Joe Val Bluegrass Festival

News Flash (Feb 16, 2008 at 12:30pm) - We have added a few more seats, so some Saturday and Sunday tickets are now still available! Come on down! Please bring cash or check, as we don't have an easy way to process credit cards. Call the BBU hotline at 617-782-2251 for the latest information.

News Flash (Feb 13, 2008) - As part of the Joe Val festival, we are holding a silent auction on a Eastman mandolin and a Martin Guitar to raise money for our educational programs. Auction is open until 3pm Eastern Standard Time, Sunday, February 17. Click here to go to the auction page.

Click here for a printable program schedule

The Joe Val Bluegrass Festival:
2006 IBMA Event of the Year
Join the Boston Bluegrass Union and celebrate the legacy of the late Joe Val with three big days of bluegrass at the Sheraton Framingham. We have expanded workshops, educational programs, a great lineup of national and regional talent, music vendors, and around the clock picking. Our 2006 festival won the coveted "Event of the Year" award from the International Bluegrass Music Association.

The Northeast's premier indoor festival
featuring in 2008:

The Seldom Scene (Sat)
Blue Highway (Sun)
Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper (Fri)
The James King Band (Sun)
David Parmley andContinental Divide (Fri)
Dailey and Vincent (Sun)
Steep Canyon Rangers (Sat)
Alecia Nugent (Sat)
Frank Wakefield Band (Sat)
Miller's Crossing (Fri)
The SteelDrivers (Sat)
Audie Blaylock and Redline (Sat)
Travers Chandler and Avery County (Sat)
The Abrams Brothers (Sun)
The Stillhouse Jammers
Rabbit in a Log (Sat.)
The Reunion Band (Sat)
Pine Hill Ramblers (Sun)
Berklee Bluegrass (Fri)
The Pegheads (Fri)

... and many more to be announced!

click here for a festival flyer

News Flash (11:15am Tuesday, November 27): The Sheraton Framingham is now SOLD OUT (only three hours after the system was open). However, there are still hotel rooms available at several nearby hotels - click here to go to our hotel page where you can make reservations at our overflow hotels by phone.

For all questions regarding ticket sales and hotel reservations, contact tickets@bbu.org. For membership status, contact membership@bbu.org.

2008 Festival Ticket Prices

Early Bird Weekend Pass Before January 15th
Member $75 / Non-member $80
Youth (12-16 years old) $25

Weekend Pass After January 15th
Member $80 / Non-member $85
Youth (12-16 years old) $30

Daily Tickets- Still Available!
Friday - $25 and Youth (12-16 years old) $10
Sunday - $30 and Youth (12-16 years old) $15
Saturday Tickets $50

Children Under 12 Free Throughout the Weekend

Or complete the mail in ticket order form and
send a check and SASE to:
Boston Bluegrass Union
PO Box 650061
W. Newton, MA 02465

Tentative Festival Schedule
Welcome Reception – Friday 5 PM
Main Stage Hours
Friday 7:00 PM to 12 PM (Doors open at 6pm)
Saturday 10:00 AM to Midnight (Doors open at 9:30am)
Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM (Doors open at 9:30am)

Joe Val Master Class Day for Adults (Friday)
Kid's Academy (Fri, Sat, Sun)
(click here for a registration form for Kid's Academy)

Exciting Workshops throughout the weekend.

click here for a festival flyer

Volunteers: Click here for more information on how to volunteer at the festival.

Instrument Raffles and Silent Aution

As part of the Joe Val festival, we are holding a silent auction on a Eastman mandolin and a Martin Guitar to raise money for our educational programs. Auction is open until 3pm Eastern Standard Time, Sunday, February 17.
Click here to go to the auction page.

A reminder that all festival events, including hotel accommodations and after hours picking, are only for ticketed festival patrons.

Joe Val Vendor Expo

The Vendor Expo at the Joe Val attracts a variety of bluegrass-related products and services. One great value of our Vendor Expo is that you are able to audition a variety of instruments and other products, and compare them side by side with those you brought with you. What better way to decide on a new guitar, fiddle, mando, banjo, bass...?

The Vendor Expo will be open Friday 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm; and Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Vendor Music Stage

The Vendor Expo is also the scene of more music.. Having bands showcase in the Vendor Expo has turned out extremely well. It provides exposure for the artists and draws attention to the Vendor Expo. We're working on an exciting list of regional bands to perform at this year's Joe Val. Plus, don't be surprised to see one or more main stage bands in the vendor stage area.

Photos from the 2006 and Previous Festivals
(by Darwin Davidson)

Joe Val Kid's Academy Photos
(by Darwin Davidson)

2006 Joe Val Photos
(by Jim Blais)

More Photos from the 2004 Festival
(by Craig Harris)

This event pays tribute to Joe Val, a local mandolin and high tenor singer who was just breaking out nationally before he passed away.

Joe Val Sound Clip 1
Joe Val Sound Clip 2