Bluegrass & Old Times Music
Take a road trip to these points of interest, venues and festivals celebrating bluegrass and old times music in Georgia.
From the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains in North Georgia to the southern tip in Thomasville, Georgia is home to authentic old-time and bluegrass music experiences. North American folk traditions of music and dance that have been passed down for generations are performed in town squares, parks and community stages for audiences to enjoy.
From the annual Georgia String Band Festival and Fiddlers’ Convention in Calhoun to the weekly Pickin’ Porch jams in Dahlonega, songs that were once played by Fiddlin’ John Carson, Riley Puckett and Clayton McMichen can still be heard in Georgia. Today, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Norman Blake, the Skillet Lickers, the Georgia Crackers, and Beverly Smith & John Grimm are just of few of the Georgia musicians who keep the songs and traditions alive.
Since the first bluegrass festivals were introduced in the 1960s, loyal fans of the music have gathered, often with campers and folding chairs in tow, to listen to lineups of old-school and new-school pickers play. For more than 40 years, Raccoon Creek Music Park in Dallas has hosted bluegrass events, and for more than 30 years, fans and friends have connected on Jekyll Island at the three-day New Year’s Bluegrass Festival.
Though the First Family of Gospel Bluegrass, The Lewis Family, retired in 2009, its longtime banjoist, Little Roy Lewis, along with fiddler Lizzy Long, are regulars on the bluegrass circuit, while gospel stars Jeff and Sherri Easter, who performed for many years with The Lewis Family, host their annual Fall Festival at the Lewis Family Homeplace in Lincolnton. The Dappled Grays, Deja Blue, Sweetwater Creek and Smokey’s Farmland Band are just a few of the many Georgia bluegrass bands worth seeking out on any trip to the state.
Below, find must-see music venues, festivals and more points of interest, and listen to music by bluegrass artists in the "Our Bluegrass Picks" playlist.
First Baptist Church of Ringgold
Included on Ringgold’s “Wedding Walk,” the First Baptist Church soared to prominence when popular artist Dolly Parton wed Carl Dean at age 20. Today, the church still features a love for music with five choirs for various age groups, an instrument ensemble and dulcimer group Frettin on Faith.
Catoosa County Courthouse in Ringgold
Some claim Ringgold to be the “Wedding Capital of the South.” Many performers have selected the Catoosa County Courthouse as the location for their nuptials. Singer Tammy Wynette was twice married at the courthouse when she tied the knot with songwriter Don Chapel and later with musician George Jones. Don Everly of the Everly Brothers was also wed in front of the Catoosa County probate judge.
Randy Wood Guitars & Old Time Pickin’ Parlor, Savannah
Just off Hwy. 80 in Bloomingdale, 20 minutes west of Savannah, sits a non-assuming little complex of buildings that house bluegrass greatness. Since the early 1960s, Georgia native and luthier Randy Wood has handcrafted guitars and mandolins for Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton and Bill Monroe, among others. Inside the tiny Randy Wood Guitars hang custom-made new and used instruments, and in the back of the store on Saturday afternoons, pickers from near and far gather to jam. Next door, Randy Wood's Old Time Pickin’ Parlor is an intimate 100-seat performing space where Randy has welcomed artists including Tony Rice, Claire Lynch, J.D. Crowe and The Boxcars over the past decade, and many of the concerts are live streamed on his website.
The Rock Campground, RV and Music Park in Rockmart
Located just off the popular Silver Comet Trail, The Rock Campground and RV Park has served as a year-round venue for bluegrass jam sessions since 1998. The stage has hosted countless popular local acts, as well as nationally known bluegrass hits such as Buddy Jewell, Jennifer Moorman and The Kentucky Headhunters. In 2010, The Rock was named “The Top Bluegrass Venue in the State of Georgia” by the Southeastern Bluegrass Association.
Woodsongs Dalton Coffeehouse Series
Featuring three concerts early in the year, the series features popular and local Americana, bluegrass and acoustic singers and songwriters in Dalton.
Ringgold Opry
Occurring every second Saturday at the Ringgold Depot, the Ringgold Opry is a free concert series featuring country, bluegrass and folk music. Local musicians are encouraged to bring their own instruments and join in the music of the onstage performers.
New Year’s Bluegrass Festival, January, Jekyll Island
For more than 40 years, Jekyll Island has celebrated the New Year with the sound of bluegrass. The island’s convention center welcomes more than a dozen popular acts who all gather onstage for a year-ending grand finale. For those looking to learn more about the genre, Gilbert Nelson provides Bluegrass Jamming Classes using the Wernick Method during the festival.
Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, April, Dahlonega
The Bear on the Square Mountain Festival celebrates the best of Southern Appalachian music with countless jamming sessions by local, regional and national artists. Those interested in joining the tradition are encouraged to attend one of the free music workshops, as the festival focuses on the region’s popular bluegrass and old times music.
1890s Day Jamboree, May, Ringgold
Each year on Memorial Day weekend, Ringgold draws 20,000 visitors for the 1890s Day Jamboree. Friday night features gospel, with folk, country, and rock featuring on Saturday.
Armuchee Bluegrass Festival, May, Armuchee
According to the Rome News-Tribune, this music festival “helps to keep bluegrass alive.” The festival is popular among locals and out-of-town visitors alike because it showcases long-time and young, up-and-coming bands. The organizers take pride in the festival’s atmosphere of family reunion.
Pickin’ in the Park Music Series, May through September, Mineral Bluff
These weekly casual jam sessions are held every Thursday evening May - September under the trees along the Toccoa River in Mineral Bluff. Horseshoe Bend Park is the scenic locale for the acoustic musicians who join local instrumentalists in an evening of fun.
Little Roy & Lizzy Music Festival, May, Lincolnton
While “Little” Roy Lewis (of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame-inducted Lewis Family) and Elizabeth “Lizzy” Long tour the country playing bluegrass music, they always return each year to Lizzy’s hometown of Lincolnton to host their own bluegrass festival. Both artists are masters of numerous string instruments (as Little Roy says, “pull a plank off the wall and [Lizzy’ll] play it”) and have amassed countless accolades. The festival is held under a giant tent and has featured some of the biggest names in bluegrass, from Shenandoah to “Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent.
Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival, July, Dallas
Held at the long-running Raccoon Creek Music Park, the annual festival aims to provide an enjoyable experience for all fans of bluegrass. The festival has been running in Dallas for more than 40 years and has featured many returning musicians happy to celebrate the genre of their artistry.
Dillard Bluegrass Festival, August, Dillard
The annual Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival features national acts as well as local bands. The festival’s world-class lineup always draws a huge crowd of bluegrass fans to the City of Dillard Fairgrounds.
North Georgia Folk Festival, September, Athens
Sandy Creek Park in Athens has played host for over 30 years to the annual North Georgia Folk Festival, full of family fun and traditional and contemporary folk music. The fun lasts all day long with visitors invited to join the demonstrations, dances and storytelling.
