Roots

Headliners: Jesse Winchester, Slaid Cleaves, Karla Bonoff with Kenny Edwards and Nina Gerber

Notables: Handful of Luvin, Mike Beck and the Bohemian Saints, Anne Weiss with David Jacobs-Strain, The California Honeydrops, The Walter Strauss Trio, Berkely Hart, Leroy Bell and His Only Friends

Comment: One of our favorite smaller California roots fests has a knack for bringing back folkie stars of the past and this year's Jesse Winchester and Karla Bonoff certainly qualify. Neither is booked at any other festivals this year, while the third headliner, Texas troubadour Slaid Cleaves, is more likely to show up at contemporary folk festivals. Some of the midrange acts are new to us, but our discovery of new artists at last year's fest gives confidence that the bookers have a talent for picking talent.

FP American River Music Festival page
Festival website

Headliners: Leftover Salmon, Robert Earl Keen, Jonathan Edwards

Notables: Donna the Buffalo, Peter Rowan, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Ruthie Foster, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Joe Craven, Roy Book Binder, 18 South, Scythian, Tornado Rider, Turtle Duhks, Steel Drivers, Bryn Davies, Belleville Outfit, Jessica Havey

Comment: Springfest delivers its usual great lineup, relying on its core group of returning stars after the top three headliners who are fresh picks. It's a great way for Southeastern roots fans to kick off the festival year, and there's more than enough to draw fans from far away.

Telluride Bluegrass finished off its 2010 lineup with a bang, adding four-time Grammy winner Lyle Lovett in a relatively rare festival booking and posting the first festival gig (outside of a SXSW showcase) for Court Yard Hounds, the new project by Dixie Chick sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire.

Also joining the fine mix of newgrass, bluegrass and jamgrass and the storied festival are folk-rock singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, Keller & The Keels (a collaboration between jambanders Keller Williams and Larry and Jennie Keel), and upcoming  artist Ben Sollee, now making the rounds as a solo singer-songwriter after making his name as the cello instrumentalist in Abigail Washburn's Sparrow Quartet.

The five acts join a lineup that already included Alison Krauss and Union Station, Sam Bush Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Telluride House Band (with Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer and others), Del McCoury Band, Hot Rize, Leftover Salmon, Dave Rawlings Machine (with Gillian Welch), Tim O'Brien Band and lots more.

Photo by Ed Verosky                        

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After one name slipped out unexpectedly, CMA Music Fest has begun its official lineup rollout with the first 10 country music stars who will perform at the 2010 festival, running June 10-12 at LP Field in Nashville. In addition to Carrie Underwood, who let her booking slip in an online posting to fans, the sure-to-please list also includes Jason Aldean, Lady Antelbellum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band. 

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Does Dan Quayle know about this? The 14th annual Black Potatoe Music Festival has opened its discount presale for three-day ($36) and four-day ($45) passes for the July 8-11 event in Clinton NJ. The discounts apply only until February 21 so get yours now if you are ready to commit.

This roots/Americana festival has been improving each year. While 2010 performers will not be announced until March, last year's lineup included marquee folk artists Lucy Kaplansky, Chris Smither, Cheryl Wheeler and Ellis Paul. Music runs non-stop on two stages on the grounds of the Red Mill Museum.

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Unlike some other major festivals that begin by trickling out the headline names and follow up with the bulk of the lineup, High Sierra Music Festival tends to do it the other way around.

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