Frankfort Bluegrass Festival 2018: A Schedule Of Who Plays When

FRANKFORT, IL — Since 2011, Frankfort has been gaining a reputation as the home for bluegrass music, at least for one weekend out of the year. And the village has earned that distinction thanks to the Frankfort Bluegrass on the Green festival.

This year's eighth annual event will be July 14-15 on two stages on Breidert Green in downtown Frankfort, and it will spotlight more than 25 musical acts performing a variety bluegrass styles. The free festival draws award-winning performers from around the country, such as Balsam Range and Kenny and Amanda Smith, as well as bands with Chicago-area ties, like Growler, River Valley Rangers and the Grammy-nominated Special Consensus.

“Our goal is to showcase the best national and regional acts in bluegrass …,” said Steve Haberichter, co-owner of Frankfort's Down Home Guitars and one of the festival's founding committee members who also will perform during the event. “We have a great lineup this year of top performers, old favorites and emerging artists performing nonstop on two stages."

And musicians and bluegrass fans aren't the only ones who've noticed Frankfort's two-day musical gem. The International Bluegrass Music Association has nominated the festival for Event of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

Along with the live music, this year's event will have musical workshops, a players tent and concessions. A children's area will include face painting, a demonstration of bluegrass instruments, an hourlong music party and other activities.

The following lineup is the complete two-day schedule for both festival stages.

Saturday, July 14

Breidert Green Stage

10 a.m.: Lambert & Haberichter

11 a.m.: Growler

12:15 p.m.: Special Consensus

1:30 p.m.: Kenny and Amanda Smith

2:45 p.m.: Chris Jones and the Night Drivers

4 p.m.: Front Country

5:15 p.m.: Chatham County Line

6:30 p.m.: Balsam Range

7:45 p.m.: Michael Cleveland

9:15 p.m.: Jeff Ausitn Band

Prairie Park Stage

10 a.m.: Open kids stage

11 a.m.: Workshop with the Henhouse Prowlers, bluegrass ambassadors to the world

Noon: Fox Crossing Stringband

1:05 p.m.: Breaking Grass

2:15 p.m.: Balsam Range

3:30 p.m.: Henhouse Prowlers

4:45 p.m.: Mile Twelve

6 p.m.: Breaking Grass

Sunday, July 15

Breidert Green Stage

10 a.m.: Georgia Rae Family Band

11 a.m.: Mile Twelve

12:15 p.m.: Chatham County Line

1:30 p.m.: Chris Jones and the Night Drivers

2:45 p.m.: Kenny and Amanda Smith

4 p.m: Special Consensus

5:15 p.m.: Jacob Jolliff Band

6:25 p.m.: Raffle drawing

6:30 p.m.: Front Country

Prairie Park Stage

10 a.m.: Bluegrass open stage

11 a.m.: Rorey Carroll

Noon: Anderlik, Otto and Church

1:05 p.m.: The Grateful String Band

2:15 p.m.: Circus No. 9

3:30 p.m.: Henhouse Prowlers

4:45 pm.: River Valley Rangers

6 p.m.: Miles Over Mountains

Some of the musical acts performing on the two main stages also will play on Old Plank Trail Tavern's Beer Garden Stage, 113 Kansas St. The schedule for that stage has not been determined.

Frankfort Bluegrass on the Green: The Basics

When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 14, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 15

Where: Breidert Green, Kansas and White streets, downtown Frankfort

Cost: Free

More Info: Go to the festival's website for bios on all of the musical acts performing during the two-day event.

Chris Jones and the Night Drivers (Photo via Frankfort Bluegrass on the Green)