photo by Brandon Amos

Maryland’s annual DelFest kicked off on Thursday with music from Trampled By Turtles, The Marcus King Band and Yonder Mountain String Band, plus a soundcheck from The Del McCoury Band, led by the festival’s namesake. For the first time ever, DelFest also offered a late-night set, which featured two full sets from Billy Strings, who welcomed a few special guests throughout their performance.

As JamBase reports, the guest spots got started at the tail-end of the first set, with mandolinist Frank Solivan (who plays the festival today with his band, Dirty Kitchen) joining the band for a run of bluegrass tunes, “Down in the Hollow, “Doin’ My Time,” “Shady Grove” and “Bluegrass Breakdown.”

Billy Strings’ early morning second set continued the guests, with Ronnie McCoury (one of Del’s sons and member of both his father’s band as well The Travelin’ McCourys) emerging to add to opening tune “I’ll Remember You, Love, In My Prayers,” “Train 45,” “All Fall Down,” and “Roll On Buddy, Roll On.” Ronnie also joined Yonder Mountain earlier in the festival’s opening day.

Just two songs later, Marcus King Band saxophonist Dean Mitchell joined Strings and company for a cover of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page,” a live debut for the group. Next up was King himself, who came out for a trio of covers, Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty,” the Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider” and “Me & My Uncle,” a tune penned by John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas and covered by the Grateful Dead numerous time.

See the full late-night setlist below, along with fan-shot video from the collaboration with Mitchell. DelFest continues today with music from The String Cheese Incident, Del McCoury Band, Strings, Sierra Hull and more, plus more late-night sets from Yonder Mountain and Larry Keel Experience.

Billy Strings
DelFest – Cumberland, MD

Set I: Home Of The Red Fox> My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling, Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power), New Camptown Races> Unwanted Love> New Camptown Races, While I’m Waiting Here> Pyramid Country> Ol’ Slewfoot, Down In The Hollow$> Doin’ My Time$, Shady Grove$, Bluegrass Breakdown$

Set II: I’ll Remember You Love In My Prayers*, Train 45*, All Fall Down*> Roll On Buddy Roll On*, In Hiding, Turn The Page^+, Running On Empty#, Midnight Rider#, Me & My Uncle#, Ernest T. Grass> The Hobo Song, Dealing Despair, Back On The Train

Enc: Long Gone

Notes: $ w/ Frank Solivan
* w/ Ronnie McCoury
^ w/ Saxsquatch
+ first time played
# w/ Marcus King

Source: phantasytour.com