How a Street Promoter from Baltimore Built a Cultural Movement
— And Why All Good Now Sums It All Up
In 1995, Baltimore-based promoter Tim Walther launched Walther Productions Inc. with little more than a dream, a fax machine, and a trunk full of flyers. Thirty years later, that grassroots hustle has grown into All Good Presents—one of the most influential independent music promoters in the Mid-Atlantic, with over 2 million tickets sold, 3,000+ club shows, and 68 festivals to its name. From gigs at the 9:30 Club to festival main stages at Merriweather and mountaintop blowouts in West Virginia, All Good has helped power the jam band scene across Maryland, D.C., West Virginia, and beyond—staying true to its roots while building something far bigger than anyone imagined.
This year, the company celebrates its 30th anniversary by doing what it does best: bringing people together. The heart of that celebration is All Good Now, a reimagined version of the beloved All Good Music Festival & Campout, taking place June 14–15, 2025 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. And it’s just one part of a larger story: the All Good Trifesta, a three-festival experience that reflects how far the All Good family has come—and where it’s headed next.
The All Good story began in the fields of Brandywine, Maryland, where Tim Walther, fresh off the Dead parking lot, partnered with landowner Arthur Wilmer to launch a new kind of music festival—one driven by spirit, spontaneity, and shared values. In 1997, the first All Good Music Festival & Campout was born, fueled by flyers, friends, and a fearless belief in community.
“There was no promoter playbook,” recalls Walther. “We were just trying to figure it out and make enough to make it to the next festival.”
As the scene grew, so did All Good. What began with 940 people grew to 23,000. From camping in the woods to managing 75 departments and 1,200 staff, All Good became a rite of passage for jam fans up and down the East Coast. And it never lost its soul. No overlapping sets. A fan-forward approach. And whenever possible—fireworks.
By 2008, All Good Presents had solidified itself as a three-pronged business—producing festivals, booking club shows, and officially managing Dark Star Orchestra since 2008, a band Walther had been promoting since 1999. DSO evolved from a local Grateful Dead tribute act into a nationally touring institution, with All Good Presents in tandem every step of the way.
Fast forward to today: All Good Now is the modern embodiment of everything All Good Presents has stood for over three decades. Set at the iconic Merriweather Post Pavilion—home to legends like the Grateful Dead, Phish, and Hendrix—the event brings together both the architects of the original scene and the rising stars shaping its future.
The lineup includes Goose, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, The String Cheese Incident, Molly Tuttle, The Disco Biscuits, moe., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Neal Francis, Dogs in a Pile, Eggy, and many more.
With no overlapping sets, upgraded creature comforts, a second stage at the Chrysalis, and surprises tucked throughout Symphony Woods, All Good Now is designed for the fans—past, present, and future.
All Good Now anchors the newly unveiled All Good Trifesta—a three-part celebration of live music, nature, and community curated by the same team that’s been keeping the vibes alive since the 90s.
- Dark Star Jubilee – May 23–26, 2025 | Legend Valley, OH
A Memorial Day weekend tradition with three nights of Dark Star Orchestra, plus moe., Warren Haynes Band, Leftover Salmon, and more.
- All Good Now – June 14–15, 2025 | Columbia, MD
A reimagined classic. New era, same energy.
- 4848 Festival – July 17–19, 2025 | Snowshoe Mountain Resort, WV
A “festivacation” in the clouds with Lake Street Dive, Greensky Bluegrass, Dark Star Orchestra, and mountaintop magic.
Each event has its own flavor—but they all share the All Good DNA: no overlapping sets, fireworks, The Amazing Giants and a deep sense of community.
Beyond the festivals, All Good Presents remains a key connector in the Mid-Atlantic’s live music ecosystem—promoting club shows year-round at venues like The Anthem, 9:30 Club, The Atlantis, Lincoln Theatre, The 8×10, Baltimore Soundstage, and others. The goal is the same as it was in ’95: help artists grow and help fans discover something real.
“From the start, I just wanted to be the bridge between the bands and the fans,” says Walther. “We’ve done that in fields, in clubs, in amphitheaters, and even at the fairgrounds during the pandemic. Wherever the music lives, we’ll be there.”
As the 30-year mark hits, All Good Presents is leaning in—with new energy, new generations, and the same unwavering heart. All Good Now is where that story converges; it’s the beating heart of everything All Good Presents has built over the past three decades. It carries the spirit of Wilmer’s Park, the grit from pounding the street, the growth of the club circuit, and the joy of seeing old friends under open skies. It’s a love letter to the scene that made it all possible—and a promise that the music, the community, and the feeling of being “all good” is still alive and well.
If you want to understand the full story, you don’t have to look back—you just have to be at Merriweather this June.
Event Details
What: All Good Now, the reimagined All Good Music Festival
Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
When: June 14-15, 2025
For more information on All Good Now, please contact Jon Bleicher at Prospect PR [[email protected], 973.330.1711]
