2024 FALL Mountain Music Festival
Join us for the Arcadia Valley Mountain Music Festival held every May and October! We are conveniently located only 80 miles from St. Louis in the outdoor recreation capital of Missouri’s beautiful Arcadia Valley.
Admission is FREE for these wonderful family events! Activities center around the historic Iron County Courthouse Square on Main Street in Ironton.
You’ll find a variety of Music, Music, Music everywhere you turn! Be sure to make your lodging reservations early! Check out camping opportunities as well.
If you’re looking for Missouri bluegrass festivals and old-time mountain and Americana music, make your plans now to attend our Arcadia Valley Mountain Music Festivals.
Both in Spring and Fall you’ll enjoy Vendors, Crafters and activities for the kids! There’ll be an area set up for pickers, so be sure to bring your instruments!
FESTIVAL MUSICIANS
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Eric Thompson, Bo Riddle and Mark Browers bring ’70s Americana to life. Their voices and instruments blend together to give a unique music experience that brings the nostalgia of ’70s folk rock, adds creativity to the familiar, and gives an entertaining performance everyone can enjoy.
Bo Riddle – fiddle, guitar, vocals – Riddle is known for his musical work in Nashville’s recording studios and as master boot-maker to the stars. In between, he writes songs and even co-owns an independent label, Las Vegas-based Dream Cat Music. “I feel I’m as good a songwriter as I am a bootmaker,” he said. “In the not-too-distant future I should have some big cuts.”
Eric Thompson – harmonica – Considered a rising star in the harmonica world, Thompson, an Arcadia Valley resident and high school teacher, currently plays with at least three other groups: The Tin Mine Trio, Jive Turkeys, and The Shut-Ins Band. He has also performed at several Nashville venues such as, Antique Archaeology (American Picker’s) Store, and some of the world famous honky tonks on the Broadway Strip (The Wheel, Legend’s Corner, Tequila Cowboy, and Crazy Town.)
Mark Browers – guitar – Mark started playing guitar at age 14. He has been influenced by a broad range of artists such as John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot to rock groups such as the Eagles and Marshall Tucker. He has enjoyed the opportunity to play music with many accomplished artists in the area since 1990.
EVERGREEN
Evergreen is a contemporary/folk Christian group that loves to worship with an eclectic vibe. The name Evergreen comes from the scripture John 15:5 that calls us to be the “branches” for Christ. Like Christ, an Evergreen is never changing, constant, lasting, enduring, etc. The band was formed in 2023, but we’ve grown up playing music together at church camp. Our members include Shelby & Carly Robbs from Farmington, MO, David & Erica Hovis from Ironton, MO and Dawson Buford from Frederricktown, MO.
THE PUNCHES
The Punches is a bluegrass gospel group who make their home in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Mom, Dad & four children all play instruments, sing, and have been performing nationwide at churches, festivals, fairs and special events since 2009. They’ve been featured on Great American Gospel (a weekly television show) in many countries and on over 200 stations across America.
Bruce and Bobette currently reside in Fredericktown, Missouri. Bobette was raised in a musical family of seven kids while Bruce grew up an only child and started playing at the age of 13. When they met, it seemed to be a natural fit and the rest is history.
Their son, Owen plays a Gibson RB-250 banjo. He also is a valuable part of the vocal blend of the family holding down a few lead parts but mostly singing the bass line in the quartets.
THEY are BACK ! ! ! MY BROTHER’S KEEPER
My Brother’s Keeper is a progressive bluegrass band from Cincinnati, Ohio. The band consists of brothers Benjamin, Titus and Joshua Luckhaupt on guitar, mandolin and fiddle respectively. Wyatt “Sawmill” Muray completes this ensemble on the upight bass. They draw inspiration from bluegrass, gospel, rock, and everything in between. Their music featues four-part family harmonies, soulful lead vocals, thoughtful original music, and an energetic live show that appeals to fans of any genre. They have received several awards and nominations, including the 2023 Josie Award for Bluegrass Band of the Year.
WHITEWATER BLUEGRASS BAND
The Whitewater Bluegrass Band of Missouri is an upbeat, toe tapping, bluegrass band. They are made up of members from the Jackson MO area, which includes George Dickerson on Banjo, Rodney Eftink on mandolin, Dan Reno on lead guitar, Kevin Sigman on rhythm guitar and Shawn Asmus playing bass. The band has performed at numerous area and local events.
“Pickin’ on the Square” – Every Friday night, May – October
Friday night kicks off the Arcadia Valley Mountain Music Festival with Pickin’ on the Square. Amateur musicians join professionals to perform everything from bluegrass to gospel to Cajun. Bring your guitar, fiddle or banjo and join in.
Clapping, dancing, singing along – crowds gather to enjoy the tunes of musicians at Pickin’ on the Square on the courthouse lawn every Friday night through the summer. It starts with the Spring Mountain Music Festival, May 17-18 and ends with the Fall Mountain Music Festival, October 18-19. On banjo, harmonica, dobro, bass, fiddle and guitar, musicians from as far as 60 miles away gather to perform rockabilly, country ballads, gospel and original compositions.
Anyone is welcome to come up to the microphone and sing. Some Fridays have guest appearances by experienced vocalists or by a very young one who wants to make their professional debut.
Throughout the season every Friday evening “Pickin’ on the Square” begins at 6:00 pm. For more information, contact Tony Harbison by phone at 573-546-3877 or Carol Kelsheimer by email at [email protected]
FESTIVAL LOCATION
IRON COUNTY COURTHOUSE 250 S. MAIN, IRONTON MO
PICKIN’ ON THE SQUARE
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MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL SPONSORS
We thank everyone for their sponsorship of the Mountain Music Festivals & Pickin’ on the Square. Our Platinum, Gold and Business Boosters help to provide the music for our festivals. If you would like to be a sponsor, attached you will find an information form. Logos will be added for Platinum and Gold sponsors and the names of Business Boosters, as they come in. Click logos to visit the sponsors who are supporting our festivals!
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
BUSINESS BOOSTERS
Black River Electric Coop.
Brad Wooten Auto Body
Green Thumb Plants
Fisher Furniture
The Iron Mule
City of Ironton
Iron County Courthouse
A. V. Chamber of Commerce
Strange Insurance Agency
Mike’s Do It All
Ride the Texas Eagle train to the beautiful Arcadia Valley!