First and foremost is the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. About the 3rd week in July 12,000 of my closest friends get together for 4 days of kick back and relax.
Old Songs in Altamont, NY is a bit more traditional, but still a lot of fun. I would suggest it as a good ‘starter festival’ since the logistics are much easier than FRFF.
The Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival in Norwich NY is a winner. It is a two day free music and art festival with a poetry slam added. Norwich is a great town and the music is selected by Ken Millett formerly of the Night Eagle.
I just checked with Strawberry Park in CT – they have closed their folk festival. It ran for 2 years and was probably the best festival I’ve been to. Great talent, great venue, great camping. I will be missing them. They do have bluegrass and Cajun/Zydeco festivals so you might want to check them out. ***News Flash*** They have added a Folk day to the bluegrass festival. They had a great lineup.
It was a bit of a hike but the Ottawa Folk Festival was excellent. It is in the city so there is no camping and the park has no shade but you bring a low backed chair and hear great music.
Don’t forget – summers are great for free music in parks. Within driving distance of my home there are probably 8 music venues that are free all summer. It is worth planning vacations around good music. Last year we saw the Kennedys in Lake Placid – it was a great performance and worth bending my family vacation a bit.
Roots On the River was very good. It was mostly populated by Eagleheads…. Fredheads… whatever the Fred Eaglesmith fans call themselves. I went last year because they had Gandalf Murphy and Red Molly.
Another great one – the Wachusett Valley Folk Festival. Jean and Denise are the most gracious people with excellent taste in music.
Don’t forget local festivals. For upstate New York, I’d suggest:
The Canalfest – I saw the Mollies there last year and they did a great chat session about music writing.
Saugerties Garlic Festival – You have never seen such a fuss about garlic. Something like 100 vendors all selling garlic products, lots to taste, some music. In nice weather it gets pretty crowded so come early.
Adirondack Balloon Festival in Glens Falls – If the weather is good, plan on arriving hours before the sunrise or evening liftoffs – the traffic is bad. It is quite cool to see dozens of hot air balloons. We rough camp there so that solves the traffic problem.
Old Songs in Altamont, NY is a bit more traditional, but still a lot of fun. I would suggest it as a good ‘starter festival’ since the logistics are much easier than FRFF.
The Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival in Norwich NY is a winner. It is a two day free music and art festival with a poetry slam added. Norwich is a great town and the music is selected by Ken Millett formerly of the Night Eagle.
I just checked with Strawberry Park in CT – they have closed their folk festival. It ran for 2 years and was probably the best festival I’ve been to. Great talent, great venue, great camping. I will be missing them. They do have bluegrass and Cajun/Zydeco festivals so you might want to check them out. ***News Flash*** They have added a Folk day to the bluegrass festival. They had a great lineup.
It was a bit of a hike but the Ottawa Folk Festival was excellent. It is in the city so there is no camping and the park has no shade but you bring a low backed chair and hear great music.
Don’t forget – summers are great for free music in parks. Within driving distance of my home there are probably 8 music venues that are free all summer. It is worth planning vacations around good music. Last year we saw the Kennedys in Lake Placid – it was a great performance and worth bending my family vacation a bit.
Roots On the River was very good. It was mostly populated by Eagleheads…. Fredheads… whatever the Fred Eaglesmith fans call themselves. I went last year because they had Gandalf Murphy and Red Molly.
Another great one – the Wachusett Valley Folk Festival. Jean and Denise are the most gracious people with excellent taste in music.
Don’t forget local festivals. For upstate New York, I’d suggest:
The Canalfest – I saw the Mollies there last year and they did a great chat session about music writing.
Saugerties Garlic Festival – You have never seen such a fuss about garlic. Something like 100 vendors all selling garlic products, lots to taste, some music. In nice weather it gets pretty crowded so come early.
Adirondack Balloon Festival in Glens Falls – If the weather is good, plan on arriving hours before the sunrise or evening liftoffs – the traffic is bad. It is quite cool to see dozens of hot air balloons. We rough camp there so that solves the traffic problem.