This story about the 2026 season at the Annapolis Opry is a contribution from Maryland grasser Seth Mitchell, who also writes for Your Town Music online.
Annapolis, MD may not be known for its hills and hollers, coal mines or cornfields, but the quality of bluegrass music being generated in and around Annapolis deserves the attention of bluegrass fans everywhere. Long time bluegrass lovers will already know that Maryland produces mighty-fine mountain music, thanks to luminaries like the Seldom Scene and Johnson Mountain Boys. Even so, bluegrass fans from outside the DC/Maryland/Virginia region (affectionately known hereabouts as ‘The DMV’) may be in for a surprise at the remarkable talent on display at the upcoming Annapolis Opry concert series beginning in January 2026, and running through May, at St. Margaret’s Church.
At the center of the region’s thriving community of music makers and music lovers stands Sarah Larsen. A talented fiddle player, singer, and songwriter herself, Sarah has both a passion and a knack for creating opportunities and fostering community. This aptitude is bringing something new to Annapolis in 2026 in the form of the Annapolis Opry, a monthly series of five concerts with lineups featuring the finest bluegrass bands and songwriters in the region, hosted by Larsen’s own five-piece bluegrass band, the Black-Eyed Suzies.
“The idea for an Opry-style variety show came from conversations with a woman we called Ms. Beverly, who I met at a festival performing with the Black-Eyed Suzies. She loved bluegrass music and wanted us to perform at her church,” Larsen recounted. “We were talking about the kind of show that she wanted and I said, ‘how about we make a variety show with your favorite musicians, and I’ll invite some of my friends too?'” Sadly, Ms. Beverly passed away before the idea came to fruition, but she generously underwrote Larsen’s first opry-style concert series. Sarah is pleased to see the idea continue as a testament to Ms. Beverly’s support.
This year’s concerts feature a star-studded sampling of DMV locals. January’s lineup will see Mike Munford & Jon Glik, Big Howdy (Dede Wyland, Randy Barrett, Ira Gitlin, Tom McLaughlin), and songwriter John Bolten (of the award-winning Maryland string band, Geraldine). February brings local hillbilly specialists the Fruit Jar Howlers, the songwriter-led Seth Mitchell Band, and Virginia native Caleb Cox.
In March, Maryland bluegrass pillars Danny & Ryan Paisley will make an appearance, along with Baltimore duo Collins & Vocke (fiddler Sarah Collins and clawhammer banjoist Jonathan Vocke). April heats up with Tornado Rose and their dust-bowl-inspired original bluegrass, along with Skribe, one of Annapolis’ hardest working and boldest indie-folk songwriters.
In May, the final event for 2026, Philadelphia-based bluegrass band Rare Spirits will make an appearance, along with Baltimore-based songwriter and flatpicker Michael Stone.
Each concert will also feature performances by the Black-Eyed Suzies, with Sarah Larsen at the helm, as well as another upstart young act that has not been featured prominently in the event marketing. “We care a lot about making sure there’s something to allow all levels and all abilities to be part of the music making,” Larsen explained. “So we’re also going to feature a five piece bluegrass band comprised of middle school age players called the Grass Kickers.” Thanks to their hard work and Larsen’s coaching, they’re ready to make their debut.
Tickets to the Annapolis Opry and more details can be found online.
Also of note in the Annapolis bluegrass scene is the upcoming Chesapeake Winter Bluegrass Festival, co-founded by Larsen and Danny Stewart Jr. of Turtle Hill Banjo Company, which will be held January 30-February 1, 2026 and feature The Lonesome River Band, Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass, Mason Via, and Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, along with Geraldine, The Black-Eyed Suzies, Eddie Lightener & the Potomac Pickers, and The Plate Scrapers.There will also be workshops, a Youth Academy with Tara Linhardt and The Folk Villains, and plenty of space for jamming.
Find out more online.
