August 10, 2026This week's got some real range to it. We've got 334 shows spread across the country, and honestly, that's the kind of week where you end up discovering something you weren't even looking for.
Let's start with the obvious stuff. Dailey & Vincent are at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night in Nashville. If you've got the time and gas money, that's a standing reservation kind of show. These guys have been doing this long enough that they could phone it in, but they don't. Ricky Skaggs is also playing up in Fall Creek, Wisconsin that same night, which is a tough choice if you're anywhere in the middle of the country.
Sierra Ferrell's got a run going this week, and she's hitting Dillon, Colorado on Tuesday. If you caught her last record, you know she's not just another Appalachian revivalist. She's got her own thing working, and outdoor amphitheater shows in August are usually pretty solid. Worth the drive if you're out west.
Here's the thing about this week though: Pennsylvania's got 45 shows happening. Forty-five. That's not a typo. If you live anywhere near the state, you're basically tripping over bluegrass. StoneHearth Bluegrass is at the Montvale Public Library on Monday night, which sounds like the kind of intimate venue where you actually hear what's going on instead of fighting with a crowd. Those library shows are underrated.
The festivals are where it gets interesting
North Carolina's got the State Bluegrass Festival happening in Cherokee, and The Kody Norris Show is on the bill. Norris has been putting in serious work lately, and a festival slot usually means he's bringing his A-game. The Little Roy and Lizzy Show is there too, which is always worth catching if you're into the traditional side of things.
Up in Manchester, Vermont, the Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots Festival has Sam Grisman Project. If you know David Grisman's work, you already know the Grisman Project carries that same meticulous approach to arrangements. Vermont in August is beautiful, and this is the kind of festival where you can actually breathe between sets.
Kenny and Amanda Smith are playing larryfest in La Farge, Wisconsin. I don't know as much about that festival, but if Kenny and Amanda are there, it's worth looking into. Those two have been quiet lately, and any chance to see them play is worth marking down.
Volume Five's over in Sweden at Gränna Bluegrass Festival. Yeah, that's a flight, but if you're thinking about doing something crazy this summer, Volume Five is a solid reason to book a ticket. They've got that energy that translates across any room.
The deep cuts
Martha Spencer's got five shows this week, including one in Moniaive, Scotland on Monday. If you're overseas and you see her name on a bill, don't sleep on it. She's one of those artists who seems to show up everywhere and always delivers.
Le Vent Du Nord's also doing six shows this week. They're the kind of band that rewards repeat listening, so if they're coming through your area more than once, catching them twice isn't overkill.
Brad Kaylor and Mineral Bluff Revue are at the Station Inn in Nashville on Tuesday. The Station Inn is basically the best room in Nashville if you actually care about hearing good music. It's not a big venue, it's not fancy, but the sound is clean and the crowd gets it. That's the kind of show where you end up talking to the band after.
The Creekers are playing the Athens County Fairgrounds in Ohio on Monday. Fairground shows have a different vibe than club shows, and if you haven't been to one in a while, it's worth remembering what that's like.
There's a lot happening this week. If you're in Pennsylvania, you've basically got unlimited options. If you're elsewhere, check the full listings on GrassGigs and see what's actually within reach. Sometimes the best show is the one you didn't know was happening forty minutes away.