The 35th Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival had many highlights, most notably the omnipresence of the hottest talent on the Bluegrass circuit, Billy Strings.

However, one of the main "subplots" that many wondered about was the status of "The Grateful Ball" given the recent, sudden and tragic passing of mandolin genius and original Grateful Ball participant, Jeff Austin.

Now in its 35th year and in its 11th year at its current setting, Grey Fox has hosted virtually every notable luminary of the bluegrass, progressive string, and acoustic musical genres.

Superstar phenom Billy Strings returns as Artist-in-Residence, joining 40+ award-winning bluegrass acts including the Del McCoury Band, Leftover Salmon, Tommy Emmanuel and many more at the 2019 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival from July 18-21.

A story with a head wound is always a good story. This story has a head wound. But it's not the best part of the story. This story is about music. Music at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. You'll notice I omitted the. It's not The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. It’s Grey Fox. We’ll get to that just like we’ll get to the head wound. But first, music. After all, that’s why we travel to the Catskills every year. But why this music? What about this music sets it apart? Truth be told, bluegrass can feel so rigid.

The rivers are full. The leaves are green. The sun is working hard to make each day longer. The only thing missing? Grey Fox! The premiere bluegrass festival of the summer is returning to The Walsh Farm in the sleepy Catskill town of Oak Hill, NY this July 19th through the 22nd. This year’s lineup will help any jamband fan to recognize our scene’s roots in bluegrass.

Sometimes I think I am so full of shit. Ask my wife, and it’s probably safe to drop sometimes I think. But coming to Grey Fox Bluegrass Music Festival, a festival I come to every year, trying to think of a new way to make you, fair reader, understand that it is unlike anything that you have or ever will experience? I am full of shit to think I can do this. But thankfully, this year mother nature is co-writing this review, and she’s writing in the blurry ink of rain.

The year will soon come when press releases for the Grey Fox Music Festival, held annually at the tranquil Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, NY, will no longer be necessary.

I have a moleskine book I keep in my pocket at concerts. My wife gave it to me as a gift years ago. She always gives the best gifts. This tattered little vestige to my musical history is used solely for notes at concerts I am reviewing. Nothing could better embody who I am, not just as a writer, but as a person. Every time I write in the book, it is a process. I have to take the now stretched out elastic rope off of the book, turn to the page marked with the connected bookmark and pick up where I left off.

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival: 40+ bands including Bela Fleck & Chris Thile,  Del McCoury, David Grisman, Jerry Douglas & the Earls of Leicester, The Wood Bros, SteelDrivers, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sierra Hull, Sara Watkins, Della Mae, Elephant Revival, and more! 5 stages. Camping. Family activities. Dancing. Jamming. July 14-17, Oak Hill, NY

Grey Fox is held on the Walsh Farm
1 Poultney Road (off County Route 22)
Oak Hill, NY 12460

Will you be one of the lucky ones? When it’s all over will you be able to say that you were there? That you attended The 2016 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival at the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, NY? The stories you’ll tell…