{"id":126528,"date":"2023-10-16T10:00:46","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T14:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcmusicreview.com\/staging\/?p=126528"},"modified":"2024-06-12T08:13:44","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T12:13:44","slug":"ramble-2023-the-most-spectacular-independent-music-festival-in-the-mid-atlantic-elevates-us-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dcmusicreview.com\/staging\/ramble-2023-the-most-spectacular-independent-music-festival-in-the-mid-atlantic-elevates-us-all\/","title":{"rendered":"Elevating Us All – The Ramble Festival 2023 Proves To Be The Most Spectacular Independent Music Festival In The DMV"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday, October 6th, 2023, the gates for The Ramble Festival<\/strong> opened in Darlington, MD.  From the moment guests arrived at Camp Ramblewood, it was apparent, just like last year, that this is one of the most memorable and spectacular independent music festivals you will find anywhere in the United States.  Setting the tone this year, festival-goers were greeted by none other than organizers and figureheads Jason and<\/strong>Brick<\/strong>.  They greeted each vehicle with gleaming eyes and beaming smiles, handing out high-fives and greetings galore.  Just a few feet from our gracious greeters, one would see the Ramble Buskers<\/strong> performing for you – led by the busking ambassador and Baltimore musician Caleb Stine<\/strong>.  Before you even stepped foot on festival grounds, it became apparent that the festival creatives were intent on making this a memorable and unique weekend for each and every person.  <\/p>\n

\"Buskers,<\/span><\/p>\n

Buskers, featuring Caleb Stine, awaited music lovers at the entrance to The Ramble Festival<\/p>\n

If the way one was greeted wasn’t memorable and spectacular enough, the music, attractions, vendors, and campgrounds would provide the backdrop for a weekend that will echo deep in the memory of everyone at Ramble Festival 2023: artists, staff, and attendees alike.  At the core of this festival’s beliefs is the following ethos, “At the Ramble Festival, there are no VIP tickets because everyone is a VIP.  We’re elevating the festival experience for everyone a couple notches rather than elevating it significantly for a select few.<\/em>”  This statement is not just festival website copy text – but a deeply held core belief that the festival would show attendees throughout the weekend.  All fans were able to walk straight up to any concert rail, use the same bathrooms, and be treated to personal interactions with artists and staff alike.  Speaking of elevating the festival experience, organizers truly elevated the festival this year.  For those in attendance last year, you remember that no small detail was spared, and everyone had a truly spectacular time.  Last year, even small touches and details were attended to, such as small fairy lights in every portable restroom stall  This year, some superficial elements were elevated – better stage lights, more bathrooms, an improved kids zone, a geodesic dome lounge, and concert projections upon the barn.  The place where the festival experience was truly elevated was collaborative sets that blended two bands, an artist and an emerging artist at large,  and the most special of all – hidden treasures for us to find and experience.  This year, The Ramble Festival had three secret sets sprinkled throughout the festival grounds and unique painted stones and bricks, which promised special prizes for those who found them.<\/p>\n

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Someone who found one of the lucky stones hidden at festival by the ingenious Ramble creatives!<\/p>\n

Like a great baker or chef, founders Brick and Jason carefully picked the correct ingredients to create the most delightful musical recipe\/lineup for this year’s festival.  This year, each crisscrossed the country in search of artists who would create the most cohesive, eclectic, and melt-your-soul lineup.  Several of last year’s favorite artists returned once more, including Caleb Stine<\/strong>, Kendall Street Company<\/strong>, Bella’s Bartok<\/strong>, Dogs In A Pile<\/strong>, Naptown Brass Band<\/strong>, The Dirty Grass Players<\/strong>, The Travelin McCoury’s<\/strong>, and Neighbor<\/strong>.  New to this year’s lineup was The Del McCoury Band<\/strong>, TAUK Moore<\/strong>, The Motet<\/strong>, Magic Beans<\/strong>, Perpetual Groove<\/strong>, Danielle Williams<\/strong>, The Deer Creek Sharpshooters<\/strong>, Fishing for Hippies<\/strong>, Isaac Hadden Organ Trio<\/strong>, Rebekah Todd<\/strong>, Red Clay Revival<\/strong>, Shadowgrass<\/strong>, Sneezy<\/strong>, The Sweet Lillies<\/strong>, Uncle Kunkel’s One Gram Band<\/strong>, and Yam Yam<\/strong>.  Additionally, the festival added not one but two artists at large – artist at large Kanika Moore<\/strong> and emerging artist at large Isaac Hadden<\/strong>.  Some bands would be blended together to form late evening super bands: “Magic Benders<\/strong>” featuring Magic Beans<\/strong> & The Hillbenders<\/strong>; “Sneezy Street<\/strong>” featured  Kendall Street Compan<\/strong>y & Sneezy<\/strong>; “Dirty Dogs<\/strong>” featured Dogs In A Pile<\/strong> & The Dirty Grass Players<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n

Each band was carefully selected and added in the right amounts to make the most delicious festival recipe we could hope for: a dash of Shadowgrass<\/strong> and Dirty Grass<\/strong> here, some Sweet Lillies<\/strong> & Magic Beans<\/strong> for some sweetness there, some funky Yam Yam<\/strong> and Natlie Brooke<\/strong> there, a healthy dash of Bella’s Bartok<\/strong> for zest, and some Kanika<\/strong> and Isaac<\/strong> to bind all the ingredients together.  To add some sparkle to the day a healthy dose of Naptown Brass Band<\/strong> second-lining around the grounds twice a day, and some late night jams to make the nights go by ever so sweetly.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/span><\/p>\n

The first second line of Ramble Festival 2023 – featuring the mighty Naptown Brass Band<\/p>\n

For three glorious days and three frenetically joyous nights, the residents of this temporary harmonious enclave celebrated life with radiating joy, music, and dance.  While we have described the unbelievable atmosphere of The Ramble Festival, we have not scratched the surface recalling the unforgettable musical moments we experienced at The Ramble Festival 2023.  Here are just a few memories we took away from The Ramble Festival, and this does not include the hundreds of special moments that took place during the festival.<\/p>\n