CUMBERLAND — The 17th DelFest kicks off Thursday with 39 acts set to perform on three stages, including Sierra Ferrell, Dan Tyminski, Larkin Poe and Asleep at the Wheel.
The four-day bluegrass and Americana music festival will take place at the Allegany County Fairgrounds through Sunday and feature daily performances from the Del McCoury Band.
McCoury, who began his career performing in the Baltimore area in the 1940s, turned 86 in February.
Keeping with DelFest tradition, McCoury’s band will open the four-day festival with its casual soundcheck set Thursday at 4:15 p.m.
The band typically accepts requests from the audience during that set. Following the soundcheck will be performances by Sister Sadie, Dan Tyminski, the Wood Brothers, Kitchen Dwellers and the Larry Keel Experience.
Thursday’s music will take place on the main Grandstand Stage. Beginning Friday, all three stages — Grandstand, Potomac and Music Hall — will be open.
Highlights on Friday will include Leftover Salmon on the Grandstand Stage at 5:45 p.m. followed by the Del McCoury Band, Sierra Ferrell and Railroad Earth. This will be the Grammy Award-winning Ferrell’s third consecutive appearance at DelFest.
Friday, the Potomac Stage will feature Megan Jean’s Family Secret from Frostburg at 11:15 a.m. followed by The Steel Wheels and Jerry and Dawg Revisited — featuring Ronnie McCoury, Joe Craven, Stu Allen and Jim Kerwin — performing at 5:15 p.m.
Highlights from the Grandstand Stage Saturday will include the western swing sounds of Asleep at the Wheel beginning at 3:45 p.m.
Led by vocalist-guitarist Ray Benson, the band got its start in Cumberland in 1970.
Benson, originally from Philadelphia, formed the group at a friend’s farm in nearby Paw Paw, West Virginia. The Grammy Award-winning band’s first show took place at the Southern Lounge on Mechanic Street.
Following Asleep at the Wheel Saturday will be Larkin Poe, led by the Lovell sisters at 7:45 p.m. and The Travelin’ McCourys at 10 p.m.
Sunday’s entertainment features Dre Anders & the Gospel Collective at noon on the Grandstand Stage.
Guitar virtuoso Metto Mancuso, a 28-year-old from Sicily, will perform on the Potomac Stage at 2:30 p.m.
Closing the event Sunday night on the Grandstand Stage at 10 p.m. will be the Del McCoury Band followed by the lively rhythm-and-blues sound of the California Honeydrops.
For more information on the event, including ticket availability, visit DelFest.com.