For almost 15 years, the Bluegrass Situation has been more than just a roots music media publication. We’ve been a gathering place for folks who love and support bluegrass, Americana, folk, and beyond.
Now, in 2026, we’re excited to announce the arrival of the BGS Bandwagon.
We’re throwing down the tailgate and inviting everyone to hop on up and enjoy expanded articles, behind-the-scenes content, member-only events, and exclusive discounts, giveaways and more.
While the Bandwagon introduces new ways to engage with BGS, nothing will change about the roots music coverage you’ve come to know and love. Our day-to-day features, interviews, podcasts, and other core editorial content will remain free and available to all readers, whether you’re a Bandwagon member or not.
The Bandwagon is for those who want to go a little deeper and connect more closely with the music and community that makes BGS special, while directly supporting our independent roots music journalism and the enthusiastic, flourishing community we’ve crafted together over 15 years.
“Since starting BGS, we’ve conducted countless interviews and filmed hundreds of sessions,” says BGS co-founder and executive director Amy Reitnouer Jacobs. “But one thing that inevitably happens with all that material is a lot of it ends up on the cutting room floor. With the launch of the Bandwagon, we can finally bring this full spectrum of content to our incredible community of fans and subscribers.”
It’s a brand new era of BGS built on the exact same foundations at the root of all we do. We can’t wait to see where the road takes us next.
Learn more about the BGS Bandwagon here.
If you’re already a BGS email newsletter subscriber, you’re already a Grass Roots member! Beginning August 26, the BGS Bandwagon will launch our Jam Circle and Guest List membership tiers to new subscribers.
Jam Circle and Jam Circle+ are geared towards readers, fans, and pickers, with subscriptions starting at $3 / month. Benefits include:
• an annual gift from BGS
• discount code for the BGS Mercantile
• monthly member-only newsletter
• exclusive member content
• exclusive giveaways, festival pre-sales, conference registration discounts, and more
Guest List is designed for music industry professionals, artists, and organizations, starting at $20 / month. Benefits include:
• an annual gift from BGS
• discount code for the BGS Mercantile
• monthly member-only newsletter
• exclusive member content
• access to exclusive giveaways, festival pre-sales, conference registration discounts, and more
• special in-person and online industry events
• mixers, panels, and sessions exclusive to Guest List members – depending on your tier of choice.
Group membership rates for organizations (Guest List+) are also available upon request.
Current exclusive Bandwagon benefits include access to a Bourbon & Beyond VIP pass giveaway entry and access to Cayamo cabin giveaway entry – with many more special offerings, promotions, discount codes, giveaways, and more from BGS and our partners coming soon to Bandwagon members. Immediately upon joining the Bandwagon subscribers can also enjoy exclusive interview content with Jobi Riccio and a full SXSW live performance by Shakey Graves, in addition to new Bandwagon content publishing regularly to the site.
Community has always been the most important part of BGS.
“The music industry is in the midst of a critical era,” Jacobs continues, “as more and more music media outlets disappear because of declining traffic, and AI and algorithms subconsciously shape more and more of our tastes, human-made musical content and experiences are becoming more valuable than ever.
“BGS will always be free and available to all fans of roots music. But if you want hand-curated musical communities like ours to continue, and have the ability to support us, know that by participating in this service you are supporting something much bigger than just a monthly subscription.”
We hope you’ll climb on board the Bandwagon with us. Let’s Roll!
Learn more about the BGS Bandwagon and join now here.
Lead Image: “Horse Drawn Wagon” (1910) via Internet Archive.
