Dave Bruzza by Steve Baran, Mavis Staples by Nina Westervelt

MASS MoCA is hosting the three day FreshGrass festival on September 20-22, 2019, and artists like Greensky Bluegrass, Mavis Staples, The Travelin’ McCourys and more will perform on one of the four stages on the museum grounds in North Adams, Massachusetts.

The event also includes food, drinks and instrument/industry workshops – including the American Roots Music Program at Berklee College of Music hosting lessons on picking, songwriting and music marketing, as a few examples.

“Greensky Bluegrass, Andrew Bird, Mavis Staples, and FreshGrass favorites Steep Canyon Rangers — and that’s just for starters. FreshGrass consistently presents one of the liveliest and all-encompassing lineups of any music festival in the nation. Musical chops, songwriting innovation, community participation, great food and drink in a really beautiful arts complex… all that makes for a special weekend, and we are so proud to host this flagship event in North Adams,” said MASS MoCA Director Joseph Thompson, in a press release about the FreshGrass Festival.

There will also be a contest for unsigned musical talent taking place through the three days of FreshGrass. Prizes for the winners include recording time at Nashville’s Compass Records and up to $25,000 in cash prizes. The contest has a range of categories, including banjo, mandolin and singer-songwriter awards, to name a few, and is judged by industry professionals.

Festival producer Chris Wadsworth added via press release, “With the success of the FreshGrass commissions, FreshScores, awards, and the addition of the No Depression singer-songwriter award, we offer our audience a singular festival experience and access to truly innovative ideas in grassroots music. The FreshGrass family has really grown over the last eight years, with No Depression and this festival at its heart; we have gathered one of the largest and most vibrant roots music communities out there. And we still have a few tricks up our sleeves.”

Adult 3-day passes are currently available for $120. They offer a student discount ticket price for $99, and children aged 7-16 pay $46. Kids under six years old are free for admission. Museum members receive a 10% discount, and information on single day passes will be offered closer to festival dates.

For information and to purchase tickets to FreshGrass, visit their website here.

View the full FreshGrass Festival lineup below.

FreshGrass Festival 2019 Lineup
Greensky Bluegrass
Andrew Bird
Mavis Staples
Kronos Quartet’s Music for Change: Pete Seeger @ 100
Tinariwen
Steep Canyon Rangers
The Travelin’ McCourys
Jade Bird
Aoife O’Donovan
Balsam Range
Alison Brown
Hanggai
Sam Amidon
John Reischman & The Jaybirds
Darol Anger and Mike Marshall
Tony Trischka and Bruce Molsky
Flor de Toloache
Berklee College of Music’s American Roots Music Program
Man About a Horse
Lauren Pratt