NASHVILLE — Some of the country’s finest fingerstyle guitar players will return to Brown County at the end of this month for the fifth annual Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Festival. From a world-class competition and concert to guitar workshops led by the pros, July 29-31 are sure to be three days of pickin’ perfection.

A weekend filled with toe-tapping fun, guests will be dazzled by the art of fingerstyle playing and the sheer talent of top guitarists. Festivities will get underway on Friday, July 29 with a free Friday Night Kick-Off Party from 7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. This year’s opening party is bigger and better than ever. Not one, but two stages of music will be running at the Brown County Inn in the Corn Crib Lounge and in the Town Hall Room. Not only will guests be treated to performances by nationally-ranked acoustic guitarists, but local favorites Cari Ray & The Loaners as well. The Pine Room Tavern also will have live strumming on Friday night, including past Fingerstyle Festival winners, such as Kade Puckett, along with other guitar greats. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at both locations.

The tunes will continue on Saturday, July 30, with the Festival’s main events: the competition and concert. From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Brown County Playhouse, 40 of the country’s top fingerstyle guitarists will battle it out for a grand prize and bragging rights as the best during the Fest’s competition.

At 7:30 p.m. the top three finishers from the day’s competition will take the Playhouse stage during the evening concert, delighting guests with their pickin’ prowess. Nationally-acclaimed father/son duo Tim and Myles Thompson will then deliver a show stopping performance of their own. The evening concert also will feature Michael Kelsey, who is ranked among the top 100 guitarists in the world!

All-day passes, which include admission to both the competition and concert, are available for $22.50. Guests can upgrade their ticket to VIP status for $32.50. VIP tickets include admission to the competition and concert, as well as a swag-bag valued at $50 and reserved seating at evening concert. All-day and VIP ticket holders will receive a wristband allowing them to come and go at their own leisure. Evening concert only tickets also are available for $17.50. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Brown County Playhouse or online.

That’s not all! To cap off a weekend filled with great music, guitar workshops will be offered on Sunday, July 31. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brown County Community Foundation, eager guitarists will be able to learn the ins and outs of fingerstyle fun from experts Lance Allen and David Youngman, two of the top players in North America. From strumming for beginners and intermediate level techniques to guitar competition tips and strategies, workshop-goers will learn how to perfect their pickin’ game. Workshops are $20 per class and can be paid upon arrival. A complete list of workshops and additional details can be found online.