GUILDTOWN BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL
2025 August 8/9/10

 

 

​​THE RUSTIC ROBOTS

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THE VANGUARDS  

THE MAIRS FAMILY BAND

LONGWAY

HOME MADE JAM

SOCIOGRASS

GUILDTOWN GOSPEL ​​​

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Join us at Guildtown Village Hall, Perthshire, Scotland, 6 miles north of Perth on the A93 for a fantastic 28th bluegrass festival experience featuring top international band 'The Rustic Robots' plus a great programme of brilliant UK bands. Get ready to be captivated by sensational performances that will create lasting memories.

Click on the band to hear THE RUSTIC ROBOT'S fabulous music

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Concerts; Workshops; Open stage; Sessions;

Camping; Showers; Toilets; Caravans, RV's & Tents welcome

​Meals, Snacks, Refreshments & Alcohol available at The Anglers Inn 

enquiries - email;  gibson1935@outlook.com

text or call;  07968124582

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​BLUEGRASS 

Bill Monroe’s Musical & Cultural Legacy

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Bill Monroe left behind a legacy that’s more vital and thriving than ever and a diaspora of former players and acolytes who continue to spread his music today. Bluegrass was developed by Bill from a wide variety of influences - Carter family and old time song collections including ballads and Scottish fiddle tunes brought to the USA by settlers. A significant influence on Bill was Black blues, Gospel and minstrel music. He even wrote the Elvis Presley hit song - Blue Moon Of Kentucky.

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This unique fusion, often at hard driving breakneck tempos, became Monroe's unique and unmistakeable formulation of the high lonesome sound along with  a vast catalogue of his brilliant compositions. Songs often feature close harmonies and each instrumentalist showcases their skill supported by the other band members. String band folk music was thus developed into show case overdrive with roots deep in the heart of Bill's native Kentucky. The music of Bill's band was broadcast  from the Ryman Auditorium Nashville Tennessee by radio on a powerful US wide transmitter, sponsored by an insurance company - the US listening nation was captivated by what became known as bluegrass music on 'The Grand Ole Opry'.

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As testimony to his genius his bluegrass music has since spread around the world. It has evolved with each talented line-up of the first generation bands following Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys' original “birth of bluegrass” Ryman concert in December 1945.

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This seminal concert also featured the debut of pioneering virtuoso banjo player Earl Scruggs whose amazing style of playing became a defining sound. When Earl joined with Lester Flatt in a new band - The Foggy Mountain Boys - they introduced into the genre the fluid and stunning sound of the dobro under the skill of 'Uncle' Josh Graves. The music was subsequently featured  on television and of course in the films "Bonnie And Clyde", "Deliverance" and more recently "Oh Brother Where Art Thou".

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Words can only go so far in describing the genre - come to Guildtown to experience, in a family friendly environment, the excitement, sensitivity and magic of the music played on fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, dobro and double bass with truly unique, captivating vocals and harmonies. Folk & 'hillbilly' music in overdrive at its exciting best honouring Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys and those fabulous first generation bluegrass bands! The excitement of the Opry comes to Guildtown.

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Click on the label below to experience the buzz of the festival

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