Erik Ritland 
It takes all kinds, right? There’s a time for loud rock music, for rap, for EDM, for punk, for whatever else you dig. But sometimes it’s nice to take a step back and get back to our roots.
One of the best ways to do that in Minnesota is attending the annual Minnesota Bluegrass Winter Weekend. In addition to great concerts from both up-and-coming and popular bluegrass bands, the weekend is filled with workshops and fun activities to really immerse yourself in the music.
The festival features two stages and a special dance parlor. The entire weekend is filled with a few dozen seminal bluegrass bands, many of them local, including The Roe Family Singers, Timbre Junction, and headliners the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and No Man’s String Band. You can check out the full lineup here.
What really gives the festival its hardcore bluegrass feel, though, is the workshops and other ancillary activities. You can learn the ukelele, learn how to sing, check out a cool movie about the legendary Carolina Chocolate Drops with an introduction from the director, and more. Check out all the activities here.
Minnesota has a large, strong bluegrass scene. If you don’t believe me, listen to Bluegrass Saturday Morning on 88.5 KBEM FM with Phil Nusbaum (you can also listen online and on your phone). On the show, Phil plays the best bluegrass from its entire history, often featuring local bluegrass musicians. It airs from 7am-noon on Saturdays, making it the perfect way to start your weekend.
The Minnesota Bluegrass Winter Weekend is the perfect way to get immersed in the beautiful, authenticly Americana world of bluegrass.
Full Details
Location: Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West in Plymouth, slightly west of Minneapolis. Make reservations at nearby hotels with a special discount for the festival.
Tickets:Â There are several ticket options, from just seeing the headliners ($20) to single day tickets ($20 Friday, $30 Saturday) to a full weekend option ($48 with the headliners, $32 without). Check out all the options here.
Music: The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and No Man’s String Band headline on Saturday night. The full lineup features dozens of bands.
Workshops:Â All weekend activities, including jams and workshops, can be found here.
Author: Erik Ritland
Music in Minnesota editor Erik Ritland is a journalist and musician from the east side of St. Paul. He has released 7 albums and 8 EPs featuring his unique blend of rock n' roll, modern rock, and Americana since 2001. Rambling On, his personal blog and podcast covering music and sports, was launched in 2012. Erik was also Head Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blogs Hometown Hustle and Curious North.
