This year, the Sultana Downrigger Festival, held annually in Chestertown, Maryland, featured an exciting blend of Bluegrass music, tall ships, fireworks, and incredibly delicious seafood. On Friday evening, after a late start from work, I found myself by the Chester River in Chestertown, Maryland. I arrived in time to catch the High and Wides’ set but unfortunately missed Kid Davis and the Bullets as well as Flatline Drive.
With musicians Marc Dykeman (guitar, vocals), Sam Guthridge (banjo, mandolin, vocals), Nate Grower (fiddle), and Mike Buccino (bass), they delivered their usual fantastic performance. Next, I made my way to the river bridge to capture the fireworks.
Saturday morning, I wandered through the colorful autumn-painted trees and headed to the music stage to enjoy the four bands scheduled for the day, each performing two sets. The Plate Scrapers, featuring Derek Kretzer (banjo), Andrew Jordan (guitar), Robbie Mann (fiddle), Jody Mosser (dobro), and Kevin Johnson (bass), got us in the bluegrass mood with an excellent opening set. They returned in the late afternoon for a more intense second set.
Next up were the three ladies of Wicked Sycamore: Juliette Bell on guitar, Lainie Gray on mandolin, and Madeline Waters on cello. They brought their awesome sound to the crowd and returned later in the day for a second set. Witnessing Wicked Sycamore is always a great pleasure. The Dirty Grass Players, with Alex Berman, bassist Connor Murray, guitarist mandolinist Ryan Rogers, and Jody Moser filling in for guitarist Ben Kolakowski, who was on the mend, were up next. This band continued to improve with each performance I saw, and their second set in the evening was absolutely outstanding.
That left Della Mae to close out Saturday’s lineup. Words can hardly describe this band’s performance. Celia Woodsmith’s energy, guitar, and washboard had the crowd dancing in the aisles. Kimber Ludiker’s fiddle playing was exceptional, and Avril Smith’s guitar solos left me in awe. The band was completed by the incredible bassist Vickie Vaughn. This award-winning band demonstrated why they have received numerous accolades and awards since their inception in Boston.
The festival on Sunday also featured some music and tall ships, but unfortunately, I had to return home on Saturday night.
This is a festival you should definitely mark on your calendar for next year, featuring music, food, fireworks, tall ships, and the proceeds supporting the Sultana Education Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to provide hands-on educational opportunities that promote stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay’s historic, cultural, and environmental resources, working towards preserving this invaluable treasure and empowering students of all ages to appreciate the Chesapeake Bay.
