Looking out the window right now and I see cold and dark. The brutal winter suffered by many these past few months makes us long for warm outdoors . The days will get longer, the sun will return and festival season starts in just a few months.
Over the past several years, dozens of new gatherings, from free events to massive commercial productions, have sprung up to meet the fierce demand for live music and community. They join an already crowded field of established, highly regarded festivals who have dedicated audiences going back decades. Here are a few of the notable multi day festivals of roots music.
Wintergrass February 24 to 27 Bellevue Washington. In the chilly northwest, bluegrass fans take over a multistory hotel for showcase sets and suite jams. Confirmed so far:
Blind Boys of Alabama, Sam Bush Band, Darrell Scott, Dale Ann Bradley, Crooked Still, Joy Kills Sorrow, Darol Anger, Joe Craven…
Magnolia Fest March 24 to 27 Live Oak, Florida. Warming right up amongst moss draped cypress trees, this highly regarded south east gem draws a young crowd. This year’s standouts: David Grisman, Avetts, Jim Lauderdale, Danny Barnes, Larry Keel. Steep Canyon Rangers, and the Travelin’ McCourys with the Lee Boys…
MerlefestApril 28 to May 1, Wilkesboro, NC. The big daddy of the east. This fest has consistently featured the finest acts old and new. Hosted by Doc Watson and featuring Alsion Brown, Lyle Lovett, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Tim O’Brien, Peter Rowan, A rare appearance by Tut Taylor, Tony Rice, and the Waybs…
Jazzfest April 29 to may 8, New Orleans. 11 stages, 7 days, 400,00 people, 500,000 crawfish, and hundreds of acts from all over the planet. A bucketlist item for certain. Lineup TBA.
Telluride June 16 to 19, Town Park, Telluride Colorado. Shangri La in the San Juans. Featuring the house Band, Robert Plant’s Band of Joy, Bela Fleck and the Original Flecktones, Emmylou Harris, Edgar Meyer, Decembrists, Stringdusters, Tim O’Brien and Kevin Burke, Punch Brothers…
