After Billy Strings pumped up the 2025 event, one of the state’s longest-running music festivals returns this week with more gems, including Dan Tyminski, Full Cord and more. Get the lowdown on this hoedown.
Bluegrass Stars: Del McCoury and Dan Tyminski are just part of this year’s notable lineup. (Photos/Local Spins/Courtesy)
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When bluegrass superstar and Ionia County hero Billy Strings created a major buzz last year by returning to the intimate Charlotte Bluegrass Festival where he first tasted the magic of festival picking, he helped this long-running event gain a new audience and a higher profile.
Consequently, this weekend’s 54th edition of the festival at Eaton County Fairgrounds in Charlotte will keep the star train rolling with legendary bluegrass acts such as The Del McCoury Band, Dan Tyminski Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Larry Sparks Show and The David Mayfield Parade, not to mention West Michigan’s own award-winning Full Cord, which recently recorded two tracks with Billy Strings.
And few would be shocked if Michigander Billy Strings swung by as a surprise guest to jam with buddies such as Del McCoury and others during the three-day festival that kicks off early Thursday afternoon (June 25). Three-day tickets ($120) and one-day passes ($45) are available online here.
On the Rise: Gavin Conley (Courtesy Photo)
In keeping with a tradition that started in a way with a young William Apostol (aka Billy Strings) more than 15 years ago, the festival also aims to spotlight up-and-coming, young Michigan players such as 16-year-old guitarist Gavin Conley from Swartz Creek, who’ll perform several times Friday and Saturday with The Michigan Bluegrass Band.
“It means a lot for the band to play here,” said Conley, a guitarist, banjoist and mandolinist who started appearing on Michigan stages with his grandfather at age 2 and cites icons such as Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice and Flatt & Scruggs as influences.
“This festival has been going on for over 50 years. All of the guys in the band are grateful we have gotten to play here for years now as well. And we hope to see Billy this weekend.”
Indeed, Conley credits Billy Strings for his monumental influence on the bluegrass scene and “helping bring people together. … He honors traditions and that’s important to us. I think he has been very crucial at bringing people to this music that would’ve otherwise never heard it before.”
Conley & The Michigan Bluegrass Band perform at 1:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Thursday’s opening lineup includes Harbourtown, Full Cord, David Mayfield Parade and Dan Tyminski. View the full festival schedule below.
Full Cord: Performing Thursday. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Todd Kirchner, bassist for Full Cord, calls the venerable event “one of my favorite festivals to hang out and play music, and all of us kind of cut our teeth on that festival.”
Guitarist Eric Langejans added that Charlotte Bluegrass Festival has “a special place in our hearts,” with mandolinist Brian Oberlin calling festival organizer Wes Pettinger, “Daddy.”
“Charlotte is such a structural part of so many bluegrass people,” he insisted.
Travelin’ McCourys and The Del McCoury Band will close out Friday’s schedule; Larry Sparks and The Amanda Cook Band finish things up on Saturday night.
The Eaton County Fairgrounds at 1025 S. Cochran Ave. in Charlotte are located 63 miles (1 hour) east-southeast of Grand Rapids, 53 miles (55 minutes) east-northeast of Kalamazoo, 110 miles (1 hour, 55 minutes) west of Detroit, 23 miles (26 minutes) southwest of Lansing and
203 miles (3 hours, 13 minutes) south of Traverse City.
Check out coverage of the 2025 festival at Local Spins.
CHARLOTTE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 2026: THE SCHEDULE
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