BONDED SPIRIT BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL: FIVE DAYS THAT’LL RUIN EVERY OTHER WEEKEND YOU EVER HAVE.

A Straight-Forward Warning About Tickets (Read This First)

Here's what you need to know: This show will sell out. Not "might sell out" or "could sell out." It will.

WHAT YOU’RE GETTING: MARCH 3-7TH IN COVINGTON.

Five days. One city. A celebration of bourbon and bluegrass done right.

There are 3 main experiences throughout the city during Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival:

The New Riff Cov Crawl
The B-Line Community Concert
The Bonded Spirit Main Event

Here's how it breaks down:

EXPERIENCE #1: THE NEW RIFF C-O-V CRAWL

Three nights. Three neighborhoods. Each one spelling out exactly where you are: C-O-V.

TUESDAY MARCH 3RD - “C“ FOR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

4:00pm — The festival opens with a Ceremonial Barrel Tap at Wenzel Whiskey. The Cov Cath Chamber Choir sings "My Old Kentucky Home" with banjo accompaniment. Tradition meets celebration.

5:00-7:00pm — The "Happy Hour & History" guided stroll down Madison Avenue delivers the real story about Covington's bourbon roots and why "Bottled in Bond" actually matters.

6:00-9:00pm — The New Riff Cov Crawl begins. Live bluegrass acts and the official Bonded Spirit cocktail at nine locations:

• Braxton Brewing

• Knowledge Bar

• Libby's

• Revival

• Second Story

• The Globe

• The Hannaford

• The Olde Towne Tavern

• The Well

Hitting all nine? Ambitious. 
Worth trying? Absolutely.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH - “O” FOR ON THE RIVER (ROEBLING POINT)

The riverfront's turn.

5:00-7:00pm — Happy Hour & History continues. Sip the featured Bonded Spirit cocktail while neighborhood displays bring Covington's bourbon heritage to life.

6:00-9:00pm — Seven riverside venues, each hosting live bluegrass:

• Smoke Justis

• Covington Yard

• Molly Malone's

• The Gruff

• The Works Pizza Co.

• By Golly's

Cold Garage beer. Warm bourbon. The best skyline view in the world.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH - “V” FOR VILLAGE (MAINSTRASSE VILLAGE)

Mainstrasse knows how to throw a party, as you’ll see on Thursday.

5:00-7:00pm — Happy Hour & History in the village.

6:00-9:00pm — Live bluegrass at TEN Mainstrasse locations:

• Cock & Bull

• Village Pub

• Crafts & Vines

• Up Over

• The Standard

• Gypsy's

• OKBB

• Doubt It

• Juniper’s

• Wise Guys

One of the region's most beloved neighborhoods at its finest.

EXPERIENCE #2: THE B-LINE COMMUNITY CONCERT - MARCH 6TH

Friday night, we’re hosting a full bluegrass lineup at the Republic Bank Rickhaus (302 Court Street, right outside Smoke Justis), and it’s completely free, but keep reading to learn how to get tickets.

Two Ways to Get In:

1. If you bought Saturday tickets, you’re in.

2. If you want to grab free tickets, stop by any bar or restaurant along The B-Line, grab a drink, ask the bartender, and walk out with 2 tickets. (Full list here.)

The Lineup (4:00pm - Late):

• 4:00pm — Slippery Creek

• 5:30pm — Johnny Estep & Lonesome Blend

• 7:00pm — Union Town Bluegrass

• 8:30pm — Tidalwave Road

First-come, first-served. If the tent fills up, there's the beer garden. Just get here early and you’ll be fine.

EXPERIENCE #3: THE MAIN EVENT - MARCH 7TH

This is it. The big show. The reason you're here.

The Republic Bank Rickhaus becomes bluegrass ground zero with three nationally recognized acts.

Each one could sell out a venue on their own.

But you're getting all three.

5:00PM - BOURBON REVIVAL

Kentucky boys. Battle of the Bands winners at Bourbon & Beyond. High-octane bluegrass-meets-rock energy.

6:45PM - THE DAN TYMINSKI BAND

You know his voice even if you don't know his name.

"I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" in O Brother, Where Art Thou? That was him.

"Hey Brother" with Avicii? Him again.

Multiple Grammys? Stacked like cordwood.

This isn't just good. This is "tell your grandkids you were there" good.

8:30PM - THE STEELDRIVERS

Closing out the night: The SteelDrivers. These Nashville legends won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2015, racked up four Grammy nominations, and just earned another nomination at the 2026 Grammys for their album "Outrun." Two decades deep, they're still blending bluegrass, country, soul, and blues better than anyone else.

WHAT THIS FESTIVAL IS REALLY ABOUT.

Great music? Check. Excellent bourbon? Absolutely.

But Bonded Spirit is about something more.

It's about celebrating regional identity. It's about honoring the history that runs through these streets, distilleries, and stages. It's about coming together as a community and showing what Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati do better than anyone else.

THE DETAILS THAT MATTER.

PRICES GO UP FEBRUARY 14TH

MARCH 3-7.
FIVE DAYS.
ONE CITY.
BOURBON & BLUEGRASS.