Bourbon and Bluegrass is May 17 & 18 at Lincoln's Cottage!
/by Rebecca Kilborne
President Lincoln’s Cottage
Hi Cottage Corner devotees! We’d love to invite you to join us this weekend for Bourbon & Bluegrass at President Lincoln’s Cottage on Saturday and/or Sunday from 1-5pm. Because we love Petworth News and our neighbors, we’re offering a 10% off discount with code PETWORTHNEWS!
This year is the Festival’s 10th anniversary, named Best Music Festival in DC in the 2024 City Paper’s “Best of the City” Readers-Choice Awards.
The 10th anniversary of a special festival calls for a special line up!
The headliner this year is Swamp Dogg on both Saturday and Sunday! The original D-O-Double-G, Swamp Dogg has a huge cult following with his radical, soulful music since the 1950s. His recent album, Blackgrass, was heralded by NPR as one of 2024’s finest country albums. The Bourbon & Bluegrass festival coincides with the DC premier of the award-winning documentary Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted. Screenings will be held at the Miracle Theatre on Capitol Hill on May 17th followed by a Q&A with Swamp Dogg and his bandmate Moog Star, and one at the Silver AFI Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring on May 18th. The movie highlights the life of a legend and is a wonderful reminder of what a special opportunity it is to see Swamp Dogg live at Bourbon & Bluegrass.
On Saturday, the festival kicks off with a performance by Goldbug Revival, a DC-based Indie Folk band performing their 100% original award-winning songs. The eclectic Appalachian songster Dori Freeman will follow, singing stories of motherhood, modernity, and her Blue Ridge roots in a way that both builds on and plays with the bluegrass genre.
Attendees filling up the Great Lawn at 2023 Bourbon & Bluegrass (photo Brian Rimm)
Sunday’s performance will be opened by Hubby Jenkins, who dazzled last year’s festival-goers with his Grammy-nominated music. In addition to his solo career, he was a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Rhiannon Giddens band. Jenkins will be followed by Martha Spencer & the Wonderland Band, whose vibrant performances include washboards, dulcimers, and even traditional flatfoot clogging!
Each General Admission ticket includes:
An afternoon of live bluegrass music from critically acclaimed musicians
Exterior preservation tours of Lincoln's Cottage
Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, more food options available for purchase
Adult with Drinks Tickets include:
Two drink tickets for specialized bourbon cocktails or premium non-alcoholic drinks (ID required; additional drink tickets available for purchase during event)
“We cannot wait to experience the multifaceted talent at the ten-year anniversary of Bourbon & Bluegrass,” said CEO & Executive Director Callie Hawkins. “Each of these artists gives a unique perspective on the American story, and we are thrilled to be able to help amplify their voices in the DMV area.”
The Cottage team encourages the public to come a little early to the festival to join our second annual Log Cabin Jam Session hosted by Will Sears of Goldbug Revival. “Whether you are a musician or a singer, we invite you to join the jam, which will take place at 12pm, before the festival officially begins,” said Hawkins.
In addition to the music, there will be local food trucks, historic preservation tours between sets, bourbon cocktails and alcohol-free options, lawn games and more. Delicious bourbon provided by Schneider’s of Capitol Hill will complete specialty cocktails. Teetotalers (like Lincoln) will also enjoy a selection of zero-proof cocktails.
All proceeds from the event will support the preservation of Abraham Lincoln’s beloved summer residence.
“We believe in the medicinal value of music, and we in DC could all use a little medicine right now!” said Hawkins. “Music can create connection, and connection is what our work at the Cottage is all about. We hope our Petworth neighbors will take some time to relax and join us for a day of the festival—or better yet, both!”
All proceeds from the event go toward preservation efforts at President Lincoln's Cottage; all sales are final, including unused drink tickets.
