The start of the festival season happen for me over the weekend with the annual Charm City Bluegrass Festival. This year the festival took on a new venue which is the Baltimore Peninsula. I thought this venue was fantastic and easy to find right off I-95. This venue has ample parking and a nice grassy area near the water, making it a picturesque location. Hopefully this venue will continue to be used by the festival over the next several years although I do miss the side-by-side stages from years ago, but with hope there seems to be plenty of room here to expand that in the near future.
The start of the festival on Friday night was open by the Old Part of Town, the local Baltimore band did excellent job followed by the bluegrass band Rock Creek Revival. Next up the national bluegrass act Po’ Ramblin Boys. Scythian concluded the evening on the main stage with a really high energy set that had everybody up and dancing.
Saturday morning I left home and started my commute down to the festival. I posted up in the music tent due to the forecast of rain that way I would have a dry spot throughout the day as a base and a short walk to the main stage. Opening the festival Saturday was the one man banjo, stylings Jacob Panic, followed by one of Baltimore’s best musician, singer songwriters Caleb Stein on the main stage who played a Willie Nelson set, which was excellent.
Newcomer and new to the festival was Rachel May and friends. Rachel was back by a band of local musicians from what I understand got together as a jam session. I would really enjoy seeing more for the future and hopefully this was a starting off point of her career. After Rachel on the main stage was the Slocan Ramberlers, a four piece bluegrass band played around one mic. Back in the tent, a musician named Graham Good put together an inpromtu perfomance. He was serenading folks in the back of the tent between sets and was asked to plug in on the tent stage between sets. His covers were awesome. Meanwhile the Hampden Bluegrass All-Stars took to the main stage. Sam and the boys play a variety of bluegrass songs.
Deadgrass then brought the bluegrass tones to the Grateful Dead. Back out to the main stage for folk/Americana Willi Carlisle followed by bluegrassers Sicard Hollow inside. Sweet Lillies following in the tent. That left 2 acts, bluegrass band Wood Belly brought harmonies and then the closer bluegrass veterans Noam Pikelny & Stuart Duncan and friends. Awesome ensemble of musicians played the closure of the fest for another year.
This was an overall great weekend of music. The crew at Charm City Bluegrass brought us a mix of local talent along with a some national acts that had everyone excited. As I said before this was an excellent venue and hopefully more festivals will return to this awesome location. Looking forward to returning to this festival next year.
