Delaware Coastal Towns Turn Into a Live Music Trail for New Songwriters Festival

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Delaware’s coast will gain a new music attraction this September when the first Delaware Beaches Songwriters Festival arrives across Lewes, Milton and Rehoboth Beach. The four-day event runs from 10 to 13 September 2026. It brings songwriters, bands, intimate shows, artist talks and late-night music to several well-known local venues. The new festival will not follow the usual one-stage format. Instead, it will send visitors on a music journey through three coastal towns. This gives travellers a reason to stay longer, explore local businesses and enjoy Delaware beyond the beach. The programme includes G. Love, Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie, Davisson Brothers Band, Shawn Lacy and Crystal Rose. It also features emerging and regional performers.

A New Festival With a Strong Coastal Identity

The Delaware Beaches Songwriters Festival aims to place the art of songwriting at the centre of the experience. Fans will hear songs live. They will also hear the stories behind them. Artists will discuss how ideas become lyrics, how music grows and what inspires their work. This gives the event a more personal feel than a standard concert.
The festival is created by The 10:10 Creative, a Lewes-based company. Dogfish Head is the presenting partner. The event has support from local venues, tourism partners and businesses. This local network matters. It helps the festival connect with the communities where it takes place. It also gives visitors a clear path to explore Milton’s brewing scene, Lewes waterfront venues and Rehoboth Beach nightlife.
The festival comes at a useful time for the Delaware coast. September often brings warm weather and fewer summer crowds. Visitors can combine live music with restaurants, beaches, breweries and local accommodation. The multi-town format could spread visitor spending beyond one venue or one single day.

The Festival Opens in Lewes With Sam Calagione

The opening event takes place on Thursday, 10 September, at the Dogfish Inn in Lewes. Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head, will lead a fireside conversation with participating songwriters from 6pm to 8pm. This event sets the tone for the weekend. It puts discussion and creative stories first.
Dogfish Head has a strong connection with Delaware’s food, drink and visitor economy. Its involvement gives the new event an established local partner. The fireside session will offer a smaller setting than the weekend’s larger outdoor shows. It may appeal to people who enjoy music but also want to learn about the people who write it.

Friday Brings Songwriters Rock and a Waterfront Show

Friday, 11 September, spreads the action across Milton, Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton will host a Writers’ Round from 4pm. Dan Corio, Mariano Malia and Cate Monaco are listed for the session. Writers’ rounds are a key part of songwriter festivals. Artists share a stage, take turns performing and explain the stories behind their music.
The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes will host Shawn Lacy and Crystal Rose from 6pm to 8pm. The ticketed show includes dinner. It will give guests a close-up setting for two Nashville-connected singer-songwriters. Both artists have received recognition through Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now platform.
Later that evening, the Davisson Brothers Band will perform at Rocking the Docks at the Lewes Ferry Grounds. Doors open at 5:30pm and the show starts at 6:30pm. The band brings a sound shaped by country, Southern rock and Appalachian roots. Food trucks and a vendor market will add to the waterfront festival setting. An afterparty featuring E.G. Vines will follow at Coastal Taproom in Rehoboth Beach.

Saturday Builds From Writers’ Rounds to Low Cut Connie

Saturday, 12 September, begins with another Writers’ Round at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton. The 2pm to 5pm session includes Jeff Campbell, James Clark, E.G. Vines, Ebby Flow, Shawn Lacy, Coach Hal Chernoff, Jonathan Plevyak and Jamie Salvatore. This is the most artist-heavy songwriting session on the programme.
In the evening, Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie will perform at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes. The concert runs from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Weiner is known for high-energy piano-led rock performances and a bold stage style. His appearance gives the festival a major draw for music fans travelling from outside Delaware.
The night continues in Rehoboth Beach, where Lombardy will perform at Coastal Taproom from 9:30pm. This late show reflects the festival’s wider plan. It does not end when the main concert finishes. It guides people towards local bars, restaurants and nightlife venues.

G Love and Rolling Stone Podcast Close the Weekend

Sunday, 13 September, brings the festival to a close in Lewes. A Writers’ Round will take place at Sussex Tavern from 1pm to 4pm. Later, Rocking the Docks at the Lewes Ferry Grounds will host a live recording of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast and a performance by G. Love.
G. Love is known for blending blues, hip-hop, funk and soul. His closing show adds a widely recognised name to the festival. VIP access begins at 4pm, while general entry starts at 4:30pm. The live podcast element will add an extra layer to the event. It links the Delaware coast with a national music media platform.
Some programme details remain subject to change, as happens with new live events. A guest connected to the Nashville Now recording is still listed as to be announced. Travellers should check the festival website and venue ticket pages before making final plans.

What the Festival Means for Delaware Travel

The Delaware Beaches Songwriters Festival is more than a set of concerts. It is a new cultural tourism product for the state’s coastal region. It brings visitors into different towns and encourages them to move between music, food, drink and accommodation. It also puts local venues at the heart of the visitor experience.
For travellers, the event offers a simple but rich plan. Spend an afternoon in Milton. Watch live music in Lewes. End the night in Rehoboth Beach. With G. Love, Low Cut Connie, songwriters’ rounds and waterfront shows all on the programme, Delaware’s September calendar now has a fresh reason for music lovers to visit.