To thousands of music fans from around the world, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival means outstanding entertainment, friendly people, beautiful surroundings, and a unique combination of relaxation and exhilaration. Each summer, fans from 30-some states and a dozen countries travel to upstate NY to be a part in this beloved event, now in its fourth decade. What is a hay farm the rest of the year is transformed into a pop-up tent city with six stages, workshops, dancing, vendors, round-the-clock picking, and great fun for thousands of happy campers, day visitors, artists, sponsors, and volunteers.
On July 16-20, 2025, new and long-time fans will gather for the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival on the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, NY, a historic village nestled in the Great Northern Catskills. They’ll come to see nearly 50 bluegrass, newgrass, and roots music groups including festival favorites Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush Band, I’m With Her, Sierra Hull, Della Mae, and others. They’ll also welcome, for the first time The California Honeydrops, Cris Jacobs, and more. The host band, once again, is Dry Branch Fire Squad, led by celebrated storyteller, Ron Thomason. This year’s Artist-in-Residence will be Grammy award-winning bluegrass guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Woody Platt. As Artist-in-Residence, Woody will collaborate with various artists throughout the weekend and will perform with his own band, Woody Platt & The Bluegrass Gentlemen, a supergroup of the genre’s top musicians.
As always, Grey Fox attendees can look forward to a ‘Big Tent’ approach to the event’s lineup. While many of the festival’s artists are rooted in bluegrass, several push the boundaries of the genre, making them hard, if not impossible, to categorize. These include the innovative and jazzy Mr Sun, the black stringband New Dangerfield, indie-folk songstress Lindsay Lou, the rootsy-Americana phenom, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and others.
It's safe to say that Grey Fox is a highly seasoned stew of bluegrass, newgrass, roots, and Americana, with a spicy international flavor. This year’s lineup features JigJam from Ireland; Larry & Joe who blend Venezuelan Musica Llanera with American roots music; IBMA International Tour Grant Recipients, Johnny & The Yooahoos from Germany; Campbell/Jensen from London; plus our Canadian friends who bring old-time, Cajun, Celtic, and Quebecois to the Grey Fox stages: Le Winston Band, Cécilia, and The Lonesome Ace Stringband.
Another beloved tradition at Grey Fox is presenting hot, up-and-coming artists through its Emerging Artist Showcase. Competition is fierce as dozens of artists apply from around the country and beyond for a handful of spots. This year’s official Emerging Artists include The Wilder Flower (NC), High Horse (MA), The Litch Brothers (WA), Pythagoras (TN), Rakish (NC), and Berklee College of Music’s Catfish in the Sky and The Jean-Baptiste Cardineau Show. Fans can catch them at Creekside, Grassroots, and New Belgium-Bells Gig Rig stages throughout the weekend.
Tyler Campbell, a pilot, photographer, and Grey Fox fan from Chestertown, MD, says, “It’s all about community and the sense of belonging. Once you go, you know. Add the finest music I can imagine and it’s the week I look forward to all year round. It’s my place to unwind, relax, and connect with things that really matter.”
Kindness and generosity abound at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. Campers look out for one another, share meals, jam together, and welcome the chance to help strangers. Likewise, the festival is sensitive to the needs of the larger musical community. Grey Fox 2025 is honored to present several North Carolina bands whose lives or communities were greatly impacted by Hurricane Helene’s devastating floods last fall, among them Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers, Unspoken Tradition, Casey Driessen’s Red Shoe Stringjam, Tanasi, and others.
Three very special performances will take place at Grey Fox 2025. On Thursday, Hazel at 100: Della Mae with Laurie Lewis and Alice Gerrard will celebrate the extraordinary life and music of Hazel Dickens. Also on Thursday, The Special Consensus will bring its 50th Anniversary Tour to the festival. On Saturday, Grey Fox will present A Woodstock Celebration in Memory of Happy Traum — the iconic recording artist, songwriter, publisher, founder of Homespun Music Instruction, and beloved figure in the Woodstock music scene. This one-of-a-kind tribute will feature Adam Traum, Cindy Cashdollar, Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, Mike Merenda, Ruthy Ungar, Darol Anger, Eugene Ruffolo and others.
Much, much more is in store for festival goers. The Family Stage provides music, crafts, dances, puppets, movies and more for kids from 2 to 92. The Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids, the nationally recognized music program, returns for three days of learning and a performance on the main stage. Academy registration for kids from 8 to 17 years of age begins April 1 for classes in guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bass, and cello. There is no charge for the program.
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2025 Lineup: Host band: Dry Branch Fire Squad, Artist-in-Residence: Woody Platt, Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush Band, The California Honeydrops, I'm With Her, Sierra Hull, Steep Canyon Rangers, JigJam, Woody Platt & The Bluegrass Gentlemen, Lindsay Lou, Henhouse Prowlers, Hazel at 100: Della Mae w/ Laurie Lewis & Alice Gerrard, New Dangerfield, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Noam Pikelny & Friends, Mr Sun, Cris Jacobs, Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass, The Lonesome Ace Stringband, Larry & Joe, Campbell/Jensen, The Special Consensus, Compton & Newberry, The Mammals, A Woodstock Celebration in Memory of Happy Traum, featuring Adam Traum, Cindy Cashdollar, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Mike+Ruthy (of the Mammals), Darol Anger, Eugene Ruffolo, and more, Casey Driessen's Red Shoe Stringjam, Mike+Ruthy, Le Winston Band, Tony Furtado Trio, Tanasi, Cécilia, Unspoken Tradition, Jim Gaudet & The Railroad Boys, Johnny & The Yooahoos, The Wilder Flower, Mark Gamsjager & The Lustre Kings, High Horse, The Litch Brothers, John, Trish & Quickstep, Rakish, Pythagoras, Catfish in the Sky, The Jean-Baptiste Cardineau Show & MORE!
Camping is available from Wed-Sun, July 16-20 with the purchase of a full festival ticket. Camping options include dry camping, electric hookups, and glamping. Day tickets and senior discounts are available for Thurs-Sat. Kids 12 and under are free with ticketed adults. Day parking and shuttle buses are free. Handicapped parking, camping, and transportation are available. Service animals only. Foods, beer, wine, crafts, clothing, and more are for sale Wed-Sun. ATMs on site.
Tickets are on sale now. Details of ticket options including how to purchase instructions them can be found at greyfoxbluegrass.com For more information, please visit the website.
