Summer is a great time to relax and listen to the music-jazz, blues, country classical-whatever gets your toe tappin.’ And if it’s out in the open air, so much the better. With its wide assortment of music festivals, Minnesota makes it easy to get out and groove to the sounds you like best.

At many of the non-urban music fests, camping and camaraderie are part of the experience. From June through August, you can head out almost any weekend for a rockin’ good time. Most bands hadn’t been announced by press time, so check event websites for the latest news on who’s playing this year.

Some music festivals have been around for so long they’ve become Minnesota traditions. We Fest, a large country music fest held at the Soo Pass Ranch four miles south of Detroit Lakes, has been around 25 years and draws thousands of faithful fans. This year’s August 7-9 line-up includes Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and LeAnn Rimes.

Taste of Minnesota, serving up rock music along with ethnic and fair foods, celebrated its 25th year last summer. Free admission, fireworks each evening, and three stages, including a kids’ stage, draw the crowds to Harriet Island across from downtown St. Paul; this year’s dates are July 3-6.

Classic rock is the sound at the Moondance Jam, a camping and music fest held at Moondance Ranch near Walker featuring five bands a night for four nights, July 9-12. Poison has signed on for this year’s event; Moody Blues, Def Leppard and REO Speedwagon took the stage last year.

On the jazz front, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival June 20-29 brings a wide variety of local and national talent to Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis and Mears Park in downtown St. Paul. Past performers have included Dave Brubeck, Spyro Gyra and Chic Corea.

The landmark Aerial Lift Bridge is Duluth is the backdrop for two terrific music fests held at Bayfront Park. The Bayfront Blues Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, August 7-10, with three stages of music, including one featuring acoustic. Feast on barbecue and Cajun munchies as you listen to the blues. (For a more intimate blues experience, try the smaller Boundary Waters Blues Festival on the shore of Fall Lake a few miles from the north woods town of Ely.) Newer to Duluth is the Bayfront Reggae Festival, with seven bands playing July 12; proceeds go to help kids in Jamaica.

There are other relative newcomers on the music festival scene, as well. The third Fat Fest will be held this year, at Coffee Mill Ski Resort at Wabasha. This funky, family friendly camping event invites musicians reflecting a wide variety of influences-rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass and folk. On top of the music, last year’s activities included canoeing and hiking trips, “hippie Olympics,” a kids’ “creation station,” a cooperative mural, and a community campfire.

In its first year last summer, the White Pine Festival brought 1,600 people to the St. Croix Valley area for classical music and poetry readings in intimate settings in a series that included the St. Petersburg String Quartet from Russia and Roger Bonair-Agard, national poetry slam champion. This year’s festival will be held June 19-22 at several venues in the Stillwater area, and will add a third art to music and literature.

Another classical music newbie is the Minnesota Beethoven Festival, which will enjoy its second season in Winona July 1-20 this summer. Among the highlights are concerts by the King’s Singers, violinist Joshua Bell, and the Minnesota Orchestra.

The granddaddy of classical music festivals in Minnesota is, of course, Sommerfest, July 11-Aug. 2 this year. At Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis, the Minnesota Orchestra and special guests perform a series of classical concerts, including an evening of Strauss waltzes; there are typically some pop, jazz and Broadway music concerts in the line-up, as well. Outside on the Peavey Plaza, free concerts are held each evening; a fun, eclectic assortment of musicians perform folk, jazz, big band, reggae and much more.

These have just been a sammping. Follow the links below for more:

• Upcoming music-related festivals

• Musical performances

 

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