Roll it around in your brain pan -- 21 years. If you have never gone to this three-day free festival, 21 times shame on you. It's fabulous. We don't miss it.
We never return without at least one new favorite and some CDs. This is where we first heard Bobby Parker live and Shemekia Copeland. I tend toward blues. My uxorial unit plays and love acoustic -- like bluegrass. There's Cajun, gospel and world music.
Did I mention it was free? You can and should make a small donation to the wandering do-gooders for a sticker that shows you support this, and surely you'll chip in.
Anyway, this year's schedule is here. The sketches of the groups and artists, most with sample clips are here.
Friday evening through Sunday evening has multiple simultaneous performances within walking distance downtown.
Handicapping Saturday, I went heavy on my daytime favorite styles (links open short clips):
- Noon — James Hand
- 1 — No Speed Limit
- 2 — Dorado Schmitt
- 3 — Gonzalo Grau y La Clave Secreta
- 4 — Lost Bayou Ramblers
- 5 — Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy
There's lots of good eating and drinking, both at stands and the restaurants and pubs. The music goes to 11 p.m. or so.
You may hate and avoid music we like, but there's stuff there you will like.
Cleverly, these Lowellites know that this is likely to bring you back at other times. Yet, if you only go there once a year. This is it. Be there.
Tags: massmarrier, Massachusetts, folk festival, music, Lowell
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