The Hangout keeps piling on big-name acts—don't wait for tickets

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The Hangout has had two additional lineup rounds since its auspicious kickoff last month, and it just keeps getting better. A number of the adds are top-of-the-bill acts at other festivals. Here, only Phish frontman Trey Anastasio playing with his side project TAB cracks the top three.

Other big names that have been recently named include Ben Harper and Relentless7, The Flaming Lips and former Wallflower Jakob Dylan with his new configuration Three Legs featuring stars in their own right Neko Case and Kelly Hogan.

Add to that Yonder Mountain leader Jeff Austin & Friends, blues rocker Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, southern rock brother act North Mississippi All-Stars, New Orleans soul standbys The Funky Meters, and indie singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, and you have a pretty impressive second-day story.

Remember, the first round included names like Alison Krauss, Zac Brown, John Legend, Michael Franti, Keller Williams, Govt Mule, The Black Crowes and a lot more.

Dierks Bentley goes bluegrass for MerleFest

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Dierks Bentley at Delfest with members of The Travelin' McCourys (Photo by countrygal24)

MerleFest filled in its conspicuous Friday night TBA, announcing that country star Dierks Bentley will bring his just-announced Up On the Ridge bluegrass-oriented show to the festival on May 30, with backing from The Travelin' McCourys.

The performance is the only announced festival stop on the 24-date tour, which will introduce Bentley's new bluegrass concept album Up On the Ridge, due to be released this summer. Appearing on the album with Bentley are The Del McCoury Band and the Punch Brothers with Chris Thile, along with guest appearances by Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Tim O'Brien and Sam Bush.

Added bonus for All Good lineup

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You never know what configuration Keller Williams will show up in but you can be pretty sure he'll be on the bill at All Good Music Festival & Campout. He heads the list of second-round additions as Keller Williams and the Added Bonus.

And what is the Bonus? It is described on Keller's Facebook page as "an even blend of Keller's solo looping show and new flavors of grassy disco jazz funk featuring Claude Arthur, Jay Starling, Toby Fairchild as well as digital visuals by Scott Sunn." Sounds good.

Also new for the 2010 fest running July 8-11 at Marvin's Mountaintop in Masontown WV are Bassnectar, Garage a Trois, The Travelin' McCourys, Dr. Didg, and The Lee Boys. Also sounds good. 

They join a great jamfest lineup led by Further (the latest Bob Weir-Phil Lesh incarnation), Umphrey's McGee and Widespread Panic.

Winnipeg lineup presents Canadian perspective on the international folk scene

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Canada's oldest folk festival remains one of North America's best all-around roots music festivals, judging by the just released 2010 lineup.

Some of the notable international stars on the bill include John Hiatt & The Combo, The Levon Helm Band, The Avett Brothers, Emmylou Harris and Hot Tuna. But the festival is known for its eclectic mix of singer-songwriter, world, blues, indie, string-band, Celtic, and other styles.

Other acts to look forward to include Andrew Bird, The Cat Empire, The Swell Season, Sarah Harmer, Greg Brown, Sonny Landreth, Geoff Muldaur, Alvin Youngblood Hart, The Wilders and Works Progress Administration. Hip-hop stars Arrested Development will make a much anticipated debut.

Winnipeg maintains its connection with the early days of the folk genre by presenting third-generation representatives of folk legends Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger with Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion and Tao Rodriguez Seeger. Also, nonagenarian Oscar Brand, a native of Winnipeg who played the very first festival in 1974 will get a honored appearance.

Early bird ticketing opens for Earthdance's last year at Black Oak

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Earthdance Northern California announced its 2010 festival running Sept. 17-19 will be its last year at Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville CA, after which it will move to a larger venue. Early bird ticketing opened for an allocation of 500 tickets at the discount price of $140. The festival plans a "grand farewell" to the grounds that have hosted the event for eight seasons.

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Ravinia releases monster summer lineup of popular and classical music

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Ravinia Festival, the Chicago area concert series that claims to be America's longest running music festival, announced its popular music schedule, supplementing the previously released Chicago Symphony Orchestra repertory season schedule.

The most in-demand tickets could be for two performances by Sting backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra as well as shows by Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, and Carrie Underwood.

But there are a huge number of major stars in every popular music genre, including Backstreet Boys, Big Head Todd And The Monsters, Bobby McFerrin, Buddy Guy, Cheap Trick, Colbie Caillat, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Earth, Wind & Fire, Garrison Keillor, George Benson, Jethro Tull, John Hiatt & The Combo, Nancy Wilson, Nelly Furtado, Peter and Paul, Poi Dog Pondering, Procol Harum, Sheryl Crow, Soulive, Squeeze, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, The B-52s, The Beach Boys, The Bodeans, The Cat Empire, The Four Tops, The Levon Helm Band, The Moody Blues, The Ramsey Lewis Trio, The Swell Season, The Temptations, Train, and Vince Gill.

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Sun, 03/07/2010 - 17:22

Harvest of Hope Fest, the spring fest extravaganza of underground alternative, punk, indie, rock, and hip-hop, has its final lineup and schedule set. Since the initial blast, the major new names are Broken Social Scene, 7 Seconds, Bear in Heaven, Charli 2na (of Jurrasic 5) and Glint.

Other new adds are Angelo Spencer et les Hauts Sommets, Avi Buffalo, Ben Davis & the Jett$, Broadway Calls, Crime in Stereo, David Rovics, Gringo Star, Holopaw, Japanther, Kid Sister, Matt Pond P.A., Mucca Pazza, Port O'Brien, Shawn Fisher and the JG's, ShellShag, Staring Daggers, Supervillians, The Blacklist Royals, The Riot Before, This Bike is a Pipebomb, Weatherbox, Yelawolf.

The festival runs March 12-14 at St. Johns County Fairgrounds in St. Augustine FL. Besides the non-stop music, attendees can enjoy on-site camping, beer garden, carnival rides, games and more. The festival supports  The Harvest of Hope Foundation, which provides services for migrant farm workers.

Fri, 01/15/2010 - 16:14

Headliners: Billy Bragg, Dr. Dog, The Mountain Goats

Notables: Anti-Flag, Anvil, Rogue Wave, Bear in Heaven, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Danielson, Dead Confederate, Delta Spirit, Dr. Octagon, Freelance Whales, High on Fire, James Husband, Kimya Dawson, Leatherface, Man Man, Past Lives, Portugal. the Man, Senses Fail, Torche

Details: Mar 12-14, St. Augustine FL, St. Johns County Fairgrounds 

Comment: In its second year, this charity festival (it benefits migrant workers) has an appealing set of headliners and a strong bench of notables. HOH drew well in its first outing; expect a blowout when the Spring Break crowd hits the mid-Florida coast.

Consequence of Sound

The respective worlds of festivals and non-profits have more in common than you probably thought. Sleepless nights, endless phone calls, and that look from your wealthier friends and family that you’re wasting your time. In the end however, when it all works out, the reward always seems to be well worth the sweat, tears, and blood that the whole shebang brings. Even more so, when they combine forces, something surprising happens. They morph into a tour-de-force of part fundraiser and part three day party; in this case, with a punked out Lollapalooza of a lineup. That was the Harvest of Hope Festival’s first year last March in St. Augustine, Florida, and the organizers have no intention of slowing things down.

Thu, 01/07/2010 - 14:23