The Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance is pleased to partner with Bally's Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island to present the RIBA Bluegrass Bash on Saturday, March 21, 2026. This will be a jam-packed one-day festival! The highlight will be a show featuring headliner Blue Highway, a nationally acclaimed bluegrass band, preceded by seven talented New England bluegrass bands. The day will also include workshops for bluegrass musicians of all levels.
SCHEDULE: Doors open at 11:00 am; the eight-band show will run from 12:00 noon to 11:00 pm. The workshop schedule will be announced later.
TICKETS: Tickets are $50 and may be purchased on the RIBA website at
https://www.ribluegrass.org/event-info/2026-riba-bluegrass-bash-ballys.
LOCATION: Bally’s Twin River Casino Event Center, 100 Twin River Rd, Lincoln, RI 02865.
Seating is general admission.
HEADLINER:
Blue Highway
In 2023, the highly esteemed bluegrass band Blue Highway celebrates 29 years of touring, with four of the original members still intact. Its single "On the Roof of the World" was number one on the Bluegrass Today National Airplay chart for four weeks from July to August 2022 and was the number one song for the month of September while its follow-up “Lonesome State of Mind” was number one five times on the weekly chart and for the months of February, March and May 2023. The band has earned a collective 32 IBMA Awards, six SPBGMA Awards, one Dove Award, plus three Grammy nominations. Most recently, the band was nominated for IBMA's 2022, 2021 and 2020 Vocal Group of the Year and Song of the Year Awards. Blue Highway's #1 album Original Traditional was nominated for a 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album. Blue Highway was voted the Favorite Bluegrass Artist of All Time by the readers of Bluegrass Today in April 2016.
NEW ENGLAND LINE-UP:
Ocean State Ramblers
The Ocean State Ramblers’ homespun brand of bluegrass is fun and upbeat, and sometimes sentimental. Their potpourri of bluegrass standards, folk and country favorites, and original songs is enjoyable music, pure and simple.
Rusty Rails
A Rhode Island bluegrass band consisting of five seasoned musicians playing traditional bluegrass, country bluegrass and other “grassified” songs from their repertoire.
Ernie Loiselle and Friends
Seasoned songman Ernie Loiselle brings his powerful voice to you in this rare feature performance. Ably assisted by his tight backup band, Ernie will show you all why we love him.
Four Bridges
Four Bridges is an energetic string band with members from MA and RI. With influences from various genres, they play original, traditional and contemporary bluegrass.
The Jeff Horton Band
New England bluegrass veteran Jeff Horton presents an eclectic ensemble, each member contributing to create an unusual acoustic sound, with tight rhythms and harmony vocals.
The Hazel Project
With Betsy Green (fiddle), Gretchen Bowder (banjo), Whitney Roy (guitar), and Lindsay Lassonde (bass), The Hazel Project features sweet soaring harmonies and tasteful tunes – traditional grassroots music to fill your heart and soul.
Rock Hearts
Formed in 2013, Rock Hearts brings together five seasoned musicians from Southern New England. Releasing Starry Southern Nights got them noticed nationally, they signed with 615 Hideaway Records and released Wanderlust and most recently Unfinished Bridges.
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The Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance's mission is to promote the appreciation of bluegrass music and serve as a resource for fans, students, teachers, musicians and venues in Rhode Island and the surrounding area.
Also check out other Music events in Lincoln, Entertainment events in Lincoln, Workshops in Lincoln.
