AMAZING STRINGS ATTACHED: GREY FOX BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL KICKS OFF IN JULY
OAK HILL, N.Y. – Superstar phenom Billy Strings returns as Artist-in-Residence, joining 40+ award-winning bluegrass acts including the Del McCoury Band, Leftover Salmon, Tommy Emmanuel and many more at the 2019 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival from July 18-21.
Always a deep and wide mix of Grammy, IBMA, CMA, and AMA winners and nominees, Grey Fox presents the best of bluegrass and acoustic music. In its 35th year, Grey Fox is the largest and most-established bluegrass festival in the Northeast, featuring traditional, contemporary, and progressive bluegrass to old-time, Americana, jamgrass, Celtic, and dance music.
The festival is a homecoming every summer for campers from more than 30 states and at least a dozen countries. Held on the Walsh Farm in the bucolic Catskill Mountains, the festival has six stages, with shaded performance venues and workshop stages, along with entertainment for children and families. In all, more than 175 performances are scheduled over the festival’s four days, from Thursday through Sunday (camping gates open early on Wednesday, July 17).
The lineup is always eclectic and on the cutting edge, a “Who’s Who of Bluegrass” that offers something for everyone. Bands this year also include the Earls of Leicester, I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan), Tim O’Brien, Balsam Range, Steep Canyon Rangers, Molly Tuttle, the Gibson Brothers, Sierra Hull, and host band Dry Branch Fire Squad. The Larry Keel Experience and The Travelin’ McCourys will bring back “A Grateful Ball,” a collaboration of the music of The Grateful Dead.
Over the past few years, Billy Strings has made his mark on the Grey Fox faithful, with dynamic performances that have left audiences spellbound. The young guitarist has been turning the dyed-in-the-wool bluegrass world on its head. Rolling Stone magazine says that Strings sounds like “The head-banging speed of a thrash metal band channeled through flat-picked guitar and mandolin, with a touch of end-of-the-world psychedelia.” As Artist-in-Residence, Strings will be performing with his own band and with other bands from Thursday through Saturday.
In addition to the main stages, there are impressive Emerging Artist Showcases of young bands hailing from around the country, music and dance workshops, a much-loved Open-Mic Night, red-hot jam sessions around the campgrounds, ethnic and festive foods, unique vendors, Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids, (now in its 21st year) and a stage entirely devoted to children’s activities. Everyone from music fans to foodies, beginning pickers to serious players, singles to multi-generational families will find something to capture their imagination and heart.
GIVING BACK: “This year, our goal is to collect 1000 pounds of food!” Grey Fox will again a food drive to help feed needy families in the area. Grey Fox campers will be bringing non-perishable foods and pantry items with them to help fill up the Community Action of Greene County van that will be parked at the ticket gate all weekend. Also, as an incentive for local residents to help with the food drive and hear some great music, admission to Sunday’s show is free with a donation to local food banks.
Sunday will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a one-hour gospel show by host band, Dry Branch Fire Squad. The festival will close this year with a performance by 100+ students of the 21st Annual Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids who have been studying with some of the top instructors in the business all weekend. For many Grey Fox fans, the Sunday gospel show and the kids academy “graduation gig” are long standing highlights of the festival.
Donations of non-perishable pantry items or cash go to Community Action of Greene County who distributes food and supplies to area food banks. Grey Fox invites residents and visitors alike to enjoy Sunday’s musical performances and help feed needy local families. Acceptable pantry items are listed at https://cagcny.org/food-donations.
For tickets, information and a complete list of all the bands, visit the Grey Fox website at http://greyfoxbluegrass.com.
The Grey Fox Way
CAMPERS CREED
As a camper, I agree to these guidelines:
- My campsite will not be more than 20×25 feet. Allowances for RVs.
- I will save NO MORE THAN TWO CAMPSITES besides my own up to noon Thursday. After that, I will welcome new folks to camp there.
- Park vehicles perpendicular to the roads to conserve space.
- Park all unnecessary vehicles in the Car Corral and earn raffle tickets.
- Use only camp stoves or grills for cooking. Make no ground fires. Leave no fire unattended. Have fire extinguisher handy.
- Use only local firewood purchased within 50 miles of Oak Hill.
- No luminaries! Landing on a tent could start a fire.
- Keep my campsite clean. Use trash and recycling barrels properly.
- Leave no debris on the ground. This is a working farm!
- Use no amplifiers. Play no loud recorded music at my campsite.
- Be super quiet from 10pm to 7am if camped in Quiet Camping.
- Drive only when necessary to reduce my impact on the land.
- Be considerate of my fellow campers. Follow the Golden Rule.
- Be patient and tolerant and even perform random acts of kindness.
- If I have a legitimate concern for anyone’s health or safety, I will seek assistance from Security or Medical personnel.
OTHER STUFF TO KNOW:
- No glass. Broken glass, barefoot children and hay farms just don’t mix.
- No pets. Sorry, we do not allow pets at Grey Fox. Call ahead. Most kennels require up to date shots, so be sure to bring documentation and food with you.
• Al-Ann Grooming & Boarding, Catskill, NY 518-945-1087
• Bed & Chow Pet Lodge, 11289 Rt 9W, Coxsackie, NY 518-731-6859 (3 mi from Coxsackie Exit off I-87)
• Carriage House, East Durham, NY 518-634-7009 (very close to festival)
• Hannacroix Kennels, Hannacroix, NY 518-756-2391
• Mainstay Kennels, 461 Route 385, Catskill, NY 518-943-7900 (Very close to NYS Thruway exit 21)
• Oak Hill Groom and Board, Route 81, Oak Hill, NY 518-239-6051 (very close to the festival)
• Pet Express Inn at the Albany Airport 518-785-0575
• Siam Kennels, Windham, NY 518-734-3168
• Valkin Kennels, Route 9, Valatie, NY 518-758-6195 (7 miles from I-90 exit 12) - Use only locally purchased firewood!! Bringing in firewood from more than 50 miles away is strictly illegal in New York State. Moving firewood long distances can spread tree-killing pests like the emerald ash borer. Please purchase firewood in towns such as Greenville, Catskill, Cairo, Middleburgh or at The Milk Run on Rt 145 a mile from the site. To learn why using locally purchased firewood is so important, visit Don’tMoveFirewood.org
- Use garbage and recycling bins as marked and please keep your campsite clean. Remember, we’re on a farm that produces hay for dairy cows to munch.
- Dispose of anything that might make animals sick such as cigarette butts, instrument strings, plastic bags, paper, etc. Be sure your area is clean before leaving. Thank you.
- Field dress all smoking materials. No butts on the ground.
- Smoking is prohibited in concert areas. If you wish to smoke, move beyond the outside edge of the crowd. This applies to all performance tents and food service areas.
SEATING & ETIQUETTE IN CONCERT AREAS
- Seating in concert areas is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- In the High Meadow concert area only, you may leave your chair in place all weekend. Bring your own chairs or blankets. If you leave the concert area for a while, it’s the ‘Grey Fox Way’ to share your chair/blanket until you return.
- Do not block the view of others. See map for high chair, low chair and blanket sections. A high chair is one that a basketball can fit under.
- Sunbrellas may be set up along the perimeter of the High Meadow seating area. Staff can direct you.
- We provide two large shade tents in the High Meadow Concert Area. Bring your own chairs.
- For handicapped attendees, a tent is provided. Staff will assist.
- The Creekside Stage is tented, with about 300 chairs provided.
- For all other performance areas, please provide your own seating.
- Keep your area litter-free. When you leave, take trash & recycling with you.
- Last but not least, during any performance, please refrain from talking. Others are trying to hear and enjoy the music.
Copper Kettle Motel
4.7
$75
Hotel
Cozy lodging with a restaurant & a bar
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Winwood Inn
4.1
$114
3-star hotel
Modest lodging with a Mexican restaurant
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Albergo Allegria Bed & Breakfast Hotel
4.9
$129
4-star hotel
Homey B&B with a fireside lounge
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Hotel Vienna
4.7
$131
4-star hotel
Mountainside lodge with free breakfast
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
The Country Place Resort
3.8
3-star hotel
Casual all-inclusive resort & water park
Gavin’s Irish Country Inn
4.1
2-star hotel
Country inn with inclusive meals & shows
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
The Shamrock House
4.4
Motel
Baumann’s Brookside Resort
4.8
$200
Resort
Laid-back rooms, plus a pool & lake
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Blackthorne Resort
4.0
Resort
Woodland retreat with an amusement park
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Ruby’s Hotel
3.4
(9)
Hotel · 3689 Co Rd 67
Artsy bistro with retro furnishings
Captain’s Inn Point Lookout
4.6
3-star hotel
Casual country lodging with dining
Free Wi-Fi
Greenville Arms 1889 Inn
5.0
Bed & Breakfast
Free breakfast
Evergreen at The Thompson House
5.0
(2)
Hotel · 20 NY-296
Windham Mountain Inn
Hotel · 139 Co Rd 12
Antique Rose Inn Windham
4.7
$105
3-star hotel
Cuomo’s Cove
4.4
$145
4-star hotel
Upscale suites with kitchens & hot tubs
Acra Manor Resort
4.3
$110
4-star hotel
All-inclusive resort with sports
Free Wi-Fi
Windham Mountain Resort
4.4
(234)
Ski Resort · 19 Resort Dr
1,600 vertical ft. of skiing & 12 lifts
Free Wi-Fi
Christman’s Windham House
4.2
$175
3-star hotel
Historic inn with golf & 2 bars
Sunny Hill Resort
4.8
Resort
Old-school lodging, golf & a pool
Free breakfast
Dancin’ Dave’s Festival Camping is once again offering advanced camping accommodations for this festival. I have heard some truly great feedback from my “Spies” that go to some of the festivals I haven’t yet been to. This basically lets you pay a set price up front, and EVERYTHING IS SET UP AND READY upon arrival.
There’s NO NEED to have tent poles laying all over and strings everywhere, no instructions blowing in the wind or tent stakes to pound into the hard dirt. It might be a little more expensive but if convenience is your deal then THIS IS the package for you!
Advance Tickets Now Available:
Full Festival Advance: $215
Includes Camping 7am Wednesday thru 7pm Sunday
Day Tickets: $80
Thursday, Friday, or Saturday
Kids 12 and under, FREE with ticketed adult.
Senior Discount: $5 off day tickets at gate with ID.
