The advent of summer means Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman, a beloved series of family-friendly concerts held in the historic “Mother Church of Country Music” in downtown Nashville. Presented by Springer Mountain Farms, Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman features famed figures of the genre playing their hits while they showcase the musical heritage of old-timey bluegrass music.
The emcee for the series is Eddie Stubbs, the longtime host of the Grand Ole Opry, and he’ll be introducing luminaries like Dailey and Vincent, Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs, along with his band, Kentucky Thunder. The Ryman has an important role in the history of bluegrass, including in 1945 when a young banjo player named Earl Scruggs first introduced what would become his iconic three-fingered picking style while performing with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys. Monroe, known as “The Father of Bluegrass,” was a frequent performer at the Ryman and was the first performer along with Alison Krauss when Bluegrass Nights debuted there in 1994.
Each Thursday night performance kicks off with a free “Pickin’ on the Plaza” showcase, featuring regional bluegrass bands starting at 6 PM on the Ryman plaza. In past years, some of these up-and-coming bluegrass performers have risen up through the ranks to become the headliners of today. The main shows of Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman begin at 7:30, and tickets for individual weeks are available at the event website. Or for the really affordable price of just $165, you can buy a season pass to the series and ensure that you have the same great seat for every performance. $165 for a whole summer of entertainment? That’s tough to beat! Series passes are available here.
Check out the lineup and schedule of performers:
Thursday, June 20: Billy Strings and Steep Canyon Rangers
Thursday, June 27: Leftover Salmon + Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
Thursday, July 11: The Earls of Leicester
Thursday, July 18: Dailey and Vincent
Thursday, July 25: Vince Gill
Thursday, August 1: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
See you this summer for six weeks of fun and music, courtesy of Springer Mountain Farms.
