We are tickled to announce the Hourly Stage Schedule! In a little over a month every stage will soon be overflowing with folks plying their musical wares for you. Over forty bands will be spread over three stages (Hartford, Boogie, Hippy Hill) throughout the Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground in beautiful Bean Blossom, IN. Start planning your festival fun with the help of the hourly stage schedule.

Here we go! It's hard to believe that in less than 90 days our John Hartford Memorial Festival family will be gathering in the hills and hollers of Bean Blossom, IN to celebrate life with music and to honor our namesake, John Hartford, for the 9th consecutive time.

The John Hartford Memorial Festival, “The Most Laid-Back Festival in America”, is completely tickled to announce our final line-up along with the kick-off of our John Hartford Band contest and Songwriter’s Challenge. We will begin accepting entries on January 1, 2019. Win cash, booking opportunities, and perform on the Hartford Stage, a.k.a. The House That Bill Monroe Built! Visit the website to read interviews and hear music from past winners, and learn all about “The Most Laid Back Festival in America”.

The 9th Annual John Hartford Memorial Festival Songwriter's Challenge will begin accepting entries Jan 1, and will accept up to 35 entries through midnight, March 31st, 2019. Held at the Bill Monroe Music and Camping Park in beautiful Bean Blossom, IN, May 29th-June 1st, the 9th Annual John Hartford Memorial Festival is genre busting, family friendly event honoring the life and legacy of the late John Hartford, one of America’s most beloved and ground-breaking musicians.

Join us this summer at the @John Hartford Memorial Festival! Today the initial lineup has been announced and the first tier of Discounted Early Bird 4-Day Tickets are now on sale. Get your tickets to "The Most Laid Back Festival in America" before they are gone. See you May 29 - June 1, in Bean Blossom, IN. #JHMF9 #HartfordFest www.HartfordFest.com

I had one question as I was pulling into Bean Blossom, Indiana for this year’s John Hartford Memorial Festival. “Can they keep the spirit of this thing alive with continued success?” There is something different and special happening in this event, and we all know what happens when beautiful special things really take off and become tremendously successful. I didn’t doubt that I was about to take part in something truly good, but I was – let’s say worried. I don’t want to see this festival lose its way.

A few months ago we announced our full lineup, and the John Hartford Memorial Festival Family answered with record ticket sales! We announced early so you could plan that special week to come to Bean Blossom and re-unite with your festival family.

"Festival Family". You see the term used in practically all fest promo, and here at John Hartford Memorial Festival we are proud to live it, with you. Hopefully by now you have attended JHMF, maybe even all previous 7 years. We are a family friendly, kid friendly, dog friendly, jam friendly, just plain friendly festival and we strive to reach the right number of folks for your maximum comfort.

Where in the world can you go to sit back, relax, leave your worries at the gate, enjoy the campground atmosphere and participate in campfire jamming?  Where can you go to experience the most exciting, thoroughly entertaining bunch of pickers and singers ever assembled in the most laid-back atmosphere in the country?

The 7th annual John Hartford Memorial Festival is in the books. We thought year 6 was great, well folks, you outdid yourselves. You brought friends that you love, and we grew. The general feeling was one of family and safety, and always, "laid back". Factor in the reason why you came and the reason why we do this. Music. The music of our namesake John Hartford, the music of our performers, our contestants, and your music.