Bluegrass Festivals?

[MQTA]

Now that us other's can post here

Anyone go to Bluegrass Festivals?

What's the best overall? Biggest? best camping?

 

[ClementofRome]

Now that us other's can post here

Anyone go to Bluegrass Festivals?

What's the best overall? Biggest? best camping?

Merlefest in NC is huge and great
Telluride in CO is the classic
GreyFox in upstate NY is probably the most fun!

... and I am from NC!

 

[MQTA]

Merlefest in NC is huge and great
Telluride in CO is the classic
GreyFox in upstate NY is probably the most fun!

... and I am from NC!

Which ones have you been to?

I only know of the ones in the North East... Peaceful Valley (no longer), Winterhawk now Grey Fox in NY, Delaware Valley in NJ, Thomas Point Beach ME, Ninegret RI, and Windgap in PA.

 

[chunkofcoal]

The Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) Bluegrass Festival is always great. It's held twice per year in May and August. I used to go for the whole weekend but I usually only make it for one day now.
There's also a festival held in Arcadia, Maryland. I only went to that one once, but I had fun. I did have to laugh, though - there is a rail line right behind the stage and once in a while, a train would come through....

 

[ClementofRome]

GreyFox in Ancramdale, NY is probably my favorite. It is the most laid back....you can come and go as you please and camping is right on site. Coolers are allowed

Merlefest is the biggest these days, and it always hosts multiple stages with the best of the best...but it can be a pain because of the large crowds and various restrictions to movement and such. Usually involved a LOT of walking to get from point A to point B.

 

[MQTA]

GreyFox in Ancramdale, NY is probably my favorite. It is the most laid back....you can come and go as you please and camping is right on site. Coolers are allowed

Merlefest is the biggest these days, and it always hosts multiple stages with the best of the best...but it can be a pain because of the large crowds and various restrictions to movement and such. Usually involved a LOT of walking to get from point A to point B.

My friend to was to Merlefest.

Do you go to GreyFox every year? Ever hang out on the line down below before the festival?

No disagreement here, I think GreyFox has got to be the best festival of any genre on the planet and our history. Sure, there could be ones that are indeed better, I just can't imagine that.

2000 was the best... 10 inches of rain in 20 hours, but most survived what was dubbed "Hurricane Bub"

GreyFox 2003 was the best of the best, the ultimate peak in my festival history, and Delaware Valley 2003 was the best of the best... 2003 was just the best of any year, all the festivals I went to.

Maybe it was because Mars was so close LOL

 

[MQTA]

The Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) Bluegrass Festival is always great. It's held twice per year in May and August. I used to go for the whole weekend but I usually only make it for one day now.
There's also a festival held in Arcadia, Maryland. I only went to that one once, but I had fun. I did have to laugh, though - there is a rail line right behind the stage and once in a while, a train would come through....

I think I stayed at the Gettysburg park where the festival, but never been there for a festival.

I gave some consideration to Arcadia last year but a hurricane was coming up the coast, and it did hit there. I believe there's a Christmas celebration that weekend by one of the camping groups.

 

[kleptobismol]

i dont care for bluegrass but we have a ton down here in texas

 

[MQTA]

i dont care for bluegrass but we have a ton down here in texas

Yeah, I never cared for it either! Used to hate it, couldn't even listen to it for too long without getting irritated. Back in 1991, I was taking my family on vacation with an RV. I happened to show my friend my proposed route and he told me we were going to be passing a Festival HE was going to be at.

I mean literally passing, we were going right past that exit to a few further down the road. He convinced us to at least check it out, stay our first night, and then go on our merry way. So we did. We ended up spending 2 nights. My family didn't care it, but I liked the Camping aspect. So what you had to contend with music you can't stand. LOL

I joined them for two days the next year, and I've been going ever since to 2 or 3 each summer.

Now I love the music and over there years got to know many performers, personally. That would never happen in the Rock world.

 

[dmiller]

THIS SITE tells you about what is happenining here in Minnesota. The MBOTMA Association puts on a great festival, 3 times a year.

Worth checking out, if you're in the area. Bring all your instruments. Jams are the highlight of it all, though the stage show is excellent too.

 

[dmiller]

Klepto -- too bad you don't like Bluegrass -- but to each their own.

Ron Thomason of DRY BRANCH FIRE SQUAD says that:

"BLUEGRASS IS THE VITAL FORCE OF LIFE"
And if I didn't believe in Jesus Christ, I would tend to agree!!

By the way -- if you click on the link, Ron is the mandolin player, and that is a 1923 F-5 Lloyd Loar mandolin he is holding, and is worth close to $85,000. He and I got a chance to talk about our mandos and compare, and even though mine is older (a 1917 F-2), his is worth more. Bluegrass is alive and well!!

 

[dmiller]

And Bluegrass is definately "worth a listen"!

 

[ClementofRome]

...and Father Bill Monroe said, "if it ain't bluegrass, it ain't no part of nothin'!"

 

[skilltroks]

The only bluegrass I have heard is Alison Krauss & Union Station. I've been to one of her/their concerts. In this little old church...o, it was great. Also, my mom has alot of their cd's.

 

[MQTA]

This year's Grey Fox festival was totally awesome, start to finish!

 

[Koontzy]

I am suprised no one mentioned Kentucky!!! Kentucky hold the largest bluegrass festival around Kentucky Lake.... I think thats the one... also tennessee and Indiana hold some big festivals...

 

[ClementofRome]

Just returned from GreyFox.....AMAZING! This is hands down the best bluegrass festival I have every attended. The weather cooperated this year and the music was just great.

HightlightL

Friday 6PM,...Masters Workshop Tent...MANDOLINS
Danny Roberts
Sam Bush
Mike Marshall

They blew us completely away...then Danny had to leave for his set with the Grascals and in comes DAWG! Sam and Mike and Grisman played one of the most incredible EMD's I have ever heard. All total there were 4 mandolins in the tent worth approx 180K and Grisman did not have his Loar with him and played Sam's "Hoss" while Sam played his Sam Bush model. Marshall played his Loar and Danny played a new Gibson Master Model.

This 1.5 hours was worth the entire price of admission to the festival We tape recorded the whole thing, so dmiller, when we get a chance to dub some copies I want to send you one.

Other highlights:
Biscuit Burners
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver (both workshop and main stage)
James King Band workshop
Psychograss (private preshow warmup jam in camp next to mine!!!!!!!....)
Sam Bush Band Fri night late
Del McCoury on Sat night

 

[MQTA]

Wow, someone else from CF was there? Cool!

Did you see the 2 meteors during the Doyle Lawson set? I missed it but heard about it.

Do you go to any other festivals? Windgap or Delaware Valley?

I thought Sam Bush's late night set was the best of the weekend.

Do you also do the Line?

 

[ClementofRome]

Wow, someone else from CF was there? Cool!

Did you see the 2 meteors during the Doyle Lawson set? I missed it but heard about it.

Do you go to any other festivals? Windgap or Delaware Valley?

I thought Sam Bush's late night set was the best of the weekend.

Do you also do the Line?

I drove from NC 13 hours on Tues and made the line by 5:30 in the rain storm. That was my earliest arrival and was #416. Camped in the quiet camping at the top just below the tree line and about 50 yards from the Workshop tent.

I did see the shooting stars during Doyle...well, sort of. Sam was great on Fri night, but not at jazzed as I have seen him before. DGQ was a tad mellow, but that is DGQ for ya.

Being a southerner I do not go to any othet NE festivals....only down here. Merlefest from time to time and Cherokee occasionally. Will see Sam Bush this coming weekend at our Bele Chere Festival here in Asheville. It is a huge street fest with a total diversity of music.

Blessings to you!

 

[MQTA]

Oh, nice drive up.. wow ... 13 hours. Takes me 4 hours to get up there. I've never been to any festivals south of NJ.. just NY, NJ, Pa, so far.

Tim O'Brien and Sam Bush moved me more than DGQ did, but Friday night was definitely the best. Maybe if Seldom Scene all made it on Sat it would have been totally different, but I think we got gyped of stage time. 1AM is hardly the end of a Sat night up there. I wonder if Seldom Scene ever showed, or if they just redirected themselves to their next day's spot. Was good seeing Ben and Dudley with Tim and Sally though. Never saw Ben's son before. Wingnuts.. indeed. LOL