It’s Festival Season, People!

What’s better than a roster of bands among several thousand friends?

BY SEAN MCALINDIN

ith nature in full bloom and the live music ecosystem finally returning to something like normal, there are more concerts and festivals happening than ever before. Here are our picks for the hottest places to soak in the sounds this summer season.

Indie folk will be in style with Iron & Wine at Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston on July 28 and Cypress at Park Theater in Hudson on July 29. Vintage songwriter Jim Messina sings for the cozy Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT on August 2.

The Positive Jam Festival brings roots rockers The Hold Steady, Guided by Voices and The Tallest Man on Earth to Arrowood Farms in Accord on August 5.

MUSIC SPECIAL REPORT:

Devon Allman and Donavon Frankenreiter join forces on August 9 at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington.

Hudson Valley Jazz Festival pops up at venues throughout the region August 9-13.

Catskill Mountain Jubilee comes to East Durham August 10-12 with jam bands galore including The Disco Biscuits, Dogs in a Pile and Space Bacon

Traditional Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and cellist Natalie Haas will grace the stage at The Stissing Center in Pine Plains on August 18.

For the first time in decades, a new festival’s set to premiere on the field of the original Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel with Catbird Music Festival August 19-20 featuring a fantastic lineup of The Lumineers, Tyler Childers, The War on Drugs, Band of Horses and Trey Anastasio Band

After a summer of breathtaking classical music, Tanglewood in Lenox will showcase classic rocker Jackson Browne on August 31 and the poppy melodies of Guster on September 2.

Jazz and classical will echo in the Litchfield Hills with Norfolk Chamber Music Festival through August 19, Music Mountain through September 17 and Litchfield Jazz Festival July 28-30.

Cave Mountain Catskills Music Festival at Windham Mountain welcomes a fun squad of Weezer, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and Dinosaur Jr. September 15-16.

Alabama country star Walker Hayes of “Fancy Like” fame headlines the Hudson Valley Rodeo September 16 in Amenia. Alt-rocker Ryan Adams will be at The Egg in Albany on the same night.

FreshGrass at Mass MoCA in North Adams, MA September 22-24 attracts bluegrass and more with Dropkick Murphys, Lukas Nelson + POTR and Rhiannon Giddens

With so many amazing concerts to choose from this summer, pick your favorites and plan for a night to remember. See you at the show!