Sam Leslie will substitute for Ethan Ballinger.
Friday April 10, 2026 7-9 pm
Vienna, VA
Address will be provided upon purchase of ticket(s).
Food & soft drinks will be sold as a fundraiser for DCBU. BYOB
When John Cowan & Luke Bulla perform together, their shows reflect 25 years of shared history, musical trust, and genuine friendship. Blending New Grass Revival (and more) favorites with old and new originals, they pair masterful picking, rich harmony, and stories that are heartfelt, funny, and hard-earned.
The Hazel Dickens Song Contest 2026 winners have been announced!
The Hazel Dickens Song Contest celebrates the life one of the Baltimore/Washington region music’s most beloved bluegrass songwriters.
The Mike Auldridge Instrumental Composition Contest honors the life and musicianship of one of America’s greatest bluegrass players.
2025 Winners Announced!
2026 Orrin Star Scholar Rita Perloff!
Congratulations goes to Rita Perloff who is the recipient of the 2026 Orrin Star Music Scholarship. Rita is a 14 year old from Oxford, Pennsylvania. Rita has been playing guitar in the band, Full Steam. Rita attends many festivals and Kids Academies. You can often see Rita and her fellow students busking around the festival grounds. With only 2 1/2 years of lessons, Rita is already playing solos! With her scholarship, Rita will attend the DelFest Music Academy.
The Orrin Star Scholarship honors the memory and generosity of a remarkable man, who lived in the DC area for most of his career and who was a friend to many in the bluegrass community. Orrin gained notoriety as a champion flat-picker and went on to enrich many of our lives with the warmth and humor of his performing and teaching.
Applications for the $500 award are accepted every year, beginning in the fall. Look for the announcement on the home page. Meanwhile, the program description is at https://dcbu.org/the-orrin-star-scholarship-program/
One important aspect of DCBU’s mission is to promote music education. We offer an instructor directory so students can locate teachers in their local area for in-person instruction. Additionally, since so many great musicians teach online classes, we’re now posting information for instructors wherever they are located. To sign-up as an instructor fill out the form by selecting the link below. Your submission will be reviewed and added to our directory within a few days.
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Lucketts Community Center, Leesburg Virginia
Family bands are a bluegrass tradition, with especially sweet harmonies and a warm stage presence. The Williamson Branch offers polished performances from a family with three daughters, aged 13 to 21. They have been recognized by the IBMA and have appeared on hundreds of stages. Gate opens 6 pm. Show at 7 pm. Sandwiches and snacks are available in the old Lucketts schoolhouse kitchen. Adults $22. Youth 5-17 $5.
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sykesville Gatehouse Museum, Sykesville MD
Every Sunday, 2-4 pm
Sykesville Gatehouse Museum
7282 Cooper Dr
Sykesville, MD 21784
6:30 am - 9:45 pm
VFW Post #350, Takoma Park MD
The first and third Monday of each month..
Contact:
VFW Post 350: 301-270-8008
or Barb Diederich: 301-633-2504 barb@barbdiederich.com
For more information or to subscribe to the announcement list, see the FAQ at https://www.barbdiederich.com/vfwjam/
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Mullin’s 1847 Restaurant, Moorefield West Virginia
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Carroll Arts Center, Westminster MD
HIGH HORSE is a Boston-based progressive-acoustic stringband breathing the energy of alternative rock into an indelible blend of Bluegrass, Old-time, and Folk magic with crisp vocals and virtuosic chops. Four friends with three bows, one pick, and great vibes deliver a rollicking romp. The band is fiddler Carson McHaney, cellist Karl Henry, guitarist G Rockwell, and bassist Noah Harrington.
Tickets $28 / $25 or pay-as-you-can (min. $15)
https://www.commongroundonthehill.org/experience/concerts/all-concerts
Presented by Common Ground Downtown.
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