Alan Bibey & Grasstowne and Volume Five headline the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee on Jan. 23 in Pickens, S.C., with two stages, free workshops and young pickers.

Two of bluegrass music’s award-winning bands, Alan Bibey & Grasstowne and Volume Five, will headline the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Pickens High School Fine Arts Center in Pickens, South Carolina.

The indoor festival is run by Young Appalachian Musicians, known as YAM, and its proceeds go to the nonprofit behind it, Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music. The day brings two performance stages, free music workshops, informal jam sessions, food concessions and local vendors, according to the organizers, who call the jubilee “a favorite Upstate tradition, drawing bluegrass enthusiasts, musicians, and families from across the Southeast.”

YAM’s announcement gives the hours as 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The festival page lists 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., so check the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee page for the final schedule before you set off.

“Cold Weather. Hot Pickin’,” the page says. “Get ready for a full day of incredible bluegrass, toe-tappin’ tunes, and good old-fashioned fun!”

The headliners

Alan Bibey & Grasstowne bring what the organizers call decades of bluegrass excellence. YAM calls Bibey “one of the premier mandolin players in bluegrass music.” He was named International Bluegrass Music Association Mandolin Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020, and Grasstowne’s recording “Gonna Rise and Shine” won IBMA Gospel Recording of the Year, the organizers say.

“Known for his remarkable technical skill, signature mandolin style, and dedication to traditional bluegrass, Bibey leads Grasstowne in delivering powerful instrumentals, tight harmonies, and award-winning music,” YAM says.

The five members of Volume Five standing and crouching on grass in front of a weathered pale blue wooden barn wall.
Volume Five, who close the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee. Photo: supplied by Young Appalachian Musicians

Volume Five close the jubilee with the evening set. The band formed in 2008 and is led by Mississippi fiddler and vocalist Glen Harrell. In 2017 it won two IBMA awards, Emerging Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “I Am a Drifter.”

The organizers describe Volume Five as “one of bluegrass music’s most respected contemporary bands,” known for “soulful vocals, rich harmonies, exceptional musicianship, and blend of traditional and contemporary bluegrass.”

Headliners on stage with students

Both headline bands will share the stage with current YAM students and alumni during the day.

“This collaboration between nationally recognized artists and young performers promises to be one of the day’s most memorable moments,” YAM says, calling it a chance to bring “together generations of musicians in a celebration of Appalachian musical heritage.”

The organizers say the young players get more from the day than a slot on the bill. “YAM students not only perform for enthusiastic audiences but also learn alongside accomplished artists, building confidence, friendships, and a deeper appreciation for the music of their Appalachian heritage,” the announcement says.

The rest of the lineup

Regional bands and YAM alumni groups fill the two stages through the day. The announcement names Creekwater Collective and The Wilder Flower, and the festival page adds Will Clark, Carolina Roots, 1st Time Around and the Sweet Potato Pie Kids, with more acts still to be announced.

Head and shoulders portrait of bluegrass musician Will Clark.
Will Clark. Photo: supplied by Young Appalachian Musicians

Will Clark is an Upstate South Carolina mandolin player known for “his distinctive mandolin style and legendary chop,” according to YAM. He has played with the James King Band, Williamson Branch, The Dave Adkins Band and Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive.

Five young musicians of Creekwater Collective sitting on stone steps outdoors with a banjo, two guitars, a mandolin and an upright bass.
Creekwater Collective on stone steps with their instruments. Photo: supplied by Young Appalachian Musicians

Creekwater Collective is a group of young, award-winning multi-instrumentalists from in and around Pickens County, which YAM calls “a hotbed of young bluegrass talent.” The band takes its lead from “legends of bluegrass like Rice, Monroe, & Scruggs,” the page says.

Eight young members of Carolina Roots with guitars, a banjo, mandolins and a fiddle, standing on grass in front of a wooden mill and its large water wheel.
Carolina Roots, YAM's high school performing ensemble, in front of a mill wheel. Photo: supplied by Young Appalachian Musicians

Carolina Roots is YAM’s high school performing ensemble. “More than a band, Carolina Roots is an advanced learning, performance, and leadership experience,” the organizers say.

Five members of 1st Time Around standing arm in arm in front of a stage with microphones and a brick wall.
1st Time Around on stage. Photo: supplied by Young Appalachian Musicians

1st Time Around promises “Hard-Driving Bluegrass. Unparalleled Energy. Virtuosic Musicianship,” with roots in tradition and “youthful progressive energy.”

Young musicians in matching light blue YAM T-shirts sitting and standing on hay bales and benches in a wooden barn.
The Sweet Potato Pie Kids in YAM T-shirts. Photo: supplied by Young Appalachian Musicians

The Sweet Potato Pie Kids bring together young YAM musicians who are ready to take what they have learned in lessons into a band. YAM promises “lively picking, toe-tapping tunes, and the enthusiasm of the next generation of Appalachian musicians.”

Free workshops and jams

Professional musicians lead free workshops through the day, “giving aspiring players of all ages opportunities to learn new skills, connect with experienced artists, and participate in the musical traditions that have been passed down through generations,” the organizers say. Informal jam sessions run alongside the stage shows.

Tickets

  • $35 general admission
  • $30 early bird, bought before Thanksgiving
  • $30 seniors, age 62 and older
  • Free for children in fifth grade and younger

Tickets are sold through YAM’s ticketing page, linked from the festival page, which also carries schedules and artist announcements.

Businesses and individuals can sponsor the jubilee, with packages starting at $100 according to the festival page, and sponsorship includes complimentary tickets and Green Room access. Vendors can apply through connect@yamupstate.com.

Where the money goes

“More than a music festival, the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee celebrates the past, present, and future of Southern Appalachian music,” YAM says.

Proceeds support Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music, or POSAM, a nonprofit that teaches guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and other traditional instruments through its Young Appalachian Musicians programs. The organization says it serves more than 500 young musicians a year through afterschool and evening programs, camps, ensembles and community performances, offering “music education, performance opportunities, and cultural experiences to many who would not otherwise have the opportunity.”

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 Winter Bluegrass Jubilee?

Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027, at the Pickens High School Fine Arts Center in Pickens, South Carolina. The organizers’ announcement gives 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

How much are Winter Bluegrass Jubilee tickets?

$35 general admission, $30 early bird before Thanksgiving, $30 for seniors 62 and older, and free for children in fifth grade and younger.

Who is playing the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee?

Alan Bibey & Grasstowne and Volume Five headline, with Will Clark, Creekwater Collective, The Wilder Flower, Carolina Roots, 1st Time Around and the Sweet Potato Pie Kids among the other acts named so far.