See the Sunspot Related Links pages for information on summer festivals and music schools. You can also find links to some other, more comprehensive lists of area music events.

Other DC Area Musical Events

August Jennifer Cutting's Ocean Orchestra will give a free show for the SuperNova Summer Concerts Series in the amphitheater at Lee District Park on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 pm.

Jake Armerding, who appeared with the Four Fabulous Fiddlers at Sunspot in 2005, will be at the Kennedy Center's free Millennium Stage on Thursday, Aug. 21, from 6 to 7 pm.

Pan-Celtic band Iona will perform in a free show on the plaza at Lake Anne in Reston on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 7 pm.

Iona will be at Grist Mill Park in Alexandria for a free show on Friday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 pm.

Irish band Solas will be performing in a ticketed concert and reception at the Rosslyn Spectrum theatre on Friday, August 29, at 8 pm and as part of the free 3rd Annual Planet Arlington Worlds Music Festival the Netherlands Carillon on the Iwo Jima Memorial grounds in Arlington on Saturday, August 30, at 8:45 pm. Information for both events is on the Planet Arlington web site.

September

Erin McKeown will be at Iota in Arlington on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 9:30 pm.

Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer will present their first Family Jamboree at Jammin' Javaa on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6:30 pm, with a jam session to follow--bring your instruments!

Hammered dulcimer player Jody Marshall will be performing in a free concert with fiddler Andrea Hoag, singer Carey Creed, and guitarist Zan McLeod at the Palladium Civic Green in McLean, VA, near the intersection of Chain Bridge Rd. and Laughlin Ave on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 5 pm. Call the Palladium front desk at 703-288-9505 for information.

The 2008 Virginia Highland Games and Festival will be held on September 13 and 14 from 9 am to 6 pm at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA.

The Takoma Park Folk Festival takes place on Sunday, September 14 from 11 am to 6:30 pm.

The annual Watermelon Park Festival takes place on the banks of the Shennandoah River outside Berryville, Virginia September 18 through 20. Performers this year include The Dan Tyminski Band, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Crooked Still, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Woodshedders, Furnace Mountain, Danny Knicely, The Frieght Hoppers, Whiskey Rebellion, Mando Mafia and Gold Heart. There will also be workshops, pickin' contests, raffles and music around the campfires at night.

Abby Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet will be at Strathmore Music Center in Rockville on Friday, September 26 at 8 pm.

The Institute of Musical Traditions will present a special concert by Adrienne Young as the capstone event in a week of activities focused on local and sustainable food production. In cooperation with the North American Association for Environmental Education. For information about Adrienne see her web site or her MySpace page). Saturday, Sept. 27, at 8 pm.

October

Master guitarist Orrin Star will give a afternoon bluegrass rhythm guitar workshop and evening concert on Saturday October 4, 2008, in Mount Rainier, MD. In between, there will be an open potluck jam. The workshop is from 1:30 to 3:15 pm and the concert begins at 7:00. Bluegrass rhythm guitarists have developed some of the most potent and interesting rhythm techniques ever heard—but they are seldom taught or broken down in an organized way. The workshop will take a hands-on, detailed and entertaining look at them. Material to be covered includes bass runs and strums, rest strokes, playing in 3/4 time, playing fast and backing up simple country songs. For players of all levels (save complete beginners). Bring your guitars, non-video recording devices. Includes written hand-outs For reservations, information and directions contact Andy Bryson on 301-277-5258 or 301-351-8087 or via email at BryCA137@aol.com. For comprehensive lists of area shows, see Mary Cliff's "Who's Where" list at her Traditions web site, Wayne Kahn's Right on Rhythm list or Neal Emerald's calendar on his DC Celtic Events Yahoo! group.