There’s still a big empty hole in the music festival scene since Firefly took this year off.
But don’t get it twisted, there are still other festivals in Delaware (and the surrounding area) that are going to make some noise over the next two months.
Here are nine eclectic music festivals that’ll give you a dopamine rush this fall.
Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, Woodstown, New Jersey
There’s a longstanding tradition for people in tristate area to hit up the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival. The three-day festival, which offers free camping (a weekend pass is required), will feature favorites like Dailey & Vincent (Friday), Dan Tyminski Band (Saturday) and Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers (Sunday).
Over a dozen bands will play at the festival. Off stage, there are workshops to teach bluegrass fans how to jam, write songs, and other cool skills.
Salem County Fairgrounds (735 Harding Highway, Pilesgrove, New Jersey) on Friday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Sept. 3. Early bird weekend passes (until Sunday, Aug. 27) is $123 adult; $110 senior; $62 student. General day passes on Friday and Saturday each are $70 adult; $65 senior; $40 student; Sunday pass only is $60 adult; $55 senior; $30 student. Free for kids age 17 or younger (with adult ticket holder). Visit delawarevalleybluegrass.org or (302) 321-6466.
Delmarva Folk Fest, Houston
We’re all folk. But only a few of us own it on the festival stage in Kent County.
The 32nd annual Delmarva Folk Fest is coming back for lovers of the genre with a fresh dose of music, vendors, workshops and other treats. The musical lineup includes Boris Garcia, Rivers, Fishing for Hippies, Red Smith & Friends, Do You Even Dobro?, Chapel Street Junction, Ampersand, Cal Toner, Tres Folk and the 2023 Folk Hero winner.
G & R Campground (4075 Gun and Rod Club Road, Houston) at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15; noon Saturday, Sept. 16. Tickets on Friday are $10 (camping not included). Tix on Saturday is $30 or $35 for weekend pass (camping not included). Teen ticket is $15 for Saturday only. Free for ages 12 or younger on both days. Camping is $35 per night. Visit delfolk.org.
XPoNential Music Festival, Camden, New Jersey
They were around when the Beanie Babies craze in the ’90s started. XPoNential Music Festival is now in its 30th year, and the three-day event is still not to be toyed with.
Two dozen acts are hitting the stage with headliners Old Crow Medicine Show (Friday), Tegan and Sara (Saturday), and Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers (Sunday). Other artists include Margo Price, The Hold Steady, Celisse, Say She She, Low Cut Connie, Allison Russell, Sammy Rae & the Friends.
Wiggins Park (1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey) from Friday, Sept. 22 to Sunday, Sept. 24. Gate times are TBA. General day Pass $75; General weekend pass is $216; Kids Pass (ages 2-12) is $10 provides entry to all three days. Visit xpnfest.org.
Bob Marley festival, Wilmington
One of the most popular Bob Marley festivals in the tristate area is in Wilmington. This makes sense because the world-renowned reggae legend used to live in the city. He was friends with Wilmington resident Ginny Pitts, founder of the People’s Festival: A Tribute to Bob Marley.
This year’s family-friendly fest spreads one love through reggae tunes, an international food court, beer and wine sampling, healing garden and more. The artist lineup includes Raggamuffins, Image Band, Spokey Speaky, Harvey Road Hip Hop Band, GwapStarr and Lena Aura.
Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park (Rosa Parks Drive, Wilmington) from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Tickets are $20-$55 (plus fees). Visit peoplesfestival.com.
Ladybug Music Festival, Milford
No, you’re not tripping. The Ladybug Music Festival hosts two events each year. The second festival is on deck and ready to make some noise in Milford.
What makes this block party-style event unique is it’s free and features 100% female-fronted bands and acts delivering a variety of musical flavors from rock, blues and indie to genres in between.
Thirty artists are on tap this year and the headliner is Delaware’s own soul rocker Nitro Nitra, who represented the First State on NBC’s first season of “American Song Contest” in 2022. Other performers include Toni Clare, Humilitarian, The Lunar Year and Maya Belardo.
The festival features stages at La Hacienda, Music School of Delaware, Library Ampitheater, N. Walnut Street, My Sister’s Fault and Gallery 37. There’s also the Main Stage.
More than just music, Ladybug will have food trucks, vendors and adult libations on tap.
Downtown around North Walnut Street (Milford) from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30. Free event. Visit theladybugfestival.com.
Oceans Calling, Maryland
Only a limited number of tickets are available for Sunday. The other two days (Friday and Saturday) are sold out.
It’s easy to compare Oceans Calling to the early days of Firefly, because this new Maryland festival has some of the same bands. The Sunday roster alone is headlined by former Firefly group The Lumineers. Other alumni from The Woodlands on Sunday include Weezer, Nathaniel Rateliff, The Wallflowers, plus Fitz and the Tantrums.
The festival also features notable artists on the last day of the fest like the Dirty Heads, Grace Potter, The Driver Era, G. Love & Special Sauce, Robert Randolph, Alo, Joe P and a special set with O.A.R. and friends.
Acclaimed chefs Robert Irvine and Amanda Freitag are making appearances, hosted by “American Pie” star actor Jason Biggs.
Ocean City Inlet Beach (809 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, Maryland) at noon Sunday, Oct. 1. Tickets are $135 (plus $38.31 fee). Visit oceanscallingfestival.com.
Chillin in the Sticks, Townsend
Name another festival in the First State where you can mud wrestle, ride a mechanical bull, hangout with fire spinners and gobble up a diverse buffet of country music?
Chillin in the Sticks is a three-day camping festival that specializes in country music. The event hangs its hat on highlighting artists that perform country tunes, or music that is a spinoff from it like hickhop, outlaw country, honky-tonk and bluegrass.
But bear in mind that Friday features a jam session under the stars, with Saturday as the main event for attractions and music. Campers can hang out from 7 p.m. Friday until 11 a.m. Sunday.
The band lineup includes Forsaken & The Whiskey Rebellion, Jovon Newman, Eastern Shore Outlawz, Bryan Scar, Ennio Emannuel, Hummingbirds Bluegrass, Darlene Danger and Carley Twigg, plus more artists to come.
The festival serves up square dancing, a petting zoo, kids zone, food trucks, LED performance artist Pixel Angel, the all-female group of fire spinners from New Jersey named Groovin’ Embers, and more fun.
Fire Base Lloyd (474 Fleming Landing Road, Townsend) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6; noon Saturday, Oct. 7.
Camping is from 7 p.m. Friday until 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Saturday-only pass is $30 (plus $3.85 fee). VIP ticket plus Weekend camping pass is $60 (plus $5.87 fee) . Saturday pass plus camping is $40 (plus $4.52 fee). camping only on Saturday is $20 (plus $3.18 fee). General admission Saturday only is free for kids age 12 or younger, and that sale ends Oct. 6. Visit chillininthesticks.com.
Rehoboth Jazz Festival
Procrastinate if you want to, but the four-day Rehoboth Jazz Festival already has sold out its opening night for Thursday.
Over two dozen musical acts will jazz up Slower Lower Delaware including R&B star Eric Benét, stunning saxophonist and singer Grace Kelly, and platinum-selling singer Oleta Adams.
The festival features several stages located at Cape Henlopen High, Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, Epworth United Methodist Church, Lewes Farmers Market, Rusty Rudder, Rusty Rudder Deck and Lewes Elementary School.
Free performances will be held Saturday morning and afternoon at the Rusty Rudder Deck with sets by Club Phred and Matt Marshak, plus a third concert from an artist that hasn’t yet been named for the Lewes Farmers Market that day.
Concerts are held in Cape Henlopen, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey and Lewes from Friday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15. Tickets for each show vary, from free to $149. Visit rehobothjazz.com or (302) 569-9112.
Exit Zero Jazz Festival, Cape May, New Jersey
Get warmed up this fall with hypnotic sounds from world-class musicians in the three-day Exit Zero Jazz Festival.
Over 20 performers are featured including Abdullah Ibrahim Trio, Omara Portuondo, Etienne Charles and Creole Soul, and Brian Betz. Performances are at multiple venues, with the main one at the Cape May Convention Hall.
The Exit Zero Jazz Fest, which started in 2012, happens twice a year in spring and fall. This year’s celebration aims to bring enough joy to feel like Christmas in November.
Cape May Convention Hall (714 Beach Ave., Cape May, New Jersey) from Friday, Nov. 10 to Sunday, Nov. 12. VIP weekend pass $280; Friday and Saturday Pass $200; Saturday and Sunday VIP Pass $200. General weekend pass $200; Friday only pass $80; Saturday only pass $100; Sunday only pass $65; (An extra ticket fee will be added to each transaction; Save the fee by calling the box office). Visit exitzerojazzfestival.com or (609) 849-9202.
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If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
