BottleRock held its inaugural festival last weekend at Napa Valley’s Expo Fairgrounds under a scorching sun, but the heat wasn’t enough to keep the crowds away. Downtown Napa Valley became BottleRock Central, swarming with crossing guard-policemen and retailers pushing their goods, and in many cases, their parking lots. Nearby neighbors set up pizza and lemonade stands and signs dissuading BottleRockers from urinating on their lawns.

It was four days of continuous music not interrupted one bit by a rain storm that lasted into the night Friday when the 9^th Annual Wanee Music Festival returned to The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Fla where the artists that can be described as the royalty of music perform.

In its 26th year, Old Settler’s Music Festival is putting together one of its hottest lineups ever, but fans must act now to grab discounted ticket packages before they end on midnight Jan. 15. Single-day ticket sales begin Jan. 16 for the four-day bluegrass, roots and Americana festival, which takes place April 18-21 at the Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch south of Austin and features more than 30 acts.

I have a problem. It’s not a joke. I am addicted to music. I have been a victim to this addiction since 1987, maybe earlier.  That was my first live music experience.   My addiction to music has affected me adversely in the following ways: uncontrollable smiles, a feeling of connection to everyone around me, and a sense of synchronicity with harmony and syncopation within my everyday surroundings. 

The Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama this past weekend has officially cemented itself among the heavy-hitting top-notch summer festivals of the year, both in terms of musical content and festavarian (read: festival-goers) satisfaction.