May 22 – 26 2025 Allegheny County Maryland By Dan Rozman
DelFest 2025 proved once again why it’s considered one of America’s don’t miss music festivals. From May 22-25, the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland, transformed into a bluegrass paradise where over 30 bands performed across three stages, surrounded by the stunning Appalachian Mountains.
The festival had its challenges early on. Wednesday brought what fans called “the Deluge,” and Thursday saw more rain that had fans dodging puddles and seeking shelter. But as the weekend progressed, the weather cleared up beautifully, giving everyone two near-perfect days. The only disappointment was that the river ran too high and cold for tubing, but with mountains as a backdrop, nobody seemed to mind.
“We’ve been coming for 15 years with three generations of my family and with a ton of friends,” said Susan Randolph, a longtime festival attendee. “It’s just a fantastic place. We’ve never missed a DelFest, and we have survived all the storms.”
At the heart of DelFest sits the McCoury family, led by 86-year-old bluegrass legend Del McCoury. Despite battling a cold all weekend, Del powered through his performances with his trademark smile and laugh that seemed to lift everyone’s spirits. His Sunday night closing show was particularly special, featuring three of his grandsons: Heaven McCoury, Jacob McCoury, and the youngest, Vassar McCoury, and Dels brother Jerry, who came out of retirement for the moment. Watching so many McCourys on stage together was inspirational.
The festival’s musical lineup was outstanding. Sierra Ferrell drew massive crowds, with fans migrating from across the fairgrounds to get as close to the stage as possible. After bus problems that nearly prevented her from making it to the festival, Ferrell’s arrival was a relief to everyone. Dressed in a black leather jacket and white cowgirl hat, with the stage decorated in her signature flowers, Ferrell commanded attention from the first note. She mixed traditional bluegrass with honky-tonk, getting everyone singing along to covers like John Anderson’s “Years” and Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee.”
Leftover Salmon brought their unique “polyethnic cajun slamgrass” sound and debuted songs from their new album Let’s Party About It. In addition to Del McCoury playing with them, Steve Poltz joined Leftover Salmon for “Love A Little Bigger,” a song that he wrote with Vince Herman, which he said had never been performed before. This is another example reinforcing the collaborative spirit that makes DelFest special.
“This was our first time at DelFest,” said Trenton Wagler from The Steel Wheels. “After hearing about this festival for many years, it did not disappoint. Our set had a little bit of rain and wind, but it was also one of the best crowds in the world. They were there for it, no matter what. We saw them dodging the rain for a second and then dancing, jumping around, and singing along. It was the best.”
Another one of the highlights of the weekend came from 29-year-old Italian guitar virtuoso Matteo Mancuso. What started as a small crowd at the Potomac Stage on Sunday afternoon quickly grew as word spread about his lightning-fast playing and unique technique. Born in Sicily and raised outside Palermo before relocating to the U.S., Mancuso left jaws dropping with his blend of heavy metal, jazz, and prog rock that pushed the boundaries of what a guitar can do. Before DelFest, many of the fans were not familiar with Sixteen-year-old mandolin wunderkind Wyatt Ellis, who Ronnie McCoury joined on the Potomac Stage. It is safe to say that he gained a lot of new fans.
Railroad Earth, making their twelfth DelFest appearance since 2008, proved why they’re a festival favorite. The New Jersey band delivered both a memorable late-night set in the intimate Music Hall on Friday and an engaging afternoon performance on the Grandstand Stage on Saturday. Their extended jams and classics like “Bird in a House” and “Mighty River” showed off their jamgrass mastery.
Sister Sadie, the all-female bluegrass band from Nashville, featured the exceptional fiddle work of Deanie Richardson, who won IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year in both 2020 and 2024. Watching her play intricate fiddle-mandolin instrumentals with Rainy Miatke had the crowd screaming approval.
Two other first-time bands that delighted bluegrass fans were JigJam and Gaelic Storm, demonstrating that DelFest welcomes a diverse range of music. Larkin Poe, the sister duo from the deep South, impressed with their Southern rock sound and fiery electric blues, while also showcasing their acoustic roots in their Grandstand performance.
Providing kid-friendly activities and having places like family camping and the Kidzone, the festival’s family atmosphere shines through in more than just the music. Before the festival began, the DelFest Academy gave students the chance to learn directly from some of the performing musicians, with workshops in banjo, guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. This year’s student band competition ended in a tie, with both winning bands getting to perform on the main stage.
Each night, the late-night shows kept the energy going in the Music Hall, featuring intimate performances and surprise guests. The Bluegrass Bloody Mary Bar, sponsored by McClintock Distillery, gave folks a tasty way to start Friday and Saturday mornings.
Food vendors offered a wide range of options, from grilled cheese to tacos, and the cashless wristbands made it easy to grab a bite without missing any of the music. The festival also continued its tradition of giving back through Del’s Army, which collects food donations and has raised nearly a million dollars for charity over the years.
What makes DelFest truly special isn’t just the incredible music or beautiful setting. It’s the sense of community that forms when thousands of people gather to celebrate the music they love. Whether you’re a lifelong bluegrass fan or just discovering the genre, DelFest offers something magical that keeps people planning their return before they’ve even left the mountains. “Delfest 25 makes you glad to be alive. DelYeah,” said Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon, capturing the feeling that keeps people coming back year after year.
Photos by Dan Rozman
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