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Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park's Interests
General
Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park & Campground
5163 State Road 135 North
Bean Blossom, IN 46160
Phone: (812) 988-6422
Toll Free: 1-800-414-4677
Fax: (812) 988-1203
Reservations & General Info:
beanblossombg@hotmail.com
Music
PHOTO BY: Bruce Miles Hellington
Movies
SPONSORED BY:
BLUEGRASS NOW MAGAZINE
GIBSON
REBEL RECORDS
HOPE RIVER ENTERTAINMENT
Television
RFD "Turnin' to Country" visits Brown County, Indiana during a two-part episode that aired in February. "Turnin' to Country" is a new travel show, hosted by Tresa Jordan, visiting small-town rural destinations. Having been long revered as a timeless destination, Brown County, IN was one of the first spots chosen. For complete details of the show, visit www.turnintocountry.com. RFD TV is located on Channel 231 Dish Network, Channel 379 Direct TV, and on other various cable networks.
The acoustic music tradition goes back hundreds of years. As in the Appalachian region of the United States, the natives of hilly Brown County, Indiana, have played acoustic string music for generations, but it was a Kentucky native, Bill Monroe, with his high-mountain tenor voice and unique mandolin playing, who made bluegrass what it is today. It was in October of 1951, while performing on the road, that Grand Ole Opry star Bill Monroe traveled to a small town in Indiana called Bean Blossom to perform at the Brown County Jamboree. He fell in love with the area immediately and in December of 1951 decided to purchase the property making it his home away from home.
In June, 1967, at the insistence of promoter Carlton Haney, Bill Monroe founded his first two-day bluegrass festival, which he called a "Big Blue Grass Celebration", at Bean Blossom. He brought his musician friends together to play the "high lonesome" sound he had pioneered. This first festival was held in the Brown County Jamboree Barn and was so well attended that Bill decided to have it annually and to build an outdoor stage to accommodate a bigger audience. In June of 1968, people from all over the country came to hear the Father of Bluegrass and his legendary Blue Grass Boys perform, as well as other top name bluegrass artists and Grand Ole Opry stars. The artists performed on a newly-constructed stage that sat at the bottom of a wooded amphitheater surrounded by loyal bluegrass fans. Festival patrons gathered in the fields, in the woods, at campsites, just about anywhere they felt like, so they could pick and sing the music they loved so much.
Over the years the festival has grown and the grounds have been improved. The sounds of bluegrass still echo through the hills and trees, with the spirit of Bill Monroe all around us. Despite his death in 1996, the history and tradition at Bean Blossom continues.In the fall of 2000, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), selected the 34th Annual Bill Monroe Memorial Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival as its "Event of the year." That is quite an honor considering the hundreds of bluegrass festivals that are held every year. And in May 2001, the annual Bill Monroe Memorial Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival was recognized as a Local Legacy for the State of Indiana by the Library of Congress, becoming a permanent display. Due to the success of this festival, we have now grown to host numerous festivals a year.
Who I'd like to meet: BILL MONROE MEMORIAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, JUNE 14 thru SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2008
PERFORMANCES BY:
The Grascals, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Seldom Scene, J. D. Crowe & New South, Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top Xpress, Cherryholmes, IIIrd Tyme Out, Jesse McReynolds & Virginia Boys, Gene Watson, John Cowan Band, Larry Sparks & Lonesome Ramblers, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, Lewis Family, Ronnie Reno & Reno Tradition, Lonesome River Band, Lizzy Long & Friends, Eddie & Martha Adcock, Ronnie Bowman & The Committee, Dave Evvans & Riverbend, Randy Waller & Country Gentlemen, Larry Stephenson Band, Alecia Nugent, James Monroe & Midnight Ramblers, Kenny & Amanda Smith, James King Band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Monroe Crossing, Ralph Stanley II, Paul Williams & Victory Trio, Special Consensus, Dailey & Vincent Band, David Davis & Warrior River Boys, Tim Graves & Cherokee, Sullivan Family, Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain, Dan paisley & Southern Grass, Glen Bonham, David Parmley & Continental Divide, Beth Stevens & Edge, The Muellers, Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show, Pine Mountain Railroad, New Harmony, Tommy Brown & Country Line Grass, Cornfields & Crossroads, The Doerfel Family, Spanky Moore Bluegrass Band, Jesse Perdue & Old Time Gospel, Sweetgrass Bluegrass Band, Pastor Baggett "The Real Apostle"
ADVANCE TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE JUNE 1, 2008
YOUTH BLUEGRASS BOOT CAMP
Open to ages 6-18 years, Camp offers over 15 hours of Professional Instruction in all levels, beginner through advanced, for Banjo, Guitar, Fiddle, Bass, and Mandolin. LIMITED TO FIRST 50 STUDENTS. Only $35 per student.
ROCK HILL MUSIC FEST - SATURDAY, JUNE 28
Held at the Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park Cowboy Troy
Shawn Mullins
Carolina Rain
MileMarker24
Natalie Howard
Lindsay Ell
Jaxonville
Caleb Hawley
Buy Tickets By Midnight on April 20th and WIN autographed CD’s. Just buy your tickets, then send us an email by April 21st with your contact information, along with your ticket numbers. We will put you in the drawing for a prize pack* Visit: http://www.rockhillmusicfest.com/index_files/Page305.htm for more information.
Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park's Friend Space (Top 20)
Last time I was there, I saw a pink with black polka dots bass. I pray that when i get there this year, i will see that bass again... Come on to Indiana, folks!
I love love love love love Bean Blossom. Last year was my first year there & now im hooked. :) im coming back until i die. there i learn a lot from other people. its a great experience for young people my age. & my favorite band that comes is Karl Shiflett & the Big Country Show. They are amazing. anyways, thanks for the add. :]