Named for and presided over by the undisputed king of bluegrass — Del McCoury — DelFest, first held in 2008, took over Cumberland, Maryland, this past Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25, 2025. Held at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, it’s a lovely backdrop with a fabulous view of Knobley Mountain rising high above the Potomac River that serves as the northern border of the grounds.
While the weather was not ideal, low temps and rain during the fest’s first two days, enthusiastic fans still flocked to catch sets by Sierra Ferrell, Dan Tyminski, Sister Sadie, Railroad Earth, The Steel Wheels, and of course Del McCoury and his band.
At 86 McCoury still makes his presence known throughout the four days, playing with numerous folks, from Dan Tyminski and grandson Heaven, to one of the brightest and youngest acts on the bluegrass circuit, The Price Sisters. Headed by twin sisters Leanna Price and Lauren Price Napier they could be viewed as an anomaly in today’s scene. With so many performers using bluegrass as a jumping off point, the sisters dig deep in the tradition. Nowhere is this more apparent than their 2024 album Between the Lines, which I raved over last year, produced by Ronnie McCoury who also sat in for some of their set.
