There were bigger, more well-known happenings this past weekend. So what was I doing in the middle of a pasture, in a 1975 Apache Mesa, covering the Grey Fox Music Festival? I was going through initiation. You see, this isn’t a festival. It’s a family; a tight knit group of Northeastern hippies, strict grass fans, old party hounds, their new-picking offspring and countless other factions who are represented in this family-friendly, hard partying, yet responsibly sustaining event.

For those who think summer hasn’t hit the City by the Bay yet, they must have missed Saturday’s Phono Del Sol festival in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill. Live music and sun enthusiasts alike poured into Potrero Del Sol Park for an undeniably summer day filled with good food, great music, and every color of imitation Ray Bans imaginable.

All good things must come to an end. Right? So they say. And Sunday, July 22^nd was the last of the four-day 17^th Annual Gathering of the Vibes Festival held in Bridgeport’s lovely Seaside Park off of the Long Island Sound. The festival this year was peaceful, safe, and rowdy at the right times. All of the vendors, food and merchandise were a pleasure to meet and deal with.

Saturday Vibes. The festival is well into full swing at this point. Rowdies who enjoyed late night shows in the wee-hours of the morning such as the Gigantic Underground Conspiracy will start to peek out of the holes at around 1PM. As much as I’m sure it was a blast, I had to save my energy for my earliest start of the weekend so far for a set.

On Sunday, most of the city slinked out of bed with a “careless whisper” and just enough gas left in the tank for one more day. Fans flocked to the Louisville village where they could hair-the-dog at the Kentucky Bourbon tent with some Woodford Reserve and then roll over Starboard Stage where Moon Taxi was gearing up to go.

Thanks for continuing to check out our coverage of the 2012 17^th Annual Gathering of the Vibes festival. Friday started off rainy. Quite the opposite from my experience last year of being the hottest I have ever been in my entire life (record breaking 100 degree temperature with all humidity?! Makes this Colorado guy weary!) Regardless, the continuing drizzle didn’t stop any of the fun. If anything the crowd was thinner and more relaxed all day.

Saturday was the day that the looming threat of rain finally hit the festival.  A strong downpour from noon to four postponed the entire day back an hour, however, it didn’t shut down the event or cancel any performances. In fact, it provided a nice cloud canopy of protection from the sun for most of the day. Dedicated fans that stood in the rain for an hour waiting for the gates to open were rewarded with an impromptu acoustic performance by My Morning Jacket when they were finally allowed in.

Hello Festivarians! This is Dylan Muhlberg of Grateful Web coming at you from the 17^th Annual Gathering of the Vibes Festival held for its fifth consecutive (and eight total) year at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This is festival enjoyment down to a science. Ken Hays and the production people with Vibes work each year to make the extremely logistically complicated and expensive Seaside Park venue a safe, assessable, and kick-ass party for all.

The rain held off and the crowds flooded in, on Friday's kickoff to the tenth anniversary of the Forecastle Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.  Down to the very last minute volunteers and staff worked diligently to place each piece of ship wreckage in its specific location for a record crowd that wrapped down Witherspoon Street. Throughout the weekend more than 35,000 attendees came together on the banks of the Ohio River to take part in the celebration of music, art, and activism.

Back for a second straight year the Harvest Festival will feature the 2nd annual Fiddlin' and Pickin' Contest! Categories include mandolin, fiddle, banjo and flatpicking; winners receive a cash prize and gift basket.

Submissions are available online in advance and will also be accepted up to 15 minutes before the competition begins.  Even if you aren't a Fiddler or Picker be sure and stop by The Roost to check out all the talent!