The Australasian Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association, (ABOTMA), is a not-for-profit incorporated organisation that was formed in 2013 to continue organising an annual bluegrass and old time music festival following on from the very successful and much-loved Harrietville Bluegrass and Traditional Music Convention after it ceased in 2012.
The new festival, called Mountaingrass, was held at Harrietville, Victoria until 2017 after which it moved to Beechworth, Victoria. Mountaingrass is now organised by volunteers and members of ABOTMA for lovers of bluegrass and old time music in Australasia.
ABOTMA is dedicated to the promotion of bluegrass and American old-time music in Australia and New Zealand. We do this primarily through the annual Mountaingrass festival, but we also have several projects:
ABOTMA Projects
Young Performer Grant
Every year ABOTMA uses the funds raised from the Mountaingrass raffle to offer a small grant to a young performer already playing playing bluegrass and old time music to encourage them further.
Winner of 2019 Young Performer Grant, Amy Ryan.
for more info go to: Young Performer Grant
Women in Stringbands Project
In 2017 ABOTMA released a compilation CD featuring and celebrating Australian and NZ female musicians playing in stringbands with help from the Folk Alliance Australia and Alexander Bell Studios. It comprises songs and tunes featuring Australian women playing music rooted in bluegrass, old time acoustic string music and other related folk styles. The CD is available for sale or download.
For more info go to: Women in Stringband CD Project