NYS Music 20​16

Category: Bluegrass/Country

  • The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival Exceeds Expectations

    The 7th annual Werk Out Music and Arts Festival at Legend Valley Music Venue and Campground was stacked for success with a powerhouse line-up.

    Taking place in Thornville, Ohio, August 4-6,  it was more than just the music that fueled the success of this year’s festival.  Anchored by moving tributes in honor of former Werks’ keyboardist Norman Dimitrouleas, as well a plethora of artist sit-ins and breakout performances, this year’s festival was marked with emotion and surprises.

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    The Werk Out’s biggest surprise literally fell on STS9 drummer Zach Velmer, when a female fan managed to bypass festival security.  Once onstage, the fan made Werk Out history by attempting a trust fall onto Velmer and his kit.  STS9 left the stage to regroup and returned for a high energy second set that closed out the Main Stage on Friday Night.

    Friday afternoon was highlighted by the Big Damn Jam’s performance of the Beatles’ classic album Abbey Road. The performance was dedicated to Dimitrouleas, who passed earlier this year.  As a member of Big Damn Jam, Dimitrouleas always wanted to perform the album.  After his passing, BDJ decided to honor him posthumously with the performance at this year’s Werk Out Music Festival.

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    The Abbey Road set included a rotating cast of musicians most notably Dino Dimitrouleas (The Werks), Todd Stoop, Alex Delk (Octopus’ Garden), Marcus Cornwell (The Vibe) and Justin Robb (Litz) as well almost a dozen other musicians throughout the afternoon set.  Most of the musicians participating had played with Dimitrouleas in various projects over the year.  During the set, fabric flowers fashioned from Dimitrouleas’ old shirts were passed out in his honor.  Fans and musicians wore them on hats, backpacks and various pieces of clothing throughout the rest of the weekend._MG_8188

    The tributes to Dimitrouleas continued throughout the weekend including The Werks’ Saturday night encore with a dedicated performance of “Carry Me Back Home.”

    “I’ve never been so emotionally touched by a musical performance as I was during the Werks encore tribute to Norman on Saturday night,” said Zachary Burns of Grand Rapids, MI.  “Everything from the crowd chanting ‘DINO! DINO! DINO!’, to Dino’s speech before the song starting, to seemingly every member and a good portion of the crowd crying during ‘Carry Me Back Home.’ That was the definition of being happy and sad at the same time.”

    The Werk Out’s most talked about performance came in the form of the Twerkapod “Tribute to the 90s.”  Featuring members of Twiddle, The Werks, and Dopapod, the Friday night late night set was packed with a mix of obvious choices (Green Day, Blink 182, Sublime, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine) and stunning surprises (Britney Spears, Hanson and TLC).  Highlighted performances from the set included “Gangsta’s Paradise” which featured a perfect reproduction of the song’s ending choral arrangement and Twerkapod’s word perfect performance of TLC’s “Waterfalls.”

    Fans of The Werks weren’t in agreement on which of the weekends multiple sets were the band’s best.  Most found that each of the weekend’s set contributed a different experience for the weekend.

    “I really enjoyed the first Werks set on Thursday,” noted Tyler Raymond of Michigan. “I’ve seen the Werks more than any other band and the sound and production was top notch from them. The way the light show was coordinated with the band was seriously next level. You could really tell that they were putting the shows on for us and that the guys really love us.”

    Dino Dimitrouleas, currently on a hiatus from bass duties with The Werks,  joined his band mates on several occasions for sit-ins throughout the weekend starting Friday night.  “When Dino came on stage in the tent everyone was so happy” Raymond told NYS Music, “Definitely a moment to always remember.”

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    Vermont based quartet Twiddle continued to create a buzz about their unique brand of jam.  Raymond also noted that the band’s Saturday night sunset performance on the Side Stage was among his favorite non-Werks set of the weekend.  “They are moving up the list of my favorite bands quickly because what they bring to the take is so fresh and different than anyone else out there right now.”

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    The weekend also featured several breakout performances.  New York’s Mister F and Teddy Midnight created a buzz in the Big Tent Stage.  North Carolina’s Big Something capitalized on their first Werk Out appearance on the Side Stage with a high energy afternoon performance on Saturday afternoon, while Maryland based band Litz turned heads during their Big Tent Stage set, which featured a sit-in from Twiddle keyboardist Ryan Dempsey.

    In fact, the weekend was full of sit-ins including Twiddle’s Mihali Savoulidis and The Werks’ Chris Houser performing with Greensky Bluegrass and Dopapod’s Rob Compa shredding during Twiddle’s “Apples.”  And according to Derrick Webber of Ypsilanti, MI, these sit-ins add a new element of musicianship for some of his favorite musicians. “It blows me away to hear such clean performances from guys that don’t typically play together, and the passion they still have is inspiring.

    The weekend’s ultimate sit-in featured members of the Werks, Twiddle, Greensky Bluegrass and Big Something in Matt Butler’s Everyone Orchestra. Butler finds a way to coordinate a variety of musical sounds, while leading his EO members to create unique and one time only jams. Twiddle bassist Zdenek Gubb stepped on stage to lead the EO to the highest energy, grooved out dance party of the set.  However, Houser received the set’s MVP award for showcasing a variety of styles, genres and face-melting solos throughout the performance.

    Beyond the music, the Werk Out featured a large number of vendors, giving attendee’s a variety of food, beverages, merchandise and crafts to choose from over the weekend. Vendors for the weekend all were competitively priced, creating a fairly priced and active marketplace throughout the weekend.

    Nick Augustine, a first time Werk Out attendee from Maryland, noted that his favorite non-musical part of the weekend was the fire spinners and propane dance floor set up near the late night stage.  “What a cool addition to the atmosphere!”_MG_8359

    The Werk Out looks to return to the Legend Valley Music Venue and Campground for its eighth installment next August.  The venue has plenty of space for the festival to grow without the inconvenience of having to move locations to accommodate its growing popularity.  What the Werk Out does right is that it cultivates an environment of friendship and community while packing its line-up with musicians and artists that clearly have solid working relationships and mutual respect for their fellow musicians.

    Augustine, who told NYS Music that he will be making the Werk Out an annual addition to his summer festival plans, said it was the overwhelming sense of community that made the festival a stand-out event.  “The staff, the crew and the people were all adding to making this festival fun, beautiful, exciting and safe. From the decorations to the sound and lights to the amount of good vibes and vending, this festival was one of the best I’ve attended!”

  • Pre/Post-Phish Shows at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas

    Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas has a series of shows from the Disco Biscuits, Greensky Bluegrass and Twiddle lined up around Phish’s four-night Halloween run at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

    brooklyn bowl las vegasThe Disco Biscuits play three nights Oct. 27 to 29. They’ll be joined by the New Deal on Oct. 27. Doors for the Oct. 27 show open at 7:30 p.m. with the show starting at 8:30 p.m. The shows on Oct. 28 and 29 are late night with doors opening at 11 p.m. with the show starting at 12:30 a.m. Tickets for all three nights are on sale now for $39.50. Three-night passes are also available for $118.50 for general admission or $180 for club level admission. Those interested in the club level must purchase a three-day pass.

    brooklyn bowl las vegasGreensky Bluegrass will play a late night show on Oct. 30 with doors opening at 11 p.m. with the show starting at 12:30 a.m. They will also play a special matinee show on Halloween to benefit the Waterwheel Foundation. Doors for that show open at noon with the show starting at 2 p.m. Tickets for both shows are on sale now. Tickets for the Oct. 30 show are $27.50 while tickets for the Waterwheel Foundation benefit are $22.50. Two-day passes are also available for $50.

    brooklyn bowl las vegasFor those looking to continue the party following Phish’s Halloween show, Twiddle will play a late night. Doors for their show open at 11 p.m. with the show starting at 12:30 a.m. Tickets are on sale now for $20.

  • Arise Festival Stands Tall Among Giants

    There is an ancient Eastern ritual cycle known as Jo-Ha-Kyu which has been applied to tea ceremonies, martial arts rituals, and even theater performances. The cycle was created to create intention and awareness to the different stages of life. From August 5-7 outside Loveland, Colorado, a family-run, independent music festival, called Arise, enacted the spirit of that intentional cycle through its three-day event. The festivities opened with a beautiful opening ceremony that included a series of “Jo”-like songs, chants, and prayers aimed at infusing festival-goers with an air of respect and care not often found at music festivals.

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    The ritual “Ha” concept emphasizing the activity of becoming, often referred to “the swirl of days,” spun its way through the Arise weekend with a constant parade of live and electronic music acts including Jurassic 5, Colorado’s own, Elephant Revival, the Hard Working Americans, and Papadasio. The Area 51 stage hosted a bevy of bass-thumping EDM acts throughout the weekend. Still, mixed into the swirl were a number of self-reflective activities including yoga, philosophical discussion groups, and environmentalist workshops, including one led by the world-renowned activist, Julia Butterfly.

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    Certainly there are other festivals attempting to infuse self-reflective elements of artistic expression with art structures, live painting, play spaces, and spiritual growth workshops into the music scene. However, it is a testament to Arise organizers that they continue to grow as a family-run event in a saturated festival market that is increasingly being dominated by large-corporately-funded events. Arise grew this year even as a new festival, backed by a music industry giant, sprung up in a nearby location the same weekend.

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    The Arise weekend closed with rousing performances by the likes of Ziggy Marley, the New Mastersounds, and the Old World beats of Dirtwire, an EDM project founded by members of Beats Antique. A final ceremony closed the festival early Monday morning. “Kyu” rituals are designed to acknowledge the collections of communal experiences with the hope that participants have created a singular experience that is more than just another multi-day party. As the sun peaked over the rust-colored hills, and festival-goers slowly gathered in a circle to join hands, the sight was enough make one’s heart grow three sizes too large.

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  • Taste of Country 2016 Music Festival: Kid Rock Sets The Mountain On Fire

    I had never been to a country music festival until I attended the 2016 Taste Of Country Music Festival, and I honestly did not know what to expect. The yearly festival was held June 10, 11 and 12 on Hunter Mountain in Hunter, NY. Driving into Hunter, NY, I had to double check my GPS to make sure that I was in the right place. I was fairly surprised that mega country stars like Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen and rock star Kid Rock, artists who usually sold out stadiums such as Ford Field and Gillette stadium with capacities of over 60,000 people would play a small mountain town with a population of just over 2700 people. But the small town, usually known for it’s superb winter skiing, with its amazing mountain views, ended up being a great choice for the fourth annual Taste of Country Festival, which set a new attendance record with over 53,000 fans over the weekend.

    Taste of Country Kid RockThe festival split it’s acts between two stages, the main stage, named The Dodge Ram Guts and Glory Stage which featured the festival’s bigger acts, including the headliners, and the Bud Light Stage, which featured up and coming country artists. This provided three days of back to back country music, with a touch of rock to keep things interesting, and kept this reporter running back and forth between the stages to try to catch most of the action. The first day of the festival was headlined by Kid Rock, and featured Big & Rich, The Cadillac Three, Logan Brill, Annie Bosko, Jana Kramer as well as Dylan Jakobsen.

    Annie Bosko, was the only artist to be featured on both the main Ram Stage and later in the day, the Bud Light Stage. Bosko is an American Idol alumni, and has paid her dues singing backup vocals for the likes of Adele and Darius Rucker. She was named by Rolling Stone Magazine as “One Of 10 New Country Artists You Need To Know: Summer 2015.” She has powerful voice and backs it up with a bold on stage attitude. I was especially impressed by her single “Crooked Halo.”

    Taste of Country Kid RockThe Cadillac Three took the Ram Stage at 6pm. The Cadillac Three or TC3 as they are also known, launched their first album in 2012, and are currently on tour with Florida Georgia Line. Each member had long hair and wore a baseball cap over it. Their look, sound and love for the South, reminded me of a modern Lynyrd Skynyrd. The group told the crowd about the first time they played a show in New York, a few years ago and were worried about how their brand of country would be accepted this far north, but then realized that there were more rednecks up here than in the South.

    Up next was Logan Brill on the Bud Light Stage. Logan released her first album in 2013, but has been preforming in front of crowds in Tennessee since she was 11. I was impressed with the diversity of her music, she was able to transition from the blues, to country and pop without missing a beat. Her experience showed in the emotion and soul that she brought to her performances. I especially loved her heartfelt single, “World Still Round”.

    Once Logan finished her show, I rushed back to the Ram Guts and Glory Stage for Big and Rich, who broke out to the country music scene in 2004 with their mega hit “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)”, and have been making country music history since. Including a CMA, ACM and CMT nomination and two platinum albums. The crowd definitely responded to them and seemed to sing along to most of their songs. Their on stage, fun loving energy animated the crowd who seemed to enjoy every minute of it.

    Taste of Country Kid RockLast but definitely not least, Kid Rock took the stage around 10 o’ clock to end the night with a bang, both literally and figuratively. Kid Rock is one of the few artists to successfully be able to mix rock, rap, and a touch of country. He released his first album in 1990, a second in 1993 and his third album in 1996, but it wasn’t until 1998 when he released his fourth album, Devil Without A Cause that he found success. His 1998 album sold over 10,000,000 copies and ensured that he would become a household name. His appearance was met with screams and cheers. At one point during his performance, with a grin, Rock lamented to the crowd that he had no idea why he kept “getting booked at all of these country festivals.”

    Perhaps it was because, although he did not technically sing country music, he definitely embodied what southern rock was all about, and that his modern cowboy persona fit perfectly in a country festival. Rock showcased his musical talent during his show by jumping between being the lead singer, to the drummer, to playing the piano, to playing the guitar, to playing DJ by scratching on the turn tables, while at the same time pouring himself a glass of Jim Beam. The show even included a row of moving, mechanical flame throwers behind Rock and a few loud bangs at the perfect moments in various songs. This put an amazingly explosive end to had already been an amazing first day at the TOC festival.

  • Cousin Earth to make Brooklyn Bowl Debut Friday, August 12

    This Friday, August 12, Brooklyn’s Cousin Earth will make their Brooklyn Bowl debut at 8:30 p.m. The five-piece band is rich in diversity, performing with ukulele, melodica, Ubass, kazoo; play a variety of originals and covers, with a style spanning genres and drawing in fans with anything from bluegrass to electronica with just about everything covered in between.

    When NYSMusic first encountered Cousin Earth at Rock n Roll Resort 2015, Neil Benjamin had this to say:

    “Cousin Earth, a five-piece, is about as far from a gimmick as possible. Calfa plays an electric ukulele, tuned GCEA, Corey J. Feldman plucks a four-string U-Bass, which is essentially an electric bass the size of, you guessed it, a ukulele. On lead vocals and melodica is Tara Lawton, a trained theater actor, who fits perfectly with Terry Brennan, another actor. Together, the pair added a Broadway-style flair to the hour-long set. On the backbeat is Nate Searing.

    The group’s sound is so rich and full. I heard everything from calypso, to jam rock to hip-hop, reggae and even video game themes. Cousin Earth opened with a riveting cover of Phish’s ‘Possum,’ which featured Calfa’s technical, but fun, chops. Out of all the acts I witnessed for the first time this weekend, Cousin Earth gets my recommendation for band you absolutely need to experience.”

    Cousin Earth opens for Love Canon, performing bluegrass covers of your favorite ’80s hits. More info here.

  • LoCash and Skeeter Creek at Alive at 5

    With only a five percent chance of rain forecast before the Thursday, July 28 Alive At Five event, who knew that there would be a cloudburst when Skeeter Creek took the stage at the City of Albany’s “Country Night’ featuring LoCash as the headliner. Fans of Skeeter Creek and those who arrived early for the headliner were soaked within minutes, but most didn’t care. The show was for free and seeing two great bands, getting something to eat and drink to unwind before the weekend is what Alive at Five is all about.

    locashSongwriters and vocalists Chris Lucas and Preston Brust of the LoCash band have charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts so the fans were out in force by the start of their fine set at Broadway & Columbia Street in Downtown Albany at Tricentennial Park after the rain stopped.

    LoCash’s country music style is a mixed bag of styles with a spattering of rock and rap mixed in flawlessly. It’s all good and so singable with audience friendly hooks galore as the many thousands of fans proved time and again with a sing-a-long throughout the show.

    The City of Albany Events Department has a nose for selecting their ‘Country Night’ acts. They’re always on the brink of moving up to bigger venues in the very near future. Several years ago they brought in an ass-kicking concert by Lee Brice, and later Dustin Lynch, and look at them both now! Lee and Dustin have both opened up for major country acts at SPAC, with Dustin having just opened up for Luke Bryan at SPAC.

  • Jerry Garcia’s Solo Catalog is Now Streaming

    Trixie Garcia announced this week that her father’s Jerry Garcia Collection would be available for streaming, as well as an archive of numerous recordings and Jerry’s visual art. This will be an exclusive look at never before seen imagery and music from the legendary Grateful Dead frontman.

    Starting on Friday August 5, a collection of 34 reissued albums will be streaming on Spotify, Apple Music and Google Play and available for download through Google Play and iTunes.

    Among the albums available for streaming are Run for the Roses, Reflections, Ragged but Right and numerous compilations and volumes of his live performances.

  • Eastbound Throwdown Music Festival Coming to Salem, NY in September

    Eastbound Jesus has announced the 2016 Eastbound Throwdown music festival in Salem, NY. Featuring a lineup of Americana, Bluegrass and Northern Rock bands from around the state, the first year of this festival looks to be a hollerin’ good time.

    Eastbound Jesus, complete with shredding banjo, sweet vocal harmonies, ballads and fast paced rocking tunes, comes home grown from the small town of Greenwich, NY. The EBJ sound is well known to the Upstate region with their distinctive “Northern Rock” sound.

    Alt-country rockers the Mallett Brothers Band, Saranac Lake’s Blind Owl Band, folk rockers Driftwood, the North & South Dakotas and the Spectacular Average Boys round out the two day event held just during a gorgeous close to the summer.

    Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite and at Thruway Beverage and the Argyle Brewing Company in Greenwich, NY. Visit the official Eastbound Throwdown Facebook page for complete details on the festival lineup and ticket information.

  • (Board) Walk Me Out, Dark Star Orchestra at Ford Amphitheatre Coney Island

    On Sunday July 31, Dark Star Orchestra tested the waters of the newly opened Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk. They got the crowd moving right away with a rocking “Passenger” as fans young and old exchanged high fives. As per usual, there were several setlist detectives in the audience trying to determine what classic show the band was recreating before our eyes and ears. I discovered an early Easter egg as only one drummer appeared on the stage, hinting at the fact that Mickey Hart was not present for this gig.

    dark star orchestra coneyLead guitarist Jeff Mattson did an exceptional job filling Jerry’s shoes for “Sugaree,” before Rob Barraco tackled Pigpen’s “Mr. Charlie.” The “Black Throated Wind” that followed had a particularly hot ending as Rob Eaton embodied the role of Bob Weir. Always searching for a Grateful Dead setlist motif, I instantly became fascinated with the gambling aspect of “Loser” that was presented in the fifth spot. At every DSO show, us setlist detectives are attempting to discover the recreation by playing the hand we are dealt by the band members, and we had no chance of losing this time. Another ace was drawn once Barraco jumped back on the lead vocals for “Next Time You See Me,” channeling Pigpen in what was sure to be an early 70’s performance. Lisa Mackey, normally filling in as Donna, covered the harmonica for the tune during her first appearance of the night. A standard “El Paso” gave way to another song referencing a card game, “Dire Wolf.”

    dark star orchestra coneyThe spirit of Pigpen returned for “Two Souls in Communion,” relaxing the audience before a spaced-out “Playing In The Band.” After the 15-minute-plus version, I had enough set list evidence to predict the band’s recreation. I knew it was something from Europe ’72 as classic Pigpen tunes were frequent, yet they jumped in the deep end for “Playin’.” With assistance from a quick Google search, I discovered that they were recreating the iconic final show of their European run, May 26, 1972 from London. The show would be Pigpen’s second to last performance with the band, and symbolically the next song after my setlist discovery was “He’s Gone.”

    dark star orchestra coneyA familiar “Cumberland Blues” and “Jack Straw” led to “Chinatown Shuffle,” which is the last tune Pigpen ever sang on stage. In fact, the four songs sang by Pigpen in the first set would follow him to his grave after that hallowed evening. My lyrical deck of cards theory returned with the “diamond-eye Jack” during “China> Rider.” On the eve of Jerry’s birthday, a wave of euphoria came over the crowd during the “Not Fade Away> Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad> Not Fade Away” sandwich that closed out the mesmerizing and particularly long first set.

    An extended “Truckin’” reminded the New York audience of the ways and means as the second set caught fire early. The band treated us to the night’s second sandwich with “The Other One > Morning Dew > The Other One.” It isn’t clear if Jerry is singing directly to Pigpen during one of his final nights, but this version is one of the best in Dead history and DSO did an excellent job recapturing the emotion from over 44 years ago. Not only was the “Dew” sang with such emotion, but the jam that ensued showcased bassist Skip Vangelas dropping some serious Phil-bombs to test the foundation of the newly built venue.

    dark star orchestra coney“Sing Me Back Home” gave us a moment to catch our breath before the “high-lo jack and the winner takes the hand” lyrics brought a smile to my face during “Me and My Uncle.” “Ramble On Rose” brought the casino-night motif to a close and presented the “aces back to back” before a high-energy two-pack of “Sugar Magnolia” and “Casey Jones” closed the second set. As the 11PM curfew rounded the corner, DSO remained on stage and quickly wished Captain Trips a happy birthday. A fellow setlist detective gave me a pat on the back as the May 1972 discovery was confirmed. Closing out the Sunday, the band gave us one more reason to enjoy the weekend with “One More Saturday Night.” Outside the venue, dozens of fans roamed the beach holding balloons with smiles on their faces (I can only assume for Mr. Garcia’s birthday). The first ever Grateful Dead recreation at the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island was a massive success and I predict the energy to return during two nights of Phil & Friends in mid-September. Decades after that magical night on the other side of the Atlantic, Deadheads were once again treated to the peace, tranquility and curiosity of a beautiful experience, just like waves upon the sand.

  • You Can’t Half-Ass Bluegrass: 2016 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Recap

    Another sun sets for the annual Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, which spanned July 14 through 17, 2016 in Oak Hill, NY. With a stellar lineup and not-too-ridiculous weather, there was music playing all day, everyday, all weekend. Ringing through the distance from the Main Stage, to small gatherings under pop-ups and RVs, there was music, and you were never quite sure if it was played from a record, the radio, or between musician attendees.

    Thursday

    Hovering for camp site real estate, Grey Fox attendees loaded in as early as Tuesday to Walsh Farm. Even on Thursday, the first official day of live music, there was no space left in all the camping areas, and people already commenced their festivities and jamming. Since most notable Grey Fox artists didn’t play until the late afternoon, and played two sets at that, most attendees set up sites, got their bearings, and settled into the weekend. Guests ranged from large packs of young adults to groups of families to solo travelers, and everyone made an effort to make their campsites waterproof and visually appealing. There were stations on the walk to and from camp, featuring board games, a jam tent, and even a pop-up tent bar. Before long, the area was a small city of people, all welcoming and eager to hear some fine bluegrass.

    After making several laps around the area, with food and drinks in hand, the music kicked off at Main Stage with Compton & Newberry, Band of Ruhks, and Ithaca-based group The Horse Flies. As the sun made its descent for the first festival day, The Horse Flies kept the rhythm moving for festival dancers, which made a nice transition into Steep Canyon Rangers shortly after, with blood-curdling fiddle playing by Ranger Nikki Sanders. This set was particularly percussive as well, which polyrhythmic syncopation on the mandolin, and every member joining in on the drum kit at one point in their set. Their set list included songs spanning the early 2000’s to today, featuring “Stand and Deliver”, “Whiskey in the Afternoon”, and “Radio.” It was the Wood Brothers who closed out the Main Stage Thursday night, featuring three powerhouse musicians, Jano Rix and brothers Chris and Oliver Wood. Some of their songs included “What the Devil” and “I Got Loaded” from arguably their best record to date, entitled The Muse. The crowd was lively and relatively tame for a music festival crowd, but people were certainly conserving energy to enjoy the great music that was still to come.

    Friday

    For most campers that inhabited ares with families, the start of each day was about 8 a.m., when some of Grey Fox’s younger fans woke everybody up for breakfast. Despite ongoing fear of thunder, the weather was relatively smooth Thursday night into Friday, and the sun was harshly shining by the time the music kicked off for the day. First off was Charm City Junction, despite it being the time slot for the Lonely Heartstring Band on the schedule. Never the less, they brought an Irish flavor to Grey Fox with songs like “Train on the Island” and “I’ve Got a Woman,” with some additional jazz improvisation in the tune “Greasy Coat.” As part of their set, they dove off into a brief history lesson, relating traditional Irish music to the creation of old time music, eventually forming its way into bluegrass.

    Just as Irish traditional music evolved to bluegrass, Charm City Junction evolved the stage for Pennsylvania-born trio The Stray Birds shortly after. Bringing an element of twang and hollering to the Grey Fox crowd, their music featured tight vocal harmonies, a switch-off of instruments, and an energy that won over the crowd. Along with their latest single release “Sabrina,” the band played the title track from their 2014 album Best Medicine, which features the lyrics music is the best medicine I sell.

    As the day progressed, more shows seem to pop up all over the main area of Grey Fox. The Grass Roots Stage had workshops on songwriting and vocal lessons, and the Slow Jam offered lessons for beginners in fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. The Creekside Stage hosted a few bands for a second show following their Main Stage visit, one of which was Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore. With a powerhouse vocalist and cool bluesy guitarist, not to mention a husband and wife power duo, Mollie and Rich won over the hearts of their listeners with their spontaneous personalities and musical chemistry. It was from there many attendees flocked over to the Catskill Stage to witness Trout Steak Revival. They payed tribute to the festival’s sponsor beer (and creator of the amazing Summerfest Crisp Lager), Sierra Nevada, and played their song with the same name off of their 2015 album Brighter Every Day. Along with playing the title track to the album and a song about pie, they seemed to take a progressive bluegrass (is that a thing yet?) kind of direction for their last song, leaving Grey Fox on a different note, and setting the stage for the Dave Grisman Bluegrass Experience, which had some fire-like mandolin playing to heat up the gathering crowd. As the night progressed, many worked their way back up the hill to Main Stage to see the Del McCoury Band at 9pm. The Main Stage was flooded with hula hoopers, campers, and dancers as Del McCoury entertained the audience with crude humor and creative musicianship. They played “Rain and Snow,” “Fire On the Mountain,” and “Cornbread and Creekwater,” before Del McCoury opened up the floor for requests for the rest of the night, and was completely blown away by his crowd response. As campers made their way back to camp, Matuto filled the air with their non-conventional bluegrass songs, featuring elements of rock and world music as a backdrop for the night’s close.

    Saturday

    After two separate attempts, it was Saturday at 1pm that devoted fans had the chance to see the Lonely Heartstring Band play their set at the Catskill Stage. After their recent release of Deep Waters in June 2016, they played a selection of new songs, including the title track “Deep Waters” and “The Tide.” As children ran around the crowds and their set drew to a close, they also covered the Bob Dylan classic “Rambling, Gambling Willie,” which brought every audience member to their feet to clap along. Moving towards Main Stage to see Mr. Sun, a crowd was already actively engaged in 24-year-old songwriter Sierra Hull. She hosted one of many power trios throughout Grey Fox featuring guitarist Justin Moses and bassist Ethan Jodziewicz, who remained on stage for Mr. Sun at 3pm. Featuring jazzy interludes, funk bass rhythms, and a variety of catchy tunes, Mr. Sun certainly won over audience members who may not have known them before.

    All throughout Saturday, dozens of mandolin and banjo players graced the Grey Fox stage to showcase their plucking speeds and artistic flare, but it wasn’t until Saturday night that attendees finally saw the pros. Making his first Grey Fox appearance of the year, Béla Fleck joined in with Sierra Hull for an unforgettable set of intense solos. Sierra Hull shattered any preconceived notion of what bluegrass should look and sound like, and folks of all ages were grateful to see her perform alongside banjo extraordinaire Béla Fleck. After one of Della Mae’s larger sets, Chris Tile joined Béla Fleck on stage with no backing band to deliver one of the most notable performances of Grey Fox. Their set traveled through time, from Scarletti’s Sonata in C Major K. 159 to the Punch Brothers hit “No Concern of Yours.” For each new song they played, the more attention to dynamics they gave. At several times throughout their set, the hundreds that gathered to watch fell silent only to hear the delicacy of their playing. They were able to harmonize, imitate multiple instruments and their respective ones, and carry an entire set for themselves without anyone ever leaving the area. There’s something about bluegrass that brings you to a better understanding of music theory, improvisation, and song structure, and it’s beyond apparent in these two musicians. As Saturday night came to a close, Donna the Buffalo lead the last hurrah in the Catskill Stage, giving Grey Fox guests one more night of dancing before heading home the following day.

    Sunday

    Despite the massive rush leading up to the festival, many people didn’t stay too long on Sunday, making the barren lands of Walsh Farm seem endless in distance from where campsites still remained. For a relatively quick set, Della Mae closed out Grey Fox as people got their last fill of food and dancing. It wasn’t long before distant travelers had to pack up for the weekend and ship back home, but each attendee walked away with some good memories, extra snacks, and if they were lucky, a new instrument, courtesy of Grey Fox’s weekend-long raffle.

    Grey Fox has surely delivered another great year this year, with an amazing lineup and a group that you can’t find at other festivals. The hospitality and incredible musicianship of every Grey Fox attendee is overwhelming, and fans of all walks of life can find a home in Walsh Farm. If you’re looking to join in next year, follow Grey Fox’s Facebook page and website.