DelFest May 23-26, 2019

This year's Delfest, a close two hours from Middleburg, is being held over Memorial Day Weekend. I like to call this festival "Telluride East," and every year it gets better and better. The lineup includes some big acts like the String Cheese Incident, Sam Bush Band, Trampled by Turtles, The Travellin' McCourys, and of course, the host, Del McCoury Band—Del Yeah!

Lots of people come and camp for the weekend, but alternatively, you can pick a day and drive out for the acts that you most want to see. Last year the weather was miserable, with multiple inches of rain, and nearby tornados, creating a muddiest DelFest in history. It's held on the fairgrounds which has a big covered grandstand, but most people set up on the grass on the infield of the racetrack. The VIP tickets, which get you close to the stage are long gone, but sitting on the lawn still affords great sound.

Head on up to Cumberland this Memorial Day and give DelFest a listen, you'll love the scene and the music. For more info, go to www.delfest.com.

Telluride Bluegrass June 20-23, 2019

High in Colorado Rocky Mountains, in a box canyon at 9,000 feet, a rope drops, a bagpipe wails, and hundreds of music lovers sprint down a dirt lane in Town Park to grab the best seats in front of the Telluride Bluegrass stage. This ritual happens each of the four days of Telluride Bluegrass, and I am psyched that I will be there this year. This is the 46th Telluride Bluegrass, the granddaddy of all roots music festivals, with traditions that stretch over the more than four decades. The King of Telluride, as he is called, is Sam Bush, will play with his band and sit in with many of the bands on the lineup roster. There are few places on this earth that provide such a perfect setting for music lovers to congregate.

Besides the main stage, there are late night performances at some of the great telluride watering holes, Like the Fly Me to the Moon Saloon, with its spring loaded dance floor, and the Sheridan Opera House which was there when Butch Cassidy and his gang robbed a bank in Town.

There is also a small stage on the main drag, where the band contests are held. Some of the great bluegrass bands and players today started their careers by winning the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest.

This years lineup includes, Kacey Musgraves Brandi Carlile, Jim James, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Greensky Bluegrass, and many others. I'll report more on the festival later in the summer. Here's a secret if you cannot make it out there: the local Telluride public radio station, the great KOTO, broadcasts the festival for free. Hit up their website to listen at www.koto.org.

For more info on the festival, go to www.bluegrass.com/telluride/.

Lockn' August 22-25, 2019

It used to be that you would have to make the long drive to Tennessee in June to go to Bonnaroo. By that time of year, the farm fields transformed to a huge festival venue are more like blast furnaces, and while the music was hot, the weather, specifically, the heat and humidity, are near unbearable for all but the young college students that swarm there each year. While Oak Ridge Farm, south of Charlottesville, can be hot in August, it's nothing like the heat south of Nashville. So, this year I recommend a trip to Lockn' to experience the best Jam Band festival in the county.

Like telluride and Delfest, you can camp for the duration and take in an incredible lineup of top tier jammers. This year's lineup includes, Trey Anastasio Band, Moe., Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Bob Weir and the WolfBrothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Revivalists, Old Crow Medicine Show, Oteil and Friends, Twiddle, Fruition, Galactic, Soulive and the Allman Betts Band, made up of the children of the Allman Brothers Band. There are many, many more great bands playing, as well. Not to mention tasty BBQ, craft beers, and tons of local food vendors.

There is also a good taping policy, so, many of these shows end up on the Internet for free download, so you can relive the experience. For more info, go to www.locknfestival.com.

Watermelon Festival September 19-22, 2019

Finally, in September comes the Watermelon Festival. Last year's Festival had to move up the hill to Berryville because of flooding on the Shenandoah — so, let's hope we get a more reasonable amount of rain this year and we can head back down to the riverside site. Watermelon is a homegrown festival with camping and a great lineup of talented national and local performers. The lineup has yet to be announced, so, stay tuned for more info in the summer.

Steve Chase is in Unison packing for Telluride Bluegrass.