Annapolis Baygrass Festival: A Model for Sustainable Music Events
Against the serene backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay, a different kind of music festival is taking root. The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival isn't just about the tunes: it's a celebration of harmony among music, environmental responsibility, and community well-being. Now in its fourth year, the festival has a clear purpose, as CEO Ron Peremel explains: “to help people learn about conservation, sustainability, and mental health, in a way that combines education and fun.”
Since its inception, Baygrass has aimed to be more than just a good time, making a concerted effort to protect the Chesapeake Bay, support mental wellness, and educate attendees so they can bring beneficial practices forward. The festival strives to create an immersive environment where attendees learn through experience, engaging with educational exhibits, workshops, and the festival's overall atmosphere. This is not simply a charity fundraiser or checking off a box; it’s truly embedded in the festival's DNA.
Origins and Philosophy
Baygrass was born from the founders’ deep love for the Chesapeake Bay and a passion for bluegrass music. Peremel grew up in Baltimore and regularly enjoyed the Bay and the historic city of Annapolis, visiting his grandparents. He moved to Boulder, Colorado, in the late 1990s, where he cultivated a greater environmental awareness. Peremel traces his environmental spark to his frustration with littering habits he observed back East. “In some places, it looked like the world was a trash can. And I just hated that.”
He returned to Maryland in 2012, moving to Annapolis and leaning into his passion for conservation. He became actively involved with a variety of Bay conservation efforts, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Watershed Stewards Academy, eventually becoming a Master Watershed Steward. And he knew he wanted to find a fun way to educate and inspire action around Chesapeake Bay conservation.
In Boulder, Peremel also fell in love with bluegrass music, leading to decades of countless shows and festivals the likes of Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and he thought that hosting his own environmentally conscious bluegrass festival could be a good way to educate and entertain. To bring his ambitious vision to life, Peremel approached John Way, a US Army veteran and fellow music lover who leads The VA WAY, a nonprofit that champions mental health awareness for veterans and members of the music industry. Way also had extensive experience operating bluegrass concerts and festivals, a background Peremel did not initially possess. Peremel also approached Ron Katz, a local attorney and friend who was raised in Annapolis. Each of the men appreciated the others’ passion for music and good causes. They set out to make Baygrass happen.
Every Jam Saves the Bay: Environmental Commitment
As if planning a music festival weren’t enough of a challenge, the team knew they wanted to apply higher standards from an environmental perspective. They quickly connected with Walter Wright, who became the festival's Greening Director. With years of experience in implementing sustainable practices at events like Telluride, Wright brought a wealth of knowledge and passion to the team.
Under his direction, supported by a dedicated in-house environmental team and over 40 green team volunteers, Baygrass has implemented a comprehensive range of green initiatives, earning recognition as one of the leading environmentally focused festivals in the country. Baygrass’ greening volunteers are crucial, often serving as the face of the festival, educating attendees at each color-coded Compost, Recycle, and Trash (CRT) station.
The various Baygrass environmental initiatives include:
Waste Diversion: Baygrass prioritizes minimizing landfill waste through extensive compost and recycling programs, as well as creative repurposing efforts. In 2024, they diverted approximately 40 cubic yards from the landfill and collected 18 cubic yards of compost, which was sent to Veteran Compost, earning praise for its cleanliness: “The material we received was much cleaner than what we typically get from a special event.” Additionally, Republic Services collected 16 cubic yards of recycled material.
Vendor Requirements: Baygrass requires its food and beverage vendors to use mostly compostable or truly recyclable products, with no selling of bottled water, ensuring that sustainability is integrated into every aspect of the festival. Walter directly contacted every vendor to ensure compliance, leading to significant improvement from 2023. Only one vendor was denied for non-compliance in 2024, appreciating the festival's firmness.
Single-Use Plastic Reduction: The festival has taken a firm stance against single-use plastics. By renting Annapolis Green's NAPTOWN TAPS (filtered water stations), Baygrass virtually eliminated single-use plastic water bottles and saved an estimated 10000 bottles. The Executive Director of Annapolis Green noted that this far exceeds the previous NAPTOWN TAPS record for water dispensed at a single event.
Repurposing Efforts: Beyond recycling, Baygrass actively repurposes. They collected 194 liquor bottles and 810 aluminum cups (about 6 cubic yards) for Refill Goodness, a local repurpose store, to be sanitized and reused. Vendors also offer commemorative solid steel cups for long-term use.
Local Sourcing: Baygrass emphasizes partnerships with local food providers and vendors, sourcing regionally from farms, fisheries, breweries, distilleries, and wineries, which reduces travel and supports the local economy.
Transportation Initiatives: The festival encourages carpooling and provides shuttle services to minimize the carbon footprint associated with attendee travel, recognizing that transportation is the biggest part of a festival's ecological footprint. Way emphasizes the importance of attendees carpooling and bringing their own water vessels.
Baygrass’ commitment to the environment goes beyond simply managing waste. The festival aims to educate and inspire attendees to adopt more sustainable practices in their daily lives. “We hold workshops at the festival to teach people things they can do when they get home,” says Wright. This focus on education extends to a deeper understanding of consumption and the life cycle of products.
“We all consume way too much,” says Wright, “and we have choices of what we’re consuming. We want to help people understand what that footprint is of whatever they're buying.” He hopes attendees will take home knowledge that change their daily lives, citing an example of someone starting a compost program at their church because of what they learned at the festival.
Every Jam Helps a Mind: Mental Health and Community
Complementing the festival's environmental focus is a deep commitment to mental health awareness and community support. This aspect is driven by Way, who has been instrumental in shaping Baygrass's inclusive and caring ethos. “Everyone carries something, but not everyone knows how to talk about it,” he says, highlighting the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment.
Baygrass has forged strong partnerships with mental health organizations, including the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and local chapters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. These collaborations provide resources, support, and educational opportunities for attendees.
One of the most powerful aspects of Baygrass’ mental health programming is the involvement of musicians. “These sessions aren’t about performance — they’re about presence,” Way emphasizes. “Holding space for honest, healing conversations between artists and the community reminds everyone that no one is alone.” He recalls a powerful moment when nationally recognized touring artist Lindsay Lou sat in with fans and veterans during a workshop, breaking down walls. Way notes that having artists speak about their personal challenges “resonates more deeply with the audience than just me or a representative at a booth.”
In addition to workshops and discussions, Baygrass provides a dedicated Sober Safe Space on site, offering peer-based support for attendees in recovery or facing addiction challenges. This space has become a lifeline for some attendees, ensuring they feel seen, respected, and included without judgment. While the festival heavily focuses on veteran inclusion, its natural setting by the Chesapeake Bay provides a peaceful and healing environment that benefits “lots of people — not just veterans — who struggle with large crowds or sensory overwhelm.”
Through these efforts, Baygrass and The VA WAY have distributed thousands of mental health resources and shown people that support is possible. Way shares a powerful anecdote of a festival guest whose daughter's life changed after a conversation at the NAMI booth eight months after Baygrass.
He's also witnessed countless veterans express gratitude for being recognized and has seen the impact of tools like “GRAVY” (Gratitude, Routine, Awareness, Vulnerability, You). The festival even hosted the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs on stage, demonstrating high-level state support. Baygrass ensures direct access for lower-ranking soldiers and their families by partnering with Fort Meade, the USO, and Army morale teams. Furthermore, the festival's security team is a veteran-owned company composed of active-duty Army personnel, embodying its veteran-friendly ethos.
Last But Not Least: The Music
Beyond its profound missions, Baygrass is, at its heart, a music festival. To date, they’ve hosted some of the biggest names in bluegrass music, from stalwarts like Sam Bush and Leftover Salmon, to more contemporary artists like Kitchen Dwellers, Sierra Hull, and Yonder Mountain String Band. They’ve also branched out from “traditional” bluegrass to include acts like Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Melvin Seals and JGB, Oteil Burbridge, and LaMP.
Curating the lineup is a meticulous process, balancing established acts with up-and-coming talent. “We want to make a buffet that’s going to feed everybody's minds and souls,” says Way of the lineup strategy. He and his team constantly monitor the music scene to appeal to diverse demographics and musical interests.
Their efforts have clearly paid off. In its second year, agents were actively approaching Baygrass to book their bands, a significant shift from the first year. This rapid rise in reputation stems from both the unique mission and the festival's commitment to artists. Way highlights the importance of meeting financial obligations to bands, a reputation that helps attract top talent.
Artists themselves become ambassadors for Baygrass. “It goes a long way when you see an artist standing on stage holding that steel cup,” Wright observes. “They are spreading good vibes and experiences,” says Way.
This interconnectedness of mission, music, and artist experience creates a truly special event where, as Wright puts it, “Everything is connected.”
