REGIONAL MUSIC FESTS

• Sterling Stage Folkfest, May 23-26
Kick off the summer with 30+ folk, roots, and jam bands over four days, featuring Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, with camping, vendors and food; Sterling Stage Kampitheatre, 274 Kent Road, Sterling; 818-212-9489 www.sterlingstage.com

• Fiddlers Picnic, June 13-16
Celebration of American bluegrass, folk, and acoustic roots music featuring Floodwood, Dangermuffin, Rumpke Mountain Boys and more on three stages, with arts and crafts, food vendors, kids' activity area, camping available; Miller Hollow, Marion; www.fiddlerspicnic.com

• Jam in the Valley, July 4-6
Concerts featuring Craig Morgan with Chris Janson on Thursday; Dierks Bentley with Scotty McCreery and Chris Cagle on Friday; Montgomery Gentry with Randy Houser and Parmalee on Saturday; Camping and huge fireworks display; Gates open 3 pm Thursday; 4 pm Friday; 3 pm Saturday; Buffalo Hill Village, Varysburg; 877-744-5488 www.jaminthevalley.com

• Ameribeat Festival of Arts, July 4-7
Celebration of American culture with an eclectic mix of music, art, and cinema, with featured band Max Creek, and an Artist Village; Camping, vendors and food; Sterling Stage Kampitheatre, 274 Kent Road, Sterling; 818-212-9489 www.sterlingstage.com

• Great Blue Heron Music Festival, July 5-7
Three days of roots, rock, reggae, zydeco, swing, country, hip hop, old time, blues, gospel, and bluegrass performers including Donna the Buffalo, The Campbell Brothers, Kevin Kinsella with Mosaic Foundation and many more, with food and merchandise vendors, camping, square/swing/zydeco dances, kids' and teen programs, instrumental workshops, songwriters' and drumming circles and more; Wait Corners Road, Sherman, NY; 716-761-7190 www.greatblueheron.com

• Upstate Boogie 4, July 11-14
Three days and nights of funk, soul, jazz and roots music, featuring Kung Fu with Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, Sophistafunk, The Main Squeeze, New York Funk Exchange and more, with camping, food and craft vending; The Hideaway at Whispering Pines, 548 Townline Road, Lyons; www.statewidemusic.com

• Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance, July 18-21
Roots-rockers Donna the Buffalo host four stages of an eclectic mix of music featuring headliners Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, Rusted Root, Rubblebucket, Chatham County Line, and over 70 other bands and artists from the Finger Lakes region and around the world, with camping, a juried craft show, international and local food options, children's activities and more; Trumansburg Fairgrounds, north of Ithaca on Route 96; 607-387-5098 www.grassrootsfest.org

• Brantling Bluegrass Festival, August 1-3
Brantling Ski Slopes hosts three days of national, regional and local bluegrass artists and bands, with this year's lineup including host band Rebecca Colleen and the Chore Lads, Larry Stephenson, Remington Ryde, Claire Lynch Band, Sons of Bluegrass and more, with food and craft vendors and camping available; 4015 Fish Farm Road, Sodus; 315-331-2365 www.brantlingbluegrass.com

• Sterling Stage String Fling, August 1-4
Featuring a mix of acoustically-inspired music, including jamgrass, traditional, gypsy jazz, and world music, with Ryan Montbleau Band, Cabinet, and more with camping, vendors and food; Sterling Stage Kampitheatre, 274 Kent Road, Sterling; 818-212-9489 www.sterlingstage.com

• Turtle Hill Folk Festival, September 6-8
A weekend of concerts, jamming, dancing, workshops, children's activities, food and craft vendors and camping, with featured performers including John Gorka, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen, Mustard's Retreat, The Honey Dewdrops and more; Rotary Sunshine Campus; 809 Five Points Road, Rush; 585-234-5044 www. goldenlink.org