Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival returning to Oak Hill this month

OAK HILL―In less than two weeks, the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival will return to the idyllic grounds of Walsh Farm for another unforgettable retreat of bluegrass, newgrass, and roots music.

Slated for July 15-19, the festival will be headlined by Rhiannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue, The Del McCoury Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, and The SteelDrivers.

Dry Branch Fire Squad, the festival’s longtime host outfit, will once again deliver top-notch entertainment throughout the weekend. And after 50 years on the road with band, Ron Thomason has chosen the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival for his farewell performances. It will serve as a celebration of the extraordinary career of one of bluegrass music’s most beloved performers.

For generations of Grey Fox audiences, Thomason’s unique blend of traditional bluegrass, masterful storytelling, quick wit, and musicianship has been one of the defining experiences of the festival. Throughout the weekend, fans will have multiple opportunities to celebrate his remarkable career, including Dry Branch Fire Squad performances; a special conversation with Ron, his bandmates and guests; his beloved Hambone Workshop; and the band’s traditional Sunday Gospel Set.

“Very few people become part of a festival’s identity. Ron Thomason is one of them,” said Mary Tyler Doub, founder of Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival.

“For decades, his music, wit, and friendship have helped define Grey Fox. I’m so grateful to have shared this journey together, and I hope everyone joins us in celebrating this remarkable man,” Doub said.

Raised in the mountains of Russell County, Virginia, above the Clinch River, Thomason began performing professionally at age 13 and developed the deep appreciation for traditional Appalachian music and storytelling that has defined his career. Along the way, he also distinguished himself as an athlete, teacher, farmer, and horseman.

Thomason founded Dry Branch Fire Squad in 1976, creating one of bluegrass music’s most enduring bands. Since 1985, the band has served as host band for the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival while also hosting Colorado’s High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival.

Dry Branch Fire Squad has toured throughout the United States and internationally, serving as a musical ambassador through U.S. cultural exchange programs, recording more than 25 albums, and earning a reputation for its uncompromising dedication to traditional bluegrass. Thomason has also performed and recorded with bluegrass legends including Ralph Stanley, Hazel Dickens, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Joe Isaacs, and The Clinch Mountain Boys.

Beyond his musical career, Thomason is widely regarded as a true renaissance man. An award-winning educator, he taught mathematics and English for three decades and still finds former students thanking him for the difference he made in their lives. He has also trained champion Arabian horses, advocated for conservation, helped produce major bluegrass festivals, and mentored countless musicians and students.

Festival attendees are invited to join in celebrating Thomason’s remarkable career and thanking him for the joy, laughter, and unforgettable performances he has shared over the decades.

Also appearing at Grey Fox 2026 will be the Grammy-nominated, trailblazing all-woman ensemble Della Mae, powerhouse combo Darrell Scott String Band featuring Rob Ickes, and numerous others. Newly named artist-in-residence AJ Lee is poised for dozens of enthralling cameos across several stages. A full lineup can be found at https://greyfoxbluegrass.com.

Additionally, the festival has always welcomed extraordinary artists from beyond the United States―this year being no exception with talent from Ireland, Norway, the UK, and Canada.

Over the last four decades, Grey Fox has grown into one of the Northeast’s most cherished music gatherings. Each summer, the festival delivers an experience all its own––drawing visitors from all corners of the world to celebrate with five days of standout performances, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, late-night campground jams, dancing, artisan vendors, and reunions under wide open skies.

Renowned for its vibrant mix of scheduled programming and spontaneous moments, the festival also features music and dance workshops, family-friendly activities, yoga and meditation sessions, and a diverse lineup of culinary offerings.

Walsh Farm is located on Poultney Road, off County Route 22, in Oak Hill. For information and tickets, visit https://greyfoxbluegrass.com.