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
Festival: https://greyfoxbluegrass.com/
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.
Always a deep and wide mix of Grammy, IBMA, CMA, and AMA winners and nominees, Grey Fox presents the best of bluegrass and acoustic music. In its 35th year, Grey Fox is the largest and most-established bluegrass festival in the Northeast, featuring traditional, contemporary, and progressive bluegrass to old-time, Americana, jamgrass, Celtic, and dance music.
The festival is a homecoming every summer for campers from more than 30 states and at least a dozen countries. Held on the Walsh Farm in the bucolic Catskill Mountains, the festival has six stages, with shaded performance venues and workshop stages, along with entertainment for children and families. In all, more than 175 performances are scheduled over the festival’s four days, from Thursday through Sunday (camping gates open early on Wednesday, July 17).
The lineup is always eclectic and on the cutting edge, a “Who’s Who of Bluegrass” that offers something for everyone. Bands this year also include the Earls of Leicester, I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan), Tim O’Brien, Balsam Range, Steep Canyon Rangers, Molly Tuttle, the Gibson Brothers, Sierra Hull, and host band Dry Branch Fire Squad. The Travelin’ McCourys will present “A Grateful Ball,” a collaboration of the music of The Grateful Dead.
Over the past few years, Billy Strings has made his mark on the Grey Fox faithful, with dynamic performances that have left audiences spellbound. The young guitarist has been turning the dyed-in-the-wool bluegrass world on its head. Rolling Stone magazine says that Strings sounds like “The head-banging speed of a thrash metal band channeled through flat-picked guitar and mandolin, with a touch of end-of-the-world psychedelia.” As Artist-in-Residence, Strings will be performing with his own band and with other bands from Thursday through Saturday.
In addition to the main stages, there are impressive Emerging Artist Showcases of young bands hailing from around the country, music and dance workshops, a much-loved Open-Mic Night, red-hot jam sessions around the campgrounds, ethnic and festive foods, unique vendors, Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids, (now in its 21st year) and a stage entirely devoted to children’s activities. Everyone from music fans to foodies, beginning pickers to serious players, singles to multi-generational families will find something to capture their imagination and heart.
GIVING BACK: Sunday is unique at Grey Fox. Admission is free with a donation to local food banks upon arrival. ‘A Taste of Grey Fox’ starts with Dry Branch Fire Squad and ends with the 21st Annual Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids bookending performances by some of the festival’s top artists. Donations of non-perishable pantry items or cash go to Community Action of Greene County who distributes food and supplies to area food banks. Grey Fox invites residents and visitors alike to enjoy Sunday’s musical performances and help feed needy local families. Acceptable pantry items are listed at https://cagcny.org/food-donations.
For tickets, information and a complete list of all the bands, visit the Grey Fox website at http://greyfoxbluegrass.com.
The beautiful, rolling foothills of the Catskill Mountains of Greene County, will not be filled with banjo rolls, mandolin chops, or three-part harmonies this summer. After monitoring the Covid-19 situation for months with the health and safety of guests in mind, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, scheduled for July 15-19 in Oak Hill, NY, has determined that a live event cannot be held this year. This is the first in the event’s 35-year history.
While this is difficult and sad news for the festival’s fans, musicians, and staff, Grey Fox will host an online event to bring the beloved musical community together on the same weekend. The “Spirit of Grey Fox 2020” is being planned by the same team that deftly brings stellar music, fun, and a sense of wonder to thousands of fans from around the world each summer.
Co-hosting the virtual “Spirit of Grey Fox 2020” will be nine-time Grammy winner and Grey Fox Artist-in-Residence, Jerry Douglas; Ron Thomason, raconteur extraordinaire and founder of the festival’s long-time host band, Dry Branch Fire Squad; and award-winning old-time banjo master and songwriter, Joe Newberry. Together they’ll welcome performances by 30-some artists who were scheduled to plat at Grey Fox 2020. By day, the four-day event will feature new music and stories from the all-star lineup; while streaming some of the most memorable sets of past festivals by night. Donations made during “Spirit of Grey Fox 2020” will benefit the IBMA COVID-19 Relief Fund, administered by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
In addition to Douglas, Thomason, and Newberry, the impressive list of acclaimed artists taking part in this virtual event include: Del McCoury, The Infamous Stringdusters, Steep Canyon Rangers, Della Mae, Peter Rowan, Rhonda Vincent, Michael Cleveland, Alison Brown, Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley, Fireside Collective, Che Apalache, Mike Compton, Charm City Junction, The U.S. Navy Band, and many more.
Festival organizers suggest that this is a perfect opportunity for a stay-at-home celebration in our own back yard. “Set up a tent… Hang out in your RV… Cook fun food on your camp stove… Keep drinks in your cooler… Learn a new bluegrass song… Have a watch party… And get into the spirit of being there,” imagines Mary Tyler Doub, founder and producer of Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival since 1985. “We may not be able to gather there in person, but this is the next best thing. It’s important to keep the magic alive.”
Ticket holders have the choice of supporting Grey Fox by donating their 2020 ticket, or they may request a full or partial refund. Donations to help sustain the organization through the year are gratefully accepted. Refund and donate buttons along with details about the upcoming “Spirit of Grey Fox” can be found at www.GreyFoxBluegrass.com.
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