Grammy-nominated bluegrass band Della Mae will headline Philfest on Saturday, A&O Productions announced Tuesday.

The all-female bluegrass, folk and rock band’s album, “This World Oft Can Be,” was nominated for the Best Bluegrass Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. The opener for the event has not yet been announced.

“This is a cool opportunity for Philfest. It’s typically several smaller bands,” said A&O spokeswoman Emily Howell, a Communication senior. “It’s exciting that this year we do have a band, though it isn’t mainstream… we have someone that has gotten that kind of recognition.”

Philfest is an annual collaboration between A&O and Students for Ecological and Environmental Development. The concert is held in honor for former Northwestern student Phil Semmer, who died in August 2000.

There will also be multiple student groups at Philfest running different booths such as tie-dye, plant potting, face painting and a used bicycle collection.

“It’s great way to bring the whole Northwestern community together … to celebrate the environment and really make sustainability a fun thing that everyone can enjoy,” said SEED’s Philfest chair Roshanne Malekmadani, a McCormick sophomore.

The event is free for all students, but attendees can make a donation to The Rocky Mountain Institute, which aims to promote the use of sustainable resources.

“We get to spread awareness about sustainability and raise money for the beneficiary, said A&O spokeswoman Abiola Aderonmu, a Communication senior. “It’s really cool that they have that mission and we are able to help them out with that.”

The concert will be held on Norris University Center’s East Lawn. In the event of bad weather, it will be moved inside Norris.

This story was updated May 13 at 9:40 p.m. with comment from Abiola Aderonmu, Emily Howell and Roshanne Malekmadani.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @tylerpager