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Americana Concerts and Performances 
There are many great websites featuring live performances by Americana artists. We try to keep track of some of these sites for your convenience.  Check out the Concert Page for links to free online concerts featuring Americana artists. 

2007 Festival Season Preview

The 2007 music festival season is upon us. As Winter slowly turns to Spring, Americana fans begin to make preparations for one or more of the many music festivals which blanket the country.  We have highlighted several of the major festivals which feature Americana music. Here is a look at some of the live events which you should check out if you have the opportunity:

South By Southwest
Date: March 9-18
Location: Austin, Texas
Background:  SXSW is one of the nation's largest music festivals featuring hundreds of artists playing dozens of venues in Austin, Texas. The festival began in 1987 and provides a showcase for Austin which considers itself the live music capital of the United States. Just about every musical style is featured, but the location of the festival attracts many Americana performers.
Selected 2007 Americana Artists: Charlie Louvin, The Holmes Brothers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Alejandro Escovdeo, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Doyle Bramhall, Jim Lauderdale, Chris Smither, Bill Kirchen, The Hacienda Brothers, Carrie Rodriguez, Chip Taylor, Amy Millan, The Drams, Steve Earle,  
Website:  www.2007.sxsw.com   

Merlefest
Date: April 26-29
Location: Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Background: Billing itself as "The Americana Music Celebration," Merlefest has evolved from a small town bluegrass festival to the nation's largest folk music festival attracting over 80,000 visitors per year. The festival was founded in 1988 to honor the memory and legacy of Merle Watson, the late son of Doc Watson. 
Selected 2007 Americana Artists: Really too many to list, but 2007's line-up includes Elvis Costello, Earl Scruggs, Alison Krauss, Tony Rice, Darrell Scott, The Duhks, Crooked Still, Jim Lauderdale, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Marty Stuart, Donna The Buffalo, Uncle Earl, The Waybacks, Del McCoury, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and of course Doc Watson.    
Website:  www.merlefest.org   

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Date: April 27-29 and May 4-6
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Background: "Jazz Fest" began in 1970 with the purpose of celebrating the music and culture of New Orleans. The festival has evolved over the years into one of the country's largest music festivals. The festival features a variety of music styles associated with Louisiana including, jazz, Cajun, zydeco, country, blues and R&B. 
Selected 2007 Americana Artists: Van Morrison, Norah Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Calexico, Taj Mahal, Tony Joe White, Gillian Welch, T-Bone Burnett, The Holmes Brothers, the Allman Brothers Band.
Website:  www.nojazzfest.com

Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
Date: April 27-29
Location:  Indio, California
Background: Primarily dedicated to alternative rock, hip hop and electronica, Coachella also features a handful of Americana artists. The three day festival has been held since 1999 at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California.
Selected 2007 Americana Artists: Nickel Creek, Rufus Wainwright, Gillian Welch, The Avett Brothers, Amos Lee, Willie Nelson.
Website:  www.coachella.com

Stagecoach Festival
Date: May 5-6
Location:  Indio, California
Background:  2007 will mark the inaugural Stagecoach festival which will take place the weekend following the Coachella Festival in Indio, California.  The Stagecoach Festival will be held on four separate stages including a main stage dedicated to mainstream country music, and additional stages dedicated to alt-country, bluegrass and storytelling.  
Selected 2007 Americana Artists: Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Neko Case, Robert Earl Keen, Chris Hillman & Herb Peterson, Earl Scruggs, Nickel Creek, The Grascals, John Cowan, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Drive By Truckers, Alejandro Escovedo. Ricky Scaggs, Del McCoury, Marty STuart, The Flatlanders.
Website:  www.stagecoachfestival.com

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Date: June 14-17
Location: Manchester, Tennessee
Background: The four-day Bonnaroo Festival takes its name form the Cajun word for "a really good time."  The festival was first held in 2002 at its current location on a 700 acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. The focus of the festival is jam bands, but other musical styles featured include hip hop, Americana, bluegrass, country, gospel and reggae.   
Selected 2007 Americana Artists: Wilco, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Old Crow Medicine Show, Hot Tuna, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Richard Thompson, T-Bone Burnett, Charlie Louvin. 
Website:  www.bonnaroo.com

Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Date: June 21-24
Location: Telluride, Colorado
Background: Initially held in 1974, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival is presented by Planet Bluegrass and attracts 10,000 music fans to listen to bluegrass and related Americana music.  
Selected 2007 Americana Artists: Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, Guster, Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, John Cowan, Jerry Douglas, The Avett Brothers, Crooked Still.
Website:  www.bluegrass.com

(March 4, 2007)