt/Scruggs. It's wild.
But they're learning! The fans are so incredibly enthusiastic about learning about bluegrass, the history, the culture, the bands they need to see. I actually had multiple occasions of kids literally taking notes on their phone when I was rattling off all the great bluegrass bands they should check out. Don't let the long hair and makeup scare you away. They're friendly and kind and just want to enjoy bluegrass like the rest of us.
quote:
Originally posted by KCJonesDon't let the long hair and makeup scare you away. They're friendly and kind and just want to enjoy bluegrass like the rest of us.
Doesn't scare me one bit!
IMNSHO, bluegrass couldn't ask for a better ambassador than Mr. Apostol.
Edited by - Ira Gitlin on 09/03/2026 05:48:34
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