Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance Brings Annual Festival to Warren's Frerichs Farm

The Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance (RIBA) is gearing up for the seventh annual Ocean State Bluegrass Festival, bringing three days of picking, singing, and community to Frerichs Farm in Warren from August 14 through August 16, 2026.
For RIBA President Jeffery Horton, a longtime bluegrass performer and upright bass player, the festival represents the heart of a vibrant local music community. Horton, who is largely self-taught, began his musical journey in high school using a rented bass with makeshift tape to mark the frets. Over the years, he has played with several notable bands, including the Neon Valley Boys, the country band OK Corral, and Northern Lights, a group that spent six years recording for Flying Fish and Red House Records.
"I love bluegrass music," Horton shared during a recent Spotlight interview with the Rhode Island Wave at the Cowesett in West Warwick. "It's hard to sit still. You've got the mandolin and the guitar, the banjo going, and the bass providing the on-beat like a bass drum... it's a sound."
That signature sound will be on full display throughout the August festival weekend. The event kicks off on Friday, August 14, at 4:00 p.m. with open jamming, camping setups, and a nighttime open mic. Saturday features a full day of workshops, more jamming, and an evening concert starting at 6:00 p.m. The main stage lineup includes Nashville-based Thunder and Rain, Berkeley graduate JB Cardinal and Cardinal Sins, Connecticut’s Simon Brogi and the XLTs, and local 82-year-old vocal powerhouse Ernie Loiselle, who will be backed by Horton and members of Rock Hearts.
The weekend wraps up on Sunday with an instructional jam and the popular "Band Scramble," where musicians put their names in a bucket, form impromptu bands, come up with a quirky name, and perform a few rehearsed tunes on stage.
Beyond organizing the festival, RIBA has dedicated over 15 years to promoting the appreciation of bluegrass music in Southern New England. The organization hosts monthly instructional jams, maintains a Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and runs a Learner Loaner Program, which provides loaner instruments to community members who want to try their hand at playing without the upfront cost of purchasing an instrument.
"You can take it, learn it, get it back to us," Horton explained regarding the instrument library. "It's a community."
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picking chairs, and their own instruments. The festival is held rain or shine, with large tents available for the show and workshops.
Tickets for the Ocean State Bluegrass Festival are available online at ribluegrass.org or at the gate. A standard festival ticket is $35, while a festival and camping pass is $50, which includes a dry camping space from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Admission is free for children 14 and younger, and parking is $5 per vehicle per day.
For more information, to become a member, or to inquire about vendor opportunities, visit the Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance website at ribluegrass.org.