Preview

Austin is America's eclectic music town. More music of all styles seems to originate from the Texas capital than anywhere else on the contiinent. In the spring, the one and only SXSW music, film and interactive extravaganza kicks off the independent music season. In the fall, the Austin City Limits festival culminates the year with one of the country's premier showcases for established and emerging artists alike.

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The American River Music Festival is just in its third year, but it is already making its mark among California folk and roots music festivals. It has a unique hook in its California gold country location and whitewater rafting tie-in. The programming takes advantage of exceptional local and regional talent, while also bringing in big names from the folk circuit.

The festival runs September 18-20 in Coloma CA, an easy drive from the Bay Area or anywhere in central California. Daily tickets are just $35 and a weekend pass with camping is $99.

Festival director Matt Semonsen sent along his take on the artists appearing at the upcoming festival.

Festival Preview blogger Tony Rocha headed out early to this year's Reggae Rising. Check out the photos he took before the festival began:

 

The newly renamed San Jose Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival is ramping up to present the biggest and most ambitious program in its 18 year history. With top name musical performers in three gala evening concerts, cutural events all week long, free outdoor festival day—plus sponsorships and tourism tie-ins, the festival is making a play for national recognition.

It is already the largest festival of its kind in the nation, San José is a great home for it. It is the nation’s tenth largest city and fourth largest Latino market. The festival is organized and produced by Heritage Corporation, a non-profit provider of music and dance education in local schools, museums and community centers.

As July draws to a close, a magical fervor descends upon Dimmick Ranch in Southern Humboldt County for the third installment of Reggae Rising. The first weekend in August brings throngs of reggae music fans from around the western states to the idyllic Redwood forests of this otherwise sleepy Northern California town.  Crews of volunteers, some on site for weeks on end, are the backbone of this massive endeavor to host the largest reggae festival on the west coast.

Amongst the redwoods, on the serene banks of the Eel River, the Dimmick Ranch site has progressively grown its facilities to create what is surely to become the premiere outdoor venue in Northern California. The concert area is capable of allowing well over 10,000 fans to get their reggae groove going in comfort with many shaded areas accompanied by great vendors.

 

Once a year during the second week in July, the small town of Trumansburg NY is turned on its head by music. The population of the town multiplies ten-fold, from about 2000 people to roughly 20,000. Cars line almost all the streets and the sounds of reggae, folk, rock, zydeco, world, bluegrass and more can be heard as far as 10 miles away in some directions. All this is because of the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance.