The Bean Blossom Festival, later the Bill Monroe Memorial Festival, was an early
bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music that developed in the 1940s in the Appalachian region of the United States. The genre derives its name from the band Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Bluegrass has roots in African America ...
festival held annually in
Beanblossom, Indiana
Beanblossom, also spelled Bean Blossom, is an unincorporated community in Jackson Township, Brown County, in the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United S ...
.
The Bean Blossom festival was known for its jam sessions including well-known bluegrass musicians.
History
The Bean Blossom Festival was founded in 1966 by
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe ( ; September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American mandolinist, singer, and songwriter who created the bluegrass music genre. Because of this, he is often called the " Father of Bluegrass".
The genre takes its n ...
, who is considered by many to be the originator of the bluegrass genre.
In 1973, an album of live music, titled ''Bean Blossom'', was recorded at the festival.
By 1974, about 20,000 people were attending the festival each year.
Many well-known bluegrass musicians and bands have performed at the festival, including the
Dry Branch Fire Squad
The Dry Branch Fire Squad is an American traditional-style Bluegrass music, bluegrass band from Virginia, which is fronted by Ron Thomason. The band is known for its showy performances and for Thomason's humorous interludes. The Dry Branch Fire S ...
in 1979.
By 1985, the Bean Blossom Festival was the biggest bluegrass festival in the United States.
The festival hosts the induction ceremonies for Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Hall of Fame.
See also
*
Bill Monroe Farm
The Bill Monroe Farm is a historic farm attributed to being the birthplace of Bill Monroe, creator of the bluegrass music genre. The farm is 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) and is located near Rosine in Ohio County, Kentucky. It was listed on the ...
*
Bill Monroe Museum
The Bill Monroe Museum is a project of Ohio County and the Ohio County Tourism Commission. It is the only Museum dedicated entirely to the life and legacy of Bill Monroe and the early foundations of bluegrass music. The museum opened April 24, 2 ...
References
External links
Bill Monroe Memorial Festival
{{Bill Monroe
Music festivals in Indiana
Tourist attractions in Brown County, Indiana
Bluegrass festivals
Memorial Festival