This year, the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary — even if it’s two years later than expected.
“This is our third try for our 10th anniversary,” said Steve Haberichter, one of the founders and organizers of the festival. “I guess this will be version 10.3.”
Two years of pandemic delays haven’t lessened his enthusiasm for the annual festival, which returns to Breidert Green in downtown Frankfort July 9 and 10.
“We’ve gotten to know so many performers over the years — it’s really like a homecoming,” he said. “We’re just excited to be able to get everyone together in one place again.”
Haberichter opened his music store, Down Home Guitars, in downtown Frankfort in 2008. A touring musician himself, he spent a lot of time playing in bluegrass festivals across the country, many of them in small towns with village squares just like Frankfort.
“I started talking to people who’d been to these festivals, and we all thought, wouldn’t it be great if we could bring that type of event to Frankfort?” he said.
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He worked with a dedicated group of volunteers and city officials to create the free festival — and it quickly developed into one of the nation’s bigger events, drawing close to 10,000 spectators and winning the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Event of the Year award in 2018. While the Chicago area didn’t have a reputation for bluegrass music, Haberichter found that it just took a little exposure to develop a strong following.
“That’s the thing — people that didn’t know they were bluegrass fans,” he said. “I think interest has grown in bluegrass and acoustic music in a grassroots way. Once people are exposed to it, they are drawn to it — that’s how it was with me.
“Once you find it, you realize it’s truly an American art form,” he said. “It’s all-inclusive; it’s family-friendly. And with people sharing it with family and friends, it just kind of got its legs and took off. And people in the area really supported this festival.”
Haberichter has also worked to ensure that the festival remains free for patrons, keeping the event welcoming to everyone.
“It’s made possible through donations and sponsorships — but mostly all the volunteers that help,” he said. “We do pay the bands, and for the infrastructure and stages just like everyone else has to do, but we’ve been able to avoid charging admission. It’s just for the love of the music and putting on an event that showcases Frankfort.”
This year’s festival features two main performance spaces, the Breidert Green Stage and the Prairie Park Stage across the street. Between the two, more than 20 bands will perform over the course of the two days. A smaller stage will be set up at the Old Plank Trail Tavern, which will open a beer garden during the festival, and a workshop stage with more intimate and improvisational performances will also be a part of the festival.
“You will get to see some of the best bluegrass musicians in the country,” Haberichter said. “The level of talent we’re able to bring to this festival always amazes me.”
Some of the headliners include John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, one-time Chicagoan Robbie Fulks, Special Consensus, Fireside Collective and the Becky Buller Band.
“Special Consensus is a Grammy-nominated bluegrass band, and they’ve become good friends of ours,” Haberichter said. “John McEuen is a legendary member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, which had huge hits in the ’70s, and they turned a lot of people on to bluegrass back then.”
Apart from the headliners, the stages will be filled nonstop throughout the two days with professionals traveling from across the country.
“Whenever you get here, you’re going to listen to great music,” Habericher said. “It doesn’t matter who it is; it doesn’t matter what time you go. We have music starting at 10 a.m., and these are national touring bands at 10 a.m. There are no slouches here.”
Habericher said he will be performing himself with the Grateful String Band. Food tents will be at the festival, along with craft vendors and kid activities. The restaurants surrounding the park are also good options for food throughout the day.
“Everyone gets involved, and it’s just a relaxing day,” said Haberichter.
But after two years away, he’s mostly looking forward to getting to play and hear bluegrass music in Frankfort again.
“It’s the people that make this such a great event,” he said. “If you’ve never heard bluegrass before, give it a try. This is the place to discover something special.”
Frankfort Bluegrass Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 9 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 10
Where: Breidert Green, White and Kansas streets in downtown Frankfort
Tickets: Free
Information: 815-469-6321; events.bluegrasschicago.com/event/70904494
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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