Probably one of the best things to do in the summertime if you're a folk music fan is to head to a folk festival or outdoor concert series. From St. Louis to New York City Summerstage, the Rocky Mountains and rural Washington State, folk music fans have got it made for the summertime.
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is one of the most popular, well-attended folk festivals in the country. Every year in late July—right in the middle of the summer—some of the greatest contemporary singer/songwriters, folk artists and bands join together for a four-day festival in the hills of upstate New York. The vibe is one of strong community, and the music ranges from gospel to old time fiddle-driven dance tunes. Camp out or stay in a nearby hotel—this is one of the best places in the country to be a folk fan in summertime.
One of the oldest folk music festivals in North America, Newport was where
Bob Dylan went electric, and where just about every folk artist worth mentioning has graced the stage—from Pete Seeger to the Indigo Girls, and beyond. This music festival takes place the first weekend in August each year, in Rhode Island. Newport is well worth a trip whether you're a local or coming from afar.
Planet Bluegrass plays host to three fantastic music festivals in the mountains of northern Colorado, just outside Boulder. The first of these is Telluride. Probably the most popular not-entirely-bluegrass festival west of the Mississippi, Telluride has featured artists ranging from Bonnie Raitt to
Nickel Creek. Lyons, Colorado, is a quaint little town, perfect for a festival of this size. Nearby camping and the river that runs through offer great opportunities for song circles and jam sessions.
Central Park is a great place to go anytime of year, whether you're a local or a tourist, a musician, or a music fan. Buskers and songwriters always pepper the park, but summertime is full of free concerts at Central Park's Summerstage. Past performances include Edie Brickell,
Sonya Kitchell,
Ani DiFranco, Umphrey's McGee, and many more. Each year's schedule is announced in May. Check the Web site for more information.
A great destination for music fans and musicians alike, year-round, Austin, Texas, is the live music capitol of the world. Walk down Sixth Street, and before long, you're bound to run into any of dozens of venues feturing live singer/songwriters every night of the week. Some great venues and festivals to check out include the Cactus Club, the Austin City Limits Festival in early September, June's Urban Music Festival, and
Kerrville Folk Festival in late May/early June
The Columbia River Gorge runs for quite a long way, but the Gorge Amphitheater is out in rural George, WA. It all kicks off Memorial Day Weekend with the behemoth Sasquatch festival, featuring artists like
Neko Case,
Michael Franti & Spearhead, and
Citizen Cope. Dave Matthews Band frequents the Gorge, as does Willie Nelson and others. Camping is available, and the views are breathtaking.
St. Louis may not be what first comes to most people's minds when they're thinking of a summer vacation, but St. Louis actually hosts a great concert series called Live on the Levee. Twelve days of music has, in the past, included artists ranging from
Emmylou Harris to Bruce Hornsby,
Ani DiFranco, Pete Yorn, and many more. Visit their
Live on the Levee Web site for this year's lineup.
This incredible series of concerts take place in Battery Park and at the World Financial Center, South Street Seaport, Brooklyn, and elsewhere. Sponsored by one of my favorite radio stations in the country—WFUV—the free concert schedule is expanding all the time. Keep an eye on their
Free NYC Concerts Web site for more info and each year's full lineup.
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival is another weekend thrown by the Planet Bluegrass Folks. Once again, Lyons, Colorado, is an incredibly charming town (and home to Uncle Earl). Rocky Mountain Folks Fest generally features an incredible array of artists from folk-rock to protest music and alt-country. Keep an eye on their
Folks Fest Web site for a full lineup and more info.
Bill Monroe was the godfather of American bluegrass, and Bean Blossom, Indiana, plays host to the annual Bill Monroe Memorial Bluegrass Festival. It's been more than four decades of great music in Monroe's hometown. Camping is available onsite, and if you're looking for
bluegrass legends, this is the place to go. Artists that have graced the Bean Blossom stage include
the Grascals, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Ralph Stanley, Bobby Osborne, and many more.
