For Grateful Web readers hungry for a new autumn adventure, let us point your compass toward Indiana—where the picking is sweet, the camping is easy, and the roots run deep. The First City Music Festival, returning September 25-27, 2025, in Vincennes, Indiana, has quietly grown into one of the Midwest’s most authentic, family friendly, and welcoming gatherings for fans of bluegrass, Americana, and folk-fusion sounds.

I do not typically attend music festivals two years in a row. As a journalist who reviews festivals, I usually choose different ones each season, circling back only every few years to see how promoters have improved things. Yet over the Fourth of July weekend, I found myself once again at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park for the Grassfire Festival—barely a year since my last visit.

In true Wisconsin fashion, the 2025 Blue Ox Music Festival kicked off with a good ol’ mud bath. Held June 26–28 at The Pines Music Park in Eau Claire, it didn’t take long for the opening-day rain to turn the grassy grounds into a squishy, Chaco-sucking mess. But if you’ve ever been to Blue Ox, you know a little mud doesn’t scare anyone off—long-time attendees always pack for it. Once the sun appeared and temperatures climbed, the weather shifted from soggy to scorching, yet spirits stayed sky-high from start to finish.

There’s only one place in the world where you can play six completely unique disc-golf courses and see three nights of fantastic music—all over the course of one weekend. Write down these dates, because you don’t want to miss this one: July 10–13, 2025 is when it’s going down at the beautiful Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Megaplex in Wisconsin. This plot of land truly has it all.

Ohio is flat. I know this. It isn’t Kansas-flat or Nebraska-flat, but flat all the same. Detroit, where I live, is only an hour from Toledo—the city Ohio wrested from us during the Michigan-Ohio War of 1836. I’ve driven through the Buckeye State many times and vacationed in most of its major “C” cities (plus the “T,” “D,” “BG,” and “M”). All of them are pretty level. Legend Valley, however—tucked near that middle “C” city—is shockingly hilly. I probably should have gleaned that from the word valley in its name, but hindsight is 20/20.

Driftless Music Gardens is proud to announce the return of The BoogieDown Music Festival, taking place September 11th through 13th, 2025. Celebrating four years of live music, community, and the great outdoors, the festival promises an unforgettable weekend of camping, workshops, and performances in beautiful Yuba, Wisconsin.

Festival Highlights

For the fourth consecutive year, Madison locals, Armchair Boogie, hosted the best Halloween party in town. On Friday, the 26th, the stage was set. The entire setup, including props and costumes, was masterfully crafted by Schnitzel Bear Studios. The band brought some of their friends to The Majestic Theatre on King Street for an unforgettable night filled with thrills and excitement. Wurk kicked things off with an electrifying opening set, with each member sporting a unique costume.

Jamgrass, newgrass, funkgrass, whatever you want to call it—Armchair Boogie is rapidly becoming one of the country’s hottest acts. Armchair Boogie offers a funked up spin on bluegrass with their unconventional lineup of drums and electric bass backing acoustic/electric guitar and banjo. With an unbounded sound, this Wisconsin-based quartet is known for their powerful harmonies, timeless originals, and choice covers, along with their enthusiastic live performances.

Armchair Boogie independently releases Hard Times & Deadlines March 15. Their unconventional lineup of banjo with acoustic & electric guitars backed by tight, driving rhythms on electric bass and drums enhances Armchair Boogie’s lightning-fast bluegrass, allowing them to freely venture into the realms of funk or country.

Jamgrass, newgrass, funkgrass, whatever you want to call it—Armchair Boogie is rapidly becoming one of the country’s hottest acts. With an unbounded sound, this Wisconsin-based quartet is known for their powerful harmonies, timeless originals, and choice covers, along with unforgettable live performances.