Summer's outdoor music festival season kicks into high gear this weekend

Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Summer's outdoor music festival season kicks into high gear this weekend 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

With live sounds ranging from sizzling jazz to soulful blues, acoustic folk to high-powered bluegrass, jam band, rock, and much more, the music festival season launches into high gear this weekend and continues all summer long. It's happening on outdoor stages at big-time weekend events throughout the state and the region all summer long. Let's take a look:

Marking the unofficial opening of the national festival scene is the Clearwater Festival's Great Hudson River Revival at Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, this Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and June 21. Headliners include David Crosby, Citizen Cope, Neko Case, Guster, Tom Paxton, Ani DiFranco, Los Lobos, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, The Mavericks and Angélique Kidjo performing on seven sustainably powered stages. There's also storytelling, dance, family-oriented programming, a juried handcrafters 'Village,' Green Living Expo, small boat exhibits and rides, environmental education displays and food. Children under 12, free. Visit: www.clearwater.org

Next weekend, June 26-28, the 35th annual Old Songs Festival visits the Altamont Fairgrounds in Altamont, N.Y. It's a three-day festival with a family friendly atmosphere, on-site camping, and high quality of folk, Celtic, and world music and dance. Headliners this year include Brother Sun, Ellis, Anne Hills, Jez Lowe, Runa, and Magpie. Altamont is 10 miles west of Albany. Visit: www.festival.oldsongs.org.

The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival comes to the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, New York, July 16-19. The event features a who's who of bluegrass, with over forty bands, five stages, workshops, an emerging artist showcase, dancing, and children's performers, plus camping, food, and crafts. Headliners this year: Sam Bush, Del McCoury, Hot Rize, Peter Rowan, Bill Keith, The Stray Birds, and Della Mae. Walsh Farm is located at Poultney Road, off County Route 22, in Oak Hill. Visit: www.greyfoxbluegrass.com

The highly anticipated Falcon Ridge Folk Folk Festival arrives at Dodds Farm in Hillsdale, N.Y., July 31-Aug. 2. Expect over forty acts on four stages, all day and into-the-night dancing, a craft village and international food court, camping, workshops, song swaps, and plenty of activities for the kids. Headliners: Garnet Rogers, Martyn Joseph, Nerissa & Katryna Nields, The Duhks, plus the legendary Judy Collins. Dodds farm is located off Route 22, just north of Hillsdale. Visit www.falconridgefolk.com

Back-to-back biggies this summer have the Newport Folk Festival on July 24-26, and Newport Jazz Festival, July 31-Aug. 2, taking over Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island. Headliners at the Folk Fest include Roger Waters, The Decemberists, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, and The Lone Bellow. Visit: www.newportfolk.org. On the jazz side of things, the Newport Jazz Festival features Cassandra Wilson, Arturo Sandoval, Dr. John, Christian McBride, Jack DeJohnette, Fred Hersch, James Carter, Lucky Peterson, and Lou Donaldson. A special Friday night show at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino on July 31, has Chris Botti, Jon Batiste and Stay Human. Visit: www.newportjazzfest.org

The granddaddy of them all, the Philadelphia Folk Festival comes to Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville, Penn., on August 13-16. This festival, now into its fifth decade, has big names like Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Brue Cockburn, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, and the North Mississippi Allstars. Old Pool Farm is located at Clemmers Mill Rd. and Salford Station Rd. in Schwenksville, PA, which is located just outside of Philadelphia. Visit http://www.pfs.org/

The Labor Day weekend features the 18th annual Rhythm & Roots Festival in Ninigret Park in Charlestown, R.I., September 4-6. With ninety-two sets of music from five stages, the festival showcases roots music and then some. The line-up: Keb Mo, Los Lobos, Marcia Ball, Eilen Jewell, The Mavericks, Lake Street Drive, The Cash Box Kings, and many more. Ninigret Park is located on Rhode Island's south shore, outside of Charlestown. There's camping. Visit: www.rhythmandroots.com.

A little closer to home, the annual Gathering of the Vibes festival rocks Bridgeport's Seaside Park, July 30 to Aug. 2. Headlining the jam fest will be Greg Allman, Wilco, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Deep Banana Blackout, Weezer, Zappa Plays Zappa, Band Together, Ben Harper, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Weezer, and the String Cheese Incident with David Grisman and Peter Rowan. On Thursday, those with weekend camping tickets get to see Ryan Montbleau, Strangefolk, Max Creek, and the Dark Star Orchestra. Visit: www.gatheringofthevibes.com

For jazz fans, the Litchfield Jazz Festival celebrates its 20th birthday on the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen from Friday through Sunday, August 7-9. This year's line-up, which is always a strong one, includes Anat Cohen, Mike Stern, Bucky Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, and many others. Visit: www.litchfieldjazzfest.com

The Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival strums its way into Hebron August 6-9. Bluegrass and Americana music are on the menu. Headliners include The Seldom Scene, Blue Canyon Boys, Detour, Gold Heart, Sister Sadie, Tumbling Bones, Ebin-Rose Trio, Hannah Fair, Ponybird, Tracy Walton, and the Gail Wade Trio. There's also a stage for up-and-comers like Jeff Przech, Seth Adams, and Julia Autumn Ford. Camping is available. The event takes place at the Hebron Lions Fairgrounds, 347 Gilead Street, Route 85, in Hebron. Visit: http://podunkbluegrass.com

And even closer to home, Westport's Blues, Views & BBQ happens Sept. 5-6. Main stage acts playing the Levitt Pavilion include Anders Osborne, Robert Randolph, Dumpstaphunk, Mark Naftalin, Matt Schofield, and Joe Louis Walker. www.bluesviewsbbq.com

And don't forget the 2015 Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival on Sept. 11-13. Star performers include John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, Dennis DeYoung: The Music of STYX, and Smash Mouth. Visit: www.seaport.org