The International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass will be held in Chattanooga Sept. 16-20, bringing five days of performances, showcases, contests and family-friendly activities to downtown. While the event includes the IBMA Business Conference and Bluegrass Music Awards, much of the programming is designed for the public, with multiple stages, food vendors, art markets and special events open to attendees.
Bluegrass Ramble showcases
The week begins with the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, presented by Chattanooga Coca-Cola. The Ramble is a series of evening showcases Sept. 16-18 featuring 27 juried performers selected from more than 100 applicants. The artists represent a range of bluegrass styles, from traditional roots to innovative offshoots, and will perform at venues throughout downtown Chattanooga.
Shows will take place at Barrelhouse Ballroom, The Comedy Catch, Gate 11 Distillery, Hi-Fi Clyde’s, Songbirds and the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Sept. 16-17, audiences can hear national and international bluegrass acts. Sept. 18 will feature a special Chattanooga edition of the Ramble highlighting regional talent. Single-day and three-day passes are available at WorldofBluegrass.org, granting access to all participating venues.
Bluegrass Live! festival
The public centerpiece of the week is IBMA Bluegrass Live!, taking place Sept. 19-20 in downtown Chattanooga. The two-day festival will feature ticketed performances, free community stages, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors and a range of special events.
Market Street, from 8th to 11th, will serve as the main festival corridor, lined with local food trucks, beverage stations and an arts and crafts marketplace curated by the Chattanooga Market.
“The festival lineup is spectacular,” says IBMA Executive Director Ken White. “We have three stages of premium talent, and then outside of the ticketed areas, we’re going to have arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and free stages. The Chattanooga Stage will feature premium local talent, and the Youth Stage is going to showcase the next generation of bluegrass artists.”
Diverse stages across downtown
The city of Chattanooga’s Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has partnered with IBMA to create the One Chattanooga Stage at 11th and Market, which will feature a mix of local performances across multiple genres, including bluegrass, hip-hop, dance and spoken word. The stage is free and open to the public.
The IBMA Youth Stage will showcase college groups, youth bands and participants from IBMA’s long-running Kids on Bluegrass program. White says the program has produced some of today’s most acclaimed performers.
“Our Kids on Bluegrass program has been very successful over the years and has really grown. Many of our bluegrass professionals performing on big stages came through that program. Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, AJ Lee – they all started there. We’re committed to giving younger musicians a real platform.”
Inside the Chattanooga Convention Center, attendees can visit the International Stage to see top bluegrass acts from around the globe and explore the Exhibit Hall, where instrument makers and music vendors display and sell handcrafted guitars, banjos and mandolins.
Special events and contests
Several special events are planned during the festival. On Friday morning, Sept. 19, the “Picking for the Prize” Guitar Contest will be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Hosted by Ruby Falls IBMA Artist-in-Residence Luke Black, the contest will feature five finalists competing for a Martin D-28 Billy Strings signature guitar, donated by Martin Guitar.
The IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass Late Night Jam will close out the week Sept. 20 at The Signal. Sponsored by Yamaha, the afterparty begins at 11 p.m. and will feature spontaneous collaborations and surprise guest performances.
Showcasing today’s talent
White says he’s particularly excited about the range of artists performing throughout the week.
“I’m a big fan of East Nash Grass. There’s also an exciting group, Mountain Grass Unit, that’s really catching fire. They’ll be at the festival. I’m especially looking forward to seeing Sierra Ferrell; she’s amazing. And Sierra Hull – I love her mandolin playing. I’d also like to catch Mason Via, another younger artist who’s making a name for himself.”
White adds that bluegrass offers a high level of musicianship and improvisation, which audiences will experience firsthand during the festival.
“There’s a virtuoso level of playing in bluegrass,” he says. “It started with Bill Monroe and all those influences he brought. Everybody plays the melody, but in bluegrass you also have the chance to step up and tell a story – just like a jazz musician would. There’s a big emphasis on learning how to play your instrument.”
A look toward the future
White says the festival will reflect the growth and evolution of bluegrass music.
“I never could have envisioned Billy Strings singing a Larry Sparks song in an arena full of people. I’m astounded by what he does and the way he connects with people. That far exceeds what I imagined for the music. But he’s still true to the roots.”
Younger performers, including Molly Tuttle, Sierra Ferrell and Sierra Hull, are shaping the future of the genre while building on its foundation, White continues.
“A lot of artists who have been successful in country music – Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs – came up through bluegrass, and everything they do still has an element of that within it.”
Planning your visit
With more than 27 juried performers, dozens of stages and artists traveling from around the globe, White says the festival will highlight both the depth and diversity of bluegrass music.
From traditional sounds to modern interpretations, audiences will hear a wide range of styles and skill levels throughout the week.
To help navigate the five-day schedule, IBMA has launched a free World of Bluegrass 2025 app that offers performance schedules, maps, artist details and real-time updates.
For White, the festival is an opportunity to showcase the best of bluegrass today while creating new experiences for fans. Downtown Chattanooga, he says, will be filled with music – and for five days, everyone will be invited to be part of the story.