In one of the most musically-taut and diverse lineups yet, DelFest is poised to provide the go-to location for anyone looking for the best in music for Memorial Day Weekend, 2013. [May 23rd - 26th.]
Since the festival's inception, Del McCoury has brought amazing musicians to the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland. This year is no different.
With The Del McCoury Band performing nightly, 2013 will also bring two sets from Trey Anastasio Band. Also on the main stage: Old Crow Medicine Show, and DelFest favorite: Yonder Mountain String Band.
The festival schedule isn't available yet, but look also for performances from Trampled by Turtles, The Masters of Bluegrass, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Larry Keel and Natural Bridge. See full lineup.
I've attended every DelFest, rain or shine. This year, without a doubt, has the potential to offer up some amazing musical sit ins. Anastasio's inclusion in the lineup takes the festival into an interesting direction. Introduced to Del McCoury at Farm Aid in 1998 while performing with Phish, Anastasio has often referenced the significant influence McCoury has had on his development. First performing together at Phish's festival in Oswego, NY in 1999, they shared various opportunities for collaboration either with Phish, or Trey Anastasio Band. Bill Monroe's bluegrass standard "I'm Blue I'm Lonesome" remains a frequently played composition when the two men get together. Here's hoping they choose to continue their streak with that song on the DelFest stage.
The late night shows, not yet announced, and are always the hottest tickets. Stay close to the DelFest website for those performer announcements. Past year's late night sets with bands like Yonder Mountain String Band, and Trampled by Turtles have become stuff of legend. As a DelFest veteran, I can also safely say that the festival site itself has improved with each and every subsequent year. In the past, there have been some DelFests where mud became a real logistical issue. Last year, it was apparent a great deal of thought went into upgrading walkways and ramps. It still rained. After all -- it's DelFest. But moving from stage to stage was a comfortable experience, regardless.
DelFest still holds the DelFest Academy in the week prior to the festival. Festival students spend 3 intensive days playing music with and learning from their bluegrass heros. Songwriting contests, kids activities, movement playshops, and an freestanding toy train museum round out the highlights. If you are pondering your summer music festival schedule for this year, this is a must-see.
