Charm City Bluegrass Festival Was Charming Indeed
Article and photography by Chason Heins
This past Saturday the Charm City Bluegrass Festival took over Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland, bringing together fans of bluegrass both young and old. The festival, now in its fifth year, delivered a lineup showcasing both the origin of today’s bluegrass as well as its bright future. The formula for this festival seemed straightforward, one day full of great music with no overlapping sets on two stages in a beautiful park located in the heart of Baltimore. The execution was impressively perfect from a smooth entrance to the several quality local food and drink options with beyond manageable lines as well as plenty of clean and well-maintained portable toilets.
The music began promptly at 10 am on the 8×10 stage with a young local band by the name of The Dirty Grass Players, who seemed as eager to kick things off as those fans fortunate enough to claim their spots for the day bright and early. Their ability to play traditional music that had hints of new-age grass as well as some rock ‘n’ roll quickly set the day in motion, filling the park with the beautiful sounds of bluegrass.
From there it was nonstop music with the Kitchen Dwellers over on the Union Craft Brewing Stage. The band came in hot and kept the pedal down throughout their beautifully crafted set, easily making it among my favorites of a day that had only just begun.
Now, with the midday sun beating down to make this late April day feel more like mid-summer, one of the acts I was most interested to catch was making their way on stage. Horseshoes and Hand Grenades (just announced on the Jam Cruise 16 lineup!) has been a band I have heard a lot about but until this past weekend had never seen live. Their on-stage chemistry and passion, blended with their progressive style of bluegrass, were infectious, instantly making a fan out of me.
After some of the lineup’s younger acts, it was time for the Lonesome River Band, celebrating their 35th anniversary, to take the stage. These legends of bluegrass were a treat for fans and fellow musicians alike, delivering a set that made it easy to see why they have been around for so long with such a storied and successful career.
As the afternoon progressed, It was time to find some food and drink and head to the shade for a little breather. As I wandered around, it was amazing to see how many friends and family had gathered together for this event, most notably the many young families that brought their children to experience the day playing in the grass and dancing around to the music.
After taking a short break, it was right back to it as The Dustbowl Revival kicked the day into another gear. High energy and full of life, this is a band I am always excited to see live and one that always seems to outdo themselves time and time again.
Following up a performance like that is hard, but crowd favorite Chris Jacobs was more than up to the task, infusing a ton of gritty rock ‘n’ roll into his performance, showing me a side of him I had not yet seen. His command of the stage and true love of his craft create a one-of-a-kind experience that captivates his audiences time and time again.
Getting back to the roots of bluegrass, Seldom Scene took the stage. This band that formed in Maryland back in 1971 has been going strong ever since, treating fans to a very traditional set of top-notch bluegrass.
Keeping things rolling, a band favorite of mine and a heavy fan favorite, Cabinet, took to the stage. This powerhouse band known for their Pennsylvania bluegrass has been continually gaining steam while building a strong base and family of fans who follow them wherever they can. Their set was full of passion and kept the crowd up and dancing throughout. I even noticed several fans playing Cabinet Bingo with the band’s setlist, which I though was awesome.
As the night began to creep in, there were still two acts left for the evening. The first, a super group made up of Adam Aijala and Ben Kaufmann of Yonder Mountain String Band and Andy Thorn and Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon joining together on stage for their first-ever performance. The band, still unnamed, was certainly a treat, taking turns showing the fans exactly what a super group is all about, weaving beautifully from song to song, each member adding his unique talents and creating what was easily one of the most exciting sets of the day. It left me hopeful that this collective will continue to find the time to play and create music together, at least for our sake.
The night ended with The Lone Below, a band that apparently only I was unfamiliar with. As they took the stage it became apparently clear this was a crowd favorite as the crowd erupted with joy, singing along with each word. Their music was infectious and well delivered, and you could see the love pouring out of each member as they played to the indulgent crowd.
Going into this festival, I was unsure what exactly to expect, not only musically but from the city and the people involved, both as staff and as fans. I can now easily say this was a charming day of music that anyone who has even the slightest bit interest in bluegrass should experience. From the welcoming staff and beautiful grounds to the downright kindness of the fans, this day exceeded my expectations in every way possible. This is one festival that seems to be as good for the city as the city is for it, and I truly look forward to making this an annual experience.
