Gandy Dancer Bluegrass Festival

A full day of Bluegrass music starts at 11am, with our headliners taking the stage at 7pm. When you’re not at the main stage, check out all of the other free activities and downtown Mazo. We’ll have mini-train rides for the kids, model trains, museum exhibits, food, drink, and more! If you’re looking for a bluegrass jam, we’ll have that too!

Our bands this year are:

7pm Timeslot: The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. With a 2019 Grammy nomination for best Bluegrass Album, and their Grand Ole Opry debut also in 2019, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys will be bringing the absolute best of Bluegrass to our little corner of Dane County.
5pm Timeslot: Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road. We can’t wait to welcome back Liam and the rest of the band to the Westland Promenade. Growing up just down the road from Doc Watson, Liam’s group is the perfect mix of authentic and progressive Bluegrass.
3pm Timeslot: Monroe Crossing. Named after Bill Monroe, these Minnesota Bluegrass legends dazzle audiences with an electrifying blend of bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, original bluegrass and more. With performances across the United States, Canada, and Europe under their belt, they’re sure to be a crowd pleaser.
1pm Timeslot: Fox Crossing String Band. This all-female bluegrass group from Chicago, formed in 2016, will be bringing their incredible harmonies, creative original songs, and entertaining stage presence to downtown Mazo for you to enjoy!
11am Timeslot: Soggy Prairie. Sun Praire’s own will be opening the festival for the 2nd year in a row. Their authentic spin on original music is always a favorite of Gandy Dancer festival goers, and will be a perfect way to start off the 2022 festival.
Tickets to the main stage are $15 in advance. Admission to the rest of the festival is 100% free.

The Gandy Dancer Bluegrass Festival represents the best of small-town America. High quality entertainment, picturesque setting, family friendly activities – we’ve got it all. Come and join us Saturday, August 20th for a day you’ll remember! Festival grounds are downtown Mazo. Music is on the Westland Promenade and the Performing Arts Pavilion.

p.s. Gandy Dancer is a slang term for railway workers. There was a railway tool with the nickname of a gandy, and when people were using their gandy together, it looked like they were dancing. Mazomanie was created because of the railway – so Gandy Dancer is homage to our village’s heritage.