For the second year in a row, thousands gathered at the site just before the iconic Bay Bridge to not only celebrate, but also ‘save’ the bay that locals depend on for everything from food to fun.  Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival, held on September 21st and 22nd, featured an all-star lineup, enjoyable weather, and smiling faces stretched the length of Sandy Point State Park from the water to the parking lot - all key indications that ticket holders were in for a phenomenal two days.

Saturday, September 21st - DAY 1

House band Geraldine laid out the welcome mat for the early arrivals, and soon after, The Lil Smokies added fire to the day with their set, that included not only some of their own crowd-pleasers like “California”, but also sprinkled in a few covers reminding us that they are a band we always love to see tear up the stage, no matter what time they go on.  

As the sun continued to shine, people continued to flow in and fill up the space, while the music and activities continued to provide a full day of enjoyment.  Workshops, vendors, and tastes of the bay were spread out for ticket-holders to enjoy throughout the day, and the music just got better and better!

Sierra Hull charmed her way into our hearts once again, followed by Sam Bush, who treated us to an incredible setlist that satisfied the palate even more than the oysters and crabcakes that were being eaten picnic-style in the crowd.  Bush never fails to wow - not only with his incredible mandolin playing, but also the stories he shares, making it feel like you’re reminiscing with an old friend over good times had.  

A taste of The Allman Brothers was felt again and again during Baygrass weekend, but obviously no more than with Trouble No More, a collective membership band headed by Taz Niederauer, who many have seen grow immensely over the past few years.  Covers of some classics, including “Whipping Post” sent electricity through the crowd as they also welcomed to the stage the artists-at-large for the weekend with a collective energy the weekend wouldn’t have been the same without.  Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, and Ron Halloway were the badass brass of the weekend that came out to add brass and funk where you might have never even known you needed it, but now will always hope to hear.  

Yet another nod to the feeling of friendship was what happened when Leftover Salmon took the stage, and Vince Herman invited some of the great lineup he acknowledged earlier to share the stage, treating the crowd to an absolutely incredible collaboration that included Hull and Bush for a what seemed like an entire show.  The synchronicity and pure joy that was undeniable while each musician took their turn to showcase and hypnotize with their talents, was likely the most memorable part of the festival to a good chunk of the crowd on Saturday.

Closing out day one was Oteil and Friends with two sets that definitely leaned in to the fact that the power throuple brass section was available for a super jazzy second set.  With a bit of rain coming in at the end of the night, we danced until we couldn’t dance no more and by the end of the Saturday night closer, the bands and crowd all left full-hearted and ready for what day two held for us all.

Sunday, September 22nd - Day 2

Day two of Baygrass greeted attendees with not only a top-tier lineup but also welcomed the first day of Fall to be spent waterfront amongst friends.  

Starting it off was a band that never fails to get folks on their feet and ready to party, and though the season had changed, The Dirty Grass players did not.  Bidding a farewell to parting member Alex Burman, however, is a change that was discussed onstage, and though we are all sad to see him go, he was most definitely sent off in style.  

Friends continued to be the theme at the festival, and being there for each other was something that the festival organizers made sure to highlight throughout the weekend.  While “each jam saves the bay” the topic of being there and saving each other was also a point driven home between sets.  Support and listening are an integral part of being in the music scene with its high highs and sometimes low lows, however can apply to any part of life, no matter the scenario.

Cris Jacobs brought his friends along, too, and they did more than just support each other.  After playing a few with multiple instruments being exchanged, Jacobs also called for a stage exchange, asking Daniel Donato to abandon his soundcheck to join him on the other side of the stage.  With Donato and Jacobs onstage together, the crowd looked on and was hypnotized by the abilities of both battling it out guitar style.  

The weather remained mild throughout the day and barefoot dancing was the way to enjoy it, preparing to get cosmic once Donato’s band itself took stage.  The band couldn’t have lived up to its name more with the country schmelting into cosmic quickly and vibrating the beachfront so.  The addition of Torrin Daniels on banjo only sent the rocket higher in the sky and sent the crowd into a trance dance mesmerizing Sandy Point.  

By the time The Kitchen Dwellers themselves took the stage, Torrin brought the energy back to the stage, taking it even further with the rest of the band.  Not the only substitution of the weekend, but a fun one with the fellas was Silas Herman (Vince Herman’s son) filling in on mandolin.  The Dwellers never miss an opportunity to cross over from twangy bluegrass to absolute electric, almost metal-type playing that gives fans just one more reason to look forward to having them take the stage and lighting it up in more ways than one.  

By the time The Infamous Stringdusters took the stage to close the festival out Saturday night, the crowd was ready and chomping at the bit for a real barn burner.  The Dusters never miss an opportunity to infect an audience with the fun they have on stage and despite them hosting a festival of their own the same weekend, they never let it show what a busy few days it had been for them.  Travis Book knows how to get a crowd hyped up and plays host with the most impeccably, interacting with and getting the crowd laughing, dancing, and downright excited to be together.  

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival 2024 proved that the musicians on the lineup, saving the bay, and supporting each other are all a great formula for continuing this end-of-summer festival by the water and that it will inevitably grow, inviting more fans from all over the country for its next iteration.  

We look forward to seeing everyone at Sandy Point State Park in 2025 as we continue to save the bay with some magical Baygrass lineups.

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