After an auspicious debut last year, the 2nd Annual DelFest is gearing up with an initial lineup announcement and open box office for early bird ticketing, VIP packages and RV permits. Also new this year is the first DelFest Academy, with three days of instrumental instruction taught by members of the McCoury band and others.
The festival runs Memorial Day Weekend, May 22-24, at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland MD. The DelFest Academy takes place May 18-21 at the same site.
Besides the host Del McCoury Band, the initial lineup announcment includes Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, Peter Rowan and the Free Mexican Air Force, J.D. Crowe and The New South, Tim O'Brien, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Lee Boys, Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass and more.
For complete information and tickets, visit the DelFest website. Read more »
I'm in the press tent waiting for an interview with Peter Rowan, but Del McCoury is ripping it up on stage. He's already done some favorites: Body and Soul, Nashville Cats. He opened with the Shawn Camp song, Traveling Teardrop Blues.
Each band member gets one solo turn (Ronnie wished Del a happy fathers day). Right now it is new bassist Alan Bartram on his solo vocal.
Backing up, highlights from Rowan and Rice:
The Vassar Clements song with great jamming and audience participation on the chorus. I saw this song performed for the first time six weeks ago at the Old Settlers Festivfal, where Rowan wrote it as a contribution to the Vassar Clements tribute. It was the perfect fit here, invoking another great hero from Telluride's history while giving the band a round of solo shots.
Great jamming throughout but especially on a Tony Rice medley.
Okay, I'm back having missed most of the Del set. I got a Peter Rowan interview and then needed to eat something. I've been hearing about the dumplings all weekend, and now I can vouch for Sisters Dumplings' combo platter, my pick for the best original food at the fest. Munching on those crispy Thai wontons while listening to Del doing 1952 Black Vincent Lightning will a personal memorable moment. The song, by Richard Thompson, is a favorite here as at most other places I've seen Del do it.
