For the FOURTH year in a row, in what is becoming an annual pilgrimage to Camp Ramblewood over the Indigenous Peoples Day  / Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, we find ourselves again transfixed on The Ramble Festival's lineup in Darlington, Maryland, on October 10-12, 2025.

With three unforgettable years under their belt, the creative forces behind The Ramble Festival are back to capturing lightning in a bottle and have announced the lineup for their fourth festival. Each year, we see considerable efforts put into making the best lineup possible - a cohesive living organism of bands, creativity, and community.  

What was once the ambitious dream of two creative powerhouses launching a small independent festival in 2022 - well, you ain't seen nothing yet!

Everything about The Ramble Festival is authentic, handcrafted, and filled with love, and it shows.  In just 3 short years, it's become a famed family—or should we say JAMILY— reunion, prompting yearly pilgrimages from fans and artists alike.  This year, we see the return of Ramble Alumni, including Cris Jacobs, Caleb Stine, Sneezy, Natalie Brooke, Scrambled Greg, Naptown Brass Band, and The Deer Creek Sharpshooters.

New to this year's edition will be headliners The California Honeydrops, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Baltimore's own Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.  The Ramble Festival has never been just about the headliners - the geniuses behind the scenes ensure that the lineup is stacked with both overwhelming and emerging talent.  The Brothers Comatose, High Fade, Yarn, Dizgo, The Infinity Tribe, The Local Honeys, The Wilson Springs Hotel, The Tan & Sober Gentlemen, Underground Springhouse, Joe Marcinek, Pappy, TreeSap (Cabinet Trio), The Plate Scrapers,  Nester, and the 2024 Busking Competition Winner, Cisco.

Ramble Festival introduces none other than guitar shredding Baltimore Pigeon, Jeremy Schon, as Artist-at-Large.  Talk about a funktastic addition to The Ramble Festival.

If you have not purchased tickets to Ramble Festival yet, let us tell you some of the many reasons you should come to Camp Ramblewood in just a few days - tickets are still available, and we can hear the second-line brass band already ringing in our ears!

Top Ten Reasons to Ramble

1. The Vibe

This is why Ramblers call it a forever festival. Ramble is where good people and good music converge to create a one-of-a-kind vibe that echoes eternally in your soul. It’s about finding your music-loving tribe, sharing experiences, and being part of a community that feels like home. The end of the weekend feels like the last day of summer camp; leaving Ramble is like saying goodbye to close friends you’ve known forever—even if you just met that night.

2. Stellar Lineups 

Meticulously curated from nationally touring legends to rising stars, Ramble hits the sweet spot: big enough for serious talent, small enough to feel personal. The carefully curated lineup balances national acts with regional gems, so you get both scale and roots. You’ll stumble on a new obsession as easily as you catch a headliner.

3. Once in a Lifetime (NO JOKE) Collabs & Super Jams

Genre-smashing mashups, unscripted sit-ins, Late Night Super Jams, and this year’s epic Ramble Band featuring Baltimore legend, Cris Jacobs, Ramble Fest guarantees you’ll witness performances that can never be recreated. FOMO much??

4. Pop-Ups & Surprise Sets

Sick of being stuck behind the 4th wall? That doesn't exist at Camp Ramblewood! Music appears where you least expect it, like a sudden Sneezy jam in the Beer Garden, Hailey Jane’s secret lakeside set, fireside busking, and the legendary mustard couch pop-up. Ramble Festival lives to showcase fresh talent in intimate settings, constantly blurring the line between audience and performer in the most innovative ways.  Sometimes there are clues, sometimes a hushed whisper, and sometimes a band just appears in front of their cabin with instruments in tow.

5. Later-Than-Late Nights

Late nights & Late-late nights in the barn, and so late it’s sunrise campfire jams keep the music alive long after the main stages close.  The late-night sets are where the magic really shines.  We have seen many Ramble artists behind the barn queuing up with delight to mix it up in a super jam and have witnessed a stage so packed that it goes four rows deep with musicians playing their heart out into the crisp Darlington nights.

6. Art Around Every Corner

Live painting, interactive installations, light jugglers, fire dancers, and other roaming creatives turn the festival grounds into a living gallery. Bring your fire sticks, giant bubbles, ribbon wands, and portable paints to join in the constant creativity and movement!

7. Authentically Kid-Friendly

Daytime programming for kids and families means everyone gets their space to play and explore, while late-night energy keeps the adults dancing.  Did we mention that the one-and-only Scrambled Greg is back for another kids set at The Barn?

8. The Ramble Je Ne Sais Quoi

The extras you’ll never forget, and will only find at Ramble (seriously, we dare you to find these gems elsewhere). From Buskers greeting you at the gate, Stef’s Cereal Bar to Naptown Brass Band parades between stages, the one of a kind Busking Competition, and the infamous theme nights, it’s the little touches that make the weekend unforgettable and unmatchable. Don't forget to bring your costumes! This year's themes: Friday-Disco, Saturday-Onesies! Sunday-Retro Summer Camp

9. Choose Your Own Adventure 

Stay your way: cozy cabins, tent camping, RV camping, or just come for the day. However you Ramble, you’re part of the family.

10. Close to Home, Worlds Away 

Set on over 200 acres of pristine beauty at Camp Ramblewood, MD, it’s just a short drive from Baltimore, DC, and Philly, yet feels like its own universe of music, creativity, and community. Ramble Festival is your home not-that-far-away from home, and we promise you'll be itching to come back even before you leave.

BONUS 2025 EXCLUSIVES

 (because who can really stop at just ten??):

Pigeons, Pigeons, Pigeons, Everywhere

This year, the members of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are performing two-sets on the second night of Ramble.  However, it does not end there, members will be ever-present at the festival.  Greg Ormont can be found playing his very own set for children, Jeremy Schon is the artist-at-large, Alex "Gator" Petropulos will be performing alongside Natalie Brooke on their Infinity Tribe project, and when you have three out of four band members at a festival - we can only bet that we will find Ben Carrey picking up his bass and sitting in somewhere during the weekend.

The PreAmble To The Ramble

If all of that isn't enough, do you want to get the party started a little early, ready to Ramble and feel the vibe?  On Thursday, October 9th, why not get the party started at The PreAmble to the Ramble at Hopkins Farm Brewery featuring Ramble vets The Dirty Grass Players and Uncle Kunkel's One Gram Band!  Nothing like a little pre-party started and for $15 with a festival pass, we cannot find a better reason to come up to the Ramble Festival just a day early. Bonus: you can skip the drive and be one of the first in line when festival gates open on Friday, with your pick of the very best campsites.

These are just a FEW of the many reasons to Ramble!  

See their web page dedicated to Reasons To Ramble

At DC Music Review, we value a festival not just by what happens on stage, but also by what happens off stage and the festival's overall vibe.  The Ramble Festival's mantra is "Feel The Vibe and Find Your Tribe," to which we say "Vibe felt.  Tribe found."  

For those who attended any edition of The Ramble Festival, we are sure you left with a radiating heart, gleeful memories, and a content musical soul.  

If you are looking for an incredible weekend for people to enjoy with unbelievable music and the friendliest atmosphere, you would hope to experience.  In that case, you have found your tribe and your vibe at The Ramble Festival.  

We look forward to seeing you at the fourth edition of The Ramble Festival later this week.

 See you all at The Ramble Festival in

To learn more about Ramble Festival, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Facebook: Ramble Tribe - The Ramble Family Festival
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Spotify

Are you FloydFest Family?  Are you FloydFest Curious? Most importantly, are you looking for an adventure in the magical mountains of Floyd County, Virginia?

You're in luck, because the fabled FloydFest25~Aurora returns July 23-27, 2025, celebrating an incredible 25-year legacy that few festivals can match.

In less than two weeks, hop on I-66 towards the Shenandoah Valley and take the picturesque I-81 beyond Roanoke to the whispering pines of Check for an experience as rare as it gets. The East Coast’s most enchanting mountain music gathering, it transforms the Blue Ridge into a swirling playground of color, sound, and connection. The festival sits in FestivalPark, a new 210-acre venue just off U.S. 221 in Floyd County. Literally in the clouds, this 360-degree immersive landscape becomes a midsummer portal into something wilder, kinder, and deeply alive — a place where your inner wild thing can finally run free.

 By day, it’s a technicolor wonderland where laughter spills down the hills, tie-dye and sunhats bob through grassy fields, and strangers become instant family over shared shade and stories. FloydFest feels like the world’s friendliest backyard BBQ stretched across miles of ridgelines, with all the glitz, glam, and grandeur of a commercial festival but the easy charm of dancing barefoot with neighbors. Seven stages rise from an enormous campground and bustling vendor village, rich with artisan markets and a deep commitment to sustainability.

When the sun dips and dusk gathers under the pines, FloydFest transforms. The earth itself hums, lanterns flicker awake, and the hills begin to pulse with rhythm. Twinkling tree canopies lean in over a wild rumpus as music floats up to meet the stars.  It is literally in the clouds. We come alive under those night skies, hearts racing, feet dusty, bodies moving in collective joy.

This year’s lineup is stacked with artists who will have you sprinting from stage to stage. The best part is you cannot make a wrong choice. Every act on the bill promises to blow your mind. Here are the artists we won’t be missing for anything.

For a complete list of artists and events at this year's edition of FloydFest, you can go ahead and explore the entire daily schedule and lineup.

#1 Daytime: Nat Myers 

Friday, 1:00-1:45 PM — Floyd Country Store

No artist has a story this year that pulls harder on my heart than Nat Myers. In March, cancer halted his tour. But feeling stronger, spirits up, prayers working, he’s back.

Nat’s Delta blues style is gritty and ghostly, rooted in fingerpicking that will rattle your ribcage. His unique sound makes you believe he's pulling songs out of the soil itself, which makes The Floyd Country Store’s humble porch stage the perfect setting to soak in his raw truth. If you only pick one set all weekend, this is it.

#1 Late Night: Maggie Rose

Thursday, 5:30-6:30 PM — Oasis; Sunday, 10:15-11:45 PM — Oasis (FloydFest Finale)

Maggie Rose, the Grammy-nominated powerhouse with soul-drenched vocals, returns to Floyd with her unbeatable stage presence that’s sure to leave you mesmerized (I know I was!)

Catch her first on Thursday for a sunlit performance that will crackle with raw honesty. Then don’t you dare miss her Sunday night FloydFest Finale. This is the crown jewel set, the last chance to dance barefoot with strangers and howl your heart out under the stars. Maggie is known for inviting local players and surprise guests on stage for the big finish, so expect sparkles, energy, and more pizazz than you deemed possible. Maggie’s festival close-out set is undoubtedly worth giving up a few hours of sleep; I can’t think of a better way to wrap up FloydFest than immersing yourself in Oasis Stage’s sweeping visuals with Maggie Rose’s knockout voice reverberating out of the half-dome and into the magical mountains.

Soul, Rock, & Big Voices

• Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast: Friday, 11:00 PM-12 AM — Oasis; Saturday, 5:45-6:45 PM — Canopy Grove; Buffalo Mountain Jam host, Saturday 11:30 PM-1:00 AM — Oasis
   Catch Caitlin Krisko and crew rattle the hills as she belts with enough ferocity to blow you away. Then, gear up for Saturday night's finale as Caitlin hosts Floyd’s wildest jam, pulling up surprise guests for an All-Star line up.

• The California Honeydrops: Wednesday, 10:30-11:45 PM — Oasis; Thursday, 4:30-5:30 PM — Main Stage
  Be sure to arrive on time, because the opening late night party belongs to these New Orleans-inspired soul kings; expect horns, howls, and a lawn full of dancing bodies. Anyone who's experienced them will tell you that the Honeydrop energy cannot be matched!

Roots & Bluesy Americana

• The Wood Brothers Saturday, 7:00-8:30 PM — Main Stage
  Americana soul with playful harmonies that beg you to sway along. Their songs bloom live, swinging between unstoppable joy and tenderness. Prepare to find yourself grinning, singing, and dancing without even thinking.

• Jeremie Albino: Saturday, 2:00-3:15 PM — Main Stage
  New on the national scene, Jeremie Albino brings dusty folk-rock with a giant heart and an even bigger voice. Catch the next big roots star him while you’re still close enough to see his grin.

• Buffalo Nichols Sunday, 12:45-1:30 PM — Higher Ground; 6:30-7:15 PM — Floyd Country Store
  This already renowned singer-songwriter plays an increasingly rare sound: modern blues with intricate guitar work and a voice that aches with truth. Tackling themes of struggle, identity, and resilience, Buffalo Nichols will break you open with raw authenticity and the most captivating rusty pipes.
• The Last Revel Friday, 2:00-3:00 PM — Main Stage
  A string band steeped in campfire spirit, hollered harmonies and a foot-stomping pulse. They bottle up and overflow with raw roots joy and a rough edge that feels both timeless and fiercely alive.

• DaShawn Hickman: Sunday, 2:45-3:30 PM — Floyd Country Store
  A 2025 Artist on the Rise, DaShawn's sacred steel lifts you right into gospel heaven. His solos are hallelujahs in metal and wire that will have you shaking your head saying "shewww".

Bluegrass & Jam

• The Travelin’ McCourys Present The Grateful Ball Sunday, 3:30-4:30 PM — Main Stage
  Thought the Travelin' McCourys couldn't get any wilder? These bluegrass legends will send you to the next dimension with their spin on Grateful Dead classics. Wild improvisation, tight picking, and a new addition to the band (fiddle player Christian Ward) guarantees it to be an out of this world set.

• Big Richard Sunday, 1:30-2:30 PM — Main Stage
  Fresh off their latest album release, these four fierce women shred bluegrass with harmonies and personalities as sharp as barbed wire.
• Brothers Comatose Saturday, 4:30-5:45 PM — Main Stage
   River raft crowd surfing? Mandolins smashed on knees? Whole band jams in the middle of the crowd? Their sets are legendary for a reason. And with FloydFest vet Addie Levy's recent enlistment to the family, you definitely need to hear the fresh sound of The Brothers (and Sister!) Comatose.

Psychedelic Funk & Mischief

• Isaac Hadden: Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 PM — VIP; Thursday, 6:15-7:15 PM — Floyd Country Store; Friday, 8:00-9:00 PM — Higher Ground
  Bask in the jam of another Floyd vet, Isaac Hadden, a young guitarist who fuses jazz, funk, and jam with mind-bending skill. Come witness the next funk legend in the making!

• LaMP Thursday, 11:00-11:55 PM — Higher Ground; Friday, 8:00-9:00 PM — Oasis
  Fans of Lettuce, Trey Anastasio Band, and Moe. won't want to miss these jams. This is funk’s happy place: unpredictable, smooth, and interdimensional.
• Bella’s Bartok Thursday, 8:00-9:00 PM — Higher Ground; Sunday 9:30-11:00 PM — Higher Ground
  Gothic carnival meets circus-punk. Horns, face paint, waltzes gone mad — it’s Dali on the dance floor.

• Big Something: Friday, 12:45-2:00 AM — Oasis (late night)
  Midnight jams that stretch into the next dimension. The ultimate Floyd late-night soundtrack.

• Tan & Sober Gentlemen Wednesday, 6:45-7:45 PM — Oasis; Thursday, 10:30-11:55 PM — Canopy Grove
  They call it Celtic punk-grass: rowdy, sweat-drenched, made for dancing with strangers.
• The Free Label Sunday, 12:15-1:45 AM — Canopy Grove (late night)
  Canadian funk-pop party starters.; expect slick bass lines, bright horns, and an irresistibly cocky strut.

• Tan & Sober Gentlemen Wednesday, 6:45-7:45 PM — Oasis; Thursday, 10:30-11:55 PM — Canopy Grove
  They call it Celtic punk-grass: rowdy, sweat-drenched, made for dancing with strangers.
• The Free Label Sunday, 12:15-1:45 AM — Canopy Grove (late night)
  Canadian funk-pop party starters.; expect slick bass lines, bright horns, and an irresistibly cocky strut.
• Hans Williams Sunday, 2:30-3:30 PM — Canopy Grove
  Confessional indie-folk that blooms into cathartic anthems; take a seat under the trees and soak it in.
• Ranford Almond Wednesday, 7:45-8:45 PM — Higher Ground; Thursday, 4:15-5:15 PM — Canopy Grove; Friday, 11:00-11:45 AM — Floyd Country Porch
  FloydFest '24's Artist on the Rise Runner Up, Ranford Almond returns to FloydFest for 3 boot stompin' sets! You can anticipate blends of raspy, soul-soaked vocals with Appalachian guitar that nods to Prine and Van Zandt. But don't sit back just yet, because this band knows how to rock!

Boot Scootin' Country Folk

• Lua Flora Thursday, 11:15 AM-Noon — Canopy Grove; Friday, 1:15-2:00 PM — Oasis
  Breezy indie-folk with a coastal glow, Lua Flora is DC Music Review's official pick for the FloydFest '25 On-The-Rise Winner. We're predicting it now — while throwing salt over our shoulders, of course.
• Chaparelle Friday, 3:00-4:00 PM — Higher Ground
  This country-western duo mixes dreamy Texas charm with a punchy Austin attitude that will have you two-stepping from the very first note.

• Miss Tess Saturday, 6:00-6:45 PM — Floyd Country Store
  Retro swing with modern sass. It’s like if your favorite old record player sprouted legs and winked.
• Theo Lawrence Sunday, 4:30-5:30 PM — Oasis
  French-Americana with a smoky croon. It’s like if Roy Orbison met swampy blues — lush, vintage, unforgettable.
• Dom Flemons Friday, 3:00-3:45 PM — Floyd Country Store
  This American Songster will teach, entertain, and drop banjo runs that make your heart jump.
• Sam Morrow Thursday, 5:30-6:30 PM —Higher Ground
  Gritty, bar-stained country that nods to Waylon and Sturgill — first-night whiskey music.

Can’t Miss Cheat Sheet

Wednesday

• Ranford Almond 7:45-8:45 (Higher Ground)
• Isaac Hadden 9:30-10:30 (VIP)
• The California Honeydrops 10:30-11:45 (Oasis)

Thursday

• Lua Flora 11:15-Noon (Canopy Grove)
• Ranford Almond 4:15-5:15 (Canopy Grove)
• The California Honeydrops 4:30-5:30 (Main)
• Sam Morrow 5:30-6:30 (Higher Ground)
• Maggie Rose 5:30-6:30 (Oasis)
• Isaac Hadden 6:15-7:15 (Canopy Grove)
• Bella’s Bartok 8:00-9:00 (Higher Ground)
• LaMP 11:00-11:55 (Higher Ground)
• Tan & Sober Gentlemen 10:30-11:55 (Canopy Grove)

Friday

• Ranford Almond 11:00-11:45 (Floyd Country Store)
• Nat Meyers 1:00-1:45 (Floyd Country Store)
• Lua Flora 1:15-2:00 (Oasis)
• The Last Revel 2:00-3:00 (Main Stage)
• Mackenzie Roark 2:00-3:00 (Canopy Grove)
• Chaparelle 3:00-4:00 (Higher Ground)
• Dom Flemons 3:00-3:45 (Floyd Country Store)
• LaMP 8:00-9:00 (Oasis)
• Isaac Hadden 8:00-9:00 (Higher Ground)
• Caitlin Krisko 11:00-Midnight (Oasis)
• Big Something 12:45-2:00 AM (Oasis)

Saturday

• Jeremie Albino 2:00-3:15 (Main)
• Brothers Comatose 4:30-5:45 (Main)
• Caitlin Krisko 5:45-6:45 (Canopy Grove)
• Miss Tess 6:00-6:45 (Floyd Country Store)
• The Wood Brothers 7:00-8:30 (Main)
• The Free Label 12:15-1:45AM  (Canopy Grove)
• Buffalo Mountain Jam hosted by Caitlin Krisko 11:30-1:00 AM (Oasis)

Sunday

• Big Richard 1:30-2:30 (Main)
• Buffalo Nichols 12:45-1:30 (Higher Ground)
• Hans Williams 2:30-3:30 (Oasis)
• DaShawn Hickman 2:45-3:30 (Floyd Country Store)
• The Travelin’ McCourys 3:30-4:30 (Main)
• Theo Lawrence 4:30-5:30 (Oasis)
• Buffalo Nichols 6:30-7:15 (Floyd Country Store)
• Bella’s Bartok 9:30-11:00 (Higher Ground)
• Maggie Rose Finale 10:15-11:45 (Oasis)

If you haven't already done so, go ahead and download the FloydFest app on your phone.  Why not have the daily schedule, map, and just about everything else in the palm of your hand!  That's right, FloydFest has an iPhone and Google Play Festival App available for download now.  Click on the image below that matches your phone flavor.

If you are unfamiliar with some of the bands we listed, why don't you listen to the official FloydFest Spotify Playlist and get your groove on to one (or all) of the bands we listed.

So what are you waiting for?  Tick-tock!  FloydFest 2025 is on the distant but beautiful horizon! It it always darkest before the dawn, and we need to hold our FloydFest Family close and dear.

Read our review of last year's edition of FloydFest - the FloydFest FOMO is REAL!   Is it as good as you remember? Is it as good as everyone has told you?  The answer to both questions is - ABSOLUTELY!

Don't let this magical and unforgettable festival slip away from you!  Music, Magic, and Mountains await us all.

The FloydFest 25 Countdown Is On!

Sign up for the FloydFest Family Newsletter!

To learn more about FloydFest, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Spotify
• TikTok
• Frequently Asked Questions

Gender-Diverse Lineup to Feature National and Local Artists on July 26 and Pre-Fest Events from July 21-25.

The inaugural This Could Go Boom! Music + Culture Festival will take place on Saturday, July 26 at Bladensburg Waterfront Park and on stages across Hyattsville, Maryland. Headlining artists include Speedy Ortiz, River Shook, and Crys Matthews, as well as local performers. Streetcar 82 Brewing, Maryland Meadworks, and Sangfroid Distillery will host satellite stages with performances on the day of the festival. 

This Could Go Boom! (TCGB!) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to empower and advocate for gender diverse marginalized musicians through community engagement and education to dismantle barriers, promote diversity, and ensure that everyone can express themselves and enjoy music without discrimination.  

“TCGB! is truly a grassroots effort. We were founded around a kitchen table where women and nonbinary musicians spoke freely about feeling defeated, harassed, left out, and manipulated by the industry. We put our feelings into action—350+ artists in paid performances, gallery talks, records released, and a skills-sharing program. TCGB! is truly grown from the ground up,” said Erin Frisby, co-founder of TCGB! and festival organizer. “We can't wait to see everyone at the inaugural festival because the way forward is through community. Join with these necessary and powerful voices of diverse experiences, connections and histories as we imagine an irresistible future.” 

“Before I ever knew how to write songs, I thought I was going to be a high school band director,” explains Americana artist and social justice music-maker Crys Matthews, a festival headliner. “And in band, as in any type of music, it's always sweeter with other voices present. Being part of a festival where this idea is not only understood, but that advocates loudly for diverse voices is so refreshing. As a woman who is also Black and a lesbian, I have worked hard to be comfortable enough in my skin to show up as my fullest self on and off stage. It means a lot to an artist like me when festival organizers see and celebrate my full humanity.” 

In addition to headlining artists, more than 35 local and regional artists will perform on four stages and at pre-fest events, showcasing the breadth of talent across the Washington, DC metro area. Performers will include 50 Foot Woman, Alena Ciera, Ammonite, Ari Voxx, Be Steadwell, Cynthia Marie, Flora and the Fauna, Kinda Evil, Lightmare, Mac N' Toss, More AM than FM, Neon Habits, Petrichor, and Witch Weather. 

Leading up to the main festival, pre-festival events will be held from July 21-25, 2025, including:  

• Open Mic Night at Denizens Brewing on July 21 at 7 p.m., hosted by Flowerbomb’s Abby Rasheed. FREE. RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. 
• Youth Night at Colmar Manor Community Center on July 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., in collaboration with Girls Rock! DC and Music and Arts featuring Petrichor. FREE. RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. 
• DC Bushwick Book Club, at the Bladensburg Library on July 23 from 6:00-8:30 p.m., will be hosting live performances inspired by the book Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. The event will feature BBC founder Susan Hwang with Mya Byrne headlining. FREE. RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. 
• A Punk Show at Colmar Manor Community Center on July 24 from 7:00-11:00 p.m. with Professor Goldstein and other acts. FREE. RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. 
• A one-night-only revival of beloved DC spoken word series mothertongue at Joe’s Movement Emporium on July 25 from 7:00-9:30 p.m., featuring mothertongue co-founder Ruth Dickey. Music by Mya Byrne and Be Steadwell. Tickets available on Eventbrite. 

“As a trans woman in music, it’s often hard to get heard, and I’ve found myself bubbling under more often than not—so I’m excited as heck to get up to a full-on boil headlining at the inaugural TCGB! It’s important to champion undersung and overlooked voices in art—especially trans ones—not just for equity’s sake, but because our art can carry a gravitas of life lived in process and discovery; our personal tales are not niche; they are universal, and I’m thrilled that TCGB! recognizes that," said singer-songwriter Mya Bryne who is headlining both the mothertongue and Bushwick Book Club events leading up to TCGB! Fest. “We’re more than diversity quotas. We are diverse artists with diverse, relatable stories.” 

The festival will also feature a variety of vendors, community organizations, and food trucks, as well as family-friendly activities. 

The TCGB! Music + Culture Festival is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. "Maryland invests in cultural tourism through the Heritage Area program, and we're thrilled to see the program support a unique new cultural festival in Prince George's County,” said Meagan Baco, executive director of Anacostia Trails Heritage Area. 

In addition to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the festival is made possible through the support of sponsors and community partners Art Works Now, Denizens Brewing, Girls Rock! DC, Jersey Mike's, Lil’ Bowl Thai and Japanese Cuisine, Maryland Meadworks, Music and Arts, Patent Brewing, Roxplosion, Sangfroid Distillery, Streetcar 82 Brewing, Takoma Radio WOWD LP, and The Port Towns. To become a sponsor, email support@thiscouldgoboom.com. 

The festival will take place on July 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is free for all ages, with accessible facilities. For more info and to subscribe for updates, visit https://www.thiscouldgoboom.com/.

To learn more about This Could Go Boom!, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Spotify

 Post-fireworks, post-barbecue, post-holiday haze—it’s time for the real celebration to begin.

Yes, yes! The whispers are true! The indie-folk firebrands, the peace-preaching, harmony-hurling, tour-hardened troubadours of truth known as Dispatch are riding once more into the Virginia night! After setting the nation’s capital aglow with their civic-minded performance at “AMPlifying Democracy With Dispatch” at the 9:30 Club—where democracy and downbeats shared the same rhythm—they're coming back for a night of pure musical communion at none other than Wolf Trap, the country’s only national park for the performing arts.

And this time—oh yes, this time—they’re coming armed with something brand new:

Yellow-Jacket, their brand-new studio album, arrives June 6th, 2025 
Which means this tour is more than just a reunion. It’s a revelation. A chance to hear fresh dispatches—new songs, new stories, new anthems—performed live for the first time in the wide open summer air.

But let us not forget: the last time Dispatch graced this sylvan sanctuary, it was not a mere concert. It was Symphonic Dispatch, a genre-bending alliance with the National Symphony Orchestra that turned folk-rock favorites into cinematic epics. “Only the Wild Ones” soared on a string section. “Bang Bang” became an overture. And “The General”? Oh, he marched into battle with a full brass regiment behind him.  

What can a fan expect? Oh, you sweet summer child...

Expect harmonies that hit like a lightning strike to the chest—Chad Stokes and Mike Sawitzke singing as if they'd all been raised in the same mythical New England wood, by wolves and Bob Marley records.  Behold Brad Corrigan and Jon 'JR' Reilly drumming as the frenetic, powerful beasts that they are behind their drumkits.

Expect setlists that shapeshift—one moment you're in a smoky reggae jam, the next you're caught in a folk-punk stampede. Expect drums and djembe. Acoustic ballads that hush a crowd of thousands. Then—bam!—a fuzzed-out rocker that has the lawn on its feet, dancing like church just broke out.

Now, July 5, 2025—Dispatch returns. No orchestra. No velvet. Just pure, uncut Dispatch.  A concert by this enduring and beloved band would be good enough, but they are bringing an all-star and eclectic group of supporting performers with them.   None other than John Butler, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Donavon Frankenreiter.

But let’s not forget—last time Dispatch graced this sylvan amphitheater, they didn’t come alone.  They brought the thunder, yes, but they also brought the strings, the brass, the full regalia of the National Symphony Orchestra! A night of Symphonic Dispatch, where “The General” marched to a swelling timpani, and “Out Loud” rose on the wings of violins. The audience sang into the Virginia forest as woodwinds soared. And somewhere, Pete Seeger smiled from the beyond.

This time? The boys are stripping it back down—rootsy, raw, and ready to roar—but bringing with them a sonic dream team that reads like a festival poster from some parallel universe where summer never ends.

THE LINEUP:

 John Butler with Band – Australia’s finger-picking prophet. A bandleader, bard, and banshee of the blues. Expect the seismic anthem “Ocean” to roll in like a summer thunderstorm across the Wolf Trap's green hills.

 G. Love & Special Sauce – That slick-tongued poet of Philadelphia funk. A man who can melt harmonica reeds with a glance and turn a crowd into a gospel choir of groove. Cold beverages? You bet.

 Donavon Frankenreiter – Ex-pro surfer, now soul-soaked singer-songwriter of the sun-drenched persuasion. He’ll be drifting in on a sea breeze with his hit “Free” and a vibe you can wear like linen.

BUT WAIT. BEFORE THE SHOW...

That’s right. Before a single chord is strummed or a chorus is sung, the Dispatch faithful—the patch-wearers, the lyric-knowers, the front-row regulars—are gathering at the Starr Hill Biergarten for a little something called the Patch Party Fan Event. Think: cold craft beers, friendly faces, fan-led merch swaps, lawn seating tales of yore, and maybe—just maybe—a surprise acoustic moment or a signed setlist giveaway. It’s the calm before the sonic storm. Don’t miss it.

Want to Presave Yellow-Jacket (Released on June 6, 2025)

John Butler

G. Love &  Special Sauce

Donavon Frankenreiter

To learn more about Dispatch, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Spotify
• TIDAL
• Soundcloud

Ah, yes—Six Foot Blonde. The name alone turns heads, and the sound? It keeps them turned. Hailing from Bloomington, Indiana, this six-piece indie pop outfit has been quietly—then not-so-quietly—building something special. Fronted by the magnetic Julia Rusyniak, whose vocals land somewhere between soul-soaked storytelling and indie daydream, the band pulls from a rich palette: jazz-tinged keys (courtesy of John Alex Rusyniak), tasteful slide guitar from Elliott Obermaier, and a rhythm section that knows how to anchor a groove without getting in its way.

In 2024, they made their Washington, D.C. debut at Pearl Street Warehouse, and for those lucky enough to be there, it felt like one of those you-had-to-be-there nights. The songs—honest, unpretentious, catchy without being cloying—hit with emotional clarity, and the band delivered them with the kind of chemistry that can’t be faked.

Now, they’re stepping things up.

On July 18th, Six Foot Blonde will take the stage at The Atlantis, the newly resurrected D.C. venue where future stars tend to make their mark. It's the kind of room that has a knack for booking bands just before they hit the tipping point—and all signs suggest that’s exactly where Six Foot Blonde is headed.

Opening the night is local artist Josee Molavi, whose genre-bending blend of indie folk, pop, and poetic lyricism has been turning heads across the D.C. scene. Her presence on the bill adds another layer of depth and discovery—an opening set worth showing up early for.

So if you’re in the mood to hear a band just before they break, circle the date. Six Foot Blonde, with Josee Molavi in tow, is coming for D.C.—and The Atlantis might not know what hit it.

Josee Molavi

Venue Review:  Learn More About The Atlantis, parking, food recommendations, and more.

To learn more about Six Foot Blonde, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Apple Music
• TIDAL
• Spotify
• TikTok

To learn more about Josee Molavi, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• TIDAL
• Spotify
• TikTok
• Bandcamp

At just sixteen years old, Wyatt Ellis is already making waves as one of the most exciting young talents in bluegrass. The East Tennessee native has earned praise not only for his virtuosic mandolin playing, but also for his thoughtful songwriting and deep connection to the genre’s roots. On May 22, Ellis brings his high-energy band and unmistakable sound to Pearl Street Warehouse for his Washington, D.C., debut—just days before taking the stage at DelFest in Cumberland, Maryland.

Ellis doesn’t just play the mandolin—he inhabits it. With picking that’s both lightning-fast and expressive, and phrasing that nods to legends like Bill Monroe while pushing into modern territory, his sound bridges generations. Whether he's soloing or weaving in and out of harmony with his bandmates, Wyatt plays with the ease of someone twice his age—and the spark of someone who still has everything ahead of him.

Backed by a sharp, dynamic band, Ellis’s live performances are a mix of tradition and innovation. Expect tight rhythms, rich harmonies, and a setlist that blends bluegrass standards with original tunes that showcase his voice—both musical and lyrical. It’s Appalachian soul with a fresh perspective, all anchored by Ellis’s commanding presence on stage.

Wyatt has already shared the stage with some of bluegrass’s most respected and iconic figures—Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, to name a few—and he's been turning heads at festivals and concert halls around the country. His social media following continues to grow, fueled by clips of blazing solos and behind-the-scenes moments that give fans a glimpse into the mind of a young artist on the rise.

For Washington-area audiences, this is a rare chance to catch Wyatt Ellis up close, in a room where you can hear every nuance of his mandolin work and feel the energy of a band fully in sync.

Bluegrass fans, music lovers, and anyone curious about the next big thing in roots music—this show is for you. Grab your tickets now for Wyatt Ellis at Pearl Street Warehouse on May 22. You’ll want to say you saw him here, before the stages got bigger and the crowds caught on.

To learn more about Wyatt Ellis, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Apple Music
• Spotify
• TIDAL
• TikTok

For the FOURTH year in a row, in what is becoming an annual pilgrimage to Camp Ramblewood over the Indigenous Peoples Day  / Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, we find ourselves again transfixed on The Ramble Festival's lineup in Darlington, Maryland, on October 10-12, 2025.

With three unforgettable years under their belt, the creative geniuses behind The Ramble Festival are back to capturing lighting in a bottle and have announced the lineup for their fourth festival. Each year, we see considerable efforts put into making the best lineup possible - a cohesive living organism of bands, creativity, and community.  

What was once the ambitious dream of two creative powerhouses launging a small independent festival in 2022 - well, you aint seen nothing yet!

The first three years of the Ramble Festival were a tremendous success, with unforgettable experiences that you rarely see from a new festival.  The first year blew us away with an incredibly authentic vibe, attention to detail, and an unsurpassed lineup for a first-year festival.  How does one surpass their inaugural edition - you bring in living legend Del McCoury and his namesake band to help headline the festival. How do you surpass the magic of that? You bring in some heavy hitters including moe., Andy Frasco & The U.N., and Tombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and pepper it with some Haley Jane awesauce.

This festival started gaining traction to the point where local legends like Cris Jacobs decided to grab his guitar, get in the car and join the festival as an unofficial artist.

When we say this festival has started gaining traction.  The festival has gained a life force all of its own and 2025 is set to be another unforgettable year!

This year, the creative forces of The Ramble Festival, Jason and Brick, spent a little bit more time elevating the festival once again. When your festival amplifier tops out at 10, what does one do? Well, we feel that the organizers are working very hard to set their Ramble Amplifier to 11.

Like the best chefs, The Ramble Festival carefully reviews all the best national and regional artists and created a most delicious music recipe with something for everyone.  Year after year they continue to deliver beyond anyones expectations and this year will prove to be no different!

Everything about The Ramble Festival is authentic, hand crafted, and filled with love and it shows.  Not only do fans return but so do the artists.  This year we see the return of Ramble Alumni including Caleb Stine, Sneezy, Natalie Brooke, Scrambled Greg, and The Deer Creek Sharpshooters.

New to this year's edition will be headliners The California Honeydrops, The Infamous Stringsuters, and a crushing headliner to be announced in the coming months.  The Ramble Festival has never been just about the headliners - the geniuses behind the scenes make sure that the lineup is stacked with overwhelming and emerging talent.  Cris Jacobs, The Brothers Comatose, High Fade, Sneezy, Yarn, Dizgo, The Infinity Tribe, The Local Honeys, The WIlson Hotel, The Tan & Sober Gentlemen, Underground Springhouse, Joe Marcinek, Pappy, Treeset (Cabinet Trio), The Plate Scrapers,  Nester, and the 2024 Busking Competition Winner Cisco.

Ramble Festival introduces none other that funky Baltimore Pigeon, Jeremy Schon, as Artist-at-Large.  Talk about a funktastic addition to The Ramble Festival

Yet to come - the ever creative and curated Ramble Festival super groups.  Last year we had: Shadow Mountain, featuring Town Mountain and Shadowgrass; The Fiery Sneeze, featuring Fireside Collective and Sneezy; and Big Something & Friends.  One can only wonder about the unforgettable mascerations instore for us?  Will there be Comatose Californians, The Infamous Honeydrops - time will tell but we assue you these super groups are going to be one of a kind and memorable beyond belief.

The DMV is a strange place right now and we pin our hopes on better days ahead.  Whatever may come for our region in the coming months we look forward to the future with hope and the best of days to come.  We feel as joyful about The Ramble Festival in the way that our inner child looks forward to unwrapping a present during the holiday season or birthday.  With the utmost glee, we look forward to unwrapping each curated and spontaneous moment at Camp Ramblewood in Darlington, MD, with our Ramble Family.

 See you all at The Ramble Festival in

So why do we think Ramble Festival is one of the most amazing and refreshing of festivals on the calendar?  Let us tell you a little more about the festival.

These are just a FEW of the many reasons to Ramble!  

See their web page dedicated to Reasons To Ramble

At DC Music Review, we value a festival not just by what happens on stage but what happens off stage and the festival's overall vibe.  The Ramble Festival's mantra is "Feel The Vibe and Find Your Tribe," to which we say "Vibe felt.  Tribe found."  

For those who attended any edition of The Ramble Festival, we are sure you left with a radiating heart, gleeful memories, and a content musical soul.  

If you are looking for an incredible weekend for people to enjoy with unbelievable music and the friendliest atmosphere you would hope to experience.  In that case, you have found your tribe and your vibe at The Ramble Festival.  

Lock in your early bird tickets today for $235.

We look forward to seeing you at the third edition of The Ramble Festival in October 2025.

To learn more about Ramble Festival, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Facebook: Ramble Tribe - The Ramble Family Festival
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Spotify

For its third year, the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival returns to its beachfront location at Sandy Point State Park along the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland, on Saturday and Sunday, September 20-21, 2025. People from all over the region and across North America celebrate in this picturesque destination while listening to the finest music rooted in progressive bluegrass, improvisational jam, and American roots music. Annapolis Baygrass will welcome fourteen bands and three artists-at-large over two days on two alternating beachside stages.

Festival goers will enjoy two days of exciting activities, which include yoga, beach and yard games, a fun kid zone, and interactive workshops with bay conservation non-profits and musicians.

Last year, we bore witness to the magical festival grounds for two incredible days.  We walked the site, played on the beach, ran into legendary musicians who perused through the vendor booths and watched in awe as living legends such as Sam Bush held a workshop event.

Annapolis Baygrass is thrilled to announce the 2025 lineup! Widely known for their dazzling live performances and incredible light shows, festival headliners Greensky Bluegrass will perform two sets. The festival is thrilled to have these seasoned road warriors from Michigan make their Baygrass debut! 

Over a beautiful fall weekend, fans will get to enjoy music from headliner Greensky Bluegrass, who will perform two sets.  The second headliner has yet to be announced, but rest assured, it will be worth the wait.

Over the weekend, Railroad Earth, Kitchen Dwellers, The Travelin' McCourys, LaMP, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Larry Keel's Electric Larry Land, Sam Grisman Project, The Last Revel, Midnight North, Pressings Strings, and Geraldine will perform on one of the two majestic stages.  Like last year, we are sure there will be many unique collaborations between main-stage artists.  

Speaking of unique collaborations, there will be three artists-at-large, including Holly Bowling, Kyle Tuttle, and returning local legend Ron Holloway.

This year, Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead and their incredible influence on the jamgrass and bluegrass culture and music scene!  With this in mind, The Travelin’ McCourys will be presenting The Grateful Ball, while known Deadhead, Larry Keel, brings his simultaneously gritty and suave original music in electric format with his new project, Electric Larry Land.  Carrying the torch for the Grateful Dead's original bassist, Phil Lesh, Baygrass is excited to welcome San Francisco Bay-area band Midnight North— featuring Phil's son, Grahame Lesh.

Rounding out the family affair and Grateful Dead Family, Sam Grisman Project showcases a genuine passion and appreciation for the legacy of Sam’s father, David Grisman, and his close friend, Jerry Garcia, by playing some of the beloved “Dawg music” repertoire as well as sharing their own original music.

While listening to some of the best local and national bluegrass music, fans can dance in the sand, enjoy fresh oysters and Maryland seafood, chase it down with local craft brews and wines, and enjoy fun activities for all ages.

See you all in:

To learn more about the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

“We just love making stuff,” said Aaron Graham, one of the members of the indie duo Ray Bull, in an interview.

Graham and Tucker Elkins are about to release an EP entitled Little Acts of Violence on Friday, Feb. 21, ahead of their first ever headline tour. They will be beginning their 19-show tour in Washington, D.C. at The Atlantis on March 7, 2025.

However, “indie” may not even be the best term to describe Ray Bull. They hardly fit into any one box, and as two artists, they prefer to color outside the lines.

Elkins and Graham met at The Cooper Union, an art school in Manhattan, New York, right before the pandemic. The two began as visual artists, and while they still make visual art, they discovered their mutual enthusiasm for making musical art. Around this time, Graham had been using the name “Ray Bull” as a persona for sharing his visual art, so it all seemed to fall into place when he and Elkins began making music together. They took a name that had a bit of history behind it and started creating art in a medium in which they had no prior history.

Many have tried to describe Ray Bull as indie rock or indie pop, and they said that that certainly describes some of what they do, but they see themselves as more eclectic and prolific, with a wider array of genre-bending styles. But if Ray Bull could be summed up into just a few words, I would say they would be poignant and mysterious.

“We weren’t in bands in high school and it was never a dream to play in a band and get on stage and go on tour,” Graham said. “We just loved making things and music kind of happened later. So by the time we came to music, it felt very like an open feel to us, like we didn’t come to it with a specific genre.”

Ray Bull “stumbled into” their upcoming EP, Little Acts of Violence. 

“We’re not really sure what it is,” Elkins said. “It even confuses us a little bit.”

The new EP will feature seven songs, four of which have already been released as singles. The title track, “Little Acts of Violence,” has hints of Sara Bareilles, Declan McKenna, Enya, and even The Killers. 

“We write so many songs that we kind of just have around in waiting,” Graham said. “It was kind of a process of hearing different voices and what people thought of what we had, and kind of just letting the songs fight their way to the top. So it’s like, whatever songs called attention to themselves ended up on the EP. So in that sense, we’re not entirely sure of what they’re saying together.”

So will “Little Acts of Violence” have songs fighting for the top spot? Fans will have to find out when the EP comes out this Friday.

Ray Bull has been working with the record label AWAL to produce this, which is their first time producing music not entirely independently. In the past, Ray Bull has created all of their own content, including the artwork.

“We feel so lucky that we get to be the ones doing it,” Graham said. “We went to art school, have the skill set, and it feels like an essential part of representing ourselves.”

Graham described their songwriting process as a “mentality of mumbling;” their fully formed product hardly ever comes out the first time around. They often start with the chords and the melody, and then mumble to find the right words. They often do, as their lyrics are very poignant, yet vaguely mysterious.

“It often feels like we’re like paleontologists or something, like uncovering bones and brushing things away to see what’s there,” Graham said. “It feels like the words are somewhere in there.”

As is the case for many artists these days, Ray Bull gained their audience through TikTok and other social media platforms. You may recognize them from their mashup videos, where they sing two existing songs overtop of each other. They wanted to share their music somehow, and TikTok seemed to them like the most logical place to start.

“It was like a sink-or-swim kind of mentality, almost, with TikTok these days,” Elkins said. “The more we did [the mashup videos], the easier it was to think of them, because we were getting views and stuff; it’s like a high… Now I feel like we’re hardwired to think of them. It’s almost like a curse… it feels like seeing the ‘matrix.’”

Even though it can be a love-hate relationship with the social media platform, especially with the ever-changing algorithms, they are glad they did it.

“It’s really provided us with that foundation of an audience,” Graham said. “So many people started following us because of that, and then we suckered them into listening to our own music.”

As Elkins and Graham are both visually-minded people, they often come up with creative concepts for their TikToks, music videos, and album art.

While this is not their first taste of the tour life after previously supporting Stephen Sanchez and Ricky Montgomery’s respective tours, Ray Bull is excited to be heading out on their own tour. They’ve played DC9 and the Pie Shop before, but they hope that their first stop at The Atlantis will set the tone for the rest of their 19-city tour.

For more information about Ray Bull’s shows in D.C. and beyond, check their website, and be sure to catch them live at The Atlantis on Friday, March 7.

(Cover Image Photo Credit: Sweet Joey Vermouth)

Venue Review:  Learn More About The Atlantis, parking, food recommendations, and more.

To learn more about Ray Bull, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• TIDAL
• Apple
• Spotify
• TikTok
• Bandsintown

In what has become an annual tradition at The Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia, the legendary Del McCoury and his namesake band, The Del McCoury Band, returns once again in January 2025.    Even more exciting the band released their latest album - Songs of Love and Life, in June 2024.  This run at Wolf Trap provides the perfrect opportunity to hear these fantastic new songs performed live. Click here to stream this new album now.

Once again, the region is truly showered with five spectacular nights of The Del McCoury band in a venue that each night seats less than four hundred fans.  Del and his band will appear at The Barns on Tuesday - January 21; Wednesday - January 22; Friday - January 25; Saturday - January 26; and Sunday - January 26, 2025. 

In the world of bluegrass music, there is only one 'Del.' - Del McCoury. His name is synonymous with bluegrass, and he is the patriarch and ambassador of bluegrass music.  If you love bluegrass music, and it seems like everyone in the DMV loves bluegrass music,  Del McCoury is front and center of our bluegrass heart.

Del puts the Del in DelFest , and even among the finest artists in the pantheon of music, Del stands alone. His career started in 1963 when he was hired to play rhythm guitar by the father of bluegrass himself, Bill Monroe. The rest, you may say, is Bluegrass Hall of Fame history. There are few recording artists whose careers span as long as Del's, whose music resonates with fans as much, or who is as cherished, adored, and celebrated by his fans as Del is.    If you are looking for the quintessence of bluegrass music, this is the artist and act that needs to be at the top of your list as we know one can never get enough Del and his band. Attendees come for the incredible music of Del and his band but also fall in love with his infectious laugh as he captivates us with stories from the road. 

Today, Del McCoury tours with his band, The Del McCoury Band, which includes Del's sons Ronnie McCoury (mandolin) and Rob McCoury (banjo), as well as Alan Bartram (bass), and five-time International Bluegrass Music Association Fiddler of the year Jason Carter (fiddle).

The Del McCoury Band sold out their first three performances at Wolf Trap in January 2023.  Last year, despite some weather and travel delays, The Del McCoury Band sold out five spectacular performances.  In less than a month Del and his band will set foot once again on the stage at The Barnes, and tickets are starting to run low on a number of dates.  

Remember, there are a scant 382 seats available for Seated Shows on three of the five nights and a little bit more for the two  General Admission shows.

If you are looking at your calendar right and don't have tickets - what are you waiting for - tick tock - The Del McCoury Band at The Barns is right around the clock.

If you can't find Songs of Love and Life on the streaming platform of your choice, please click here to see more options.