We're just a few weeks away from kicking off the touring season for real. After a couple of local tune-up gigs, we'll be hitting the festival circuit running ... and we've lucked our way into some really killer fests this year.

The plan is to pack three or four gallons of Pike County moonshine, a van full of noisemakers, and as many friends as possible into a slow-rolling festival caravan. We'll only be on stage for an hour and half or so, but we'll be rockin' the campgrounds all weekend. Come on along.

Here are the highlights:

Mayhem on the Mountain - May 18 & 19 - just outside of Morgantown, West Virginia. This first-time festival looks f*ing brilliant. It's a true hootenanny, complete with the finest in young progressive bluegrass and old-time bands, instrument workshops, childrens activities. etc. You can take lessons in chainsaw carving! If that ain't hillbilly, I don't know what is... This may not be the Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Grade A line-up, but - trust me - you'll be hard pressed to find a more fun bunch of pickers.

We go on at 8:00PM on Saturday Night and are followed by the Hackensaw Boys and Larry Keel. Other highlights include Special Ed and the Shortbus, Greensky Bluegrass, Greasy Beans, the Hillbilly Gypsies, etc.

Appalachian Uprising - May 31 ~ June 2 - Scottown, OH (just north of Ashland, KY and an easy trip from Cincinnati, Columbus, or Charleston, WV). We're proud as hell to be a part of this top-notch line-up. The names speak for themselves: Sam Bush, John Cowan, Darrell Scott, Avett Brothers, Great American Taxi, Larry Cordle, Larry Keel. This festival sold over 5000 tickets last year. We're kicking things off on Friday, so come out early.

Master Musicians Festival - July 20 & 21 - Somerset, KY. Kentucky's top festival for many years running, these folks down in Somerset really know how to stoke a picker's ego! Yep, we're master musicians ... it's official. ;-)

Seriously, check out some of the folks sharing the stage: Old Crow Medicine Show, The Gourds, Chris Knight, Big Leg Emma, Murder by Death, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, etc. We go on Friday evening ... around 5 or 6PM, I think...

Henderson Bluegrass in the Park - Henderson, KY - August 10 ~ 11. For those of y'all that like your bluegrass a little more old-school.

Black Swamp Arts Festival - Sept 7 ~ 9 - Bowling Green, OH. Some of our favorite all-time performances have been totally unexpected. We rocked up to Bowling Green last year on a whim and lucked into playing for one of the smartest, most enthusiastic listening crowds we've ever met. What a great scene. Their annual arts festival features their favorites from this concert series. This year has Alejandro Escovedo, Robbie Fulks, The Deadstring Brothers, Leon Redbone, Devil in a Woodpile, The Infamous Stringdusters, & Bernard Allison, amongst others. Bluegrass, blues, folk, alt-country, you name it, it's one helluva of a cool eclectic mix. We're up twice on Saturday.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots - Sept 14 ~ 16 - Bristol, VA. I know you're all coming to this one. If you are into the newgrass / new-time revolution at all, make sure to book your tickets now. Here are some of the highlights: Tony Trischka, Donna the Buffalo, Avett Brothers, Acoustic Syndicate, Biscuit Burners, Uncle Earl, The Everybodyfields, Packway Handle, Infamous Stringdusters, Langhorne Slim, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rhonda Vincent. Fuckin' A. The schedule is still in the works, but we'll be playing twice over Saturday & Sunday.

Are you in?

In Jug We Trust