The 2nd annual Festy Experience will take place October 7th - 9th, 2011 at the Concert Grounds at Devils Backbone in Nelson County, VA. Curated by bluegrass-bending group The Infamous Stringdusters, The Festy revolves around the essential festival elements of good music, local sustenance, and the great outdoors. A confirmed lineup is listed below and tickets are currently on sale. More bands and activities will be announced in the coming weeks.

"The Stringdusters are practically obsessed with festivals," admits Travis Book of the Infamous Stringdusters.  "We learned to play at festivals, we met at festivals, and we love the community created by festivals. The Festy Experience is amazing music, local food and libations, and a legit outdoor lifestyle experience. It's our ideal weekend; a good hang and an awesome party in a beautiful place."

Of course live music is an integral part to The Festy Experience. Despite The Infamous Stringdusters forming numerous connections to the “bluegrass” world, The Festy does not strictly feature bluegrass talent. Instead, The Stringdusters invited the diverse bands and musicians they've met on the road and at other festivals. Featured performers include Railroad Earth, David Grisman Sextet, Brett Dennen, Jim Lauderdale, Emmitt-Nershi Band, Toubab Krewe, The Wood Brothers, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and more.

Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, and only a short distance from the historical Appalachian Trail, The Festy provides a premiere location for camping and outdoor enthusiasts. Just up the road from the Concert Grounds (and accessible by shuttle for spectators), the Virginia Off-Road Series will host the Devils Backbone Challenge mountain bike race. Trail blazers can take part in the Blue Ridge Burn 5k/10k run hosted by Blue Ridge Outdoors, and nature lovers of all levels are encouraged to hike mountain trails, and participate in yoga classes.

The Festy has also taken major strides to provide exceptional and sustainable food options for their attendees. Community partners The Rock Barn, Devils Backbone Brewery and Java Depot offer on-site dining and sustenance options. Locally brewed beer is supplied by Star Hill and Devils Backbone breweries and select wines will be available from Nelson County Vineyards.

A limited quantity of weekend festival tickets including camping are available for $99 and currently on sale through The Festy website at www.thefesty.com. Day passes will not be sold if the festival sells out in advance.

WHEN: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7TH - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, 2011

WHERE: 200 MOSBYS RUN, ROSELAND, VA  22967 / (JUST 1 HOUR SW OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA)

PRICES: $99 3-DAY PASS WITH CAMPING ($39 FOR AN RV PASS)

FESTIVAL WEBSITE

The definition of bluegrass is being challenged.  Ever since the "O Brother" bubble burst, string-bands have developed into the mainstream redefining bluegrass and shifting the limiting paradigm of acoustic instruments.  Divergent string-band worlds collide as thrash grassers Trampled by Turtles and virtuosic-jammers The Infamous Stringdusters team up to bring you the Fly Palomino Tour.

The Infamous Stringdusters are at the forefront of a new movement in bluegrass music and touring in support of their Sugar Hill release Things That Fly.   Their unmatched virtuosity has enabled them to take acoustic music to a completely new level. They wield an expansive repertoire touching on masters from Jimmy Martin to John Hartford, but their strength lies in their original compositions.  Dedication to arrangements sets them apart and extended improvisation makes every performance completely unique. The live Stringdusters experience is anti-formulaic, groove friendly, and mind-expanding - not your granddaddy's bluegrass. Unless your granddaddy was Jerry Garcia.

When The Infamous Stringdusters comes out June 10 on Sugar Hill Records, some may assume from the title that it's a debut recording. Those already aware of the Stringdusters phenomenon will know differently: that 2007's Fork in the Road was the album that boldly introduced this daring, disciplined band to the world of bluegrass and a wider world of music enthusiasts who heard it and decided: 'if that's bluegrass, then I love bluegrass.' Fork in the Road was named Album of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Its title track was named Song of the Year, and the band itself earned the honor of best emerging artist in a competitive field. It was a stunning cap to an amazing 2007.

Yet The Infamous Stringdusters feels like an introduction of a sort. Whereas Fork in the Road was made during their first potent months together, the new CD represents all the band has become during two years of intense touring, meticulous woodshedding and brotherly jamming. It's their first record with accomplished guitarist Andy Falco, whose blues-infused licks and stunning virtuosity has added a new facet to the band's musical personality. It's the first with the band's dream producer Tim O'Brien, a Grammy-winning musician who has pioneered and embodied the progressive school of roots and bluegrass that underlies the Stringdusters sound. And of course it's the first with these songs - nine band originals supplemented by a few carefully chosen tunes from colleagues in the acoustic music community.

Dobroist Andy Hall's "Well, Well" captures a character in limbo between desperation and optimism. Bassist Travis Book contributed several songs, including the sentimental "Bound For Tennessee." Fiddler and singer Jeremy Garrett lends layers of lonesome to his song "When Silence is the Only Sound." Meanwhile, "Loving You" by Grammy nominated writer Sarah Siskind is a signature example of what sets the Stringdusters apart, with its off-kilter groove and dark-hued melody. The bluesy and slightly demented "Get It While You Can" was composed by Bad Livers mad genius Danny Barnes. And rippling newgrass instrumentals from the hands of mandolinist Jesse Cobb ("Golden Ticket"), banjo master Chris Pandolfi ("Glass Elevator") and Hall ("Black Rock") complement the album with flawless examples of the band's trademark instrumental virtuosity.

In their breakout year of 2007, the Infamous Stringdusters played over 150 dates, including the biggest festivals in acoustic music, jammed on major stages with heroes like David Grisman and Sam Bush, and landed a development deal for motion picture music with Lions Gate Entertainment. With the release of The Infamous Stringdusters, 2008 promises more roads and more new fans in bluegrass and beyond.