The rivers are full. The leaves are green. The sun is working hard to make each day longer. The only thing missing? Grey Fox! The premiere bluegrass festival of the summer is returning to The Walsh Farm in the sleepy Catskill town of Oak Hill, NY this July 19th through the 22nd. This year’s lineup will help any jamband fan to recognize our scene’s roots in bluegrass.

Even among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Del McCoury stands alone. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honkytonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link. From headlining sold-out concerts to music festivals of all genres, including one carrying his namesake, there is Del.

The Stanley Hotel and iHeart Radio are pleased to announce its first concert weekend dedicated to bluegrass, friends and family. Stan Jam is a two-day festival event February 23 and 24 featuring a collection of many of the best Colorado musicians set alongside some of the biggest legends including headliners The Del McCoury Band and the Jeff Austin Band.

In July, Del McCoury began sending out hand rolled parchment invitations to a select group of deserving musical participants to join his DelFest 2018 Bluegrass Congress.

This fall and winter, music fans will have a chance to experience numerous incarnations of the music of Del McCoury and family, the renowned and revered bluegrass master, as he launches his most extensive tour in more than 15 years. The 35-date run will feature a different configuration of the McCoury family each night and includes dates billed as The Del McCoury Band and Del and Dawg, plus shows by The Travelin’ McCourys, which includes sons Ronnie and Rob McCoury.

Horning’s Hideout in beautifully forested North Plains, Oregon kept its tradition this year, hosting the 16th Annual Northwest String Summit on July 13th through the 16th. The long-time festival boasts an eclectic gathering with several event stages, a wide variety of string-instrument bands and features camping, vendor booths, a children’s village, yoga and mindfulness sessions and more.

Sometimes I think I am so full of shit. Ask my wife, and it’s probably safe to drop sometimes I think. But coming to Grey Fox Bluegrass Music Festival, a festival I come to every year, trying to think of a new way to make you, fair reader, understand that it is unlike anything that you have or ever will experience? I am full of shit to think I can do this. But thankfully, this year mother nature is co-writing this review, and she’s writing in the blurry ink of rain.

Delfest is going all out for their 10th Annual Festival lineup with additions including Railroad Earth, Tim O’Brien, The Gibson Brothers, artists at large Sierra Hull, Bryan Sutton, and Billy Strings, and multiple workshops. Delfest takes place over Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28 alongside the Potomac River in scenic Cumberland, MD. Ticket prices go up on March 7th. 

Just announced lineup additions: 

Railroad Earth

Tim O’Brien

The Travelin’ McCourys’ show in Nederland on Friday wasn’t a voracious late night affair fueled with moonshine fumes and guest sit-ins. It wasn’t an improvised, slam-grass stomper. It was five musicians atop their craft advancing in banter and harmonious bluegrass memories while chiding one another between songs like a vaudeville act.