Here in the icy maw of winter, between ski trips and catching up on the stack of good books we received for Christmas, the sweet promise of spring’s inevitable return pumps sunshine into our souls as we peruse seed catalogs, and, of course, our in box for outdoor music festival announcements.
In the words of Leftover Salmon, let’s “FESTIVAL!!!”
OK, after a couple rollercoaster years of Covid, that looks like a unanimous vote for the glorious return of outdoor festivals held in the splendor of our great outdoors – and sometimes in a vacant field.
Here’s a quick look at some of the spring and summer music fests that have announced
Merle Fest
Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, North Carolina
One of the best Americana music fests, MerleFest will be April 28-May 1. They just announced the second round of acts including: Old Crow Medicine Show, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Allison Russell, and We Banjo 3 will join an already impressive lineup which includes performances by Emmylou Harris, Greensky Bluegrass, Rissi Palmer, and more.
MerleFest is the annual late April homecoming of musicians and music fans on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
Find out more info at https://merlefest.org/
4848
Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia
One of the Mid-Atlantic’s premiere resorts, Snowshoe Mountain hosts its third annual 4848 Festival that makes a return to summer July 7-9. Scheduled bands include: Greensky Bluegrass, x2 plus sets from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Wood Brothers, Leftover Salmon, Theo Katzman, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Sammy Rae Music, Andy Frasco & the U.N,The Bridge, Kendall Street Company, Empire Strikes Brass, Jon Stickley Trio, Neighbor, Cris Jacobs ,The Dirty Grass Players and West Virginia’s own touring jam band. Fletcher’s Grove.
GA & VIP packages for 4848 Festival offer numerous lodging options including studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom condos, plus a limited number of rooms furnishing VIP patrons with a festival stage facing balcony. At the base of the mountain, tent camping options are also available with complimentary shuttles and ski lift rides to the Mountaintop Village and 4848 Festival grounds. All 4848 Festival room packages are available on a limited basis.
A wide variety of 4848 Festival ticket packages including everything from Mountain Village condo-like GA and VIP accommodations, as well as camping, RV packages and stand-alone festival tickets – all go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 14. Get more info at www.4848Festival.com
Mountain Music Festival
ACE Adventure Resort, Minden, West Virginia
Set for June 2-4, Mountain Music Festival at ACE Adventure Resort, features more than 30 bands on three stages at this 1,500 resort tucked into the mountains of the New River Gorge. Music is kicking off on the mountaintop Thursday night this year with The Motet, Moon Hooch and Bennett Walker Wales on the main stage. Plus Big Something is back for their 8th MMFest appearance. Other acts include: Galactic, Ripe, Litz, Doom Flamingo, The Motet, Jocelyn and The Sweet Compression,The Kind Thieves, Short and Company, Matt Mullins and The Bringdowns, Yam Yam, The Settlement, Dinosaur Burps, Corduroy Brown, Darrin Hacquard, Annie Neeley and more.
At the resort, you can book whitewater trips to the nearby New River Gorge, America’s newest national park. Also on property enjoy the Wonderland Waterpark as well as zip lining, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, kids camp, stand up paddleboarding, paintball, and disc golf.
Restaurant and the Lost Paddle Lounge also on site at the lake.
Get your tickets now with early bird deals through the end of January. Get tickets and more info at https://mountainmusicfestwv.com/tickets/
Fly In Festival
Robert C. Newlon Airpark, Huntington, West Virginia
Already featured on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited, the Fly In Festival is one of the most uniquely situated music festivals as it is located on the grounds of the Robert C. Newlon Airpark, a general aviation airport that is also home to the WV Skydivers.
This year’s Fly In Festival is set for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26-27 with the host band The Bing Brothers featuring Jake Krack. Other bands include; Sideline, Fletchers Grove,Lonesome River Band, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Danny Paisley and Southern Grass, Don Rigsby, Snakewinder, Mud Hole Control, Boone Mountain Bluegrass, Johnny Staats and Robert Shafer, Dan and Robin Kessinger, String Therapy, Big Rock and the Candyass Mountain Boys, Southridge, Bobby Maynard, Fly In All-Stars and more. The Fly In also hosts the Clark Kessinger Memorial Fiddle Contest on Aug. 26, and the Robin Kessinger WV State Flatpick Guitar Contest and Workshops on Aug. 27. The Fly In also features camping, a Saturday paddle trip (on the nearby Ohio River), vendors and more.
Del Fest
Cumberland, Maryland
After a 2 year hiatus due to Covid, DelFest returns to Cumberland, Maryland, on May. 26-29.
Festival hosts The Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys, will be joined by Railroad Earth, Bela Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, Watchhouse, California Honeydrops, Sierra Hull, Anders Osborne & Jackie Green, Cabinet, The Lil Smokies and many more.
Located along the Potomac River, the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland. For information including camping, parking, partners, and more, please visit delfest.com and follow DelFest on all social platforms. For information regarding DelFest’s health and safety policy, please visit delfest.com/health-and-safety-2022.
Forecastle
Louisville, Ky.
Set to run May 27-29 at Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville, Ky. Headliners include Jack Harlow, Porter Robinson, Tame Impala, Phoebe Bridgers, Tyler: The Creator, Rufus De Sol, Black Pumas,Earl Sweatshirt, Clairo, Coin, Wale, 6Lack, Lane 8, Chelsea Cutler, Alison Wonderland and many more.
Tickets at www.ForecastleFest.com
Dark Star Jubilee
Legend Valley, Thornville, Ohio
From May 27-29, All Good Presents Dark Star Jubilee, which features three nights of camping, and three nights of two set shows from Dark Star Orchestra plus 15 additional bands.Lots of vendors, workshops, etc., on site. Go online at www.DarkStarJubille.com
Bonnaroo
Manchester, Tenn.
After two years off, Bonnaroo 2022 is back and set for June 16-19 at the Farm in Manchester, Tennessee. General admission, VIP, and Platinum passes went on sale at noon, Jan. 13. Some of the 2022 lineup highlights include: The Chicks, Stevie Nicks, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Tool, J. Cole. Flume, and Machine Gun Kelly. Also on the bill, Herbie Hancock, The War on Drugs, Disclosure, Billy Strings, Porter Robinson, Puscifer, Japanese Breakfast, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Ludacris, CHVRCHES, Lord Huron, Goose, Tove Lo, Tinashe, 100 gecs, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Tash Sultana, Lane 8, The Weather Station, All Time Low, Joy Oladokun, Indigo De Souza, Claud, Briston Maroney, The Regrettes, and more. Go online at https://www.bonnaroo.com/
Rudy Fest
Morehead, Ky.
Set to run June 18-25 high on top of Poppy Mountain, just east of Morehead, Ky., off of U.S. 60. This traditional bluegrass music festival features dozens of national acts including Dan Tyminski, Steel Drivers, The Grascals, Russell Moore and IIIyrd Tyme Out, Don Rigsby, Junior Sisk Band, Sideline, Josh Williams Band, Balsam Range, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and many more. Local favorites Hammertowne will be recording a live album on Thursday, June. 23. There will also be a musical tribute to the late, great Ernie Thacker. Go online at www.rudyfest.com for tickets and more information.information.
Fallsburg Summer Stage
Fallsburg, Kentucky
The second annual Fallsburg Summer Stage festival is set for May 20-21, in Fallsburg, Kentucky, 5462 N. Route 3, Louisa. Held on the same grounds as the famous Fallsburg FearPlex, the fest features Shenandoah, Town Mountain, John R. Miller, Cristina Vane, Laidback Country Picker, Luna and the Mountain Jets, Short and Company, Eric Bolander, Mojo Thunder and the Plate Scrapers. There’s also an acoustic stage with such regionally known singer/songwriters as Sean Whiting, Darrin Hacquard, Patrick Stanley, Savannah Wright, Corduroy Brown, Joel Lambiotte and Chad Hall. Check the Fallsburg Summer Stage FB page for more info.
