Craft beer and live music go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s a perfect pairing.
This weekend, Sussex County gets treated to both with the launch of the Delaware Beaches Songwriters Festival. The inaugural event was created by The 10:10 Creative to bring some of the country’s best songwriters together for one long weekend right here at the beach.
Unlike a standard concert, the festival offers a more intimate experience with the artists. Audiences will hear more than just the music, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the stories, experiences and moments that shaped each artist’s work.
“As a music video director, I’ve been lucky enough to work side by side with so many amazing country, Americana, pop and rock artists in the Nashville scene. I’ve always dreamed of bringing a little bit of the Nashville songwriting experience to the Delaware coast,” says Steve Jawn, co-founder of the Delaware Beaches Songwriters Festival and director at The 10:10 Creative.
Delaware’s live music scene, much like its craft beer scene, is small but mighty. So, when a festival comes together celebrating both, you know our friends at Dogfish Head are going to be involved.
As presenting partner and main sponsor, Dogfish Head has plenty planned. Things get underway Sept. 10 at the Dogfish Inn with a fireside chat featuring Dogfish Head brewer and co-founder Sam Calagione at 6 p.m. Sam will be joined by singers, songwriters and other festival participants, offering guests a peek behind the curtain at the songwriting process, sources of inspiration and stories from life on the road.
And we’re only getting started. Here’s what else to expect:
Friday, Sept. 11
4 to 6 p.m. Writers Round Happy Hour at Dogfish Head’s Milton brewery
7 p.m. Nashville songwriters Shawn Lacy and Crystal Rose, both Rolling Stone Artists to Watch, perform at The Room at Cedar Grove
7 p.m. Davisson Brothers Band & Friends take the Rocking the Docks stage
10 p.m. Afterparty at The Coastal Taproom featuring E.G. Vines and festival songwriters
Saturday, Sept. 12
2 to 5 p.m. Two writers’ rounds featuring a mix of national and local artists at Dogfish Head’s Milton brewery
6 p.m. Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie performs at The Room at Cedar Grove
9:30 p.m. Late-show afterparty at The Coastal Taproom featuring Lombardy
Sunday, Sept. 13
1 to 4 p.m. Writers Round at Sussex Tavern
4:30 p.m. G. Love closes out the festival at Rocking the Docks
Nashville Now, a Rolling Stone podcast, will also be on site recording a live show.
It’s sure to be a weekend of suds and songs you won’t want to miss. G. Love and I share an affinity for cold beverages, and there will be plenty of those flowing, so come check it out!
