The Infamous Stringdusters
Set for May 29–31, Bear Shadow returns with a new home at Ferngrove, the expansive property off Dillard Road that gives the festival more room to do what it does best – let the music carry.
Two stages keep the weekend in motion, with The Infamous Stringdusters opening Friday, Mavis Staples and Trombone Shorty anchoring Saturday, and Charley Crockett, Margo Price, and a deep bench of songwriters shaping Sunday.
It’s a lineup built for live performance, not just name recognition, and it plays out the way Bear Shadow always has – unhurried, with space to settle in and actually listen. Tickets are on sale now, and as in past years, they won’t linger.
Mavis Staples
That same sense of intention carries into the food, which has become part of the draw. Vendors operate independently, creating a mix that feels considered rather than standardized – food you want to eat over a long day, not just something to get through.
The Crafty Goat food truck at Old Edwards leans into Southern comfort with precision, known for buttermilk fried chicken oysters, pickled jalapeño grits, bacon‑braised collards, and a buttermilk blue cheese dip that brings depth and balance.
From Dillard, Blue Hound BBQ brings a different kind of focus. Pitmaster Kyle Bryner – fresh off a win on Food Network’s BBQ Brawl – turns out brisket, pulled pork, and ribs with competition‑level attention, alongside a three‑cheese sausage that holds its own. Collards, slaw, mac and cheese, and sweet potato crunch round it out, with banana pudding finishing it the way it should.
Local Harvester offers a counterpoint to the heavier plates, with bowls built around vegetables and noodles, plus sharper plays like crab Rangoon nachos or cucumber‑ginger salad for contrast and lift.
Free Wheeling Pizzeria is built for pace. Ten‑inch personal pies are fired on site in wood‑burning ovens that run close to 900 degrees, turning out blistered pizzas in about 90 seconds. The dough, made with Italian “00” flour, supports toppings from classic meat‑heavy combinations to vegetarian and vegan options that don’t feel like an afterthought.
Sweet Cub Ice Cream, a new soft‑serve trailer out of Asheville, lands exactly where it should – simple, cold, and well‑timed, the kind of stop that makes sense midway through the afternoon or just before the final set.
Trombone Shorty
One thoughtful detail remains unchanged: unlimited beer, wine, and a variety of non‑alcoholic beverages are included with every ticket. It’s a small decision that makes the day easier – no lines for water, no second‑guessing another drink, no interruption to the rhythm of the weekend.
What emerges is a festival where the food keeps pace with the music. You can move from a brass‑heavy set into a plate of barbecue without losing your place, or step away for something lighter and return just as the next artist settles in.
\Bear Shadow has always understood the balance, and at Ferngrove, with more room to stretch out and a lineup that rewards attention, it feels sharper than ever.
Visit bearshadownc.com for tickets.
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