Mountaingrass and ABOTMA

“Mountaingrass” is the official festival of the Australasian Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association of Australia (ABOTMA). 

The festival aims to present performances of bluegrass and traditional old-time music, related workshops, and opportunities for attendees to learn and share with each other through jamming and picking sessions. 
Mountaingrass is organised entirely by members of ABOTMA and volunteers for lovers of bluegrass and old time music in Australasia.

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 from 2013 until 2017 after which it moved to Beechworth, Victoria. In 2024 it is moving to Bright, Victoria. 

ABOTMA is dedicated to the promotion of bluegrass and American old-time music in Australia and New Zealand. Where possible we also involve acts from other parts of the Pacific Rim including Japan. We do this primarily through the annual Mountaingrass festival, but we also have several projects in including the 

Young Performer Grant (see below) and Women in String Bands Project. You can support ABOTMA, (and get on our mailing list), by becoming a member. 

As an incorporated body ABOTMA is managed by an Executive committee, who also oversee the organisation of the Mountaingrass festival. 

The 2023/2024 Executive committee is:

• President: Mick O'Neill
• Vice President: Jacinta Connery
• Secretary: Helen Ludellen
• Treasurer: Helen Ludellen
• Ordinary Committee members: 
  Bruce Packard
  Richard Drew
  Dave Diprose

Organising a festival is a mammoth task, so we are very grateful for the help of all of our dedicated volunteers. We are always looking for people who would like to get involved in helping with particular tasks such as artwork, web site maintenance, publicity, grant writing, and fund raising in particular. If you have skills in these areas and have a bit of spare time, why not join our festival organising team? 

Send us an email to info@abotma.org.au if you can help. You can also volunteer to help during the festival. We work hard but we make sure we have fun too!

Young Performer Grant

ABOTMA Projects

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 at Mountaingrass or download.