May 26~28   GottaGetGon Folk Festival

Saratoga County Fairgrounds/Ballston Spa, NY

www.pickingandsinging.org/GGG_festival2x.htm

Abbie Gardner • Tom Lewis • Josh White Jr. • Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing • Pickin’ & Singin’ Gathering • Friday night - New Folks TBA • Saturday Night Barn Dance

May 25 ~ 28   DelFest

Allegany County Fairgrounds, Cumberland, MD    www.delfest.com

The Del McCoury Band • The Travelin’ McCourys  • Dierks Bentley • Trey Anastasio Band • Gov’t Mule • Bela Fleck & Chris Thile • Railroad Earth • Leftover Salmon • Hot Rize • The Infamous Stringdusters • Steep Canyon Rangers • Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives • Tim O’Brien • The Gibson Brothers • Sierra Hull • Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers • Jeff Austin Band • Cabinet • Donna The Buffalo • Fruition • Sara Watkins • Noam Pikelny • Billy Strings • Joe Craven & The Sometimers • River Whyless • Dead Man Winter Feat. Dave Simonett (Trampled By Turtles) • Cris Jacobs • The Broomestix • Dead Winter Carpenters • Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice • Dre’s Gospel Collective • The Ballroom Thieves • Head For The Hills • Ghost Of Paul Revere • Kitchen Dwellers • Grand Ole’ Ditch • Bryan Sutton

May 25 ~ Jun 11   Kerrville Folk Festival

Quiet Valley Ranch, Kerrville, TX

830.257.3600   www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com

Billy Crockett • Amy Speace • Dan Navarro • Jeff Black • South Austin Moonlighters • American Dreamer • Trout Fishing in America • The Rifters • Shake Russell & Michael Hearne • Jimmy LaFave • Del Barber • Kenny White • Cheryl Wheeler • Brother Sun • Jonathan Byrd & the Pickup Cowboy • Cosy Sheridan • Terri Hendrix • Suzie Vinnick • The Peterson Brothers • The Railhouse Band

• Kathy Mattea • The Don Juans • Tom Paxton • Roy Book Binder • Rev Robert B Jones • C. Daniel Boling • Harpeth Rising  • The Stray Birds • Johnny Nicholas • Los Texmaniacs • Drew Nelson w Madcat Ruth • Ryanhood • James Hill • The Accidentals • Phoebe Hunt & the Gatherers • B. Sterling • Wood & Wire • The Deer • Claudia Nygaard • Verlon Thompson • Eric Taylor • Welch Family w Warren Hood • High Plains Jamboree • Melissa Greener • Dana Cooper • Buddy Mondlock • Radney Foster • Jack Williams • Ronny Cox Trio • Freebo • Paper Moon Shiners • Peter Yarrow • Dana Cooper • Rex Foster • John Elliott  • Chris Chandler • House of Songs

Strawberry Park Festivals

42 Pierce Road, Preston, CT   860.886.1944

June 1~4     Bluegrass

http://www.strawberrypark.net/strawberry-park/40th-annual-strawberry-park-bluegrass-festival-2017/

Rhonda Vincent • Daryle Singletary • Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing • Kruger Brothers • Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice • The Gibson Brothers • South Carolina Broadcasters • Blackstone Valley Bluegrass Band • Blackstone Valley • Lonely Heartstring Band • Dry Branch Fire Squad • Twisted Pine • Hot Flashes • SteelDrivers • The Stockwell Brothers Band

June 8~11   Cajun-Zydeco

http://www.strawberrypark.net/strawberry-park/21st-annual-strawberry-park-cajun-zydeco-festival/

Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie • The Savoy Doucet Steve Riley • Geno Delafose • Leroy Thomas and The Zydeco Roadrunners • Jesse Lege • JimmyJo & the Jumbol’Ayuhs • Magnolia • Zydegroove • Dennis Stroughmat • Rusty Metoyer & the Zydeco Krush • Kevin Naquin & The Ossun Playboys • Slippery Sneakers • Wayne Same ol2 step • Pine Leaf Boys • C’est Bon

May 18 ~ 21   Spring Gulch Folk Festival

Spring Gulch Resort Campground, 475 Lynch Road,

New Holland, PA

www.springgulch.com/folkfestival.cfm

John Gorka • Brother Sun • Sam Gleaves & Tyler Hughes • Vance Gilbert • Blue Highway • Snyder Family • John Flynn • Chris Smither • Ethan Pierce • Kirsten Maxwell • Liz Longley • Matuto • Ana Egge • Dave Fry • No Good Sister • Guy Davis Band • Adam Ezra Group • Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards

June 16-18   Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam

Hunter Mountain, NY  www.mountainjam.com

Marco Benevento • Sinkane • The National Reserve • Murali Coryell • The Big Takeover • The String Cheese Incident • The Head and the Heart • The Revivalists • Amy Helm • White Denim • Elephant Revival • Chuck Prophet • Sinkane • Muddy Magnolias • Andy Frasco & The U.N. • Hollis Brown • Brothers McCann • Simi Stone • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers • Gary Clark, Jr • St. Paul and The Broken Bones • The Strumbellas • Matisyahu • Shovels & Rope • River Whyless • Moon Hooch • Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives • The Band of Heathens • Nicole Atkins • Dan Bern • Ghost Of Paul Revere • Ryan Culwell • Hamish Anderson • Paul Green Rock Academy • Ratboy Jr. • Steve Miller Band • Peter Frampton • Michael Franti & Spearhead • The Infamous Stringdusters • Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real • TAUK • Ari Hest • Holly Bowling • Parsonsfield

June 9~11  Roots on the River

Bellows Falls, VT     I-91, Exit 6      866.484.3669 

http://www.vermontfestivalsllc.com/roots-on-the-river-2017

Ian Foster • BettySoo • Woodsmith & Hersch • Dan Weber • Birds of Chicago • Bill Kirchen • Ghosts of the American Road • Suitcase Junket • Roger Marin • Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem • The Meadows Brothers • Dayna Kurtz • The Boxcar Lilies • Hayes Carll • Mary Gauthier • Big Gospel Hour

June 15~18   Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Telluride, CO    800.624.2422    www.bluegrass.com/telluride

Brandi Carlile • Dierks Bentley with The Travelin’ McCourys • Fruition • Tim O’Brien Band • Freddy & Francine • Chris Thile • Greensky Bluegrass • Norah Jones • Punch Brothers • Jerry Douglas Band • Peter Rowan Dharma Blues featuring Jack Casady • Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys • The Cleverlys • Jeremy Kittel Band • Dispatch • Sam Bush Band • Margo Price • Telluride Troubadour • Yonder Mountain String Band • Sarah Jarosz • Rayland Baxter • Fireball Mail • Jason Mraz & His Superband • Elephant Revival • Hot Rize • Béla Fleck & Chris Thile • Parker Millsap • The East Pointers • We The People featuring Abigail Washburn & Friends • Telluride House Band featuring Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart

June 17~18  

Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival 

Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY   www.clearwaterfestival.org

Lake Street Dive • Cry Cry Cry Reunion • Arlo Guthrie • Los Lobos • Richard Thompson • Josh Ritter • Tommy Emmanuel • Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely • Joan Osborne • Alejandro Escovedo • Valerie June • The Barr Brothers • Lucky Chops • Tom Paxton & The Don Juans • Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams • Orkesta Mendoza • Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton • A-WA • David Amram • Holly Near • Tribute To Buckwheat Zydeco • Jimmy Bosch Y Su Sexteto del Otro Mundo • Tom Chapin • Joe Purdy • Martha Redbone Roots Project • Guy Davis • Leyla McCalla • Josh White Jr • Dayme Arocena • Plena Libre • The Kennedys • The Vanaver Caravan • The Suitcase Junket • Kim & Reggie Harris • Jesse Lege & Bayou Brew • Walkabout Clearwater Chorus • Betty & The Baby Boomers • Karim Nagi “Turbo Tala” • Jay Ungar & Molly Mason • Funkinships • Allison McDermott • Zebediah Galipeau • Melissa K. Knowles • Joel Harris • Paul Richmond • Tony Duncan • Nate The Great • Ezzell Floranina

There’s a lot to like at Spring Gulch, starting with the venerable John Gorka. The fun continues with John Flynn and Chris Smither and gets even better with two lovelies, Liz Longley and Kirsten Maxwell. Kirsten kicks it out of the park with her otherworldly pure vocals. If you’re looking for some country gospel, it doesnt’t get any better than Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards..


As you might expect, there are a lot of impressive bluegrass musicians at Delfest. It always starts with Del and his offspring. What really jumps off the page (or screen, if you  will) is the collaboration of Bela Fleck and Chris Thile. There isn’t any genre that these two can’t interpret (and haven’t already played). Additionally, we’re always happy to see Donna the Buffalo show up anywhere. They’ve been known to bend a few genres themselves.












At Kerrville, ground zero for the singer/songwriter set, the roster includes our favorite Canadian blues singer, Suzie Vinnick, so it looks like she’s getting due props for her songwriting chops as well. Jimmy LaFave is on his farewell tour after being recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. His name appears in a bunch of festivals featured this month. “I’m on my way off the planet,” he states, but “The show must go on.” We hope as many as possible will go to see him before we lose his irreplaceable voice.

We’re thrilled to welcome The Clearwater Festival back after a one-year hiatus, and thrilled that promoter Steve Lurie is back at the helm to book the best acts in roots music. It’s hard to believe we’ll be given the opportunity to see two of the greatest guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel and Richard Thompson on the same bill. Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive always blows our doors off. Los Lobos always gets our blood boiling. Add in Arlo Guthrie, Josh Ritter, Cry, Cry, Cry and Alejandro Escovedo and what you’ve got is an embarrassment of riches. Now all we have to do is turn up at the right stages at the right times.

June 23~25 

Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music & Dance

Altamont Fairgrounds,  Altamont, NY

www.festival.oldsongs.org

Atlantic Crossing • Pat Donohue • Scott Ainslie & Reggie Harris • GX3+ • Jeff Davis & Dave Ruch • Fiesta del Norte • Alash (Tuva Throat Singers) • Anne Hills • Joe Jencks & Si Kahn • The Jeremiahs • Heather Pierson Trio • Seaglass • The Vododeeyos • The Down Hill Strugglers & John Cohen • The Press Gang • The Short Sisters • Pascal Gemme & Yann Falquet • Archie Fisher • Tom Lewis • Sam Gleaves & Tyler Hughes • Keith Murphy • Larry Kaplan • Alan Kaufman • Margaret Walters • Debra Cowan • John Roberts • Magpie • Jamcrackers • Roger the Jester • Fennig’s All Stars • John Dickson • The Waxwing Four • more TBA

Our favorite lady Dobro player, Abbie Gardner, is appearing at GottaGetGon this year. If she lends her skills to other acts as well, it’s going to be a barn burner! Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing combine virtuoso instrumentals and vocals.


At Strawberry Park‘s Bluegrass festival, Rhonda Vincent provides some bluegrass star power and is supported by a terrific roster. A quick check on YouTube for Jr Sisk and the Ramblers and Blackstone Valley provided all the testimony we needed to guarantee a good time.

No YouTube check was needed for Steve Riley and the rest of his cohorts for the Cajun-Zydeco festival. However, we couldn’t resist a look at the new-to-us Slippery Sneakers and we were rewarded with a video of a very tight, high-energy set and some spirited dancing.













Roots on the River has two of our favorite roots acts. The first, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem is very familiar. Rani was our July 2016 cover feature. We remember her when she fronted Salamander Crossing in the ’90s. The second is a new favorite, Birds of Chicago. We’re over the moon for Allison Russell’s vocals

June 24   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: Rhiannon Giddens • Sarah Jarosz

Daytime show:  The Mike + Ruthy Band • River Whyless • Michaela Anne • Kaia Kater • The Lonely Heartstring Band • Spuyten Duyvil • Cole Quest & The City Pickers • The Brother Brothers • Eddie Barbash Band

July 7~9   Mariposa Folk Festival

Tudhope Park, Orillia, ON, Canada   www.mariposafolk.com

Allison Lupton Band • Barenaked Ladies • Bruce Cockburn • Connie Kaldor • De Temps Antan • Ginger St. James • Great Lake Swimmers • Harpacash And The Morals • Irish Mythen • Kleztory • Kobo Town • Madison Violet • Matt Andersen • Reuben And The Dark • Rich Delgrosso • Ronnie Douglas Blues Band • Scenic Route To Alaska • Si Kahn • Steve Poltz • Suzie Vinnick • The Lonesome Ace Stringband • The New Pornographers • The Reid Jamieson Band • The Sinners Choir • The Young’uns • Tio Chorinho • Union Duke • William Prince • The Last Waltz – A Musical Celebration Of The Band – Live

July 8~9   New Bedford Folk Festival

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park,

New Bedford, MA   www.newbedfordfolkfestival.com

Anna & Elizabeth • Aoife O’Donovan • Art Tebbetts • Benoit Bourque & Antoine Pigeon-Bourque • Bill Harley • Catie Curtis • Chris Pahud • Copley Street • Dan Plews • David Francey • David Jones • Ellis Paul • Harvey Reid & Joyce Andersen • Hiroya Tsukamoto • J. P. Cormier • Jeff Davis • Jefferson Hamer, Ry Cavanaugh and Laura Cortese of Session Americana • Jim Kweskin • Joe Jencks • Joshua Davis • Kevin Burke • Lucy Wainwright Roche • Patty Larkin • Pete’s Posse • Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen • Sam Gleaves and Tyler Hughes • Seth Glier • Steven Pelland • Susan Werner • The Jeremiahs • The Kennedys • The Nields • Vance Gilbert • Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme

New Bedford Folk Festival seems to be hosting an Acoustic Live Feature Alumni Party. We profiled Aoife O’Donovan when she was with Crooked Still. Other artists appearing here who’ve been Acoustic Live cover features include Catie Curtis, David Francey, Ellis Paul, Seth Glier, Susan Werner, The Kennedys and Vance Gilbert. I almost overlooked the folks in Session Americana. We saw them live, but without Laura Cortese. Those attending this New Bedford event  would be wise not to miss this act. 

July 6~9     Winnipeg Folk Festival

Birds Hill Park, Winnipeg, MB, Canada  www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca/wp

100 Mile House • Andrew Combs • Aoife O’Donovan • Archie Roach • Arum Rae • Barenaked Ladies • Begonia • Big Thief • Bon Débarras • Brandi Carlile • Bruce Cockburn • Bryan Sutton and David Grier • Bubba B The Mc • Camper Van Beethoven • Carly Dow • Cécile Doo-Kingué • Chali 2Na & The House Of Vibe • Charlotte Cardin • Choir! Choir! Choir! • Christopher Paul Stelling • City And Colour • Clinton St. John • Cracker •  Dakhabrakha • Damien Jurado • Daniel Lanois • Desi Sub Culture • Diyet • Dj Shub • Double The Trouble • Esmé Patterson • Feist • Foy Vance • Graham Parker Duo Feat. Brinsley Schwarz • Hot Rize • Jayme Stone’s Folklife • Joey Landreth • John K. Samson & The Winter Wheat • John Paul White • Jonah Blacksmith • Luke Roberts • Marchfourth • Margaret Glaspy • Marisa Anderson • Mbongwana Star • Mohsin Zaman • Mr Mark • Murder By Death • Nick Forster & Danny Barnes • Old Man Luedecke • Paper Bird • Paul Mckenna • Pete & Joan Wernick • Peter Yarrow • Red Knuckles and The Trailblazers • Richard Inman • Rura • Seanster And The Monsters • Sun K • Tavis E. Triance & The Natural Way • Ten Strings And A Goat Skin • The Felice Brothers • The Shins • The Small Glories • The Suitcase Junket • The Swinging Belles • Tim O’Brien • True Blues Feat. Corey Harris & Alvin Youngblood Hart • Wesli

As to be expected, the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. hosts singer/songwriters who know how to carry a message. It’s practically a Who’s Who of Songwriters R Us. Sam Baker might be Exhibit A. We also like Rod Picott and Ellis Paul. David Amram  was a contemporary of Woody’s (we might also want to mention Jack Kerouac). Malcolm Holcolmbe gets to the nitty gritty of human existence as well as Woody ever did.

July 13~16   Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival

The Walsh Farm, 1 Poultney Road, Oak Hill, NY  

www.greyfoxbluegrass.com

Dry Branch Fire Squad (Host Band) • The Infamous Stringdusters • Jeff Austin Band (formerly of YMSB) • The O’Connor Band with Mark O’Connor • The Kruger Brothers • Horseshoes & Hand Grenades • The Lil’ Smokies • Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys • The Meadows Brothers • The Del McCoury Band • The Steep Canyon Rangers • Grateful Ball • Sarah Jarosz • Michael Daves & Friends featuring Tony Trischka • Billy Strings • David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition • Jordan Tice & Horse County • Beg Steal or Borrow • Mountain Ride • Jerry Douglas Band • The Gibson Brothers • The Steeldrivers • Della Mae • Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge • Cabinet • Trout Steak Revival • The Mammals (feat. Mike + Ruthy) • Brothers Blue • Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder • The Travelin’ McCourys • Bryan Sutton Band • Balsam Range • Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen • Molly Tuttle • Compton & Newberry • Bill & The Belles • Lily Henley & Duncan Wickel

July 12~16   Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

Okemah, OK   www.woodyguthrie.com

John Calvin Abney • Andy Adams • David Amram • Nancy Apple • Taylor Atkinson • Lauren Barth • Sam Baker • Joe Baxter • Chris Blevins • Chris Buhalis • Wink Burcham • Lance Canales • Peter Case • Nellie Clay • K.C. Clifford • Don Conoscenti • Samantha Crain • Caroline Doctorow • George Ensle • Kalyn Fay • Michael Fracasso • John Fullbright • Seth Glier • Butch Hancock • Hardin Burns • Jaimee Harris • Ali Harter • Bill Hearne • Melissa Hembree • Susan Herndon • Malcolm Holcombe • The Honey Dewdrops • Beau Jennings • Peggy Johnson • Blake Lankford • Lauren Lee • The Gabe Marshall Band • Tom Marshall • Casper McWade • Dan Navarro • Annie Oakley • Ellis Paul • Grant Peeples • Rod Picott • Patrice Pike • Jeff Plankenhorn • Joel Rafael • Red Dirt Rangers • Kyle Reid • Rick Reiley • Buffalo Rogers • Knut Roppestad • Shawna Russell • Steve Chapman Smith • Johnsmith • Sky Smeed • BettySoo • Larry Spears • Gregg Standridge • Dylan Stewart • Lyal Strickland • Monica Taylor • Jonathan Terrell • Jacob Tovar • Danny Trashville • The Turnpike Troubadours • Jared Tyler • Colter Wall • Terry “Buffalo” Ware • Tania Warnock • Dustin Welch • Justin Whisnant and Cold Water County • Kierston White • Dar Williams • Robert Williams • WoodyFest House Band (aka The Oklahoma Geniuses)

It’s difficult not to overenthuse about the talent at the Caramoor American Roots Music Festival each year. A nighttime headline co-bill of roots music stars Rhiannon Giddens and Sarah Jarosz is the icing on the cake for a daytime program that includes the Mike + Ruthy Band. I was unfamiliar with River Whyless before writing this. After watching and listening to their ethereal harmonies plus their inventive playing and writing, this one-day festival jumped from a “maybe” to a “definitely!”



If there’s any question that the Great Blue Heron Music Festival is the soul of diversity, look no further than the Big Mean Sound Machine to dispel that idea. With a brass section, electronic keyboards and hypnotic rhythms, the band brings some georgous Afro-funk to the table. Fela Kuti would appreciate the way these guys carry on his legacy. Acts such as Jim Lauderdale, Tiger Maple String Band and The Sim Redmond Band swing the vibe back in the direction of U.S. roots.

June 30~July 1, 2    Great Blue Heron Music Festival

Wait Corners Road , Sherman, NY   716.487.1781  

www.greatblueheron.com/wp/

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

At Winnipeg, Brandi Carlile and Bruce Cockburn provide the star power and Begonia brings the monster vocals. For this who need their guitar fix, there’s Winnipeg artist Joey Landreth (of The Bros. Landreth), apparently no relation to Sonny, although his slide guitar technique and last name might suggest otherwise. If anyone in attendance hasn’t heard Northern Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance, he’s definitely going to make some new friends. Whether he wraps his vocal chords around an original song or a cover, he’s going to leave an indelible imprint on the listener.

In the freezer chest of February, I move doggedly up Sixth Avenue, layered against the cold. A cacaphony of car horns, braying their irritation at a hapless lane-changer bursts into the brick-like air. I pull out my earplugs and jam them in underneath the earmuffs — a buffer, a sonic respite. A yearning for country summer festivals is not confined to a hunger for warmth. The crush of Manhattan, where I live and work as an artist and publisher, thunders with jackhammers, sirens, buses and garbage trucks. City sidewalks require a careful weaving through cellphone users nattering on about their concerns too immediate to delay for an indoor location. I long for the company of trees whose only speech is the sigh of wind through leaves. I long to trade the thunder of the urban landscape for the ring of picks on strings. I know that Spring and Summer will arrive on schedule, but my patience wears thin. Nothing to do but wait, and wait some more. Now, coming down the home stretch, the hardest part is over. Let the soft green begin.

We’re familiar with a number of acts at Grey Fox, having gone to Grey Fox when it was still at the Rothvoss Farm in Ancramdale. We’ve seen, among others, the host band Dry Branch Fire Squad and, of course, The Del McCoury Band. Of the bands we’ve just discovered, we especially like Jordan Tice & Horse County.

Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam never fails to present  top acts and this year is no different Along with old favorites, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Gary Clark, Jr. and St. Paul And The Broken Bones, I see the goddess of folk/rock, Amy Helms. I had heard of Simi Stone some time ago and finally looked at some videos. This is a singer/songwriter with enormous expressiveness and great heart. Stir in some Dan Bern and it’s all  good.

We love the way Tim O’Brien fits seamlessly into his various projects. He’s appearing at Telluride Bluegrass Festival with his band and another configuration, Hot Rize. I don’t see Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers listed, so I guess he couldn’t get everyone together for that crew. Bela Fleck and Chris Thile are here, so It looks like they’ll be hitting a bunch of festivals this season. Lucky attendees! Jeremy Kittle  is one of the best biddlers we’ve ever heard, whether he’s tackling bluegrass, folk, Celtic or jazz

Old Songs Festival presents a more traditional vibe than most of what we list here. A quick listen to Atlantic Crossing revealed a band with a charming old-timey style with lots of infectious dance tracks. For social consciousness-raising and uplift, there’s a collaboration between Scott Ainslie and Reggie Harris, plus Joe Jenks and Si Khan. Pat Donohue, a virtuoso fingerstyle guitarist and an excellent singer, writes and sings humorous parodies as well. He has performed on A Prairie Home Companion and is a national fingerpicking guitar champion.

We see some familiar faces at Mariposa this year. Irish Mythen knocked us out at NERFA last year and the year before. Blues goddess Suzie Vinnick graced our cover in  April, 2013, while Madison Violet did the same in March, 2011. Scenic Route to Alaska is a fun indie rock band that plays catchy pop songs.

 

July 29   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 on the [Harry] Chapin Rainbow Stage

8pm NERFA Presents Young Folk: Alice Howe and Mike Tedesco

8:30pm Sarah Lee Guthrie and The Mammals (featuring Mike & Ruthy) co-headline

Afternoon Program:  12 noon - 6pm Unplugged showcases and song swaps. Hosted by AcousticMusicScene.com and FMSH   Free admission

It’s interesting to see that some old favorites like Jesse Colin Young, Dave Mason and Poco are performing at Great South Bay. Among the acts new to us, Spafford really stood out. A  four piece funk rock band, their melodic guitar riffs on extended jams reminded us of Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore East. 



We see that Lake Street Dive is dropping by for The Green River Festival, so we know this new-to-us event has been carefully planned. The beloved Darlingside looks to be conquering the world, one festival at a time. Harmony-wise, we believe River Whyless is going to be taking similar steps. Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive) returns to her jazz roots, performing the American songbook in a duo with the single-named gentleman,Vilray.


The crowd at Floydfest should ripple in revelry when Michael Franti & Spearhead play their Caribbean-laced pop. If they don’t do the same for St. Paul and the Broken Bones, it’ll be because they’re too busy watching lead singer Paul Janeway’s onstage contortions. A quick check of Baskery got the pulse racing. Three attractive women playing roots rock? Not especially innovative, but … when they mix in a punk edge and they’re from Sweden and they’re really good — time to re-think this. They employ killer harmonies, the drummer doubles on banjo … well, maybe it’s time to make a trip to Virginia. Whew! 



We think the talent at the Ossipee Valley Music Festival, is worth a trip to Maine. Nellie McKay, The Stray Birds, Hot Club of Cowtown, Kaia Kater … Fiddler Brittany Haas collaborates with many other artists. She’ll pair off with the previously lauded Jordan Tice on some traditional fare. We’d love to see what Joe Walsh and Friends will bring to this festival. Formerly with The James Gang and The Eagles, Joe was included in the televised Beatles “50 Years” Tribute and contributed some hellacious guitar licks.


Just before publication, we discovered a host of new-to-us acts at The Lowell Folk Festival. Each description has a video attached Give them a look.

July 13~16    Great South Bay Music Festival

Smith Street at Shorefront Park in Patchogue, NY 

www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com

311 • Taking Back Sunday • Gov’t Mule • Zombies • New Found Glory • The Wailers • Eddie Money • G Love & Special Sauce • Dave Mason • Rusted Root • Poco • New Politics • Saves The Day • The Skints • Frank Iero & The Patience • Spafford • Jesse Colin Young • The Imagination Movers • More TBA

July 14-16   The Green River Festival  

Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, MA

https://www.greenriverfestival.com

Lake Street Dive • Joe Russo’s Almost Dead • The Mavericks • Houndmouth • Funky Meters • The Infamous Stringdusters • Amadou & Mariam • Pokey Lafarge • Darlingside • San Fermin • Big Sam’s Funky Nation • Mandolin Orange • Robbie Fulks • Chicano Batman • Big Al Anderson • John Brown’s Body • Rachael Price & Vilray • River Whyless • Parsonsfield • Kat Wright • Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams • Western Centuries • Tank And The Bangas • Twisted Pine • The Deslondes • Sweetback Sisters • Fulaso • Pedrito Martinez Group • Aliya Cycon Project

July 26~30   FloydFest

Floyd, VA   540.745.FEST   www.floydfest.com

Thievery Corporation • Michael Franti & Spearhead • St. Paul & the Broken Bones • Rising Appalachia • Leftover Salmon • Steel Pulse • Railroad Earth • Shovels & Rope • Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives • Buffalo Mountain Jam • Xavier Rudd • White Denim • Turkuaz • Fruition • Keller Williams • TAUK • The Steel Wheels • The Hip Abduction • Larry Keel Experience • Nicola Cruz • HoneyHoney • Vurro • BIG Something • Shook Twins • Baskery • Zach Deputy • The Mantras • Aaron Lee Tasjan • Fémina • That 1 Guy • Dave Eggar Band feat. Sasha Lazard • The Lil’ Smokies • People’s Blues of Richmond • Rebekah Todd & the Odyssey • Jack Broadbent • The Suitcase Junket • Black Masala • Hillbilly Casino • Urban Soil • Blue Mule • Che Apalache • Jordan Harman Band • M.C. Broom & the JamT Sisters • Banditos • Jon Stickley Trio • The Tillers • Alanna Royale • The Stash! Band • Strange Americans • Whiskerman • The Brother Brothers • Honey Island Swamp Band • Edward David Anderson • Dead 27s • Davy Knowles • McLovins • Hayley Jane and the Primates • Broccoli Samurai • The Drunken Hearts • Strange Machines • Trae Pierce & the T-Stones • Liver Down The River • Sol Searchers • GOTE • Black Mountain Revival • The Wildmans • Fernandez Sisters • Einstein’s Monkey • Girls Rock Roanoke

July 27~30  Ossipee Valley Music Festival 

Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds, 291 South Hiram Road,
S. Hiram, Maine

http://ossipeevalley.com

Steep Canyon Rangers • Sierra Hull • Hot Club Of Cowtown • Nellie McKay • The Stray Birds • Fémina! • Bill And The Belles • Kaia Kater • Harvey Reid & Joyce Andersen • Rhythm Future Quartet • Upstate Rubdown • Anna & Elizabeth • Brittany Haas & Jordan Tice • Joe Walsh & Friends • Horseshoes & Hand Grenades • Old Salt Union • Mile Twelve • Loren & Mark • The Bagboys • Lula Wiles • New England Bluegrass • The Ladles

July 28-30   The Lowell Folk Festival

Downtown Lowell, MA

http://lowellfolkfestival.org | 978-275-1764

The Branchettes • El Septeto Santiaguero • Innov Gnawa • Mokoomba • Seamus Egan Project • ShadowGrass • Toronzo Cannon • Vishten • The Western Flyers

July 28~30   Newport Folk Festival

Fort Adams State Park, 

Harrison Avenue, Newport, RI  

www.newportfolkfest.net

Fleet Foxes • The Avett Brothers • John Prine • The Head and the Heart • Drive-By Truckers • American Acoustic • Shovels & Rope • Billy Bragg & Joe Henry • Dr. Dog • Regina Spektor • Angel Olsen • Rhiannon Giddens • Ben Gibbard • Nikki Lane • Michael Kiwanuka • Alone & Together • Mandolin Orange • A Tribute To Chuck • Nancy & Beth (Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt plus Nick Offerman) • Grandma’s Hands Band • Margaret Glaspy • Carl Broemel • Joseph • C.W. Stoneking • Aaron Lee Tasjan • Robert Ellis • Choir! Choir! Choir! • Brent Cobb • Chicano Batman • Berklee Gospel and Roots Choir • Seratones • J.P. Harris & Chance McCoy • Big Thief  • Marlon Williams • L.A. Salami • Julia Jacklin • The Wild Reeds • Mt. Joy • Joshua Headley • Matt the Electrician • More TBA

Two actresses who sing together really well, Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt have formed a duo they call Nancy & Beth.They’ll perform at Newport Folk Festival this year in support of  their recently released titular album. Their act is a combination of serious, beautifully sung harmonies and raunchy rap. Mullally’s husband Nick Offerman joins them We’re glad to see John Prine is still alive and well and “in the house” after his recent cancer scare. Margaret Glaspy has become another favorite. Her husky vocals and strong writing are a sonic banquet.

There are new generations of greatness at Huntington Folk Festival. Woody’s grandaughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie has always been a treat, and The Mammals started out with a Pete Seeger grandson, Tao Rodríguez-Seeger as its founder. Former member Ruthie Ungar, daughter of folk stalwarts Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, is still touring with her husband Mike Merenda, occasionally reuniting with The Mammals.