Frankfort Bluegrass Festival Still Growing, Still Free

As music genres go, slow and steady growth trumps flash-in-the pan chart toppers any time—just ask a bluegrass artist.

Nothing lends credence to the influence of bluegrass in today’s music like the list of artists demanding top dollar and holding center stage in Chicago over the past few weeks: Mumford & Son, The Grateful Dead and the many bluegrass bands that populated the 2015 American Music Festival at Fitzgerald’s over July 4th.

The Fifth Annual Frankfort Bluegrass Festival on the Green has one thing the others do not: free admission.

The great common thread is The Leadfoot Band, one of the premier bluegrass bands in the Chicago area and the Midwest. The Chicago-based band has spearheaded a five-year recruiting effort of bands and friends to grow crowds and appreciation for bluegrass that reflects the influence inherent to today’s most popular bands.

Frankfort Bluegrass Festival on the Green

Over a two-day period – Saturday and Sunday July 11 & 12 – more than a dozen bands will command the stage for one and two-day performances befitting the best in bluegrass music at the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival, which offers premier bluegrass bands, workshops and jamming, as well as kids’ activities and introductions to instruments. Admission is free and the bands play from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. For more info, www.frankfortbluegrassfest.com.