CMT Blog: Archive

Four Corners Folk Festival - Aug. 29-31; Pagosa Springs, Colo.
This one gets in my list because I have a soft spot for about 90 percent of the performers there. The lineup includes most of my favorite young acoustic bands like the Infamous Stringdusters, Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, the Waifs, Crooked Still, the Wilders, the Greencards, Bearfoot and many, many more. I've never made it to this one, but the more I think about it I might now have plans for Labor Day weekend.

Galax Old Fiddler's Convention - Aug. 4-9; Galax, Va.
From what I hear, just about anyone can start a band at the Old Fiddler's Convention and get to play on the stage. This festival has a heavy picking scene around the festival grounds. Some festivals are focused on the performers, while this one is focused on the pickers. They come in droves from all over and you won't believe the talent that comes out.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - Oct. 3-5; San Francisco
Set in Golden Gate Park, this is a FREE festival. Yep, free. This isn't a camping festival, so I recommend making a friend in San Francisco to couch-crash with. There is no limit to the mass of talent at this festival. It seems they have every big name in the acoustic music scene there every year. I've never been, but am currently looking for friends in the San Francisco area. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Earl Scruggs, the Del McCoury Band and Mike Farris & the Roseland Rhythm Revue will be there. Did I mention this is a free festival?

Rhythm and Roots - Sept. 19-21; Bristol, Tenn./Va.
This one has become a regular for me. It's a downtown festival where the roads are blocked off in what is said to be the "Birthplace of Country Music," so it's only a natural place for a music festival. The historic Paramount Theatre holds music as well as the downtown outdoor stages. The coffee shops, bars and restaurants in downtown Bristol also hold stages. There are a TON of stages at this festival. There's not real camping associated with the festival, but being in East Tennessee/Southern Virginia, there is no shortage of great places to camp.