Wolf Trap Gets Rowdy
Words and photos by Dan Rozman
Wolf Trap was the place to be if you love bluegrass and jam band music. The DC area “Jamily” group showed up in full force recently when the outdoor venue in Vienna, Virginia, hosted something really special — three great bands, all on one stage for the Rowdy Summer Nights Tour. Kitchen Dwellers, Leftover Salmon, and The Infamous Stringdusters didn’t just play separate sets. During the encore, members jammed together in ways that had everyone talking long after the last note rang out.
The weather couldn’t have been better for an outdoor show at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap on July 10. As the sun started setting around 7pm, Kitchen Dwellers kicked things off with a solid 45-minute set. The Montana band had Jon Stickley filling in on guitar since their regular player Max Davies is home with a new baby. You wouldn’t have known it was a fill-in situation though — Stickley fit right in with their sound.
They opened with “Unwind” and rolled right into “Pendulum” without missing a beat. Kitchen Dwellers has this way of connecting songs that makes their whole set feel like one big musical conversation. The crowd really got into it when they played “EMD,” which is actually a David Grisman Quintet cover. It showed they respect bluegrass history even while they’re pushing the music forward.
One of the memorable parts of their set was probably when they played “Drowning (… Again)” , with “Lean on Sheena” sandwiched in between. That’s an Avoid One Thing cover, and the way they flowed between these songs was pretty amazing. Stickley’s guitar work throughout the whole thing proved he could step right into Davies’ shoes and keep the band’s unique sound intact.
Watch Kitchen Dwellers perform “Pendulum” live at Winter WonderGrass on YouTube:
Leftover Salmon took over next, and they know how to get a crowd moving. They’ve been doing this jamgrass since before most people even knew what to call it. Starting with “Big Wheel,” they took everyone on a ride through their catalog. When they played “Gulf of Mexico,” people were cheering and swaying along, and “Liza” brought out some beautiful harmonies.
The real party started when they did “Let’s Party About It” from their new album. The song title says it all — this had people both in the pavilion and on the lawn, dancing wherever they could find space. One of the surprise highlights was their version of Conway Twitty’s “Boogie Grass Band.” Who knew Conway Twitty could work so well in bluegrass? Leftover Salmon made it work, and it was a blast.
The band also played an instrumental “Aquatic Hitchhiker” that let each band member show off their chops. All of the bands were having a great time. Vince Herman even joked that it was Jay Starling’s birthday — it is actually in December — so everyone would show him some birthday love. The band finished with “High Country” and “Down in the Hollow,” leaving everyone pumped for more.
Watch Leftover Salmon perform “Let’s Party About It” live at Red Rocks on YouTube:
The Infamous Stringdusters closed out the regular sets, and these guys always bring something unexpected. They started with a tease of “Fork in the Road” but then jumped into “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure. The Cure in bluegrass and it actually worked perfectly. That’s one of the of things that makes the Stringdusters special — they’ll take a song you never thought could be bluegrass and make you wonder why no one tried it before.
They kept the energy going with “It’ll Be Alright” and “Sirens,” then got everyone’s attention with “Nightbirds.” But “Gravity” was where things got wild. They did what they call the “Trash Can ending,” which is basically organized chaos that somehow sounds amazing. They also paid respect to the legends with “Down the Road,” originally by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, and their version of “Let It Go” showcased those tight harmonies they’re known for.
Watch The Infamous Stringdusters perform live for Paste on YouTube:
Some of the unforgettable magic happened during the encore when members of all three bands got on stage together. Someone called it “Infamous Salmon Dwellers!” which seemed appropriate. They did ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” first, which sounds crazy but was absolutely perfect. Hearing that classic rock song done bluegrass style with all these talented musicians was something else.
Then they closed with John Hartford’s “Up on the Hill Where They Do the Boogie,” and that was the perfect way to end the night. Hartford was a legend who understood that bluegrass is supposed to be fun, and watching these three bands having a blast together captured that spirit perfectly.
The night also had some nice touches beyond the music. The band made sure to recognize Tom Gray, the bass player from the Seldom Scene who was in the audience. He’s done so much for bluegrass in the DC area over the years that it was cool to see him get that recognition. This whole tour is doing something good too — they’re working with PLUS1 and Conscious Alliance to fight hunger, with a dollar from each ticket going to feed families who need it. So people got to see incredible music and help out at the same time.
For local fans, there are additional chances to see some of the artists. The Kitchen Dwellers will be performing at Baygrass 2025, while The Infamous Stringdusters are set to play Ramblefest 2025. Additionally, Andy Falco and Travis Book are returning to The Hamilton DC on Nov. 23, where they “Play Jerry Garcia.”
Wolf Trap’s outdoor setting was perfect for this kind of show. The sound was crystal clear, the summer evening was comfortable, and watching these three bands work together reminded everyone why live music hits different than anything you can stream at home. This was one of those nights that people will still be talking about years from now.
Here are some photos of Kitchen Dwellers, Leftover Salmon, and The Infamous Stringdusters performing live at Wolf Trap on July 10, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Dan Rozman.
