Surprising though it may be, bluegrass festivals haven’t fared very well in the Nashville area. You could spend a lot of time wondering why — and there’s a handful of former promoters who have done exactly that — but hope springs eternal, and this latest entry looks to be a pretty good one. Hoedown on the Harpeth’s debut lineup draws heavily on local talent, but it’s craftily assembled to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. And with an emphasis on jamming to round things out, the festival’s making a serious bid at sustainability. Among the highlights of the weekend are brilliant and subtle guitarist David Grier, brilliant and broadly comedic banjo man Leroy Troy, and brilliant and eclectic bassist Missy Raines, whose band The New Hip has taken a turn back toward the acoustic side with the addition of Jake Stargel on guitar — and that’s just scratching the surface. JON WEISBERGER
Hoedown on the Harpeth Feat. David Grier, Missy Raines and the New Hip, Leroy Troy & more
