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 6, 2026 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.
2026 Band Competition Artists:
Beyond Dixon– A bluegrass/newgrass band founded in the winter of 2025–2026 by bassist Gary Upton. The band blends traditional Appalachian string-band roots with modern arrangements and a rhythm-forward pulse. Upton is joined by Cab Burkhart (guitar/vocals), whose high-lonesome delivery and rich vocal tone bring emotional lift and classic bluegrass authenticity to the group’s sound, alongside Caleb Swan and Maxwell Petersen. Beyond Dixon’s sets feature a strong blend of original songs and traditional bluegrass.
The Folk Villains are a 7-year sibling trio-turned-quintet of Bluegrass & Old-Time musicians. Ringgold Cockey (banjo), Isabel Cockey (fiddle), & Guinevere Cockey (mandolin) grew up in a log cabin near the marshes and beaches of Tyaskin, MD, picking on the porch and adoring their dad’s band, The Folk Heroes. Now, with the addition of Jack Rehbeck (Ohio, guitar) and Danny Marcus (Washington, upright bass), those Eastern Shore roots and chops refined in the Appalachians are combined with solid Ohio tradition and fresh Washington innovation.Together, The Folk Villains honor each of their families’ folk histories, enriching them by incorporating an ever-expanding variety of musical genres, and infusing them with their own Villainous style. The product is an addictive, high-octane grass style specific to The Folk Villains and the mashup of their East Coast, Midwest, & West Coast sounds.
The Red Tailed Rounders-A swinging country string band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group performs bluegrass and country standards, as well as unique and heartfelt original music. With a classic string band lineup of guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and upright bass, The Red Tailed Rounders bring new songs into an age-old tradition of American folk music.
The Wire Jays-A five piece contemporary Newgrass band that prioritizes creative songwriting, musicianship and fun into their live shows. They are currently based in South Florida and began playing together at the Frost School of music. They bring a fresh and interpretive style that showcases their talent.
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: