Savage Bluegrass Festival Returns With More Bands Saturday

SAVAGE, MD — The Savage Bluegrass Festival will be Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. with a total of four bands performing. New this year will be a free jam session and seating available under a festival tent for patrons to enjoy food from Savage Mill-based restaurants.

The festival kicks off at noon with the five-piece Satyr Hill Band. Known for putting on “extremely tight” performances, Satyr Hill Band has been a mainstay of the Savage Bluegrass Festival since its founding in 2021. Classic instrumentation of banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin blend in an acoustic presentation.

At 1:15 p.m., central Maryland singer/songwriter Dave Zelonka will take the stage. New to the Savage Bluegrass Festival and winner of Charm City Bluegrass Festival’s 2016 Battle of the Bands, Dave’s sound is influenced by bluegrass traditions and infused with the spirit of the punk rock he grew up on.

Moose Jaw Bluegrass returns to the Savage Bluegrass Festival for a performance starting at 2:30 p.m. Rooted in the high lonesome sound of the 1940s, this Prince George’s County-based ensemble brings the timeless tradition of American roots music into a new era. They have been featured on National Public Radio and gave an intimate performance for the Dalai Lama.

At 3:45 p.m., Baltimore-based headliner band Geraldine takes over the stage. This country-leaning string band brings songwriting to the forefront, while blending elements of old time, American folk, bluegrass and alternative country.

Concurrent with the festival, the indoor New Weave Commons space will host a free jam session for musicians from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Savage Mill-based restaurants Dive Bar and Grille and the newly-opened More Than Java Café will be set up in the festival space. Dive Bar and Grille’s menu will include baby back ribs, shrimp tacos, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, Southern-style sides and beer, while More Than Java Café will feature summer-themed sandwiches, salads, desserts and lemonade.

Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite or the day of the event.