BUY TICKETS NOW
Facebook-f Youtube Instagram
FALL JAM TICKETS

Donate

Support MBOTMA With A Donation

We encourage you to think of Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA), a 501(c)(3), as part of your charitable giving.  When you make a gift to MBOTMA, you can designate it to support Grass Seeds Academy or the General Fund. 

GIVE NOW

Ways to Give

Give Online

Click here and choose to whether you would like to donate to the MBOTMA General Fund or to the Grass Seeds Academy.

Choose your amount, and whether your donation is one-time, monthly, or annual.

Give by Mail

Mail a check to MBOTMA  PO Box 16408 Minneapolis MN 55416

Choose a Premium Membership Level

Membership levels Bronze, Silver and Gold include tax-deductible amounts. Learn More Here.

Donate Stock

Donating appreciated stocks, mutual funds or bonds to charity is an efficient way to contribute that can provide you with significant tax benefits. You can make a gift of appreciated securities to MBOTMA while avoiding capital gains tax, expanding your portfolio and/or obtaining a line of income.

Please contact us at execdir@minnesotabluegrass.org for further information.

Make MBOTMA an IRA Beneficiary

If you are over the age of 70½ and have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), then a gift from your account may provide the most significant tax savings of any charitable contribution.

While you are eligible to make this gift starting at 70 ½, when you turn 72 you must take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA, and a QCD will count towards that RMD.

Please contact us at execdir@minnesotabluegrass.org for further information.

Designate MBOTMA as an Estate Beneficiary

Please contact us at execdir@minnesotabluegrass.org for further information.

Give to the Max Day

Use the GiveMN.org Portal for Give to the Max Day!

What to Give To

Grass Seeds Academy

Grass Seeds and GS2 are MBOTMA sponsored youth workshops held in conjunction with the Winter Bluegrass Weekend. The groups meet for one session Friday night, two sessions on Saturday and one session Sunday morning. The kids then have the opportunity to show us all what they have learned with a Sunday concert. Donations  designated to Grass Seeds Academy help MBOTMA cover the expenses of offering this valuable program.

General Fund

Proceeds are used for festivals, mentorships, scholarships, workshops, classes, and other educational activities related to bluegrass and old-time music.

GIVE NOW

T.H.U.G.

The Two Harbors Ukulele Group, affectionately known as T.H.U.G., was formed by Al Anderson in 2010. It has grown from five members to a performance group of sixteen and features soprano, concert, tenor, baritone and bass ukuleles, backed up by harmonica, melodica, drums and horns. The group plays a wide variety of music from 1920’s classics to ’60’s rock and roll to country music…yes, even some Frank Zappa music. Our group has played throughout Minnesota from Lanesboro to Grand Portage and will play almost 50 performances in 2023. We also host the Silver Creek International Ukulele Carnival in Two Harbors which is attended by over 300 ukulele players from over fifteen states and three provinces.

 

 

The Gated Community

The Gated Community is an Americana band with a nearly twenty year history. Formed in 2006 in Minneapolis’s storied West Bank neighborhood, the band is known for its gripping original songs, beautiful vocal harmonies, and multiple lead singers. Led by South Asian American singer/songwriter Sumanth Gopinath (aka Sonny), the band’s music is eclectic in style, encompassing country, folk, bluegrass, and rock. Born in Chicago and raised in Louisiana, Gopinath relocated to the Twin Cities in 2005, after stints in Texas and Connecticut. Current members have been in the band for a decade or more. Everyone in the band sings lead and plays multiple instruments. The band just released their sixth album, available on Bandcamp and all of the main streaming platforms. It was recently included in the Star-Tribune’s list of top 10 albums from Minnesota in 2025 thus far. 

Double Down Daredevils

The Double Down Daredevils are a 6-piece Bluegrass/Americana band that has been entertaining audiences around the region for 10 years now. 

The Daredevils put on a high-energy show that will have you tapping your feet, and leave you wanting more. They feature amazing harmonies on nearly every song from traditional bluegrass to a large and growing list of originals!

Uncle Muskrat

Uncle Muskrat is a five-piece string band from Minneapolis, MN. Through traditional bluegrass instrumentation and lush vocal harmonies, they put a unique modern spin on the sounds of the old, weird American folk songbook. With influences ranging from Dock Boggs to John Hartford to Billy Strings and beyond, their live performances across the upper midwest take audiences on a journey from the quiet of a mountain hollow through the swirling energy of the cosmic expanse with many familiar stops along the way. 

Praised for their musicianship, respect for tradition, and ability to stretch the boundaries of traditional acoustic music, Uncle Muskrat delivers what your muskrat’s uncle never could!

Last Pick’d String Band

The band met at the Homestead Pickin’ Parlor “Beginners” bluegrass jam in Richfield, MN, directed by Gene Walton. That wasn’t enough, so we kept adding more jams to the calendar! Our breakout show as a band was in February 2018 and we’ve been refining our craft as a group ever since.

Our set list selections start with deep roots in traditional bluegrass, flavored with folk, country, and Americana. Everyone in the band sings, creating great harmonies and tasty sounds that appeal to a wide audience.

PA Management with Aaron Niehus

The PA is the connection between you as a performer and the audience. It is critical that you have a solid understanding of how to make the most effective use of all the technology available to you. This workshop will be in 3 segments. 11 am will be setting up the PA  then at 11:30 learn to work with the single Mic  Everyone is welcome. Draw bands are highly encouraged to come.  At noon Aaron will shift to PA Management

Song Analysis with Tim Stafford & Phil Nusbaum

Three songwriters will each present an original song.  Tim and Phil then will offer thoughts and advice on structure and presentation.  Phil Nusbaum will offer thoughts on what broadcasters are looking for when you seek to get your songs played on the air. You do not have to be a songwriter to attend or benefit from these perspectives. Everyone is welcome!

Stagecraft, The Art of Putting on a Show

With Brent Fuqua and Becky Schlegel These two veteran performers go beyond the setlist to discuss ways you can take your next show to a new level. Entertain your audiences, have more fun and get more bookings!

Stagecraft will be at noon on Saturday in Studio 2.  Q&A is a big part of these Panels so bring your questions!

Booking and Promoting Your Band

With Ellen Stanley, Katryn Conlin and Tom Peschges

This panel promises to be a lively discussion of how to build an audience, and book better gigs!  We will cover topics like, Websites, EPK’s, Booking emails, social media strategies and more.  As with all of our panel discussions, please bring your questions!