This past weekend music fans from throughout the region once again descended on Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, MD, for a truly spectacular music festival  - none other than Baltimore's beloved Charm City Bluegrass Festival.

Despite Charm City Bluegrass being less than a decade old, it has gained national attention and played host to the who's who of bluegrass and Americana musicians.  Each April since 2013, just after tulips emerge from the ground after a long winter rest, Druid Hill comes alive with music and thousands of happy feet dancing on the gentle green slopes in front of the stage.   Just as we collectively look to Punxsutawney Phil's arrival indicating Spring is drawing near,  Charm City Bluegrass is another seasonal milestone that marks live outdoor music's arrival.

Being that the 2020 edition of Charm City was canceled, music enthusiasts across the DMV  held their breath and anxiously awaited the eventual return of this cherished festival lying deep within the heart of Baltimore.  For the past two years, through various ways, fans continued their support of the event however they were thrilled to see the stages just outside of Rawlings Conservatory roar back to life last weekend.  With the pandemic waining, the anticipation was palpable, and 100 days before the festival was to take place, the lineup for the 2022 edition was announced. 

On April 29th, musicians and fans alike gathered in Druid Hill Park and were blessed with blue skies and warm weather to maximize the feeling that went along with delightful music and all the sights and sounds that go along with this treasured music festival.  For two days, crowds danced in front of the stages and under the trees, browsed the vending booths, and enjoyed activities throughout the festival, seeing faces old and new that brought smiles to everyone you walked by.  This weekend was Baltimore's moment to enjoy a sunny, warm weekend and embrace the joy that is Charm City Bluegrass.

Closing out the first night of music was Yonder Mountain String Band's headlining performance.  This set was accentuated by the exceptional fiddling of Jeremy Garrett of The Infamous Stringdusters.  Garrett had the honor of being an Artist-at-Large at this year's event and could be found adding his fiddle prowess during multiple performances throughout the weekend. Garrett's sit-in with The Lil Smokies was another memorable highlight as he performed a dueling fiddle performance with Jake Simpson and the rest of the Smokies.

The second day of the festival was kicked off by Philadelphia's own Darlingtyn, who would underscore an ever-present theme throughout the second day - the spirit and songs of Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead which undeniably loomed large over the festival.  As many know, long before he became the legend of psychedelic and jam bands, Jerry Garcia was a bluegrass enthusiast and a prolific banjo player.  From the opening act of Darlingtyn who performed “Shakedown Street” to the concluding performance by Hiss Golden Messenger, Jerry's music and joy would fill the air.  We do not want to take away from the beautiful and exceptional bluegrass that resonated throughout the weekend as there was spectacular original bluegrass music resonating throughout the festival, but it was worth mentioning the continued influence that Garcia has on the bluegrass, jam grass, and Americana genres.

The lineup at this year's event drew from a long list of enormous talent, making it difficult to highlight any particular performance, as they were all exceptional.  Charm City celebrated national acts Jake Blount, Fireside Collective, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Hackensaw Boy, Armchair Boogie, The Lil Smokies, and Hiss Golden Messenger.  Charm City also showed local love, and embraced local DMV talent, including Wicked Sycamore, Justin Trawick & The Common Good, and Dori Friedman among others.  Local musicians had an opportunity to shine as Justin Trawick & The Common Good opened the festival on the first day and even performed again on the second day.  Wicked Sycamore performed twice on Sunday, which allowed concertgoers to see the depth and power of their music and stage presence.   

Charm City Junction, a staple of this festival, provided a memorable performance as local fans jammed the barrier rails to be closer to their hometown band.  Leaving no stone unturned for local talent, the United States Navy's bluegrass band Country Current also made their presence known.  Washington DC native Jake Blount returned to the region from his new home base in Providence, Rhode Island, to leave an indelible mark on the crowd.

This year's Charm City Bluegrass lineup had something for everyone.  Wicked Sycamore ended their outdoor set with "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston.  At the same time, Fireside Collective performed a fiery rendition of "Eyes of The World" by The Grateful Dead and Lil Smokies performed a ferocious version of "The Power Of Love" by Huey Lewis.  Hiss Golden Messenger sprinkled in "Mama Tried" and "The Bird Song", another few by The Grateful Dead, and AJ Lee & Blue Summit performed "Cumberland Blues" by The Grateful Dead.

More thoughts of Jerry Garcia danced in our heads as we returned to our vehicles and hummed one song that echoed in our heads despite not being played this weekend - "Ripple" by The Grateful Dead, with fitting lyrics that we carry on preparing for more and more weekends just like this one -  "I don't know, don't really care / Let there be songs to fill the air." 

Congratulations to the organizers of Charm City Bluegrass for ensuring that the festival survived these turbulent few years and ensuring that music could once more fill the air of Druid Hill Park.  We already look forward to the 2023 edition and look forward to what breathtaking acts will grace the stages next year.