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THE NORTH EAST
FALL FOLK
& BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2025
TICKETS: $24 ORCHESTRA | $28 BOX SEATS | $20 BALCONY
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8+
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of high-energy, heartfelt music as the North East Fall Folk & Bluegrass Festival returns to the Milburn Stone Theatre on Sunday, September 28, 2025!
Headlining this year’s festival is none other than Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass, one of the most respected and award-winning names in traditional bluegrass. Known for their powerful, unadorned style, Danny Paisley’s unmistakable vocals—praised by legends like Alison Krauss—blend bluesy soul with high-lonesome mountain tradition. Their most recent album, Bluegrass Troubadour, earned IBMA nominations for Album and Song of the Year, and their highly anticipated 2025 release, featuring the No. 1 single “’Till Lonesome Comes Around,” is already making waves.
Rooted in legacy and driven by family, the group features Danny’s son Ryan Paisley on mandolin, with T.J. Lundy (fiddle), Bobby Lundy (bass and vocals), and banjo standout Mark Delaney rounding out this powerhouse ensemble. With four IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year wins under his belt—including his historic 2024 honor—Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass carry forward a six-decade tradition with authenticity, energy, and soul.
Co-headlining the festival is Charm City Junction, a dynamic Baltimore-based quartet that blends Irish, old-time, bluegrass, and jazz influences into a sound that’s all their own. Featuring fiddle virtuoso Patrick McAvinue, Irish button accordionist Sean McComiskey, bassist Alex Lacquement, and clawhammer banjo innovator Brad Kolodner, Charm City Junction brings virtuosic musicianship, infectious rhythms, and fearless innovation to every performance. Their genre-bending style and joyful stage presence make them one of the most exciting acoustic bands touring today.
Also taking the stage are Delaware’s beloved folk duo The Honey Badgers, known for their sincere songwriting, radiant harmonies, and emotionally resonant performances. With violin, guitar, and rich lyrical storytelling, Erin Magnin and Michael Natrin craft songs that explore love, loss, and connection with grace and authenticity. Their set promises to be both introspective and uplifting—an ideal addition to the festival’s tapestry of sound.
Kicking off the evening are The Sunset Riders, a local favorite from Rising Sun, Maryland. Known for their blend of classic Americana and foot-stomping bluegrass energy, this up-and-coming group brings a homegrown charm and infectious spirit that’s sure to get the night started right.
Whether you’re a lifelong bluegrass fan or simply love great live music, The North East Fall Folk & Bluegrass Festival offers a one-night-only lineup you won’t want to miss. Come for the tradition, stay for the stories, and leave with a heart full of music.
Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass:
Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass continue to be deeply rooted in tradition but look to the future with enthusiasm and anticipation. Coming off the success of their latest release, Bluegrass Troubadour, which received nominations for IBMA’s Album of the Year and Song of the Year (Blink of an Eye), the group looks forward to the release of their newest project in 2025, which includes the No. 1 single ‘Till Lonesome Comes Around.
Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass play powerful, unadorned, and intense traditional bluegrass. There is no hybrid or genre-bending music here. Their combination of instrumentation and vocals convey the energy and emotion of classic bluegrass and country music. Danny’s lead vocals will captivate your senses, so much so that many prominent musicians, including Alison Krauss, have considered Danny as one of their favorite singers. His voice combines powerful range and soulful blues with a sound like no one else in bluegrass today.
Since Danny’s father, Bob Paisley (founder of Southern Grass), passed away in 2004, Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass have made their niche in the bluegrass world, producing consecutive chart-topping albums. The group has been given over 20 Bluegrass Music Award Nominations and won the 2009 IBMA Song of the Year for Don’t Throw Mama’s Flowers Away. In 2024, Danny Paisley joined an elite group of vocalists to be awarded the IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year for the fourth time - an achievement bestowed only to three others in the history of Bluegrass music.
With Danny Paisley on guitar, Southern Grass continues the family tradition by adding Danny’s son Ryan on mandolin, the next generation of up-and-coming pickers. Southern Grass continues the rich musical heritage started by Bob Paisley and Ted Lundy with Lundy’s sons T.J. (Fiddle) and Bobby (Bass and Vocals). T.J. Lundy is a highly respected fiddler bridging the gap between old-time fiddling and bluegrass music. Bobby Lundy is also a renowned multi-instrumentalist who has gained attention for his unique bass style. Southern Grass also includes Mark Delaney on banjo, who rejoined the group after a brief hiatus.
Danny Paisley, born in Landenberg, PA, in 1959, grew up listening to the music his father Bob played and enjoyed hearing the sounds of classic bluegrass like Red Allen, Mac Martin, Bill Monroe, the Stanleys, Reno and Smiley, and the Osbornes - in addition to old-time mountain music and traditional country music. Once you hear Danny sing, it is no surprise that he lists George Jones and Vern Gosdin as major influences in his singing.
Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass continue to carry on a legacy set forth over six decades ago, gathering fans at each event; Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass look forward with renewed energy as they bring their unique sound to audiences near and far.
Charm City Junction:
Charm City Junction brings a fresh, roots-driven energy to the stage, weaving together the rich threads of bluegrass, old-time, Irish, and jazz traditions into a sound that is both timeless and unmistakably their own. Based in Baltimore, Maryland—affectionately known as "Charm City"—the quartet has built a loyal following for their virtuosic playing, genre-spanning influences, and electrifying live performances.
Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2015, Charm City Junction has earned national recognition and acclaim, including appearances on NPR’s Mountain Stage, performances at MerleFest and Grey Fox, and collaborations with legends like Mac Wiseman and The Travelin' McCourys. The band’s latest release, Snowball, showcases their versatility and creativity, blending traditional melodies with inventive arrangements that honor the past while pushing acoustic music forward.
At the heart of Charm City Junction is a powerhouse ensemble of musicians who each bring a deep understanding and passion for their respective traditions. Patrick McAvinue, a two-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year nominee and member of Dailey & Vincent, delivers soaring melodies that reflect both his classical training and old-time roots. Sean McComiskey, one of the premier Irish button accordion players in the U.S., carries on the musical legacy of his father, Irish music legend Billy McComiskey, with rhythmic precision and soulful phrasing. Alex Lacquement holds down the groove on upright bass with a style that draws from both bluegrass drive and jazz fluidity, while Brad Kolodner, a clawhammer banjo innovator and son of acclaimed hammered dulcimer player Ken Kolodner, blends old-time syncopation with modern flair.
Charm City Junction represents the next wave of acoustic music—anchored in tradition, yet fearlessly innovative. Their dynamic interplay, improvisational skill, and joyful spirit continue to captivate audiences across the country. Whether playing a centuries-old reel or a newgrass-inspired breakdown, the band’s sound is united by a shared respect for the roots of American music and a passion for its future.
With a reputation for pushing musical boundaries without losing sight of tradition, Charm City Junction is a group that doesn’t just play music—they bring it to life.
The Honey Badgers:
The Honey Badgers are a folk duo from Delaware with a sound that’s as sincere as it is striking—marked by heartfelt harmonies, poetic lyrics, and an acoustic style that blends Americana, indie folk, and singer-songwriter traditions. With their signature mix of violin, guitar, and layered vocals, The Honey Badgers craft songs that feel both intimate and expansive, capturing moments of vulnerability, resilience, and quiet beauty.
Formed by Erin Magnin and Michael Natrin, The Honey Badgers began as a collaboration between friends-turned-partners who shared a love for storytelling through song. Since their debut EP in 2015, the duo has become a staple of the Mid-Atlantic folk scene, performing at venues ranging from listening rooms and libraries to folk festivals and house concerts. Their 2018 full-length album Meet Me in the Shadows was praised for its lyrical depth and lush, acoustic arrangements—earning comparisons to acts like The Civil Wars, Mandolin Orange, and Iron & Wine.
Winners of the 2022 Delaware Folk Heroes Award and frequent performers on local radio and regional folk circuits, The Honey Badgers are known for their ability to quiet a room with a single note. Erin’s haunting violin lines and delicate vocal phrasing pair seamlessly with Michael’s warm guitar tones and reflective lyricism, creating songs that feel deeply personal and universally resonant. Whether performing original ballads or putting their own spin on folk standards, their chemistry and authenticity shine through every performance.
With a songwriting style rooted in emotional honesty and melodic simplicity, The Honey Badgers’ music explores themes of love, loss, connection, and change—with a natural ease that invites audiences in. Their performances feel less like concerts and more like conversations: gentle, meaningful, and full of soul.
As they continue to tour throughout the region and work on their next collection of songs, The Honey Badgers remain committed to their mission: creating music that connects, uplifts, and endures.
From festival stages to quiet back porches, The Honey Badgers are proof that sometimes the simplest sounds can leave the deepest impression.