Ask anyone to name one thing they’ve really missed since the pandemic, and many people will say live music. Well, mark your calendars for two exciting events where you can more than get your concert fix.
The Darn Good Country Weekend comes to Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville on July 2 and 3 for two days of country music, camping, food, drinks, and more. The event features headliners Chase Rice and Dustin Lynch, along with chart-topping artists Jimmie Allen, Parmalee, Niko Moon, Tenille Arts, and Elvie Shane.
The following month, on August 7 and 8, the Darn Good Music Festival (DGMF21) will be held at the same venue, offering two days of live indie, pop, rock, and alternative performances. This year’s festival is headlined by The Revivalists and Third Eye Blind, with additional performances with American Authors, Joywave, New Politics, Dreamers, The Unlikely Candidates, and more. There will also be local artists performing, including My Kid Brother, Maggie Miles, and RDGLDGRN (Red Gold Green).
“Northern Virginia natives, myself included, have been craving a hometown music festival right in our backyard for years; when events like the Belmont Live Series, Flipside, and a handful of others left, it created a void that to this day many of us still talk about,” says director of marketing James Johnson. “Once we realized someone else wasn’t filling this void, we knew it would be a missed opportunity and continued emptiness if we didn’t.”
The team organizing the events is composed of people who collectively have more than 80 years in the music industry, including promoting events with artists like Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Aerosmith, and The Allman Brothers.
Johnson says there are many components that will make these weekends a must-snag ticket, including the fact that they are capped at 10,000, so there won’t be a bad seat in the house, even for General Admission guests. On both days, there will be a happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with food and drink specials. The food and beverage lineup is huge, with more than 20 food trucks and six 40-foot bars. And for those who want to stay for the whole event, there is on-site camping with electric hookups, as well as cabins for rent.
For weekend passes and more information, visit the website.
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