Coming attractions: live music in the fall

The first weekend in September tends to signal the end of summer festival season -- but there are still very many great music festivals out there to enjoy, as well as great concerts by solo artists, duos, trios, and bands. Several upcoming events to consider:


*The Icons Festival: this is a major Celtic music festival which takes place in Canton, Massachusetts, outside of Boston, on 12 to 14 September, Headliners this year include Liam Clancy, Le Vent du Nord, Cara Dillon, Luka Bloom, Sean Keane and Crooked Still. details here

* The following week, the Americana Music Festival and Conference take place in Nashville, with quite a lot of music going on along with the meetings and industry events. The awards ceremony at the Ryman is a high powered event featuring a free speech award to Joan Baez, among other things. Evening showcases taking place in several venues around Nashville include performances by The Everybodyfields, Robin and Linda Williams, Buddy Miller, The Duhks, Kylie Harris, and many others

* In October, there’s Celtic Colours on Cape Breton. Lori Watson and Karine Polwart are among the artists expected to appear. More about this, along with a slide show at coming attractions: The Celtic Colours Festival 2008

* In November, a celebration to look out for is Hoosier Dylan, which happens in Columbus, Indiana, a little east of Bloomington. This is an evening with some of Indiana's finest musicians interpreting the work of Dylan through many differing styles. More information in the tour section of Tim Grimm's website.

*If you happen to be in or near Dublin City, in the Republic of Ireland, Paul Lee of musiclee has just announced that he’s received a grant to promote a series of traditional music concerts in that city. Lee, whose regular series have in the past included gigs by Tim O’Brien, Cathie Ryan, Sean Tyrell, and others, gives this line up as confirmed so far


2008-09-26 Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden, Seami O'Dowd.
2008-10-24 Nabac
2008-10-25 Andy Irvine
2008-11-07 Dave Munnelly Band
2008-11-21 Grada
2008! -11-28 The Spinning Jennys + Caoimhe Hogarty & friends

The venue is The Cherrytree in Walkinstown Cross. For details check the musiclee website

There’s loads more live music going on all over, of course. A listing of roots music concerts and festivals that’s a good place to start looking is the gig guide at the folk and world music magazine Dirty Linen

you may also want to see
Music Road: jam for a Sunday: Crooked Still
Music Road: now playing: Grada

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