Festival Fever: GottaGetGon, 5/27-29/11

Since 1970, the Pick’n’ & Sing’n’ Gather’n’ has sponsored the GottaGetGon, a Memorial Day weekend getaway and family folk festival. It’s informal, interactive and lots of fun. Camping is encouraged.

Featured performers at this summer’s GottaGetGon include sea chantey singer Celeste Bernardo, the spunky, energetic, genre-blurring folk trio the Buskers, old-school country duo the Honey Dewdrops and Scottish-born, Canadian award-winning singer-songwriter David Francey.

Held at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa, gates open at 3pm on Friday, May 27, and the fest gets rolling with a pot-luck dinner at 7pm, followed at 8pm by the New Generation Folk Concert. Hosted by Matt Toomey, the featured performers include Satauna Howery, the Blackwell Sinners and the duo of Emily & Phil.

On Saturday, May 28, the fest hosts workshops and concerts all day long, kicking off with the opening sampler concert at 10:25am (oh, those crazy folkies). There’s a family country dance slated for 8pm with Deb Burger calling the steps to the tunes of John, Vonnie & Friends.

Concerts and workshops continue on Sunday from 11am-4pm. The fest hosts an open mic session from 4:15-6pm, and after dark, the festivities wrap up with the traditional a cappella sing session.

Advance tix (purchased prior to Monday, May 16) are $45 for the weekend or $24 per day; students (ages 19-22) $23 for the weekend or $13 per day; children/youth under 18 are free with a paying adult.

After May 16, tix are $50 for the weekend or $26 per day; students (ages 19-22) $25 for the weekend or $15 per day. Evening-only tix are also available for $5 per night.

Weekend tix include free camping.

MORE UPCOMING FESTIVALS FOR 2011:

O Solo Mama Mia Festival @ Storefront Artist Project, Pittsfield, May 5-15
Strawberry Jam Music Festival @ Solid Rock Ranch, Northville, May 12-15
Mountain Jam @ Hunter Mountain, Hunter, June 2-5
The Berkshire Countryfest @ Wahconah Park, Pittsfield, June 4
Rhythm On the Ridge @ Maple Ski Ridge, Rotterdam, June 11
Art On Lark @ Lark Street, Albany, June 11
Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival @ MASS MoCA, North Adams, June 24-26
Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music and Dance @ Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, June 24-26
Freihofer’s Jazz Festival @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, June 25-26
The WGNA CountryFest @ the Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, July 9
Green River Festival @ Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, July 16-17
The Big Up @ Sunnyview Farm, Ghent, July 28-30
Bluestock Music Festival @ Hunter Mountain, Hunter, August 26-28
Jazz at the Lake: Lake George Jazz Weekend @ Shepard Park, Lake George, September 17-18, FREE