Whether you love music festivals because you love the host city, or you love the music, there's no escaping the blend of travel and tunes. This spring and summer, such events are plentiful. Whether you want to sway to some funky jazz, enjoy the crescendo of classical music, do a jig to blue grass, or get political listening to folk music, the festival circuit is full of sounds.
New Orleans
After the success of this year's Mardi Gras, city planners and NOLA lovers are anxiously awaiting this year's legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest (www.nojazzfest.com). With musicians desperately trying to revive the culture of perhaps America's greatest music city, the lineup reads like a list of music's living legends. Led off by Fats Domino, Etta James and Bruce Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions Band performing renditions of Pete Seeger classics, Jimmy Buffet Dave Mathews, Lionel Ritchie, Keith Urban (meaning you may get a Nicole Kidman sighting), Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon, Ani DiFranco, Allen Toussaint with Elvis Costello, and the great Bob Dylan. Taking place the weekends of April 28 to 30, 2006 and May 5 to 7, 2006, tickets go for roughly $30 per day with advance purchase and $40 at the gate. Children can get in for $5. This is a daytime, outdoor festival featuring the best of New Orleans' food and crafts as well as music history. Performances are at the New Orleans' Fairgrounds and Race Track from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., giving you the evening to rest up for the next day, keep the party going on Bourbon Street, get more good eats at any of the fine restaurants or comfort food spots around town. Attending this festival will also give you a chance to contribute to revival of one of America's most diverse and culturally rich cities.
Philadelphia
For the folk crowd, the Philadelphia Folk Festival (tel. 215/242-0150; www.folkfest.org/PFF.php) is known as one of America's best folk festivals for its music, arts and crafts, and its ambiance inside the festival and outside. Dates for summer festival are August 18, 19 and 20, 2006. The festival takes place in Lansdale, PA, on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Known by professional and hobby musicians as attracting some of the finest musicians to play guitar, banjo, slide guitar, the violin, and other folk-related instruments, the festival goes on all night away from the stages as the crowd takes out their instruments and play through night, electrifying the campgrounds and parking lots with "picking parties" and sing-a-longs. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Alice's Restaurant, Arlo Guthrie will highlight this year's festival that also includes the David Grisman Quintet, Marcia Ball, campfire song leader Charlie Miller, and Orpheus Supertones known for their old-time toe-tapping tunes. This is a musician's music festival that thrills music lovers for its celebration of sound. Call 215-242-0150 for ticket information.
Chicago
Not to be outdone by Philadelphia or New Orleans, the Chicago Blues Festival (www.chicagobluesfestival.org) is going into its 23rd year of celebrating the best of the Windy City's love affair with the blues. Attracting blues fans from all over the world and most nearby Midwestern cities, this year's festival takes place from June 8 to June 11, 2006 in Chicago's Grant Park with a setting on the shores of Lake Michigan. Buddy Guy headlined last year's festival. While festival planners are keeping a tight lid on this year's performers, look for this year's line-up in early April. You can be sure the list will highlight local Chicago musicians and international blues superstars. Chicago also has a gospel festival (www.chicagogospelfestival.com) in early June attracting 250,000 people and some of gospels most celebrated choirs.
Aspen
If big city festivals aren't your thing, plenty of small towns and localities have smaller music festivals catering to a mellower scene. The Aspen Music Festival and School (tel. 970/925-9042; www.aspenmusicfestival.com) takes place in the popular ski town which is becoming just as well known for a summer community as winter wonderland. Taking place over the full summer from June 21 to August 20, 2006, the Aspen Music Festival is highlighted by weekly performances. Such classical greats as Vladmir Feltsman on piano and Orli Shaham will perform. Yo-Yo Ma performs on June 25, 2006. Tickets range in price from approximately $40 to $75. Season or weekend passes are also available.
Montreal
Head up for the 11th Annual Montreal Chamber Music Festival (tel. 514/489-7444; www.festivalmontreal.org) running June 9-30, 2006, once the city has finally shivered off its last winter chill. Featured composers include Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann (both Robert and his wife Clara) and Mozart. For the third year, the festival also includes a series of jazz performances offered to educate the listener in the evolution of music. All performances are held in St. James United Church. Tickets cost between $22-$39(U.S.) for individual performances; festival season passes are available as well.
Are you attending other music fests this spring and summer? Tell us what and where on our Cultural Immersion Message Boards today.