The Podunk Bluegrass Festival is a bluegrass festival established in 1996 and takes place in August each year in Connecticut, United States. The festival features local, regional, and national bluegrass musicians. Besides four days of music on the main stage, the festival hosts band and songwriting competitions, a kid’s bluegrass academy, workshops with headlining bands, and separate picking and quiet camping areas.
This year’s Main Stage festivities kick off on Thursday, August 7, 2025 with the annual Band Competition sponsored by TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik. The winner will be awarded the new TF17 large diaphragm condenser microphone – a product the company has beta tested and developed over the past few years with the assistance of the Podunk Bluegrass Festival and their band competition artists. The festival sound will be handled by the fantastic team at Rosewood Sound from Syracuse, NY.
TELEFUNKEN Band Competition Alumni Gaining Momentum on the Northeast Festival Circuit
The TELEFUNKEN Band Competition continues to prove its value as a launchpad for emerging acoustic and roots artists. Several past participants—On The Trail, Seselia, The Tenderbellies, Still Water, and Hollow Turtle—have been selected to perform on the highly competitive “Stage Too” showcase at the Ossipee Valley Music Festival in Maine. This recognition highlights the competition’s growing reputation as a source of standout talent.
As one of the few remaining platforms in New England for discovering up-and-coming roots and bluegrass bands, the TELEFUNKEN competition gains even more significance following the closure of the Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival, a long-standing pillar in the traditional bluegrass scene.
Further underscoring the competition’s impact, 2023 winner Cole Quest and the City Pickers—fronted by Woody Guthrie’s grandson—are earning acclaim from fans and promoters alike. Their upcoming album, featuring new renditions of Guthrie’s iconic songs, is set for release this July. A celebratory performance will be held in June at the historic Guthrie Center in Great Barrington, MA.
2025 Band Competition Artists:
The Coal Fired Ramblers, a traditional bluegrass ensemble from Schuylkill County, PA, proudly represents the Anthracite Coal Region’s distinct ivecultural heritage. This dynamic group of musicians, united by familial bonds and friendships, is driven by a shared passion for bluegrass music. The Coal-Fired Ramblers’ original compositions reflect their deep connection to local history and culture, addressing themes such as trains, pioneers, hard times, and coal mining. The band’s performances also showcase their mastery of classic bluegrass songs from legendary artists. Along with their energetic and engaging live shows, The Coal-Fired Ramblers build lasting connections with their audience, inspiring a new appreciation for bluegrass music among younger generations.
Ironwood Drive, From Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, has made its name playing local fairs, festivals, and churches. They bring a new and passionate approach to the world of traditional bluegrass. Vocalists Stephen Werner and Brett Beiler are joined by Gideon Werner, Jordan Beedle, and BrandonFox. The band’s commitment is to work together, bringing a high-energy, toe-tapping show each and every night. 2024 announced Ironwood Drive’s second project. The new album “A Place Called Home” pays tribute to the founders of bluegrass and the band’s gospel roots.
Queen City Cut-Ups are Northern Vermont’s premier bluegrass and old time string band. Born in the shadow of Mount Mansfield, and washed clean in the waters of Lake Champlain, the band features Andrew Stearns on vocals and guitar, Eli Goldman on Bass, Jens Hybertson on Fiddle, Josh Halman on Mandolin and Adam Frehm on Dobro. Their debut album of original music comes Summer 2025.
Stillwater is an enigmatic and spirited bluegrass quintet. Formed on the wooded shores of the StillwaterRiver in Old Town, Maine in the summer of 2023, Stillwater has emerged as a motivated and hardworking new voice in the New England Bluegrass scene. Drawing upon inspiration in jazz, bluegrass, jam band, folk, and old-time genres, Stillwater crafts a multi-faceted and memorable experience for listeners. Featured on competition and showcase stages at the Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival, Ossippee Valley Music Festival, the Downeast Rock and Roots Festival, and others, Stillwater has made the most of their short time together, leaving an air of excitement for future releases and shows. Original works on their 2024 debut single Piney Point and latest release The Cedar House Sessions Vol. 1 tell stories of adolescence, young adulthood, and all the complicated emotions attached.
For more information about this years Podunk Bluegrass Festival, please visit there website here.
Check out a YouTube playlist of past Podunk Bluegrass Band Competition performances here: