LYONS – “Three days of fun and music” described Woodstock in 1969 and describes Planet Bluegrass’ RockyGrass, now in its 53rd year. Four thousand folks turned out each day for the festival held July 25 through 27. There were 21 bands in the lineup.

East Nash Grass is made up of accomplished musicians steeped in traditional bluegrass. The band won the 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award for Best New Artist of the Year. Maddie Denton is up for Best Fiddle Player of the Year in 2025. Their song “Followin’ You” is Denton’s first single with the group and is receiving airplay.

“Well, there’s thirteen hundred and fifty-two guitar pickers in Nashville,” and Del McCoury is one of the most prominent among them. Ageless and effervescent as ever, he and his two sons, Rob on banjo and Ronnie on mandolin, performed Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Nashville Cats” to an enthusiastic audience. McCoury’s signature white pompadour reflected the colored stage lights as he and his band reeled off one lively number after another.

Saturday brought the critically acclaimed group Breabach all the way from Scotland. Their name translates from Gaelic to “stomp your feet.” A mixture of Highland and island Gaelic influences, their contemporary-folk music utilizes instruments including the bagpipes, bouzouki, and whistle.

Calum MacCrimmon and Megan Henderson moved to the front of the stage for some step-dancing, which – true to the band’s name – inspired Old World foot-stomping in the audience.

Sam Bush delivered as usual by closing out the day for the 30th or more time in a row he’s been a headliner at RockyGrass.

With temperatures reaching 95 degrees on Sunday, North Saint Vrain Creek bordering the festival grounds was the best place to beat the heat. Some sat in the creek, others waded, and scores of tubers floated by. Kids built rock cairns in the water or blasted passing tubers or themselves with squirt guns. At one point people stretched from bank to bank.

Rhonda Vincent is a fifth-generation musician who began performing gospel songs with her family’s band at the age of five. At eight years old she started playing the mandolin and at 12, the fiddle. Nicknamed the “Queen of Bluegrass,” she has recorded with Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, Tanya Tucker, Faith Hill, and many more notables in the music industry.

Vincent won the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year an unprecedented seven consecutive times between 2000 and 2006. In 2017 she and her band The Rage took first place for Best Bluegrass Album. She was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2020.

With credentials as impressive as hers, it was no wonder that she grabbed a firm hold of the audience and didn’t let go until the end. The tightknit band’s performance and Vincent’s vocals during their version of “City of New Orleans” was a highlight.

On his white horse, Mescalito, Peter Rowan breezed into town. “Panama Red” was written by Rowan in 1973 and was included in his legendary collaboration with Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Vassar Clements, and John Kahn on the Old and in the Way album.

Grammy award-winner Rowan appeared with the Sam Grisman Project. Although he would have loved to be there, mandolin superstar David Grisman is no longer touring and Sam is carrying on his father’s legacy by playing some of his songs at concerts. Virtuoso banjoist Bela Fleck and others sat in.

To the fulfillment of festivalgoers, numbers from Old and in the Way were on the playlist. “Panama Red,” “The Hobo Song,” Midnight Moonlight,” and the title song “Old and in the Way” were included.

“Old and in the way, that’s what I heard them say / They used to heed the words he said, but that was yesterday / Gold will turn to gray and youth will fade away / They’ll never care about you, call you old and in the way.”

Tickets for RockyGrass 2026 go on sale in December. The popular event sells out months in advance so it is recommended you purchase them early.

For more information about RockyGrass, go to www.bluegrass.com.