Maryland Public Television has announced an August 2 broadcast and livestream event, during which they will debut Sweet Appalachia: The Story of DelFest, a one-hour documentary film directed and produced by Frostburg State University professor Annie Danzi.
Filmed over six years during the festival, Sweet Appalachia also includes behind the scenes looks at the running of such a major production, and its impact on the small rural community of Cumberland, MD. Located in the western part of the state, Cumberland has had its share of economic hardships, but is redefining itself with bluegrass as a principal component of its revitalization plan.
You’ll see interviews with Del, Rob, and Ronnie McCoury, plus stellar artists like Sierra Hull and Billy Strings, and learn how DelFest was born, and how it has grown into a huge draw, bringing in as many as 25,000 people for the annual four-day music fest.
The film represents a true regional effort, with students from Danzi’s Department of Digital Media and Visual Arts at Frostburg State, also located in Allegheny County, recruited to assist in all phases of production.
MPD will air the film at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, on all six stations in their network, and via a livestream from their web site. On-demand streaming will be available on August 3 through the free PBS app, or the MPT video player.
Here is a brief teaser the producer has prepared.
This is one documentary every bluegrass lover or DelFest attendee will want to take in.
