Brent Truitt with The Steeldrivers posing at the 2026 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival – photo © Tara Linhardt
Friday at Grey Fox ’26 had beautiful weather in Oak Hill, NY, and a full day of phenomenal music, dance, workshops, led jams in various styles and themes, and campground jams. For the younger attendees, there were various activities such as puppet shows, tie dying, hula hoop workshop, family yoga, kids shows, and of course the ever-popular Kids Academy.
The musicians on the stages and workshops at Grey Fox are often from around the world. This year Ireland was well represented as well as musicians from all around the US and Canada.
There were some of the legends of bluegrass (and related genres) plus some really cool newer emerging artists that were thrilling the crowds. There were a few radio stations broadcasting from the festival and the Bluegrass Brooklyn Podcast has a booth recording Grey Fox Festival stories to be aired later on their podcast. Guitaro 5000 continued to be set up on vendor row inviting festival attendees to join him for a song to be shared with his followers online.
Friday was also the day that Grey Fox announced and honored their winners of the Grey Fox Scholarships. For nearly four decades Grey Fox and its community have invested in the future of bluegrass through its educational scholarships. Starting in 2026 Grey Fox has also begun a program bringing bluegrass music into Green County, NY classrooms through hands-on learning and performances, in addition to its regular scholarships program and its Kids Academy. They have a 501(c) 3 non-profit that supports and inspires musicians and music lovers of all ages. (Folks can reach out to them if they might be interested in making tax deductible donations.)
Since 1988 nearly $600,000 in scholarships has been awarded to more than 135 students pursuing higher education. Four hard working individuals received those scholarships this year. This year’s recipients are: Eden Alderman from Lafollette, TN (Evangel University); Bayla Davis from Leicester, NC (Berklee Collge of Music); Marley Mason from Sevierville, TN (ETSU); and Sophia Sparks from Richmond, CA (Berklee College of Music). Big congratulations to these hard working folks.
Now for some fun video clips to see some small samples of the wide variety of fantastic performances on the many stages of Friday’s Grey Fox 2026.
J.M. Clifford had a lot of awesome songs with a classic bluegrass feel, but with fresh topics on the life of a musician working in New York City, and sometimes even pulling from his other job as an elementary music teacher. He was accompanied by a band of hot NYC pickers.
Here are a few examples to check out.
and this one…
Here is a band called I Draw Slow who came from Dublin, Ireland for the Festival.
There were lots of folks sitting in with various bands ensuring spontaneous musical adventures like Farayi, Kimber Ludiker, and AJ Lee sitting in with the Steeldrivers here.
John Doyle bringing in some beautiful Irish style
And some Del McCoury Band with a pickin classic.
Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland were on fire with their full band, and some fiddle duet action. Watching them play together it was hard for folks to not have an ear to ear grin right along with them.
…and some photos from the day:
