BLUEGRASS BELONGS IN PHILLY — AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP IT HERE

She was in Philadelphia for a business conference, fiddle in tow, and on a whim she searched "Philly Bluegrass." An hour later she was at a jam, playing music with strangers who became friends. She didn't know anyone in this city. She found her people anyway. This happens more than you might think.

The problem

Bluegrass and acoustic roots music has a real, thriving community in the Philadelphia area — talented musicians, dedicated fans, venues that book it regularly. But without a central hub, that community stays invisible to the people who would love it most. Shows go unattended. Musicians relocate here and can't find the jam. Fans assume the genre doesn't exist in their city.

Our solution

For over ten years, Philly Bluegrass has been the hub that connects this community. Through a comprehensive events calendar, weekly social media reaching nearly 2,000 followers, an email newsletter with 1,300 subscribers, media partnerships with area venues, and in-person jams and shows, we make sure the scene can find itself.

The results show up in the community around us. Musicians who discovered bluegrass at a Philly Bluegrass-promoted event now front their own bands and run jams around the city. Bands have formed among players who found each other through our calendar. Transplants who assumed Philadelphia had no bluegrass scene discovered they were wrong — they just needed someone to show them where to look. Travelers passing through have found a room full of people who spoke their language. Dozens of fans tell us the calendar is how they find out what's happening every week.

After ten years, the scene is measurably stronger — and the stories keep coming.

What your contribution makes possible

Philly Bluegrass is a lean, volunteer-driven nonprofit fiscally sponsored by CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia. Your donation covers the basic operating costs that make everything else possible, and funds the in-person jams and events that are at the heart of what we do.

A gift of $50 helps keep the calendar running for a month. $100 helps fund an open jam. $600 covers a full year of operating costs. Every dollar keeps this community connected and this music alive in Philadelphia.

If bluegrass has ever moved you — please donate today, and share this page with someone else who loves roots music. This scene is only as strong as the community behind it.