May 27~29 GottaGetGon Folk Festival
Saratoga County Fairgrounds/Ballston Spa, NY
www.pickingandsinging.org/GGG_festival2x.htm
Atwater-Donnelly • Charlie Parr • Ben Miller & Anita Macdonald • Heather Pierson Trio
May 27~29 GottaGetGon Folk Festival
Saratoga County Fairgrounds/Ballston Spa, NY
www.pickingandsinging.org/GGG_festival2x.htm
Atwater-Donnelly • Charlie Parr • Ben Miller & Anita Macdonald • Heather Pierson Trio
May 26~29 DelFest
Allegany County Fairgrounds, Cumberland, MD www.delfest.com
The Del McCoury Band • The Travelin’ McCourys • Tedeschi Trucks Band • Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers • Greensky Bluegrass • Railroad Earth • Sam Bush Band • Yonder Mountain String Band • The Wood Brothers • The Infamous Stringdusters feat. Nicki Bluhm • Keller Williams • Jerry Douglas Presents The Earls of Leicester • The O’Connor Family Band feat. Mark O’Connor • Sierra Hull • Rock My Soul Feat. The Fairfield Four and The McCrary Sisters • Elephant Revival • Aoife O’Donovan • Joe Craven & The Sometimers • Cabinet • Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers • Dale Ann Bradley • Fruition • Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen • Hot Club of Cowtown • Steve Poltz • The Dustbowl Revival • Horseshoes & Hand Grenades • The HillBenders • The Brothers Comatose • The Broomestix • Henhouse Prowlers • Dre and The DelFest Collective • The Lil’ Smokies • Pert Near Sandstone • Mipso • Driftwood • The Railsplitters • Grand Ole’ Ditch • The McCoury Family
May 26 ~ Jun 12 Kerrville Folk Festival
Quiet Valley Ranch, Kerrville, TX
830.257.3600 www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com
Elizabeth Wills • Moors & McCumber • The Deer • Matt the Electrician • Jimmy LaFave • David Jacobs-Strain • Billy Jonas • Johnsmith • Randall Bramblett • Carrie Rodriguez • Del Barber • Kenny White • Cheryl Wheeler • Brother Sun • The Steel Wheels • Vance Gilbert • Terri Hendrix • Slaid Cleaves • Mary Gauthier • Ruthie Foster • Peter Yarrow • Michael Jarome Browne • Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr. • Dana Louise & the Glorious Birds • Sultans of String • B Sterling • Berkley Hart • Trout Fishing in America • Lance Canales • Andrew Delaney • Bob Hillman • Chubby Knuckle Choir • Dan Navarro • Dala • Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan • Wheatfield • Peter Rowan • Drew Kennedy • Bob Livingston • Bill Hearne Trio • Walt Wilkins • Larry Joe Taylor • Ryanhood • Matt Nakoa • Bobby Bridge • David Amram • Bill Kirchen • Harpeth Rising • Ari Hest • Judy Collins • Memorial Concert with the Kerrville Symphony Orchestra
Strawberry Park Festivals
42 Pierce Road, Preston, CT 860.886.1944
Jun 2~5 Bluegrass
www.strawberrypark.net/38th-annual-strawberry-park-bluegrass-festival
The Lonely Heartstrings Band • SteelDrivers • Kruger Brothers • The Gibson Brothers • The Dry Branch Fire Squad • The Boxcar Lilies • Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing • Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper • Bryan Sutton Band • The Zolla Boys • Hot Flashes • Twisted Pines • Steep Canyon Rangers • The Stockwell Brothers Band
Jun 9~12 Cajun-Zydeco
www.strawberrypark.net/2014-cajun-zydeco-festival/
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie • The Savoy Doucet Dance Band • Pine Leaf Boys • Jesse Lege, and the Bayou Brew • Lil Wayne & Same Ol 2 Step • Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys • Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys • The Creole Stomp • Jimmy Jo & the Jumbol’Ayuh’s • Magnolia • Kevin Naquin & the Ossen Playboy • Roddie Romeo & the Hub City AllStars
May 19~21 Spring Gulch Folk Festival
Spring Gulch Resort Campground, 475 Lynch Road,
New Holland, PA
www.springgulch.com/folkfestival.cfm
The Seldom Scene • Kim and Reggie Harris • Irish Mythen • Jesse Terry • David Massengill • Lady Bird • Savoy-Doucet Band • Susan Werner • Teeny Tucker Blues Band • Ten Strings And A Goat Skin • SONiA disappear fear • De Temps Antan • Lindsay Lou & The FlatBellys
June 2~5 Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam
Hunter Mountain, NY www.mountainjam.com
Beck • Wilco • The Avett Brothers • Gov’t Mule • Umphrey’s McGee • Train Plays Led Zeppelin II • Thievery Corporation • Brandi Carlile • Jason Isbell • Gary Clark Jr • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Courtney Barnett • Chris Robinson Brotherhood • Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats • Lettuce • Houndmouth • Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds • Nahko And Medicine For The People • The New Mastersounds • Third World • Marco Benevento And Superhuman Happiness David Bowie Tribute • The Record Company • Turkuaz • Donna The Buffalo • Son Little • The London Souls • Cabinet • The Ballroom Thieves • And The Kids • Love Canon • The Marcus King Band • Con Brio • Quilt • Darlingside • Elijah Wolf • Wild Adriatic • Jane Lee Hooker • Copious Jones • Madaila • The Suitcase Junket • Scott Sharrard • The Movement • Upstate Rubdown • Paul Green Rock Academy • Yogarama With Bari Koral • Ratboy Jr
June 2~5 Roots on the River
Bellows Falls, VT I-91, Exit 6 866.484.3669
http://www.vermontfestivalsllc.com/roots-on-the-river-2016
The Clydes • Izzy Serebrov • Roger Marin Band • Brock Zeman and Blair Hogan • The Ballroom Thieves with the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra • Della Mae • Dave Alvin • The Milkhouse Heaters • Lula Wiles (formerly The Wiles) • Lara Herscovitch • Spuyten Duyvil • Joe Crookston • The Young Novelists • The Defibulators • The Steel Wheels • Bobby Dove • Faux in Love • Larry Allen Brown and the Acoustic Earth Orchestra
June 16~19 Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride, CO 800.624.2422 www.bluegrass.com/telluride
Dave Rawlings Machine • Béla Fleck & The Flecktones • John Prine • Del McCoury Band • Houndmouth • Peter Rowan • Chris Thile • Greensky Bluegrass • Neil Finn • Punch Brothers • The Oh Hellos • Jerry Douglas Band • Kruger Brothers with the Kontras Quartet • Balsam Range • Sara Watkins • Leftover Salmon • Sam Bush Band • Ryan Adams • Telluride Troubadour • Yonder Mountain String Band • Tim O’Brien Band • Mandolin Orange • The Lil’ Smokies • Telluride House Band featuring Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart • Emmylou Harris • Infamous Stringdusters with special guest Nicki Bluhm • Pokey LaFarge • Sierra Hull • De Temps Antan • Shane Koyczan & The Short Story Long
June 18-19
Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival
Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY www.clearwaterfestival.org
On Hiatus | Smaller concerts scheduled along the Hudson River
May 14 ~ Muses in the Vineyard
Brook Hollow Winery, Columbia, NJ www.musesinthevineyard.com
Susan Werner • No Fuss and Feathers • Regina Sayles • Rachael Sage • Annalise Emerick • Jessica Smucker • Loretta Hagen • Sharon Goldman • Marci Geller • Rorie Kelly • Trina Hamlin • Sarah Peacock • Kathy Moser • Emily Barnes • SØF • Kayla Avitabile
Muses in the Vineyard injects a powerful dose of estrogen into the bloodstream. The three ladies of No Fuss and Feathers, Carolann Solebello, Catherine Miles and Karyn Oliver, are a prime example. The lone male band member, Jay Mafale, is a lucky guy.
Regina Sayles will be certain to bump up the energy with her exuberant personality and her big voice.
At Spring Gulch, the name Irish Mythen jumps off the page like a marlin on the end of Ernest Hemingway’s fishing line. Her booming voice and ebullient stage presence have gotten her rave reviews and gig appearances all over the Northeast. Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys present an enticing mix of bluegrass, singer/songwriter and jazz styles..
Del McCoury always gathers the very best in bluegrass at Delfest. This means of couse, that Jerry Douglas will be there, for sure. This year he’ll be joined by, for a jazzier, bluesier turn, the Tedeschi Trucks Band. In a more traditional vein, the lesser-known group Horseshoes & Hand Grenades provides a down-home touch. .
At Kerrville, some of the heaviest hitters, like Cheryl Wheeler and Vance Gilbert, will be in attendance. Ruthie Foster always brings a ton of soul to any place she shows up. Matt the Electrician is someone new to this author. His musical offerings online are impressive.
After two bouts of cancer, John Prine sings with a gravely voice, but carries on. He’s appearing at Telluride Bluegrass Festival among a Who’s Who of folk and bluegrass. With performers like Chris Thile, Dave Rawlings and Bela Fleck, attendees are getting their money’s worth and then some.
If you like your folk music to poke a ray of light into the dark crevices of American life, then the inaugural one-day East Village Folk Festival is for you. Festival co-producer Katherine Bloss (with Alan Kaufman) has tapped her Austin-Nashville pipeline for this extravaganza. Malcolm Holcombe’s trance-like performances, songs regarding unknown rural species, are spellbinding. Diana Jones gets down to business with songs like “If I Had a Gun.” Greg Trooper’s songs about life’s lower rungs are like condensed novels. New York City native Paul Sachs has seen things no average suburban folkie has. His heartbreaker, “All the Junkies,” offers a glimpse thereof
The statement on the Clearwater Festival website reads as follows: “We are saddened to announce that Clearwater will not be holding its Great Hudson River Revival this year. As you may have heard, the sloop is undergoing its largest restoration ever. It is a restoration that costs $5,000 a day and will run until at least June 2016. We must take this time to focus our effort on making sure the boat can sail again this year.”
We have lost, at least temporarily, the most diverse festival, the most exemplary version of the “melting pot” of music
We’re glad to see that Old Songs Festival had the good sense to book master fiddler Jeremy Kittel. Attendees are in for a treat when he jumps in to jam with others on everything from Celtic to bluegrass to jazz-inflected numbers. Low Lily brings an instrumental cohesiveness and sweet vocal harmony. When it comes to fiddling and clogging, it doesn’t get much better than Cassie and Maggie MacDonald.
June 24~26
Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music & Dance
Saratoga County Fairgrounds/Ballston Spa, NY
Annie & the Hedonists • Barrule • Matthew Byrne • The Canal Street String Band • Charm City Junction • Andy Cohen • Mitzie Collins & the Striking Strings • Brian Conway & John Walsh • John Dickson • The Gaslight Tinkers • Kim & Reggie Harris • Anne Hills • Joe Jencks • Ustad Shafaat Khan • Jeremy Kittel • Low Lily • Cassie & Maggie MacDonald • Jay Mankita • Moonshine Holler • Nanne & Ankie • Old World Charm School • Pete’s Posse • Claudia Schmidt, Sally Rogers & Howard Bursen • The Waxwing Four • Phil Wiggins Tidewater Trio • Robin & Linda Williams
This year, GottaGetGon might also be nicknamed GottaGetSmart, since they’ve booked the Heather Pierson Trio. Heather’s dazzling virtuosity along with the tight support of her band mates, Davy Sturtevant and Shawn Nadeau, kill it every time.
At Strawberry Park, the bluegrass festival ranges from the expert string work of the Kruger Brothers to the more singer/songwriter stylings of The Boxcar Lilies. Their Cajun-zydeco lineup includes one of my favorites, Roddie Romeo & the Hub City AllStars. Roddie used to be Steve Riley’s lead guitarist before he established his own group.
Beck and Wilco will be showing up at Hunter Mountain for Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam. That, by itself, might be reason enough to attend, but of course, they pile it on with Umphrey’s McGee and a bunch more. The perhaps not-so-secret weapon out of Brooklyn, Turkuaz, a blend of funk and brass, might just prove revelatory to the uninitiated.
Roots on the River provides a platform for some old friends to these pages: Lara Herscovitch, Spuyten Duyvil and Joe Crookston. Brock Zeman and Blair Hogan present an electrified country folk/rock that should generate a bunch of new fans.
June 25 American Roots Music Festival at Caramoor
149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, NY 11:00am gates - late
www.caramoor.org/music/american-roots
8pm evening show: Hurray for the Riff Raff • John Fullbright
Daytime show: Sara Watkins • High Plains Jamboree • Man About A Horse • Dennis Stroughmatt et l’Esprit Creole • The Lowest Pair • Spuyten Duyvil • Silver City Bound • Matt Turk • Monica Rizzio • NERFA presents Young Folk featuring Lula Wiles, Eric Lee, Eliza Paltauf • The Social Music Hour … and more TBA
July 8~10 Mariposa Folk Festival
Tudhope Park, Orillia, ON, Canada www.mariposafolk.com
Brother Sun • Catherine MacLellan • Colin Linden • Dave Gunning • David Amram • Dirty Dishes • Fortunate Ones • Gathering Sparks • Ivan Coyote • James Hill • Jeffrey Foucault • Jon Brooks • Josh White Jr. • Ken Whiteley and the Beulah Band • Lori Yates • Moulettes • Murder Murder • Next Generation Leahy • Notre Dame de Grass • Quique Escamilla • Rita Coolidge • Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar • Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son • Shred Kelly • Sussex featuring Rob Lutes • Ten Strings & a Goat Skin • The Fitzgerald Family Band • The Good Family • The Imbayakunas • The Milk Carton Kids • Vance Gilbert • more TBA
July 9~10 New Bedford Folk Festival
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park,
New Bedford, MA www.newbedfordfolkfestival.com
• Kate Taylor • Livingston Taylor • Rory Block • John Gorka • Cheryl Wheeler • Spuyten Duyvil • Matt Borrello • Benoit Bourque & Antoine Pigeon Bourque • Caroline Doctorow • Pat Donohue • John Doyle • Melissa Ferrick • Jefferson Hamer • Matt & Shannon Heaton • Anne Hills • Michael Johnson • Reverend Robert Jones, Sr. • Pete and Maura Kennedy • Mike Laureanno • Les Poules à Colin • Low Lily • Miss Rosie • Moonshine Holler • Grace Morrison • Mustards Retreat • No Fuss and Feathers • Chris Pahud • Ellis Paul • John Roberts • Garnet Rogers • RUNA • Stray Birds • Art Tebbetts • Truck Croteau & MaryBeth Soares • Joanne Doherty • Seamus Galligan • Moldy Suitcases • Barbara Phaneuf • Dori Rubbicco • New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus
We’re pleased to see some of our familiar countrymen heroes, Brother Sun and Vance Gilbert, included at Mariposa. Undersung singer/songwriter Jeffrey Foucault is a nice addition, too. We have only just become aware of Prince Edward Island native and award-winning singer/songwriter Catherine MacLellan. Her voice rivals that of fellow Canadian Lynn Miles. Country blues singer/songwriter Lori Yates is also a fun discovery.
New Bedford Folk Festival manages to blend many old friends with newer faces each year. John Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler and Livingston Taylor, with sister Kate, are some of the old friends, while Matt Borrello is one of the welcome newer performers.
July 7~10 Winnipeg Folk Festival
Birds Hill Park, Winnipeg, MB, Canada www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca/wp
Alan Doyle & The Beautiful Gypsies • Andy Shauf • Basia Bulat • Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers • Benedettiville • Boogat • Castlemoon Theatre • Charlie Hope • Colin Hay • Cœur De Pirate • Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen • Gustavo And The Green Fools • Hubby Jenkins • Jake Chénier Band • Jay Stoller And Drum Cafe • Jennifer Castle • Jim Bryson • Krar Collective • Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams • Lemon Bucket Orkestra • Les Hay Babies • Les Noces Gitanes • Lisa Leblanc • Lord Huron • Loudon Wainwright III • Lucius • Martin Harley • Matt Epp • Matthew Byrne • Meredith Axelrod • Mikaela Davis • Milky Chance • Moulettes • Native North America: A Selection Of Musical Trailblazers Feat. Willie Thrasher, Willy Mitchell, Duke Redbird, Eric Landry And Shingoose • Noam Pikelny • Okee Dokee Brothers • Oysterband • Parsonsfield • Possessed By Paul James • Rayland Baxter • Red Moon Road • Rosie & The Riveters • Ruby & Smith • Ryan Adams and The Shining • Ryley Walker • Sam Roberts Band • San Fermin • Sand Skyscraper • Son Little • Steve Dawson • The Bluegrass Situation North • The Brothers Comatose • The Crooked Brothers • The Dead South • The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers • The East Pointers • The Foggy Hogtown Boys • The Funk Hunters • The Head And The Heart • The Hooten Hallers • The Infamous Stringdusters • The Paper Kites • The Staves • The Wainwright Sisters • The Wild Reeds • Tomato/Tomato • Twin Peaks • Vaudou Game • Wild Child • William Prince • Yemen Blues With Ravid Kahalani
We’re not surprised to see some Acoustic Live feature alumni among the artists at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. Sam Baker, K.C. Clifford, Seth Glier, Ellis Paul and Rod Picott have all graced our cover page. We additionally discovered other invitees like Oklahoma treasure Wink Burcham and Chris Buhalis, a Detroit native who makes raw, down-to earth music. His acidly funny stage patter works well with his songs. We were unaware that Tom Russell’s lead guitarist Andrew Hardin and Jeannie Burns of The Burns Sisters are performing together as Hardin Burns — very impressive.
We’ve managed to catch performances by nearly all the players at Grey Fox. We see that Acoustic Live January 2016 feature Front Country is playing here. The Stray Birds have also been a feature with us. We love them both. We’ve also gotten acquainted with Trout Steak Revival and like them a lot.
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July 14~17 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
The Walsh Farm, 1 Poultney Road, Oak Hill, NY
Dry Branch Fire Squad, Our Host Band • Bela Fleck & Chris Thile • Del & Dawg • The Earls of Leicester • The Del McCoury Band • The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience • The Wood Brothers • The Steep Canyon Rangers • The SteelDrivers • The Gibson Brothers • Della Mae • Sara Watkins • The O’Connor Band, featuring Mark O’Connor • Band of Ruhks • Mr. Sun • Lonely Heartstring Band • The Dustbowl Revival • The Steel Wheels • Sierra Hull • Elephant Revival • Front Country • The Stray Birds • Trout Steak Revival • Scythian • Donna the Buffalo • The Horseflies • Matuto • Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore • Compton & Newberry • The Mike + Ruthy Band • The Railsplitters • Joe Craven & The Sometimers • Rushad Eggleston • Charm City Junction • Mile Twelve • John Kirk, Trish Miller & Quickstep • The Gather Rounders • Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers
July 13~17 Woody Guthrie Folk Festival
Okemah, OK www.woodyguthrie.com
Andy Adams • David Amram • Nancy Apple • Lauren Barth • Sam Baker • Joe Baxter • Chris Buhalis • Wink Burcham • Peter Case • Nellie Clay • K.C. Clifford • Don Conoscenti • Samantha Crain • Damn Quails • Caroline Doctorow • Ronnie Eliott • Michael Fracasso • John Fullbright • Seth Glier • Butch Hancock • Hardin Burns • Jaimee Harris • Ali Harter • Bill Hearne • Melissa Hembree • Susan Herndon • The Honey Dewdrops • Greg Jacobs • Beau Jennings • Peggy Johnson • Blake Lankford • Lauren Lee • Travis Linville • Radoslav Lorkovic • Tom Marshall • Casper McWade • Dan Navarro • Annie Oakley • Megan Palmer • Ellis Paul • Grant Peeples • Rod Picott • Patrice Pike • Jeff Plankenhorn • Joel Rafael • Red Dirt Rangers • Kyle Reid • Rick Reiley • Buffalo Rogers • Shawna Russell • Carter Sampson • Johnsmith • Sky Smeed • BettySoo • Larry Spears • Lyal Strickland • Monica Taylor • The Turnpike Troubadours • Jared Tyler • Tania Warnock • Kevin and Dustin Welch • Justin Whisnant • Kierston White • Dar Williams • Robert Williams • WoodyFest House Band (aka The Oklahoma Geniuses)
June 19 The East Village Folk Festival
Outlaw Folk Music “Wanted: Dead or Alive”
Theatre 80 St. Marks Place, NYC 212.470.6277
www.eastvillagefolkfestival.com
Produced by Kathryn Bloss and Alan Kaufman
7pm - late
Malcolm Holcombe • Greg Trooper • Diana Jones • David Massengill • Paul Sachs • Amy Allison • Sandy Bell • Alan Kaufman
The one-day Caramoor American Roots Music Festival has a double evening headliner this year featuring Hurray for the Riff Raff and John Fullbright. Spuyten Duyvil once again joins the daytime program along with another Acoustic Live featured alumnus, Matt Turk. We’re likewise pleased to see Monica Rizzio, formerly of Tripping Lily, as part of the lineup. Fiddler Sara Watkins, founding member of Nickel Creek, is the daytime headliner. That’s a lot of talent to cram into one day!
Great Heron brings together a mix of contemporary roots rock and old-timey trad music. Of the more contemporary acts, we like Plastic Nebraska and Daybreak Radio. Toward the more traditional acts, we liked what we saw of Amanda Barton (of Big Leg Emma) and Bill Ward performing as Barton & Ward.
July 1~3 Great Blue Heron Music Festival
Wait Corners Road , Sherman, NY 716.487.1781
Jimkata • The Town Pants • Driftwood • Big Mean Sound Machine • Smackdab • Band Of Peace • Plastic Nebraska • The Gunpoets • Outland County • The Sun King Warriors • Connect W/Preach Freedom • Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers • Mosaic Foundation • Funktional Flow • Stewed Mulligan • Tiger Maple String Band • The Bogarts • Daybreak Radio • Barton & Ward • The Probables • The Elektra Kings • Ken Hardley & The Moose Club • Addison Moon • Buffalo Zydeco • Cindy Love • Mulberry Soul • Max Garcia Conover • Black Rock Zydeco • Ezekiel’s Wheel • Back 40 • John Merino • Stan Barton Trio • Derek Davis Band
As usual, we’re unfamiliar with many of the players featured at any Canadian festival. At Winnipeg, we recognize Loudon Wainwright III, of course, and Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams. We got a jolt when we discovered Great Big Sea frontman Alan Doyle’s latest project The Beautiful Gypsies. We also were very impressed with Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers.
July 14~17 Great South Bay Music Festival
Smith Street at Shorefront Park in Patchogue, NY
www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com
Graham Nash • Umphreys McGee • Blues Traveler • Railroad Earth • Dopapod • Joe Nichols • Colin Hay • The Main Squeeze • Lonestar • John Sebastian • Laurie Berkner Band • JT Hodges • NRBQ • Six Gun • Miles to Dayton • Reckoning • Kerry Kearney • Ladies Drink Free • Joe Bayer Band • Memphis Crawl • Funkin’ A • Cassandra House • John Sparling • Maui Waui • Quarter Horse • Mayve • Noahs Arc • Youth Be Told • ZoFolk
July 30 Huntington Folk Festival
Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, Huntington, NY
Prime Avenue and Main Street (Route 25A)
www.fmsh.org/huntington-folk-festival
Evening show headliner: Slaid Cleaves
Afternoon Program: 12 noon - 6pm Unplugged showcases and song swaps. Hosted by AcousticMusicScene.com and FMSH
At Great South Bay, we’re impressed that Graham Nash is joining the proceedings. We’ve written about Miles to Dayton, so you can bet we like them for a great performance. We’ve seen bluesman Kerry Kearney a couple of times and love him to pieces. A newcomer to us, Patchogue, L.I., native, Cassandra House, blew our doors off with her big voice and intriguing songs.
Festival-goers are in for a treat at the Huntington Folk Festival when headliner Slaid Cleaves takes the stage for the everning show. In the afternoon, AcousticMusicScene.com and The Folk Music Society of Huntington will host unplugged showcases and song swaps featuring more than three dozen artists at canopy tents from noon until 6 p.m.
July 22~24 Newport Folk Festival
Fort Adams State Park, Harrison Avenue, Newport, RI
Flight of the Concords • Ray LaMontagne • Case/Lang Viers • St. Paul & the Broken Bones • Matthew Logan Vasquez • The Staves • Aoife O’Donovan • Radical Face • Fruit Bats • Raury • Norah Jones • Father John Misty • Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats • Del and Dawg • Dave Simonett & Dave Carroll • Amy Helm • Rayland Baxter • Songhoy Blues • Lady Lamb • Ruby Amanfu • The Cactus Blossoms • Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros • Middle Brother • Glen Hansard • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • The Oh Hellos • Villagers • Son Little • Julein Baker • Joan Shelley • River Whyless • More TBA
We’re guessing that Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes get together from time to time, whether or not they’re together in The Allman Brothers Band. They’re listed next to each other at Floydfest, so anything can happen.
We were fortunate to see St. Paul and the Broken Bones, appearing at Newport Folk Festival, at Lincoln Center Out of Doors a couple of years ago. The juxtaposition of lead singer Paul Janeway’s nerd-like appearance and powerful voice was mind-blowing — like a cross between Bill Gates and Otis Redding. There’s plenty more, of course. Aoife O’Donovan continues to become more widely known. Glen Hansard got our attention in the film “Once,” and the subsequent Broadway stage production. And look! There’s Amy Helm and Norah Jones as well … an embarrassment of riches.
Sarah Potenza, a Rhode Island native, appearing at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, is familiar to us from other festivals and the now-defunct Rodeo Bar. A soul/blues belter, she competed on TV’s The Voice. Her performances are electrifying. Kudos to Falcon Ridge organizer Anne Saunders. We’re also glad to see old favorites Tom Rush, Vance Gilbert and Patty Larkin. Acoustic Live will once again be hosting a series of unplugged performances at its booth.
August 11~14 ~ The Peach Music Festival
The Pavilion at Montage Mountain & Montage Mountain, Scranton, PA www.thepeachmusicfestival.com
Trey Anastasio • String Cheese Incident • The Gregg Allman Incident (Gregg Allman & The String Cheese Incident) • The Claypool Lennon Deurium • Umphrey’s McGee • Moe (2 sets) • w/ Brers (Butch • Jaimoe • Oteil • Marc • & friends) • Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band • Joe Russo’s Almost Dead • Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe • Electron • Anders Osborne • Dark Star Orchestra • Dopapod • The Floozies • The Motet • The Werks • Golden Gate Wingmen • Turkuaz • Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds • Occidental Gypsy Jazz Band Black Pistol Fire • Rwx Capacitor • Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio
August 18~21 Philadelphia Folk Festival
Old Poole Farm Schwenksville, PA www.folkfest.org
Anderson East • Buckwheat Zydeco • Buffy Sainte-Marie • Bumper Jacksons • David Dye • David Myles • Darlingside • Del & Dawg • Dennis Hangey • Gene Shay • Give and Take Jugglers • Groovemama • Helen Leicht • Kathy O’Connell • Groovemama • Liz Longley • The Lone Bellow • Los Lobos • Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives • Mike Agranoff • Peter Yarrow • Pine Leaf Boys • Quiet Life • Rock My Soul Feat: The Mccrary Sisters and The Fairfield Four • Robin & Linda Williams • Sam Gleaves • Session Americana • Sharon Shannon • The Sheepdogs • Si Kahn • Spuyten Duyvil • Tempest • The Wood Brothers • Vishten • More TBA
September 2~4 Rhythm & Roots Festival
Ninigret Park, 4813 Old Post Road, Route 1 Charlestown, RI
888.855.6940 www.rhythmandroots.com
Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers • Lucinda Williams • The Knickerbocker All Stars • Orchestre Royal w/ Steve Riley, Roddie Romero, Kevin Wimmer, Eric Adcock and others • Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas • Dave & Phil Alvin • Uncle Earl Reunion • Matt Andersen & the Bona Fide • The Revelers • HoneyHoney • Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur • Dustbowl Revival • Hat Fitz & Cara • Willie J Laws • Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco Trendsetters • Guthrie Brown & the Family Tree • The Quiet Life • Occidental Gypsy Jazz Band • Kelsey Waldon • Ed Poullard & Preston Frank • The Huntress & Holder of Hands • The Suitcase Junket • Just Us Western Swing All Stars • Waylon Thibodeaux • More TBA
August 5~7 ~ Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
44 County Road 7D, Hillsdale, NY, Dodds Farm, just off Route 22 north of Hillsdale www.falconridgefolk.com
Tom Rush • The Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Vance Gilbert • Patty Larkin • Peter Mulvey • SONiA • The Storycrafters • Great Bear Trio • Matt Nakoa • Nerissa & Katryna Nields • Sarah Potenza • The Mike + Ruthy Band • Pete’s Posse & Buddy System • More TBA
August 20 ~ Long Island Bluegrass Festival
Tanner Park, Copiague, NY
631.587.3696 www.babylonarts.org/#!bluegrass-festival
• Flatt Lonesome • The Jim Hurst Trio • Abby Hollander Band • Mile Twelve • Stacy Phillips and his Bluegrass Characters
September 10 ~ Connecticut Folk Festival
& Green Expo
Edgerton Park, New Haven, CT
http://ctfolk.com/festival-2016/ 11am-10pm FREE
Lineup TBA
September 11 Fiddle and Folk Festival
Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, E. Setauket, NY
631.689.8172 www.fiddleandfolk.com
Lineup TBA
It’s interesting to see some of the new collaborations on the scene today, like Greg Allman and the String Cheese Incident, appearing at The Peach Music Festival. We also like seeing the presence of monster guitarist Anders Osborne and the aforementioned Turkuaz.
We saw The Lone Bellow at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in 2014, and their reappearance is much appreciated. A similar regard also extends, we’re sure, to Los Lobos. Darlingside continues its rise through the ranks of top-flight acts with its inclusion here. Bumper Jacksons got rave reviews at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference a couple of years ago and is extending its popularity. Liz Longley was a feature in WFUV radio DJ John Platt’s monthly On Your Radar show at Rockwood Music Hall a few years back and is a favorite of ours.
A feast of pleasure awaits the attendees at the Long Island Bluegrass Festival. The headliner band, Flatt Lonesome, were winners of the 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association Emerging Artist of the Year. Their performance of their hit,”You’re The One” at the 2015 awards show, was exquisite.
There’s no doubt that Lucinda Williams will stir the crowd at Rhythm & Roots Festival. She’s no stranger to human foibles and there are usually a few on display in the boisterous, rowdy bunch in attendance here. The makeup of Orchestre Royal with Steve Riley and Roddie Romero among others is gratifying. We always enjoyed Roddie’s guitar work with the Mamou Playboys. Dave & Phil Alvin should light the fuse under the blues fans . All in all, it’s a great way to spend Labor Day weekend.
We’re still waiting for the lineups for the Connecticut Folk Festival and Fiddle and Folk Festival. We’ll post those in our May issue page at acousticlive.com as soon as we get them.
We hope to see you somewhere out in the great melting pot!
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July 27~31 FloydFest
Floyd, VA 540.745.FEST www.floydfest.com
Gregg Allman • Warren Haynes Ashes & Dust • Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers • Leftover Salmon • Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats • Railroad Earth • Nahko And Medicine For The People • Keller Williams With More Than A Little+ • Femi Kuti & Positive Force • Shakey Graves • The Wood Brothers • Greensky Bluegrass • Elephant Revival • Anders Osborne • Pimps Of Joytime • Rich Robinson • Bombino • Monophonics • Otis Taylor Band • The Larry Keel Experience • Love Canon • Con Brio • The Legendary Shack Shakers • Head For The Hills • Liz Vice • Los Colognes • Selasee & The Fafa Family • Dave Eggar Trio • Monster Atlantic • Roosterfoot • Blue Mule • Look Homeward • The Midatlantic • Bloodkin • The Steepwater Band • Dead 27s • Mingo Fishtrap • Honey Island Swamp Band • Polyrhythmics • The Congress • The Defibulators • Banditos • Caravan Of Thieves • Dead Winter Carpenters • Dustbowl Revival • Keller & The Keels • T Sisters • The Screaming Js • Marley Carroll • Higher Learning • Tigermanwoah • These Wild Plains • Cask Mouse • Cactus Attack