Ocean City's Brewgrass fest at Fager's, triple bill at Dogfish Head are weekend highlights

Roger Hillis
·4 min read

While the Memorial Day holiday is traditionally the kickoff of tourist season at beaches throughout the country, that isn’t necessarily the case on Delmarva.

Last weekend saw the openings of various seasonal businesses here in conjunction with St. Patrick’s Day, and visitors were out in force — which signals that events scheduled for spring, summer and fall will likely be slamming as well.

Celebrate with bluegrass and craft beer at Ocean City's Fager's Island

In Ocean City, Fager’s Island will host its 12th annual Brewgrass celebration from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. It will center around food, microbrews and performances by the String Buzzards and the Dirty Grass Players ($72).

The Dirty Grass Players will perform at the 12 Annual Brewgrass event at Fager's Island in Ocean City from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23.
The Dirty Grass Players will perform at the 12 Annual Brewgrass event at Fager's Island in Ocean City from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23.

Fager’s also has tickets on sale for next month’s 7th annual ClamBake BullRoast. In addition to munchies and beverages, it will include live music by the Pineapple Band from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20 (also $72).

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Dogfish Head brewpub offering triple bill of national acts

In downtown Rehoboth Beach, the Dogfish Head brewpub has a free concert with a triple bill of national talent set for 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. Reggae-rock act Surfer Girl will headline, following opening sets by Sitting On Stacey and Ryan Wright. The show is part of Dogfish’s annual Weekend of Compelling Ales & Spirits, which includes dining and sipping events in Rehoboth (and also at the brewery in Milton).

National reggae-rock act Surfer Girl will play a free concert at the Dogfish Head brewpub in downtown Rehoboth Beach at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 23.
National reggae-rock act Surfer Girl will play a free concert at the Dogfish Head brewpub in downtown Rehoboth Beach at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 23.

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Rock vocalist Teddy Swims sets summer date at Bottle & Cork

In Dewey Beach, the Bottle & Cork had a whopper of a concert announcement late Tuesday. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, for a summer performance by the soulful rock vocalist Teddy Swims. He will perform at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 ($55).

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. March 22 for a summer concert by national soul-rock vocalist Teddy Swims in Dewey Beach. He will perform at the Bottle & Cork nightclub at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6 ($55).
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. March 22 for a summer concert by national soul-rock vocalist Teddy Swims in Dewey Beach. He will perform at the Bottle & Cork nightclub at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6 ($55).

Swims is known for his recent Top-10 pop smash “Lose Control,” as well as a series of cover songs he has recorded through the years by the likes of Michael Jackson, Journey and Shania Twain. The booking is a coup for the Dewey nightclub, as it can only fit 1,200 patrons; the concert is expected to sell out quickly.

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Ocean City announces first ever country music fest, Country Calling

Another major concert announcement comes via the promoters of the mega-festival Oceans Calling. A two-day sister event called Country Calling will take place at the Ocean City Inlet on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5.

Ticket and lineup information has yet to be released about the festival, which is to include 25 national country performers. It will take place one week after the sold-out Oceans Calling — which will feature rock headliners including the Dave Matthews Band, The Killers and Blink-182 playing in front of tens of thousands of fans.

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Freeman Arts Pavilion adds more big shows to lineup

In Selbyville, the outdoor Freeman Arts Pavilion announced the remainder of its upcoming Sounds Like Summer concert series Monday. On Thursday, March 21, at 10 a.m., tickets will go on sale for summer appearances by Little Feat, Grace Potter and more. On Friday, March 22, tickets will on sale at 10 a.m. for REO Speedwagon, Lee Bice and co-headliners the Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket — and at noon for Alabama and ABBA: The Concert.

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Delaware's Olivia Rubini scores big win on 'The Voice'

Last but not least, congrats go out to Delaware’s own Olivia Rubini. The pop-rock singer appeared on NBC’s "The Voice" last week, where she was chosen to be on the team of judge John Legend. Olivia is set to sing a duet with one of her teammates on the show on an upcoming episode.

She made her Delmarva debut at Dewey’s Bottle & Cork back in 2022, opening for The Caulfields (the alternative rock quartet featuring her drummer father Ritchie Rubini).

Email Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com 

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Brewgrass at Ocean City's Fager's, Dogfish Head triple bill on tap