Ocean State Bluegrass Festival

Bluegrass fans and pickers: mark your calendar for the Ocean State Bluegrass Festival to be held Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 at Frerichs Farm, 65 Kinnicutt Ave., Warren, RI. The event is sponsored by the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance (RIBA) with generous support from The Carter Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.

The event includes jamming for bluegrass musicians throughout the weekend, an open mic on Friday night, workshops and a show featuring three local bluegrass bands on Saturday, a Band Scramble on Sunday, and jamming, camping, and food throughout the weekend.

The following bands will perform on Saturday night: Stoneface Mountain, Wide Open Spaces, and Max Wareham and the National Bluegrass Team.

There will be no show on Sunday, but there will be a Band Scramble, a tradition at bluegrass festivals. In a Band Scramble, anyone who plays an instrument (at any level) is invited to participate. Participants put their names in a bucket for the instrument they wish to play. Names are drawn to make up bands that may include a bass, a banjo, a mandolin, a fiddle, a guitar, a dobro and singers. These impromptu bands will come up with a few songs that they will perform on stage.

Tickets: tickets may be purchased on the RIBA website at www.ribluegrass.org.

•Full festival ticket - $40 - includes camping and parking for one vehicle (one RV or one car) for three days, plus Saturday workshops and show admission for one person.
•Saturday ticket - $30 per person - includes workshops and show admission. Does not include camping or parking. Show admission is free for children 14 years old and younger.
•Sunday - Free admission!
•Parking - $5 per vehicle, per day.