More storms hit and cars were left buried for the longest stretch in memory. One trade-off was that motor vehicle owners like me were treated to a three-week reprieve from doing the alternate side parking waltz. The street-clearing response improved, but the city’s residents grew winter-weary.

This author, normally grateful for usually mild New York winters was also caught off guard. Laid low by an extended bout of bronchitis, I felt the accumulation of almost seven decades on the planet. For the first time in many years, the longing for summer hit me hard, smack in the middle of the big freeze.

As winter receded, it still held the month of March in its grip. On the 11th of that month, fate crept in and dealt another cruel blow. Master singer/songwriter Jack Hardy left us, felled unexpectedly by lung cancer. We mourned him and did our best to memorialize the man. The loss is incalculable. Our own wishes to plumb the depths of his wisdom on these pages will go unrealized, but we will join others in carrying on his legacy however we can.

As of this writing, spring has finally arrived. Blossoms on trees and a riot of bird calls herald her arrival. We embrace the annual rebirth. Warmth is now. Life is now. The rest can wait.

                     — Richard Cuccaro

The author’s car, beneath the snows of January

The New York City winter of 2010-11 was a many-headed roaring beast and it sank its teeth into the neck of the metropolitan area in an unrelenting grip. There was snowfall and wind chill to rival Chicago. Caught off guard by the first big snowstorm, the city lay helpless for almost a week, many side streets untouched by plows. Mayor Bloomberg had his hands full explaining the flat-footed response, but we all knew the reason: money.

May 6-8 ~ Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival

Downtown Havre de Grace, MD.

susquehannamusicandartsfestival.com

SONiA • Eliot Bronson • Steve Pomplon Band • Mama’s Black Sheep • Voxology •Claudia Nygaard • Mister Chandler • Doug Spears • Maura Jensen • Doug Brouder • Garrison Doles • Holly Montgomery • Carolann Solebello • T. Edwin Doss • Scott Dameron & Jay Ladd, and many more…

May 19-22 ~ Spring Gulch Folk Festival

Spring Gulch Resort Campground  475 Lynch Road, New Holland, PA   717-354-3100   1-866-864-8524  springgulch.com

Trout Fishing in America • Buckwheat Zydeco • The Kennedys • Roomful of Blues  •  Newfound Road • Tom Rush • David Buskin & Robin Batteau
• Jay Ungar & Molly Mason

At Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival, we’re pleased to note that former Acoustic Live featured artists playing include Eliot Bronson and Carolann Solebello, who was with Red Molly when we told her story. Carolann has reignited her solo career and is impressing audiences. With the disbanding of the Brilliant Inventions, Eliot has also returned to performing as a solo artist.

There’s some folk royalty at Spring Gulch Folk Festival. Elder statesman Tom Rush is still funny and charismatic. The musicianship of Jay Ungar and Molly Mason can be heard on film soundtracks such as Brother’s Keeper, Legends of the Fall, and a host of Ken Burns documentaries, in particular, The Civil War. Jay’s “Ashokan Farewell” was its major theme. Buskin and Batteau were our feature artists in October 2009 and they’re royalty to us and many more. We were gifted recently with some Newfound Road CDs and we know they’ll dazzle the audience.

May 27-29 ~ GottaGetGon Folk Festival

Saratoga County Fairgrounds/Ballston Spa, NY

pickingandsinging.org/GGG_festival2x.htm

Celeste Bernardo, David Francey, the Honey Dewdrops, The WiYOs and more TBA

At GottaGetGone, we’re happy to see that somebody had the smarts to book Canadian David Francey, our feature in October 2008. Originally from Scotland, his voice retains a pleasant Scottish burr and his brilliant songs are instant folk classics.

Jay Ungar & Molly Mason

The Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival presents the always fascinating, genre-busting Josh Ritter. Red Horse with Eliza, Lucy and John are making the rounds. We haven’t seen them yet and we’re looking forward to watching them work together. Speaking of genre-busting, let’s not leave out Ani DiFranco.

The Kerrville Folk Festival, as usual, corrals the biggest herd of singer/songwriters. It’s at a ranch and three weeks long … how appropriate for a Texas festival. Our April feature, Martyn Joseph, is dropping by to give the Texas crowd a sample of a Welshman’s world-view. There are too many to point out, but some other favorites include Michael Smith, Brother Sun, Jonathan Byrd, Susan Werner and Cheryl Wheeler. Camp Coho was the stomping ground for the late Jack Hardy. We hear that blue margaritas will play a central role in conveying recollections of Jack.

Aside from all the national touring acts who appear on the main stage, there are hundreds of aspirants who gather around the campfires to share their songs and listen and learn from those who’ve worn out more car tires than Avis and Hertz.

At Delfest, Del McCoury and his boys hold forth, the king daddy of all bluegrass bands. Joining them are old favorites Donna the Buffalo, whose style ranges from Cajun to bluegrass. The Punch Brothers, along with wunderkind Sierra Hull provide the youth movement.

May 26-29 ~ DelFest

Allegany County Fairgrounds/Cumberland, MD    delfest.com

The Del McCoury Band • Old Crow Medicine Show • Yonder Mountain String Band • Warren Haynes Acoustic with Special Guests • Chris Robinson • Railroad Earth • The Travelin’ McCourys • Punch Brothers • Psychograss • Emmitt-Nershi Band • Dailey & Vincent • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Jesse McReynolds • Trampled by Turtles • Donna The Buffalo • The Infamous Stringdusters • Scythian • Joe Craven • Sierra Hull & Highway 111 • Davisson Brothers Band • Rockin’ Acoustic Circus • The Sweetback Sisters • Hoots & Hellmouth • Head For The Hills • Nathan Moore • Tussey Mountain Moonshiners

At the Tribute to Bob Dylan Festival at Warwick Valley Winery, there are great acts each day. On Saturday, we like Jay Ungar,  MollyMason and Happy Traum. On Sunday, the E’lissa Jones Band gets our attention, and on Monday, we  like Rod McDonald, The Kennedys and Steve Forbert.

May 28,29, 30 ~ Tribute to Bob Dylan Festival at Warwick Valley Winery

114 Little York Road, Warwick, NY   845-258-4858   www.wvwinery.com

May 28: Rob Schiff • Tim O’Donohue • Uncle Shoehorn • Jay Unger & Molly Mason with Happy Traum • Professor Louie and the Crowmatixs

May 29: Anthony Fiore • Evan and Lesley • Project Mercury • E’lissa Jones Band • The Redden Brothers Band • The Kennedys • Professor Louie and The Crowmatixs

May 30: Tony Vitiello • Dead on the Tracks • Backwoods Jupiter • Rod MacDonald • The Kennedys • Steve Forbert

June 4 ~ Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival

Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, 457 Shirley Road,  Elmer, NJ  Tel: 800/394-1211 or 856/358-2472, fax 856/358-6513, appelfarm.org/arts-music-festival

Gogol Bordello (Acoustic) • Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band • Ani DiFranco • Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue  • Good Old War • Red Horse w/ John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson & Lucy Kaplansky • Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea • David Wax Museum • John Francis • Avi Wisnia • Runa • Napalm Da Bomb

3 Penny Acre & David Glaser • David Amram • Asleep at the Wheel • Austin Klezmorim • Austin Lounge Lizards • Marcia Ball • Suzy Bogguss • Bobby Bridger • Billy Bright Trio • Jon Brooks • Brother Sun (Jencks, Greenway & Wictor) • Jonathan Byrd • Chris Chandler • Slaid Cleaves • Judy Collins • James Conway • Ronny Cox • Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band • Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer • Mary Flower • Flyin’ A’s • Guy Forsyth

May 26 - June 12 ~ Kerrville Folk Festival

Quiet Valley Ranch/Kerrville, TX  830/257-3600    www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com

Punch Brothers

Jonathan Byrd

Marcia Ball

Ray Wylie Hubbard

June 4, 5 & 6 ~ Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest 

Sussex County Fairgrounds/Augusta, NJ  crawfishfest.com

The Tin Men • Devon Allman’s Honeytribe • George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners • Savoy Family Band • Brother Josephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra • Mem Shannon and the Membership • Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie • Tab Benoit • Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes • The Radiators • Sonny Landreth • Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas • Carolyn Wonderland • Bonerama • The Bridge • Matt Angus Thing with Anthony Morgan’s Choir • High and Mighty Brass Band • The Iguanas • Johnny Ace and Sidewalk Zydeco • Cowboy Mouth • Guitar Shorty • New Mastersounds feat. Art Neville • Anders Osborne • Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole

June 2-5 ~ Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam

Hunter Mountain, NY     mountainjam.com

Gov’t Mule • My Morning Jacket

• Warren Haynes Band • Michael Franti & Spearhead • The Avett Brothers • Umphrey’s Mcgee • Grace Potter & The Nocturnals • Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros • Bela Fleck & The Original Flecktones • Mavis Staples • Electric Hot Tuna • Lotus • North Mississippi Allstars • Soulive • The New Deal • 7 Walkers (w/ Bill Kreutzmann) • Portugal, The Man • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Tim Reynolds & Tr3 • Dawes • Toubab Krewe • Big Gigantic • Zach Deputy • Ryan Montbleau Band • The London Souls • Charlie Hunter • Chris Barron (Spin Doctors) • Nicole Atkins • Carbon Leaf • Civil Twilight • The Heavy Pets • Orgone • Kung Fu • The Alternate Routes • Dangermuffin • Moon Taxi • Leroy Justice • Ari Hest • Pieta Brown • The Wiyos • Tab The Band • Morning Teleportation • Bronze Radio Return • Spirit Family Reunion Nathan Moore • Wyllys • Bobby Long • The Erin Hobson Compact • The Big Takeover • Voodelic • Steven Lynch • Timbre Coup • Livingston Leo • Aliza Hava • Royalheartsound

At Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest, you’ve got to figure that Cajun and Zydeco dancing will be a big part of the festivities. The presence of Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie and Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas get that point across. However, there are some wicked guitar licks that will expand the proceedings. Tab Benoit will provoke some frenzied boogie and Sonny Landreth will put on his Louisiana slide show.

At the WUMB Music Fest in Beantown, perennials such as Susan Werner, Vance Gilbert, Buskin and Batteau and David Mallet are joined by newer acts like Pesky J. Nixon and Anthony DaCosta.

Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival, besides  presenting bluegrass icons such as Dry Branch Fire Squad and Dailey & Vincent also have on hand one of our favorites, the Greencards.

We’re happy to see that Fred Eaglesmith has asked James McMurtry to join the party at Roots on the River. He’s also extended a welcome to Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys, one of our very pleasant discoveries at the 2010 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference last November.

There are a lot of acts that make the trip up Hunter Mountain for Warren Hayne’s Mountain Jam worthwhile. Our first choices would be Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Electric Hot Tuna and the North Mississippi Allstars.

But that’s just us. There’s plenty for a wide range of tastes. Bela Fleck, Warren’s band, Mavis Staples, My Morning Jacket… As usual, the mountain will be shakin.’

June 5 ~ 14th Annual WUMB Music Fest

Noon to 7pm - at UMass Boston, Morrissey Boulevard, bostonfolkfestival.org

Amy Black • Anthony da Costa • Buskin & Batteau • David Mallett • Greg Greenway • James Keelaghan • Kate Taylor • Lennie Gallant • Michael Troy • Pesky J Nixon • Red Horse • Squeezebox Stompers • Susan Werner Band •  Vance Gilbert

June 2-5 ~ Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival

42 Pierce Rd, Preston, CT (860) 886-1944   strawberrypark.net/bluegrass-festival

Dailey & Vincent • IIIrd Tyme Out • The Boxcars • The Greencards • The Gibson Brothers • The Grascals • Dry Branch Fire Squad • Larry Stephenson • Amy Gallatin • Claire Lynch • Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa • Della Mae • Hot Mustard • Darin & Brooke Aldridge • Katie Wilson & The Two Time String Band

June 9-12 ~ Roots on The River

Annual Fred Eaglesmith Weekend, I-91, Exit 6, Bellows Falls, Vermont    Info: 866-484-3669  rootsontheriver.com

• Fred Eaglesmith Band Rusty Belle • Weisstronauts • Jatoba • Kim & Sharon • Patrick Fitzsimmons • Waylon Speed • Fongster100 • Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys • Jandee Lee Porter • James McMurtry • Joe Gee • Roger Marin Band • DADDY • Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers • Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Audrey Auld • Todd Snider • Chris O’Brien

June 16-19 ~ Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Telluride, CO  Tel: 800/624-2422    bluegrass.com/telluride

Telluride House Band w/ Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart • Sarah McLachlan • Steve Earle & the Dukes • Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper | Cornmeal • The Head and The Heart • Tim O’Brien & Kevin Burke • Railroad Earth • Béla Fleck & the Flecktones (Original Line-Up) • Emmylou Harris • Trampled by Turtles • Jerry Douglas featuring Omar Hakim & Viktor Krauss • The Infamous Stringdusters • Chris Thile & Michael Daves • Joe Pug Old Crow Medicine Show • Sam Bush Band • The Decemberists • Yonder Mountain String Band • Tim O’Brien Band • Emmitt-Nershi Band • Nora Jane Struthers & the Bootleggers • Robert Plant & Band of Joy • Mumford & Sons  • Punch Brothers • Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band • Abigail Washburn • Edgar Meyer • Darrell Scott & Friends Father’s Day Gospel Hour

June 18 & 19 ~ Clearwater Festival 2011

Great Hudson River Revival

Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY  

clearwater.org/festival

Pete Seeger • Drive-By Truckers • Martin Sexton • Indigo Girls • Arlo Guthrie  Josh Ritter • Jorma Kaukonen • Billy Bragg • Peter Yarrow  John Sebastian • Janis Ian • The Low Anthem • Red Horse (Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka & Eliza Gilkyson) • The Felice Brothers • Toubab Krewe • Justin Townes Earle • The Klezmatics • Chris Smither • Joanne Shenandoah • Tom Chapin • Bernice Johnson Reagon • David Amram • Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell • James McMurtry • Guy Davis • Jay Ungar & Molly Mason • Tao Seeger Band • Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys • Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely • Mike & Ruthy • Sarah Lee & Johnny • Bethany & Rufus’ Roots Quartet • Clayfoot Strutters • Zlatne Uste • Joe Purdy • The Kennedys • The Nields • Jen Chapin • K.J. Denhert • Zon del Barrio • Vanaver Caravan • Buskin & Batteau • Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy • Brooklyn Qawwali Party • Joe D’urso • Joel Plaskett • Folklore Urbano • Mother Daughter String Band • Readnex Poetry Squad • Arm-of-the-Sea Theater • The Power of Song • The Rivertown Kids • Bari Koral • Sara Hickman • Mustard’s Retreat • NYC Metro Raging Grannies • Magpie • Roger the Jester • Dog on Fleas • Jan Christensen • Walkabout Clearwater Chorus • Paul Richmond • The Storycrafters • Rick Nestler • Donna Nestle • Travis Jeffrey • Margo Thunderbird • Marva Clark • Linda Richards • Eshu Bumpus • Dan Einbender • Dirty Stay Out Skifflers • Geoff Kaufman • Sarah Underhill • Peninnah Schram • Kay Olan/Ionataiewas • Mel & Vinnie • Karen Pillsworth • Maija Niemistö • The New York Packet • Matt Turk • Hope Machine • Linda Humes

July 8-10 ~  Mariposa Folk Festival

Tudhope Park, Orillia, ON, Canada  

mariposafolk.com

Emmylou Harris • Josh Ritter • Peter Yarrow • Lunch at Allen’s • John McDermott • Ron Hynes • Garnet Rogers • Adonis Puentes • Bob Wiseman • Elisapie Isaac • Yukon Blonde • The Beauties • Reid Jamieson • Daniel Champagne • Del Barber • Julian Fauth • Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans Band • Marie-Lynn Hammond • Irish Mythen • Jaron Freeman-Fox and The Opposite of Everything • Amelia Curran • Idlers

June 24, 25 & 26 ~ Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music & Dance

Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY   

oldsongs.org/festival/index.html

• Acoustic Eidolon • Scott Ainslie • Peter & Mary Alice Amidon • Arrogant Worms • Babik • Dan Berggren • Andy Cohen • Ellis • Eleanor Ellis • Finest Kind • The Freight Hoppers • Bing Futch • Ron Gordon • Groovemama • Guy Mendilow Band • Larry Hanks & Deborah Robins • Tim Jennings & Leanne Ponder • Kapriol • Libana • Jez Lowe • Beth McLaughlin • Alison McMorland & Geordie McIntyre • David Millstone • The Outside Track • Ruth Pelham • The Press Gang • Quickstep • John Roberts • Roger the Jester • Bill Spence • Danny Spooner • Toby Stover • Jake Thomas • Tidal Wave/Raz de Marée • Ed Trickett • Harry Tuft • George Ward • George Wilson • Matthew Wojci

July 1-3 ~ Great Blue Heron Music Festival

Wait Corners Road , Sherman, NY   716-487-1781 

greatblueheron.com

Donna The Buffalo • The Horse Flies • The Town Pants • The David Bromberg Quartet • Slo-Mo • Sim Redmond Band • Big Leg Emma • Peacefield • La Krema • Bobby Henrie & The Goners • The Hindu Cowboys • Waterband • Jimkata • The Delaney Brothers • Tiger Maple String Band • Stewed Mulligan • The New Aliens • Ezekiel’s Wheel • The Amazing Dr. Zarcon’s • Breathing Machine • Buffalo Zydeco • Smackdab • The Gunpoets • The Bogarts • Thee Audience • Northern Railroad Bluegrass • Ken Hardley • Cindy Haight & Marla Harris  • Bill Ward & Amanda Barton • Rachel & Libby Eddy • Claire Stuczynski & Eric Brewer • Max Conover

July 2, 3 ~ Greater New Bedford Summerfest

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park,

New Bedford, MA  summerfestfolkfestival.com

• Tom Allen • Annalivia • Blackstone Runl • Matt Borrello • Benoit Bourque • Barry Brown • Martha Burns • Charlie Cover • Truck Croteau & Mary Beth Soares •  Joanne Doherty • Antje Duvokot • Cliff Eberhardt • Mark Erelli •  Beppe Gambetta • Eliza Gilkyson • John Gorka • Livio Guardi • Kim and Reggie Harris • Thatcher Harrison • Caroline Herring • David Jacobs-Strain • The Jethros • David Jones • Diana Jones • Mark Johnson • The Kennedys • Le Vent du Nord • Dick & Ian Lewis • Zoe Lewis • Liz Longely • Jez Lowe • Danielle Miraglia • Molly O’Leary • NewFound Road • The Outside Track • Chris Pahud • Ellis Paul • Barbara Phaneuf • Pumpkin Head Ted • QuasiModal String Band • Mark Roberts & Andrea Cooper • Tiffany Rozenas • Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan • Art Tebbetts • Tessaract • Steve Tilston • Umoja • Vishten • Sloan Wainwright • Cheryl Wheeler • Chuck Williams

July 2 ~ American Roots Music Festival

at Caramoor

149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, New York  12:30pm

caramoor.org/festival/americanroots

• The David Grisman FolkJazz Trio w/ Jim Hurst and Samson Grisman • Ollabelle • James Maddock • The Sweetback Sisters; Brother Sun • Spuyten Duyvil

July 6-10 ~ Winnipeg Folk Festival

Birds Hill Park, Winnipeg, MB, Canada 

winnipegfolkfestival.ca/wp

Andy White • Annie Lou • Beoga • Blackie & the Rodeo Kings • Blind Pilot • Blue Rodeo • Caladh Nua • Caracol • Caravan Palace • Nouveau Hot Club • Charlie Parr • Christa Couture • Chuck et Albert • Chuck Prophet • Connie Kaldor • Crooked Brothers • Dan Crary • Dan Mangan • David Wax Museum • Dawes • Dirk Powell • DJ Hunnicutt • Fairfield Four • Frazey Ford • Funky Meters • Galant, tu perds ton temps • Ganga Giri • Green Fools Theatre • High Strung • Imaginary Cities • Jaune Toujours • Jeff Tweedy • Joy Kills Sorrow • Kat Danser • k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang • Little Feat • Lucy Wainwright Roche • M. Ward • Marco Calliari • Matt Andersen • Melissa McClelland • Mighty Popo • Minotaurs • Mountain Man • Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens • New Country Rehab • Oh My Darling • Omar Souleyman • Ordo Sakhna • Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band • Puppet Folk • Ray Wylie Hubbard • Samantha Crain • Sarah Jarosz • Scott Nolan • Secret Agent 23 Skidoo • Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long • Spiro • Tegan & Sara • The Be Good Tanyas • Del McCoury Band w/ the Preservation Hall Jazz Band • The Jayhawks • The Once • The Secret Sisters • Tim Robbins and the Rogues Gallery Band • Tinariwen • Tom Fun Orchestra • Toots and the Maytals • Trampled by Turtles • Trout Fishing in America • Twilight Hotel

July 13-17 ~ Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

Okemah, OK   woodyguthrie.com

David Crosby • Graham Nash • Ellis Paul • Jimmy LaFave • Don Conoscenti • Slaid Cleaves • Sam Baker • Joel Rafael • Red Dirt Rangers • John Fullbright • Ramsay Midwood • David Amram • Gretchen Peters • The Burns Sisters • Emma’s Revolution • John Wort Hannam • Ronny Cox • John Flynn • Butch Hancock • Johnsmith • Kevin Welch • The Annie Guthrie Band • Krishna Guthrie • Andrew Hardin • Stonehoney • Stoney LaRue • Shawn Mullins • Karen Mal hosts a Tribute to Jack Hardy … more TBA

July 14-17 ~ Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival

The Walsh Farm, 1 Poultney Road, Oak Hill, NY   greyfoxbluegrass.com

Sam Bush • Del McCoury • O’Brien Party of Seven • J.D. Crowe & the New South • SteelDrivers • Peter Rowan • Yonder Mountain String Band • Claire Lynch • Michael Cleveland & Flame Keeper • Gibson Brothers • Infamous Stringdusters • Boxcars • Tony Trischka • Greensky Bluegrass • Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum •  Crooked Still • Rockin’ Acoustic Circus • Hillbenders • Della Mae • Monroeville • Donna the Buffalo • Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen • Dixie Bee-Liners • Red Stick Ramblers • John Kirk & Trish Miller  • Fiddlestyx … more TBA

July 22-24 ~ Falcon Ridge Folk Festival

44 County Road 7D, Hillsdale, NY, Dodds Farm, just off Route 22 north of Hillsdale    falconridgefolk.com

Greg Brown • Mary Gauthier • Mary Chapin Carpenter • Red Horse (John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky & Eliza Gilkyson) • Solas • Susan Werner • Red Molly • Brother Sun (Pat Wictor, Greg Greenway & Joe Jencks) • Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen • George Marshall with Wild Asparagus • Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Professor Louie & the Crowmatix • The Honeycutters • The Clayfoot Strutters • Jay Mankita • Buskin & Batteau • Annie Wenz • Dan Navarro • Tidal Wave • Tracy Grammer and more …

Unplugged Showcases - Acoustic Live Booth

Fri:  My Dad’s Truck • Charles Nolan • Brad Yoder • Jenny Goodspeed • Marci Geller • Sharon Goldman Paul Sachs • Phil Henry • Susan Kane

Sat:  Layah Jane • Meg Braun • Aaron Nathans • Loretta Hagen • Chasing June • Spuyten Duyvil David Goldman • Karyn Olive • Paul Sachs The YaYas • Anna Dagmar

Sun:  Kath Buckell • Aaron Nathans Cadence Carroll • Mark Allen Berube

July 28-31 ~ FloydFest

Floyd, VA   540/745-FEST   floydfest.com

Robert Randolph & The Family Band • Old Crow Medicine Show • Grace Potter & The Nocturnals • Taj Mahal • Del McCoury Band • Xavier Rudd • Railroad Earth • The David Grisman Sextet • Yard Dogs Road Show • Sam Bush Band • Hot Tuna Electric And Acoustic • North Mississippi Allstars • Cyro Baptista & Beat The Donkey • Toubab Krewe • Papadosio • Donna The Buffalo • Trampled By Turtles • Carolina Chocolate Drops • Rubblebucket • The Tony Rice Unit • Boombox • Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band • Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Band • John Brown’s Body • Pimps Of Joytime • New Monsoon • Baka Beyond • Larry Keel & Natural Bridge • Ella Riot (Formerly My Dear Disco) • Yarn • The Shane Pruitt Band • Dj Williams Projekt • Thousands Of One • American Aquarium • William Walter & Co. • The Mantras • American Dumpster • Scintillation Fire • The Fire Dragon • Big Daddy Love • Jackass Flats • J.P. Harris And The Tough Choices • Los Gatos • Toma Que Toma • Antioquia • Jonathan C Ward • Drum Call Ensemble • The Wave • Kat Mills • Kill-Basa Bill’s Roadshow • Juggle This! • Sideshow Bennie With Anna Fiametta • Whitetop Mountain Band • Heather BErry • Linda Lay And Sammy Shelor • Nat Reese And Phil Wiggins • Morwenna Lasko And Jay Pun • Harris Brothers With Nate Leath • Maggie Ingram And The Ingramettes • Crooked Road All Stars

July 21-24 ~ Gathering of the Vibes

Seaside Park, Sound View Drive,  Bridgeport, CT   (203) 908-3030    gatheringofthevibes.com

Dark Star Orchestra • Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk • Toots & The Maytals • Deep Banana Blackout • Ryan Montbleau Band • Assembly of Dust • McLovins • Perpetual Groove • The Infamous Stringdusters • The Mother Hips • Big Sam’s Funky Nation • Tea Leaf Green • Sam Kininger Band • Kung Fu • The Bridge • Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad • Caravan of Thieves • Roots of Creation • Rubblebucket • Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds • King for a Day • Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell • David Gans • Waylon Speed • Nicos Gun • Band Together • Darian Cunning • The Primate Fiasco • Andy the Music Man

July 30-31 ~ Newport Folk Festival

Fort Adams State Park,  Harrison Avenue, Newport, RI

newportfolkfest.net

Saturday: The Decemberists • Gillian Welch • Gogol Bordello • Earl Scruggs • Ramblin Jack Elliott • Tegan and Sara (acoustic) • Mavis Staples • The Felice Brothers • Delta Spirit • Freelance Whales • Devil Makes Three • Song Circle w/ Dar Williams, Ellis Paul, John Gorka, Liz Queler • Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three • Typhoon • River City Extension • PS22 Chorus • The Wailin’ Jennys • The Ebony Hillbillies • What Cheer? Brigade

Sunday: EmmyLou Harris • Elvis Costello (acoustic) • Amos Lee • M.Ward • Wanda Jackson • Middle Brother • Justin Townes Earle • Carolina Chocolate Drops • The Civil Wars • Trampled By Turtles • The Cave Singers • The Head & The Heart • Secret Sisters • David Wax Museum • Mountain Man • Brown Bird • The Seeger Clogging All-Stars

August 6 ~ Huntington Folk Festival

Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, Huntington, NY   Prime Avenue and Main Street (Route 25A)  fmshny.org

Evening feature act:  8:30pm Aztec Two-Step

Afternoon showcases TBA

August 20 ~ BACCA Bluegrass Festival

(Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts) 

Noon - 8pm 

Tanner Park, Copiague, NY    www.babylonarts.com

Special Consensus • Buddy Merriam & Back Roads • Nate Leath & Danny Knicely • Vincent Cross & Good Company • Maria Fairchild • Foggy Mountain Hilton • Free Grass Union • Mike Burns • Special Tribute to Bill Monroe • Mike Soloway • Katie’s Puppets

August 18-21 ~ Philadelphia Folk Festival

Old Poole Farm    Schwenksville, PA    folkfest.org

Arlo Guthrie • David Bromberg Big Band • Jorma Kaukonen • The Campbell Brothers • The Kennedys • Angel Band • Joel Plaskett Emergency • The Wood Brothers • Tom Paxton • Tom Rush • Dala • Tempest • Madison Violet • Give & Take Jugglers • The Great Groove Band • Dan Bern • Justin Townes Earle • John Hartford String Band • David Amram • The Battlefield Band • John Flynn • Elizabeth Butters • Alexis P. Suter Band • Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys • Runa • Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen • Wilderness of Manitoba • Kim & Reggie Harris • Roy Book Binder • Footworks • Caitlin Rose • Brad Hinton • Burning Bridget Cleary • The Berrys, more TBA

Sep. 2-4 ~ Rhythm & Roots Festival

Ninigret Park, 4813 Old Post Rd, Rt 1  Charlestown, RI   rhythmandroots.com     888/855-6940

Host band: The Red Stick Ramblers • 7 Walkers • Raul Malo • Marcia Ball • Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys • Richard Thompson • Nation Beat • Harper & the Midwest Kind • Curly Taylor & Zydeco Trouble • Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s • Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band • Sarah & The Tall Boys • Jesse Lége, Joel Savoy & Bayou Brew • Magnolia … more TBA

Arlo Guthrie

Josh Ritter

Red Horse

Martin Sexton

Jorma

Kaukonen

There are so many good acts at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival this year the only expression we can think to use is HOT. The house band, for starters: Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer and Bela Fleck. We’re not as familiar with Stuart Duncan and Bryan Sutton, but in that crowd they have to be damn good. Jerry, Sam and Bela bring their own groups.

Then there’s Steve Earle who’s always a treat. Tim O’Brien, Robert Plant, Chris Thile, Darrell Scott, Emmylou Harris, Sarah MacLachlan… Yikes! I’d get a ticket but it’s SOLD OUT! Gotta know somebody who knows somebody for this one.

It’s another stellar line-up -— an embarrassment of riches for the Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival Festival. In his second year as director, promoter Steve Lurie shows a master’s hand. We’d have to recite almost the entire list to name our favorites. Josh Ritter, Jorma Kaukonnen, Martin Sexton, Janis Ian, Red Horse and Arlo Guthrie are some of the acts that should bring the crowds pouring in, same as last year. Relatively unknown, but prolific and brilliant singer/songwriter Joe Purdy is a great pick. We like it that Buskin and Batteau will add both humor and musical virtuosity, that KJ Denhert will drop in some folk/jazz spice and that new generation folk/rock progeny Mike and Ruthy, Tao Seeger, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion are joining their parents (Maybe Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will join with daughter Ruth and son-in-law Mike to form the family band). We’re looking forward to some in-your-face hard truths from James McMurtry and to seeing Sara Hickman for the first time.

Old Songs Festival has some names we don’t recognize (our bad), but one we have no trouble with is hugely talented bluesman/raconteur/activist Scott Ainslie. We also recognize Acoustic Eidelon, Arrogant Worms, Jez Lowe and the Freight Hoppers as folks well worth the trip to Altamont.

At Great Blue Heron Music Festival, We can easily hear Donna the Buffalo in our heads and see the audience on its feet, moving almost uncontrollably in time to their trance-inducing folk/rock/Zydeco. The Horse Flies can whip up some frenzied dancing as well.

New Bedford Summerfest, our annual choice for the 4th of July weekend, is an absolute jewel of a festival. We’re eager to see monster picker and wry humorist Beppe Gambetta once again. Combining contemporary acts like Antje Duvokot and Cliff Eberhardt with traditional ones like Benoit Bourque makes this festival the perfect blend of old and new.

The American Roots Music Festival at Caramoor has crammed a cornucopia of talent into one day. David Grisman headlines this stellar group. Relative newcomers Spuyten Duyvil, newly formed group of seasoned veterans, Brother Sun and the virtuosic Ollabelle add support.

Mariposa Folk Festival welcomes Americans Emmylou Harris and Josh Ritter who join with Canadian favorite Garnet Rogers and others we’ve yet to hear. We like the name of the group that calls itself the quintessentially Canadian-sounding, “Eh?!” Guess the phrase “How’s it goin’, eh?” was too long.

There’s a whole lot of contemporary and a whole lot of border crossing goin’ on at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Chuck Prophet, Del McCoury and Toots and the Maytals go north to join Blue Rodeo, The Be Good Tanyas and a whole bunch of others for this 5-day barn burner.

David Grisman

Red Molly

Greg Brown

The Supreme Court may have decided that corporations rule and that democracy is dead, but the folks in Okemah beg to differ. David Crosby and Graham Nash are joining perennial pilgrims Jimmy LaFave and Ellis Paul in the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. We can hear “Wooden Ships” now, perhaps with the entire line-up joining in.

Along with Sam Bush and Del McCoury, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival has fast-rising Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen. We’re glad to see The Red Stick Ramblers included here. Those twin fiddles always rock my world. Tony Trishka has been a long-time favorite, since his days with ‘80s group Skyline. As style innovator on banjo, he was also a mentor to Bela Fleck.

At Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, we’ll finally see (and hear) Red Molly in their new configuration. It will be nice to welcome Greg Brown  back to “The Ridge.” Eliza, John and Lucy of Red Horse are performing this year’s Friday Night Song Swap and we’re really looking forward to that. We’re glad to see that Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen will be playing here also, since we’ve had a hard time lately squeezing Grey Fox into our schedule. We can’t recall the last time we had a chance to see Mary Chapin Carpenter, and we’re looking forward to her performances.

As usual, Acoustic Live will host our unplugged showcases at our booth.

At this year’s Floydfest, our favorites include David Grisman , Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Taj Mahal, the North Mississippi Allstars (again), Hot Tuna and Donna The Buffalo.  We’re intrigued by unfamiliar acts with names like Cyro Baptista & Beat The Donkey, Toubab Krewe, Trampled By Turtles, Pimps Of Joytime, American Dumpster, Scintillation Fire,  The Fire Dragon, Big Daddy Love, Jackass Flats, J.P. Harris And The Tough Choices and several more, but you get the picture. This is going to be one hell of a party.

The fact that Bridgeport, Connecticut hosts the Gathering of the Vibes is still mind-boggling. The author was born there and spent more years attending college at U.B. than should be legal (indecision and inertia have taken more than their share of blame). We’re familiar enough with the site, Seaside Park, to know how accommodating it is. There’ll be some Grateful Dead vibes from the Dark Star Orchestra, some New Orleans funk in Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and Jamaican gumbo from Toots & The Maytals. Of course, that’s an oversimplification, especially with Toots — he spans many genres.

The Newport Folk Festival has always mixed older, more established stars with contemporary acts and this year is no exception. Earl Scruggs and Ramblin Jack Elliott mix it up with The Decemberists, Amos Lee, M.Ward, Justin Townes Earle and The Civil Wars.

At the Huntington Folk Festival, Aztec Two-Step will bring their top-notch songwriting chops, perfect harmonies and musical virtuosity to the evening  feature show. They’ll perform two sets on the Chapin Rainbow Stage, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Acoustic Live and AcousticMusicScene.com. will host unplugged showcases and song swaps featuring artists from the New York metropolitan area and beyond during the afternoon.

BAACA is presenting their 9th Annual BAACA Bluegrass Festival with headliners Special Consensus and Buddy Merriam & Back Roads. At $10, this is a great deal.

The Philadelphia Folk Festival website listed performers for this year a bit too late for our printed issue. We knew that our March feature, Madison Violet would be there and now we can add a bunch more. David Bromberg and Arlo Guthrie have a home at Philly. Jorma Kaukonen should light up the main stage. Tom Rush and Tom Paxton bring the wisdom of many years. A sagacious Justin Townes Earle does the family name proud.

Our annual choice for Labor Day weekend is the Rhythm & Roots Festival. Along with dance band favorites, the Red Stick Ramblers, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and Corey Ledet, Richard Thompson will be there to rock the joint. As usual, the music mixes in with some great New England seafood and Louisiana cuisine. It’s a great ending to festival season. Hope to see you out there!

Aztec Two-Step