Oklahoma’s International Bluegrass Festival has been bringing great bluegrass, traditional, western swing, Americana & other music to Guthrie, a historic town in the heart of Central Oklahoma, since 1996. Set in Cottonwood Flats where there’s plenty of room for camping and lots of jam sessions, the first full weekend of each October has brought superb entertainers from the US and around the world to Guthrie for a weekend of great music. In addition to camping, jamming and all the great stage performances, festival-goers can enjoy workshops, chow down at the food trucks, shop for a new instrument or event shirt or hat in the merchandise tent, or bid for a fine instrument or special memorabilia at the auction, where all proceeds go to youth scholarships.
Over the years OIBF audiences enjoyed Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Vince Gill, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Tommy Emmanuel, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson, Suzy Boggus, California, Hot Club of Cowtown, Kathy Mattea, The Kruger Brothers, The Byron Berline Band and The Turnpike Troubadours. In addition to such diverse American entertainers OIBF brings outstanding international bluegrass bands from around the world and introduces them to very appreciative audiences! Bands from Japan, Austria, Italy, The Czech Republic, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, England and many other countries have been welcomed to Guthrie with open arms. Every year fans look forward to the musical diversity OIBF offers.
One of the main goals of OIBF since the festival’s inception is to provide youth music scholarships. Involving youth in music at OIBF includes workshops, instrument contests, youth band contests and a Kid’s Music Tent where youth performers and family bands are showcased for the hundreds of local school children who are brought to the event each year. OIBF also sends bands out to the local schools to do performances while they are here for the festival. Some of the young performers who started out as contestants are now grown and their bands are playing professionally at OIBF and other festivals. It’s a great weekend of fun for the whole family! Visit our Artists page for this years performers and please enjoy exploring our entire website for lots of information!
We’re delighted to introduce new visitors to the historic town of Guthrie where they can explore the antique shops, museums, restaurants, Scottish Rite Temple, charming B & B’s, motels and all the other things Guthrie has to offer!