RootsFest Set to Debut in Sharpsburg, Showcasing Appalachian NewGrass-Folk Music

Green Hill Farm in Sharpsburg is preparing to host its inaugural RootsFest on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025. This new music festival aims to highlight the vibrant sounds of emerging artists from the Appalachian regions of Western Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. The event promises a unique experience blending acoustic traditions with a youthful, energetic take on country, folk, and bluegrass, often described as NewGrass-Folk. Attendees can expect a day and evening filled with live music, local food vendors, regional distilleries, and artisan crafts, all set within a family-friendly and community-focused atmosphere.

The festival gates will open at 4 p.m., with the musical performances commencing at 5 p.m. Alex Kerns, a bassist, vocalist, and co-founder of the Low Water Bridge Band, will open the festivities with a solo set. Kerns, hailing from Berryville, Virginia, is known for his energetic contributions to the country-grass Americana sound. Following Kerns, Zac Townsend and The Mudcats are scheduled to take the stage around 7 p.m. Townsend, a singer-songwriter from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, along with his band, delivers high-energy performances that fuse blues, rock, and Americana, characterized by a distinct vocal rasp and a blend of intensity with smoother country blues influences. The evening’s performances will conclude with the Short Hill Mountain Boys, who are slated to play starting around 9 p.m. This group offers a dynamic mix of bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, classic country, and folk music, noted for their tight harmonies, skilled instrumentation, and an authentic, spontaneous mountain music feel.

RootsFest is designed to offer an intimate and engaging experience in a picturesque setting. Green Hill Farm, which also operates as a dahlia farm, will feature flower gardens and lush landscapes, illuminated with romantic lighting to create a distinctive ambiance. The event will include a large stage area with various seating options, including field seating and barn seating, as well as space for attendees to set up canopies. To enhance comfort, guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets, with early arrival recommended to secure prime locations. The festival will feature food trucks, with Sweet Grub and Authentic Mexican Taco Shop confirmed to be present. Several regional distilleries, including Pathfinder Farm Distillery and McClintock Distillery, will also be on site. Information regarding market vendors and local artisans will be announced at a later date. Field parking will be available and managed by parking attendants.

General admission tickets are priced at $30. Children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. The festival organizers emphasize that coolers and outside alcohol are not permitted. However, well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome at the event. Those interested in an overnight stay can also find information regarding two-night cabin stays available at Green Hill Farm in conjunction with RootsFest.

More information at the RootsFest website.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from GreenHillFarm.org

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