The Infamous Stringdusters have announced the first set of artists who will perform at this year’s Fall time bluegrass extravaganza, The Festy Experience. Taking place between October 10-13th 2013 in Nelson County, VA. Returning to the star studded lineup this year is Rochester’s own Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad.
Hailed for being a truly unique celebration of music and outdoor living, The Festy continues to carve a unique and growing niche for itself. Hosted each year on the Concert Ground at Devils Backbone Brewing Company (a locally renowned brewery and full service restaurant), The Festy’s vision as an earthy fall-flavored Experience in the Blue Ridge Mountains comes to fruition in this idyllic, intimate natural setting near the band’s home base of Charlottesville, VA.
The Festy Lineup 2013:
The Infamous Stringdusters, JJ Grey & Mofro, The John Scofield Uberjam Band, Chris Thile & Michael Daves, Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Lake Street Dive, Aiofe O’Donovan, Marco Benevento, David Wax Museum, Nathan Moore & Bryan Elijah Smith, Della Mae, Cabinet, Chris Jones Band, Joy Kills Sorrow, New Country Rehab, Jon Stickley Trio, The Hill & Wood, The Fire Tapes, SoundRabbit, Dante Bucci, Grits-n-Gravy.
Plus Founding Fathers, Sunliner (Sarah Siskind & Travis Book), MAN MOUNTAiN, Opening Ceremonies with Andy Hall, and Garrett Grass Grass Gospel Hour…
We still have ONE MORE HEADLINER to be announced later this summer along with further information about local artists and Stringdusters projects.
“When you want genuine music,” writes Mark Twain, “music that will come right home to you like a bad quarter, suffuse your system like strychnine whisky, go right through you like Brandreth’s pills, ramify your whole constitution like the measles, and break out on your hide like the pin-feather pimples on a picked goose – when you want all this…invoke the glory-beaming banjo!” Or, better yet, make your way to the mountain side of Maryland and invoke the glory-beaming gem of a music festival known as DelFest 2013. Not only will you find music that’s truly genuine, but a place that after only a few days’ time you’ll come to call home.
Twain’s writing came from a period in American history when a new culture was born out of carved gourds, animal hide and strings – when the concept of “old-time roots music” emerged in the 1800s, country twang, ancient rhythms and front porch blues weren’t the only things that broke ground with it – values were something that could be heard and a strong sense of community resonated from the plucking of five strings. From the minstrel shows of the 19th century to the rise of Appalachian folk in the 1900s to the jam/grass/blues blend we hear today, roots music is alive because of the shared tradition that is the stored energy within it. No man better exemplifies this ideology than bluegrass legend, Del McCoury, for with DelFest he has created a space for all to come together under a single canopy that transcends both place and time.
Taking place over Memorial Day weekend, the festival had the opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the summer and its unique blend of music education, unbeatable live performance, picturesque surroundings, and overall value for family and community make the DelFest experience a tough one to beat. Nestled among the Allegany Mountains just outside of Cumberland, Maryland, the festival’s home is the Allegheny County Fairgrounds – perhaps one of the most ideal places to host a festival of this kind. From the flowing waters of the Potomac River, to the steel iron crossing of the railroad tracks, from well-maintained facilities (yes, folks – actual bathrooms) to the intimate venues that hosted the weekend late nights, from sustainably-minded food vendors to one of the best family camping areas one could dream, the infrastructure was in place to keep festival-goers happy, dancing, smiling and continually exchanging the weekends’ coined but surprisingly not over-used phrase, “Del Yeah”.
There are several things that set DelFest apart from other music festivals scheduled to happen throughout the summer, but one truly unique component to the DelFest experience lies with that of its pre-festival musical education opportunity, the DelFest Academy. From Jason Carter teaching fiddle, to Ronnie McCoury guiding students along the mastery of eight-coupled strings, students who attended the academy had the privilege of studying music with the very musicians set to take the stage throughout the course of the weekend. Other instructors included Don Rigsby (mandolin), Rob McCoury (banjo), Alan Bartram (bass), and Ronnie Bowman and Kenny Smith (guitar). In many ways, the DelFest Academy captures what we see on stage with members of The Del McCoury Band – the passing on of bluegrass tradition and technique, the sustainability of a type of music that calls us home.
On Thursday, students of the academy traded in their pre-fest wrist bands for the colored cloth that granted them access to one of the best-kept secrets of the festival season. With sets from the Rambling Rooks, the Jerry Douglas Band and Leftover Salmon, opening day of the festival set the pace for what would become the “Weekend of the sit- ins,” with members of The Del McCoury Band stealing the collaborative crown. Leftover Salmon’s set featured Jason Carter on fiddle throughout its entirety and Rob and Del McCoury inaugurated the stage as they collaborated with Salmon on “Midnight Blues” the featured McCoury/Salmon track on 1999’s acclaimed album, The Nashville Sessions.
By Friday, the record-breaking attendance of this year’s event continued to climb and the camping moved out from the central grounds and made its way to the other side of the railroad tracks. “I always love it when the train rolls by at Delfest,” remarked Jeff Austin during Yonder Mountain String Band’s Sunday night set, and there is no question as to why. While pitching a tent only feet away from the steel roll of the tracks may not seem ideal, one couldn’t think of a more appropriate addition to a bluegrass festival – the train rolling by was a constant fiddle and brought a certain inexplicable magic to the weekend.
“This band can change a group of strangers into a full-out hoe down at the drop of a hat,” remarked DelFest’s very own MC, entertainer and multi-instrumentalist Joe Craven (Mamajowali) when introducing Trampled by Turtles, whose Friday afternoon slot kicked the party into full-swing. The band displayed their impressive capacity in musical juxtaposition by opening their set with the soft ballad, “Widower’s Heart” and immediately shifting energy into a high-powered rendition of “Sorry” – both of which appear on the band’s latest album, Stars and Satellites. Bassist Tim Saxhaug took an impressive vocal lead on a tune that was seemingly inspired by summer – and while the song’s title remains unknown, it came as a nice radiance of warmth during a set when there was a strong chill in the air, comparable to, as lead vocalist Dave Simonett put it, “Minnesota weather.” Chilly, windy, over-cast or not, heads were bopping, and feet were moving – it was apparent that the boys of TBT felt right at home and the powerhouse acoustic five piece was all anyone needed to feel the heat.
When a festival has so many talented, highly acclaimed national acts on the weekend bill, it is only natural that the one leading frustration an attendee might have is the age-old dilemma of overlapping sets. While Trampled by Turtles was raging heavily on the main stage, whimsical sounds were emulating from the Potomac Stage as Elephant Revival enchanted the crowd with their heartfelt, infectious tunes birthed out of nature as the band’s premier muse. “I absolutely love this band, everything about them is beautiful,” was a statement that echoed from a captivated crowd and one truly could not think of a better description for this Colorado five piece. In celebration of the full moon that was to appear later that evening, the band made time to include a most glorious rendition of “Ring Around the Moon” featuring Bonnie Pane on the musical saw, but it was their performance of “Time” that received the strongest response, for it featured an incredible washboard solo – scrubbing clothes or wringing out rhythms, the washboard is an embodiment of strong, virtuous women – exhibited both by Pane and later on in the weekend by Breezy Peyton of The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band.
Del McCoury and Trey Anastasio took their respective bands to the stage as Friday’s full moon headliners; bringing the two together made for a truly unforgettable experience. Compared to the other acts on the bill, the presence of the Trey Anastasio Band is what made Delfest’s line-up truly unique. When hearing Trey, one wouldn’t necessarily think “old time,” or “bluegrass,” but the inspiration within the genre is something that is clearly heard. “I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it,” remarked Trey as he described the impact that Del McCoury’s album Blue Side of Town had on his music while traveling with Phish back in 1999.
When Del graced the stage, together he and Trey’s band performed “I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome” and “Beauty of My Dreams”. Later, Jason Carter and Ronnie McCoury joined in for the set’s encore, featuring “Heavy Things” and Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” but the collaborations were not the only notable moments during the set. An unexpected cover of Gorillaz’ “Clint Eastwood” resulted in a crowd-pleasing uproar and the full moon breaking free from behind the clouds mid-set created a profound sense of unity for all. Friday night at DelFest. What magic!
The Travelin’ McCoury’s and Leftover Salmon hosted the late night Friday Pickin’ Party at the DelFest Music Hall – while the headlining performances of the night certainly raised the bar high, there’s something to be said about the boys of the Travelin’ McCoury’s when they loosen up a couple of buttons and trade in the blue jacket for a weathered flannel and a taste of the late night crowd.
While this year’s DelFest showcased some of the finest acts in bluegrass/newgrass/old-time/roots, call it what you will, it also lent an opportunity for up and coming bands to take their stab at a heightened sense of fame. Saturday morning brought the final round of the bluegrass band competition at the Potomac Stage. This year’s winners, The Unseen Strangers, will have the privilege of performing at DelFest 2014, yet one band that didn’t quite make the bill, Cricket Tell the Weather, are certainly noteworthy and one not to miss.
Perhaps one of the most impressive performances of the weekend came from the soulful sounds of 22-year old Texas singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz. “I’ve found my wings and I’m ready to fly,” were the heartfelt words that emulated from her lips during “Left Home” and there couldn’t be more truth behind the lyrics. Coupled with her soulful voice, bouncing between the six-string banjo, octave mandolin, mandolin and guitar, this multi-instrumentalist withholds a sense of talent that makes her truly unforgettable. Her rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells” can bring tears to a grown man’s eyes and she can cover songs in a way that truly make them her own. Following her set in the DelFest Music Hall was a small, “chill little performance,” as she put it, where audience members were able to ask questions and open up conversation with her in an intimate setting. Paul Simon’s “Kathy’s Song” was a memorable moment from the music hall performance, one of many more to come. Watch out for Sarah Jarsoz. While young, sweet and seemingly innocent, she truly is a force to be reckoned with.
Performances by Greensky Bluegrass, Keller Williams with More Than a Little, Red Baratt, as well as the 6th Annual McCoury Family Jam took place throughout the rest of the day and trying to fit it all in, at times, seemed nearly impossible. “If you want to sit around your tent, camp in your backyard,” was a memorable quote from Reverend Peyton during Sunday night’s late-night set, and this couldn’t hold itself to be more true while experiencing DelFest. The festival is so rich with good, wholesome music, that camp was a place often abandoned until wee-hours of the morning, or after a disappointing rejection trying to catch one of the three sold-out late night shows.
Friday night was magic and Saturday night was on fire. While the barnburner was scheduled for the Sunday late-night, the sparks emerged prematurely and the result was something worthy of the history books. The Del McCoury Band’s Saturday night set featured, not only the original members of the band, but the Masters of Bluegrass themselves – JD Crowe on banjo, Bobby Hicks on fiddle, Bobby Osborn on mandolin and Jerry McCoury on bass. Together they showcased their mastery with tunes like “Love those Hills of Old Virginia” and “Wheel Hoss” a perfect precursor to their Sunday afternoon set.
Then came Old Crow Medicine Show with an unstoppable energy unlike any other. The band moved across the stage in a way that holds them true to their name, for they aren’t just a band, they truly are a show and one not to miss at that. They come together, split apart and move across the stage in a way that claims it as theirs to own. From fan favorite “Take Em Away” to “Methamphetamine” their set showcased a range of tunes, yet they all had one thing in common – they left the crowd dancing and thirsty for more. “If you’re going to play in Cumberland, Maryland, you have to have two fiddles in the band,” was a statement by front man Ketch Secor that opened the flood gates for a McCoury sit in and Del, Jason and Robbie joined in to add flavor to “CC Rider,” “Darlin’ Corey” and “Tear it Down”.
Entering the music hall for Saturday’s late night, the “less refined” Hackensaw Boys took the stage. The juxtaposition to the Old Crow set couldn’t have been more appropriately placed and the Virginia Hoe Down was now underway. Chance McCouy (OCMS) sat in on fiddle and banjo, the venue was packed and the night gave way to hootin’, hollerin’, stompin’ and rompin’. The Infamous Stringdusters kept the party going well into the early morning, opening with a high energy “Fork in the Road” making room for a crowd pleasing Grateful Dead cover “He’s Gone” and leaving room for guests Ronnie McCoury and Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck to share the stage. It wasn’t until after the music hall cleared out however, that things got truly interesting. Post late-night jams in the coined “Moonshine Tent” with members of Greensky Bluegrass, Trampled by Turtles and Old Crow Medicine show lasted until the sun came up, and even then the party wasn’t over. The sun was up, but fires were still burning and bows were still gliding rapidly across weathered strings.
As if Saturday wasn’t satisfying enough, Yonder’s Ben Kaufmann described Sunday as “The best Sunday of my life,” and he wasn’t the only one who shared that sentiment. There was a slight chill in the air all weekend but Sunday’s weather proved to be nothing short of pristine. The day began with a gospel session that no Sunday morning at Delfest would be complete without. Following was a set by Larry Keel and the Natural Bridge, bringing Jeff Austin on stage for his debut 2013 DelFest appearance on a cover of “Ramble on Rose”. While the main stage offered up a variety of talent that day: Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, there was a draw to the smaller of the two stages and memorable performances from Aoife Donavon of Crooked Still, The Hackensaw Boys and Spirit Family Reunion made the Potomac Stage the Sunday hot spot. Check out Yonder Mountain String Band’s set from Delfest on Archive.org
Perhaps most noteworthy, however, was the big sound that came out of the New York-based six-piece, Spirit Family Reunion. There was a purity that poured from their sound and they are not just a band to “stomp, clap, shake and holler with,” but rather a band to come together around. There is something to be said in their name, for their performances cultivate family – they bring people together over a common theme woven throughout the originality of their sound. Fred Moyse of The Hackensaw Boys sat in on the band’s closing tune, “I’ll Find a Way” and what resulted was something of true beauty. Complete strangers came together, linked together, singing and swaying, repeating the chorus “Don’t worry about me, I’ll find a way,” and that was how Sunday at DelFest felt – care and worry free.
Following the Spirit Family Reunion set, a crowd gathered in the music hall for a performance by Keller Williams and the Travelin’ McCourys. Packed from one end to the other, the group played an impressive set, playing off of several covers, including yet another Dead tune, “Candyman” and a personal favorite, My Morning Jacket’s “I’m Amazed”. Among others, Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” “Hobo Song” and “Something Else” off of the group’s latest collaborative album, Pick, also made their way into this unforgettable set.
“We’re going to give you our all, we promise you that,” noted Jeff Austin during the opening of Yonder Mountain String Band’s headlining Sunday evening set, and he wasn’t lying. Yonder was perhaps the most appropriate pick for a Sunday night act, for they are Delfest veterans with enough gusto to breathe life back into a crowd that had been going strong on a bluegrass buzz since Thursday afternoon. Yonder’s set was everything you’d hope for out of the band: a mind-exploding version of “Sidewalk Stars” with enough distortion to balance out an otherwise unplugged weekend, “Holdin’”, “Sometimes I’ve Won” the happy, catchy little tune “Don’t Worry, Happy Birthday” and so many more. Claiming Del McCoury as one of the best champions of music any genre can have, Jeff Austin invited Del to the stage and he joined the band for “Prisoner’s Song” and “Hit Parade of Love”. Ronnie McCoury and Jason Carter quickly followed suit, closing out the set and the main stage with a hyped up “Traffic Jam” into an encore of the traditional bluegrass “Red Rocking Chair”. But the weekend wasn’t over.
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and Greensky Bluegrass were scheduled to burn the barn down in the music hall, but this wasn’t a show for just anyone; only the strong can survive when it comes to a Sunday late night and the performance was, according to Anders Beck, “a celebration of those still standing.” RPBDB and Greensky served as a great pair for closing out the festival, as both bands have a certain roughness about them, a bit tattered and slightly torn, the perfect metaphor for the crowd gathered in the venue come Sunday night.
Greensky Bluegrass is a unique group of talented musicians that take bluegrass music to a different level – there is an originality in their sound that is not seen in other acts in the circuit and it is only a matter of time before they begin to soar in their own green sky. Opening their late night set with “Jaywalking,” a track from their latest album, Handguns – the boys of Greensky Bluegrass certainly brought down the heat and the flame spread throughout as their performance advanced. What makes Greensky different is something that exists beyond words: they hit at the depths of the soul and extract the beauty that is pain within us all. Each band member has his own contribution to the Greensky sound, but Paul Hoffman and his mandolin stand at the forefront while Dave Bruzza extracts the darkness with his deep, almost haunting vocals and incredible capacity to express feeling with the hollowed sound of his acoustic guitar. They closed their set and in turn, the weekend, with a cover of Bob Marley’s “Could You be Loved,” rounding out the circle and centering in on the roots of the music celebrated at DelFest.
Sometime around 4 a.m., the music hall cleared out and the late night wanderers found their way back beneath a darkened sky. Approaching the tracks, the whistle of a train approaching off in the distance became more evident and shortly thereafter the bars at the crossing lowered. It was a cloudy evening with the moon completely out of sight, leaving the lights on the passing train to twinkle like the stars absent from the sky. Soon after, the bars rose and the train was out of sight but its whistle could still be heard. The 6th annual DelFest may have been over, but the tradition it has created lives on – not just until next year, but always. And there is one person to truly thank for that – the legendary master of bluegrass himself, Mr. Del McCoury.
Last Thursday night was filled with string picking, bow strumming and warm bluegrass music at Valentine’s in Albany in celebration of Dan Johnson and the Expert Sidemen second album, Bound for Abiquiu release party. The hosts were joined by their friends, The Grassroots Rebels and Driftwood, two Upstate New York bands that combine Americana and bluegrass with plenty of attitude and flair. With Memorial Day weekend upon us, the show was a great way to relax with simple songs and prepare for the sunny days ahead.
I have a good amount of friends that hail from Binghamton, who are obsessed with Driftwood and now I can understand why. The four piece stringed band took the stage and wasted no time by starting a musical ruckus. Claire Byrne is a furious fiddle player, who shakes the ground with heart as she played all night with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. “Ooh keep it down for the banjo solo” yelled guitarist, Dan Forsyth, hushing the crowd and cranking up the banjo picking by Joe Kollar. The band has fantastic chemistry as there is constant communication on stage with words and instruments, everyone holding their own but still blending perfectly together. It isn’t until a few songs in that the crowd finally hears vocals and they were worth the wait. Driftwood has impeccable harmonies that give their melodies and lyrics a more heartfelt joy. The tunes had attention grabbing, sharp ends with steady, heart racing crescendos. Joey Arcuri brought out the bow on his standup bass giving the songs a new sound with darky, heavy notes. As the set went on, Driftwood gave respects to Dan Johnson by repeatedly dedicating multiple songs to him as well as the venue. Kollar joked that it was their best Albany crowd ever, considering they haven’t played the area in over a year and Claire added, “I like Valentine’s and Dan Johnson.” My favorite song of the night was “Brother” which had a slight Celtic sound, complete with light, airy, long bow strokes. Driftwood are touring all over the East Coast this summer and are most excited for a new album in the works, set to drop in this fall. Be sure to catch them at such festivals as Taste of Syracuse, The Great Blue Heron and Grassroots.
Dan Johnson and the Expert Sidemen gently opened their CD release party with their newest hit “Bound for Abiquiu,” and the venue was mesmerized. Johnson’s voice is mature and soothing, with a country twang that made the show feel like a warm summer night. “Garden Below” had some of my favorite lyrics of the night such as, “Sometimes I feel like an ocean looking for a river that I can’t find.” Brian Elsenbeck demonstrated his musical skills by alternating between the accordion and the banjo all night with great enthusiasm, and as Dan puts it, he is nicknamed “The Wizard of Accordion Mountain.” Roger Noyes, on the pedal steel guitar, kept the crowd lingering on every easy going note with a laid back, southern vibe. Fans got a treat when Claire Byrne of Driftwood joined the boys on stage for their classic hit, “Baton Rouge,” adding an angelic vocal twist. One of my favorite moments of the night was during the song, “Dancing Fool,” a new romantic tune with guitar strumming so sweet it caused a few couples to slow dance around the venue. Dan Johnson’s lyrics break your heart one moment and build you up with loving hope the next, a classic bluegrass rollercoaster. The former Albany local who now calls Vermont home, anticipates more visits to Upstate New York to share his newest album at such festivals as Rhythm on the Ridge on June 8th and Bellstock 20 on July 18th.
Setlist: Bound for Abiquiu, Come on in My Kitchen, Adam and the Snake Oil Salesman, The Garden Below, My Three Friends, Baton Rouge*, Dancing Fool, Out of the Shade, Off on the Tide, Utica Blues, Another Good Thing is Come and Gone, Someone New, Sid Purple
The Blind Owl Band has set out to raise funds with Kickstarter to promote their new album and 2nd recorded effort. The band returned to Granary Studio in Morrisonville, NY in March and April 2013 and recorded 13 unreleased original tracks with Larry Dolan returning as producer.
The album features songs that were born within the walls of the Granary recording studio during the recording of “Rabble Rousing” in the fall of 2011 such as “Jazzy Magee”, “Christians Head”, “Cherry Tree” and new songs that have yet to be played live, such as “Rain On”.
Now as The Blind Owl Band gets ready for summer, they are looking for support to independently release this album. The recording is done, a release date of July 10th has been set. The band now needs the help of their fans to fund the mastering, printing and advertising of this album.TheKickstarter project has a goal of $5000 and we think these guys deserve the help!
The band is touring in support of their Kickstarter Project from May 16 to May 26, you can also Follow the release of the album via their Facebook page or at TheBlindOwlBand.com.
The Blind Owl Band
Arthur Buezo (Guitar, Vocals)
Christian Cardiello (Bass)
James Ford (Banjo, Vocals)
Eric Munley (Mandolin, Vocals)
Tour Dates:
May 16 – Atwoods Tavern, Cambridge, MA
May 17 – Pizza Stone, Chester, VT
May 18 – Strawberry Jam, Northville, NY
May 18 – Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, NY with Lucid
May 19 – The Wherehouse, Newburgh, NY
May 20 – The Living Room, NYC, NY
May 21 – Free Range Busking Day
May 22 – Underground Arts, Philly, PA with The Brummy Brothers
May 23 – The River St. Jazz Cafe, Wilkes-Barre, PA
May 24 – Touch Fest 2013!! South ADK’s
May 25 – The Dutch Treat, Franconia, NH
May 26 – Rosa Flamingo’s, Bethlehem, NH
May 26 – Red Square, Burlington, VT
Portland, Oregon-based Ashleigh Flynn is the unique female voice that Americana music has been longing for, strong and full of soul. Set for national release on May 14, 2013; to celebrate the release of her fourth studio effort, Flynn is offering a FREE download from A Million Stars: Prohibition Rose.
“This song is about Portland’s own most infamous bootlegger during prohibition, who happened to be a woman… known also for opium distribution, and shanghaiing unsuspecting patrons.” –Ashleigh Flynn
Ashleigh Flynn awakens your soul like the new spring breeze rising from the dead of winter. Flynn is joined on this release with friends like, Todd Snider and many of Portland’s most talented musicians including, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee-Drizos, Nate Query, John Moen, Annalisa Tornfelt, and the Stolen Sweets singers, among others.
Flynn’s peers and fellow musicians have referred to her as “True blue Americana” and a representation of the next generation of songwriters. I find her to be what Americana music was missing, a mixture of powerful female voices like Ani Difranco and Tara Nevins.
For more information on Ashleigh Flynn please visit www.ashleighflynn.com
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Greensky Bluegrass’ return to the Westcott Theater on Wednesday April 24 brought fans and newcomers out of their weekday monotony and into the rich and colorful world of modern bluegrass music, one where tradition meets novelty and classic themes meet spontaneous virtuosity. Greensky epitomizes this history-steeped and yet constantly evolving genre. Their performances are deeply rooted in classic Americana, while their sound continues to push the experimental envelope, incorporating psychedelia, jamband and even classic rock themes.
The members of Greensky Bluegrass collaborate beautifully. They fluidly trade off leadership roles, as each musician is a solid soloist in their own right. Whether it was Michael Alren Bont twanging away in chord-driven, texturally tasty banjo or Paul Hoffman ripping through lightning fast licks on the mandolin, Greensky has no slackers in its ranks. Their persistent boot-stomping groove, multi-layered composition and improvisational genius never failed to keep the crowd dancing, whooping with joy or contemplatively ‘tripping out’ on their spacier tunes. Their self-effacing light show often lit the performers sparsely, while directing pattern and color primarily to the stage background and the walls of the theater. This approach demonstrated the band’s submission to the collective sound, rather than focusing viewers’ attention on the artists themselves as individual performers.
The band’s set was long and diverse, complete with tracks from their newest and most critically acclaimed album 2001’s Handguns, cover songs including a “Whole Lotta Love” verse for the Zepp-heads out there and a guest appearance by one of the guitarists from Greensky’s opener, Fruition. Overall, Greensky Bluegrass sustained a driving energy that held crowd attention and enjoyment throughout their performance.
With the official start to summer vacation only a month away, DelFest veterans and newcomers alike are eagerly awaiting the Memorial Day Weekend and the 6th Annual DelFest in Cumberland, MD taking place May 23-26 2013. This festival has rightfully been tagged the family-friendly festival of the season by those who have attended in previous years because, DelFest doesn’t just offer family camping areas, they offer a complete family vacation experience where children are encouraged to join their music lovin parents for a weekend of arts & crafts, jambands and bluegrass.
From its inception DelFest has set out to be a festival of traditions, music tradition gathered with family traditions of camping and sing-alongs around the campfire, with Bluegrass being the traditional music of America, a festival that offers both is a magical wonderland in my book. Del McCoury has been an American bluegrass legend since his days with Bill Monroe but, he has also been embraced by the jamband scene, where he has shared the stage with Phish, Keller Williams, Yonder Mountain String Band and many more staples in the jam music scene. Bringing the two music scenes together at one festival has promised to produce one of the most popular festivals of the Summer of 2013.
Before the music even starts at DelFest, festival goers who are also musicians are encouraged to attend the DelFest Music Academy, where the teachers are The Travelin’ McCourys and The Rambling Rooks. It takes place between May 20-23rd, the three days preceding the music festival. The cost of the academy includes a 4-day festival pass and camping. For more information on the DelFest Academy please visit www.delfest.com.
Once it is time for the music to start no one there is gonna sit down till the car ride home on Monday and based on my past experience with the awesome humans who attend this festival, ain’t no one doin anything but dancin from dusk till dawn. This year’s lineup includes the festival’s namesake and headliner legendary Del McCoury, Trey Anastasio Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Yonder Mountain String Band, Trampled By Turtles, Leftover Salmon, an All Star set dubbed the Masters of Bluegrass pairing Del with other luminaries Bobby Osborne, J.D. Crowe, Bobby Hicks, and Jerry McCoury. Also performing, The Travelin’ McCourys, Keller Williams with More Than A Little, Carolina Chocolate Drops Jerry Douglas Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, Greensky Bluegrass, Red Baraat, The Campbell Brothers, Sarah Jarosz Pikelny, Sutton, McCoury, Bulla & Bales, Davisson Brothers Band, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Elephant Revival, Danny Barnes, Aoife O’Donovan, Missy Raines and The New Hip, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Rambling Rooks, Hackensaw Boys, Joe Craven, Mamajowali, Spirit Family Reunion and Blue Mafia. The daily schedule can be found on the festival website Here.
Late Nights at DelFest are also tradition in their own right. With an intimate indoor area at the DelFest Music Hall, these crazy nights are fueled by 2 bands whom also have main stage appearances during the weekend. Late Night performances begin after music has ended on the Grandstand Stage. Doors open at Midnight and specific set times are TBA. Admission is $20/show. Get your tickets in advance here or at the Late Night Box Office which is located at the merchandise tent between 11a.m-10p.m Fri-Sun or at the DelFest Music Hall between 11:30p.m-2:00a.m Fri-Sun.
In addition to all this amazing music tradition, DelFest is family-friendly, other festivals include kids in some fashion these days and family camping sections have always been created but what DelFest does differently is they completely include children in every aspect of the festival. Yes there is a family camping section and it is actually quiet at night and brewing with energy in the early morning but that’s how us festie parents like it. Kids make-up a large portion of the students who attend the DelFest Music Academy, there are organized arts & crafts projects like tie-dying, an art bus from the local community is parked in the family camping area all weekend too!
I attended the festival for my first time last year and there were kids and families everywhere enjoying a swim in the Potomac River to relaxing in hammocks side-by-side. Even the late night shows have taken into consideration that children are there and sleeping and because late nights are held inside the little ones can sleep while the party people are hootin’ and hollerin. It’s also common to see many campfire jams into the wee hours of the night which lends to the feeling of tradition and family that fills the air at DelFest.
I’ve seen a lot of music and I’ve taken the kids and not taken the kids and this year I will be attending the festival with my 7 yr. old daughter with me because I missed her so much last year with all the other kids around. Well that and because she’s also a bluegrass and jamband fan like her Mama.
DelFest is just a month away and already tickets for 4-day passes have sold out at every price, the RV and VIP passes have been sold out for some time now. If you still need you ticket you can purchase them online Here or at the venue if they last that long. will be there and we hope to see fellow Upstaters there too.
Yes, THAT Revolution Hall! For one night (and apparently one night only) Brown’s decided to open the doors of the shuttered music venue for Eastbound Jesus‘ show where they released their latest album Northern Rock, to a sold out audience, an impressive feat even in Rev Hall’s heydey. With a few tweaks and a bar in the lobby (not a bad idea, it turns out), Revolution Hall was alive and festive with a crowd to complement the music of Eastbound Jesus and opening act, The Mallett Brothers. Rev Hall looked great, but its a damn shame they don’t have shows there on a regular, if not monthly basis.
The Mallett Brothers from Maine took the stage around 9pm, filling the room with a Greensky-esque style of country/bluegrass, speedy and twangy, with great lyrics and engagement with the crowd. “Wrong Kind” was an upbeat number early into the set and lit the dance floor afire, particularly the front row of ladies dancing with great excitement. The slide guitar from Wally Wenzel was a tight and consistent sound throughout the show, as were the namesakes of the band, Luke (guitar) and Will (banjo) Mallett. “Born Cryin” was one of the sicker tunes of the night, with Brian Higgins’ catchy drum jam a highlight. The enthusiastic set was welcomed by the crowd and would definitely be seen again in Upstate New York.
Setlist: Something to Lean on, Wrong Kind, Good with the Better, Farmers Tan, Last Man, Don’t Need You, Born Cryin, Getaway Queen, Muddin, All Kinds of Crazy, Lowdown, Take it Slow, Dynamite Dot
Holy Smokes! may be the title of their last album but it accurately depicts the party Eastbound Jesus threw on April 19th. In a celebration in their latest disc release, Northern Rock, Eastbound Jesus sold out a venue that has been closed for over two years. The bar sold out of Pabst Blue Ribbon before the band even took stage; the staple beverage, as deemed by die-hard fans as a result of a reference in “Doors Open”, played ironically at the end of set two. The crowd was primed. The band had every reason to be over-joyed, full of energy and set to deliver their new material. The first set comprised of shiny brand new songs played in order as they appear on the disc. Set two was a mix of songs from prior discs. The crowd is well versed, and highly intoxicated and, as expected, the second set was a hell of a party. The Mallet Brother’s shared the stage, lady friends would pop on and off the stage, and gents took their shirts off. Eastbound Jesus encouraged the unholy on what surely has become a band bound for glory.
Mind you, this show wasn’t some Mumford and Sons group with catchy riffs then a banjo explosion late in the song, this was true jamgrass through and through every song. The crowd wasn’t there to sing along to the radio hits, they were there to sing along to every song. That was the understated highlight of the night – amid all this folk/bluegrass music that has come out in the past few years, Eastbound Jesus stands head and shoulders above the mainstream acts; the party they threw for the release of Northern Rock is evidence of that.
Setlist:
Set 1: Out Yonder, 54 Miles, Waitin’ on the Sun, Sittin’ by the River, Talkin to John, Katy Belle, North Country Girl, Where the Winter Goes, My Old Pickup, I Wouldn’t Know, Above the Water
Set 2: Hold on me Now, Nothin’ to Say, Goin’ Steady, Corn Whisky, Ghost Town, The Road, Pickin’ It, Take a Ride, Easy Now, Pipe Dreams, Times Wastin’, Holy Smokes!, Turn on your Lovelight, Doors Open
Encore: Ballad of Eastboud Jesus, Eastbound and Down > Hold on me Now
Greensky Bluegrass will play the Westcott Theatre, with their own brand of Newgrass band that has helped to re-invent this newer genre reminiscent of the old-timey bluegrass of Bill Monroe, but with a fresh jammy sound.
Photo Credit: Jamie VanBuhler
The band has recently announced performances at Delfest, Telluride Bluegrass and Northwest String Summit and several more. They are also offering fans 5 of the 10 songs on their new album ‘Handguns’; Stream it for Free below or available on the Greensky Bluegrass website for anyone who wants to listen.
As their name might suggest, Greensky Bluegrass utilizes traditional bluegrass instruments – dobro, banjo, guitar, upright bass and mandolin. However, the music that they make is anything but reversionary and the new album, Handguns is a brave expression of what separates their original music from the rest of the bluegrass genre.
Greensky has continued to gain national momentum since they won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s coveted Band Competition in 2006 and have sold-out dates across the country as well as played at Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, NPR’s Mountain Stage and many more. As these diverse festivals would suggest, they’re a bluegrass band but they’re not. Bluegrass doesn’t have distortion, or horns for that matter. Greensky does.
Greensky Bluegrass will play April 24th at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY. Admission is $15 advance/$18 at the door. This is an all ages show, with 2 full sets by Greensky. Show starts at 7:00pm and you can get your tickets online or at the venue.
Greensky Bluegrass is Anders Beck (dobro), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), Mike Devol (upright bass) and Paul Hoffman (mandolin).
There just isn’t enough Bluegrass music here in Upstate NY. We do get a semi-acceptable amount of amazing bluegrass bands and small festivals in this area but acceptable amount to me would be relative to living in Nashville, TN.
Nestled somewhere in between Bill Monroe and John Hartford you will find Cabinet. A simple little name for a six-piece string band with deep roots in the old timey bluegrass tradition of story telling from our ancestors of the Appalachian Mountains.
Their lyrics tell stories of family, love, and life; but most of all Cabinet has that gift of putting last night’s shenanigans and the morning afters repercussions into a neat little four minute package of an old timey moral lesson.
“When we get drunk on wine and shine, we talk about the past and better times, I got drunk on wine and moonshine … Saturday night brings Sunday morn.”
Tonight all my boot stompin, skirt twirrlin, bluegrass needs will be met and most likely surpassed. Cabinet is playing at Sticky Lips Juke Joint in Rochester, NY. The opening band will be the Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers. Doors are at 9:30pm and show starts at 10:30pm. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 at the door. You can also show your love in advance and RSVP to the FaceBook Event Here.
The band is also playing at St Lawrence University’s Springfest on the Java Stage in Canton, NY the following night. Cabinet goes on at 4:00 pm and then heads to the Waterhole in Saranac Lake, NY. Admission is $10, ages 21+. Doors are at 9:00pm with opening band The Blind Owl Band. The show starts at 10:00pm.
With the release of their most recent album Leap, Cabinet has toured most of the United States this past year. Things certainly continue to grow for these hard working musicians, this year will also be their inaugural Old Farmers Ball music festival being held Saturday May 11th featuring, Cabinet, Yarn, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Miz, And The Moneynotes, Pappy, Kyle Morgan and also the Coal Town Rounders. A limited amount of tickets are still available through Live Nation.
Hope ya’all come out for this band this weekend, you will not be disappointed, in fact you will probably end sore the next day from all the dancing you will do at the show.
Twain’s writing came from a period in American history when a new culture was born out of carved gourds, animal hide and strings – when the concept of “old-time roots music” emerged in the 1800s, country twang, ancient rhythms and front porch blues weren’t the only things that broke ground with it – values were something that could be heard and a strong sense of community resonated from the plucking of five strings. From the minstrel shows of the 19th century to the rise of Appalachian folk in the 1900s to the jam/grass/blues blend we hear today, roots music is alive because of the shared tradition that is the stored energy within it. No man better exemplifies this ideology than bluegrass legend, Del McCoury, for with DelFest he has created a space for all to come together under a single canopy that transcends both place and time.
From its inception DelFest has set out to be a festival of traditions, music tradition gathered with family traditions of camping and sing-alongs around the campfire, with Bluegrass being the traditional music of America, a festival that offers both is a magical wonderland in my book. Del McCoury has been an American bluegrass legend since his days with Bill Monroe but, he has also been embraced by the jamband scene, where he has shared the stage with Phish, Keller Williams, Yonder Mountain String Band and many more staples in the jam music scene. Bringing the two music scenes together at one festival has promised to produce one of the most popular festivals of the Summer of 2013.
Before the music even starts at DelFest, festival goers who are also musicians are encouraged to attend the DelFest Music Academy, where the teachers are The Travelin’ McCourys and The Rambling Rooks. It takes place between May 20-23rd, the three days preceding the music festival. The cost of the academy includes a 4-day festival pass and camping. For more information on the DelFest Academy please visit 
Once it is time for the music to start no one there is gonna sit down till the car ride home on Monday and based on my past experience with the awesome humans who attend this festival, ain’t no one doin anything but dancin from dusk till dawn. This year’s lineup includes the festival’s namesake and headliner legendary Del McCoury, T
Late Nights at DelFest are also tradition in their own right. With an intimate indoor area at the DelFest Music Hall, these crazy nights are fueled by 2 bands whom also have main stage appearances during the weekend. Late Night performances begin after music has ended on the Grandstand Stage. Doors open at Midnight and specific set times are TBA. Admission is $20/show. Get your tickets in advance 
In addition to all this amazing music tradition, DelFest is family-friendly, other festivals include kids in some fashion these days and family camping sections have always been created but what DelFest does differently is they completely include children in every aspect of the festival. Yes there is a family camping section and it is actually quiet at night and brewing with energy in the early morning but that’s how us festie parents like it. Kids make-up a large portion of the students who attend the DelFest Music Academy, there are organized arts & crafts projects like tie-dying, an art bus from the local community is parked in the family camping area all weekend too!
