As Tim O’Brien and Friends kicked off the final set of RockyGrass 2012, I planted my feet a couple of yards behind the elevated stage. The canopy of treetops overhead, awash in color from the stage lights, absorbed a light drizzle. To my right, the deity of all double bassists, Edgar Meyer, calmly warmed up next to the main stage staircase.

Today the music world suffered a bittersweet loss. Levon Helm’s battle with cancer ended this afternoon after a long tough fight. A message was posted on his website written by his wife Sandy and his daughter Amy requesting everyone’s “love and prayers” earlier in the week. Levon has been battling with throat cancer since 1998. Levon Helm was the beloved  drummer and vocalist for The Band.

Six weeks ago I read about the Life Is Good Festival, that took place this past weekend in Canton, MA, and the two of me that are this Gemini started to have it out as they always do. Corporate sponsorship for a festival? Yes, but the corporation started out as a grass roots effort that is trying to give back now that they’ve made it. No late nights? That’s not whom this festival is geared to please; its family oriented, with an emphasis on kids that no festival I have ever considered going to has had.

Life is good® is excited to announce the lineup for the 2011 Life is good Festival. Set to take place September 24-25 in Canton, MA, a suburb of Boston, the multi-faceted fundraiser combines world-class headliners and nationally known musical talent on three stages, including several of today’s most popular children’s performers.

I just stopped sweating. Never mind that the mercury boiled its way well beyond 100 degrees for the better part of the afternoon. Never mind that the humidity made me sweat through the same shirt over and over no matter how many times I hung it to dry. Never mind that I should be over hydrated, but have sweated out as much as I have taken in. I stopped sweating. Nevertheless, I’m getting ahead of myself.

“Hear ye, hear ye! From deadhead hippies to electro pop hipsters,” screeched the harlequin gliding on rainbow roller skates, “come one, come all.” And did they ever! Over 50,000 audiophiles packed into San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park for Outside Lands Festival to sample a delectable smorgasbord of rock immortals, indie stalwarts, and rookie sensations. Directions? No need, just follow that sweet, pungent aroma!

I almost don’t want to tell you how cool a festival FloydFest has become.. I don’t want to risk ruining it.  Long past the growing-stage of a fledgling hippy-fest; FloydFest, now in her 9th year, is fully-realized and a true contender amongst events in the Central Virginia and mid-Atlantic region.

As is tradition, FloydFest makes deeply discounted tickets (up to 40% off regular gate price) available to their patrons during the month of December. As most returning patrons know, the Holiday season is the best time to purchase festival admission tickets and secure the coveted on-site parking spots. Promoters report ticket sales are up an impressive 65% over last year. The On-site RV parking spots sold out in a record 72 hours since on-sale date. All is not lost for folks wishing to camp in style, as the off-site RV spots, as well as VIP and Souvenir are still available.