Adirondack Region Summer Music Festivals Announced

Music and festivities take place in small towns along the region's scenic byways

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.- Organizers of the Adirondack region's summer music festivals have announced the event lineup for 2006. Festivals take place from June through September at locations throughout the Adirondack Park. Performers including The Gibson Brothers, The Lost Boys, Smokey Greene, Roy Hurd and 3 Fox Drive are among artists who will take part in the festivals. The season begins June 10th at the Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival in Lowville. This is the first year that the festival will be held; and it is taking place at Maple Ridge Center, one of the area's most beautiful locations. The Schroon Lake Folk Festival and the Lake George Jazz Weekend both take place along the shoreline of two of the region's most popular lakes on August 13th and September 16th, respectively. According to Ann Melious, executive director of the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, the region hosts many bluegrass and folk music festivals. "The Adirondack region which is best known for outdoor recreation in a wilderness setting is quickly becoming known for its musical events," states Melious. "These festivals have been drawing some big crowds, not to mention some big name talent." These local events often attract high profile artists. Since its inception a few years ago, the Otis Mountain Music Festival in Elizabethtown has welcomed The Gibson Brothers to its stage. The Gibson Brothers are quickly climbing the bluegrass charts with the release of their most recent album, Red Letter Day. The Lost Boys, hailing from Syracuse, will be onstage at the Fox Family Bluegrass Festival in Old Forge with music from their two CDs: Middle of Nowhere and Black Dog. The Upper Hudson Bluegrass Festival in North Creek is welcoming bluegrass legend Smokey Greene from August 25-27. Some of the region's ski centers play host to the Adirondack music festivals, utilizing the hills as natural amphitheaters. The Fox Family Bluegrass Festival takes place at the base of McCauley Mountain and the Upper Hudson Bluegrass Festival in North Creek is located at the North Creek Ski Bowl, site of the area's original ski center. The Otis Mountain Music Festival in Elizabethtown is also located at the site of a ski center once popular with local residents, and boasts the colorful Adirondack Mountains as its backdrop. According to Jeff Allott, organizer of the Otis Mountain Music Festival, late summer and early fall are the most beautiful times for people to visit the area and attend these local events. "Fall in the Adirondacks is my favorite time of year which is precisely why we've organized this festival for late summer," he said. "The leaves on the trees have changed to red and gold, the sky is a brilliant shade of blue and the air is crisp. Music in the air provides the perfect accompaniment to the stunning scenery." Located within a 4-hour drive from the metro New York area, the Adirondack region provides a perfect destination for a weekend getaway. The Adirondack region boasts 14 scenic byways that meander through the region's picturesque villages that host these events. Visitors can drive along some of the most scenic routes in the country on their way to each festival. The Adirondack Park, named for the Adirondack Mountains that lie within its boundaries, offers some of the best opportunities in the United States for outdoor recreation in a superb natural setting. The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council can provide information about various events taking place in the Adirondacks. Call 800-487-6867 or visit www.Adk.com for more information. - 30 - The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council has implemented an Adirondack Regional Byways Project. This is a New York State Scenic Byways Program project managed by the Adirondack North Country Association, funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the New York State Department of Transportation. 2006 music festival lineup Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival June 10, 2006 Lowville, N.Y. This inaugural festival features The Lost Boys, The Atkinson Family and Lost Time. Call 315-543-2268 or visit www.atkinsonfamilybluegrass.com/tughill for additional information Fox Family Bluegrass Festival August 10-13, 2006 Old Forge, NY "Where the Deer and the Mandolin Play!" This annual event, now in its 17th year has been expanded to four days. Bands include The Lost Boys, Miller's Crossing and 3 Fox Drive. Contact Kim Fox at 315-369-6869 and kim@foxfamilybluegrass.com for additional information. Schroon Lake Folk Festival August 13, 2006 Schroon Lake, N.Y. Performers at the 16th annual festival include: Roy Hurd, Frank Orsini, Atwater & Donnelly, Susan Trump, Bill Smith, Donny Woodcock and Kate Blain. Contact the Schroon Lake Arts Council for more information at 518-532-9259 or www.SchroonLakeArts.com. Central New York Bluegrass Festival August 19-20, 2006 Long Lake, N.Y. This two-day festival features performances by The Atkinson Family. Call 518-624-3077 for additional information. Upper Hudson Bluegrass Festival August 25-27, 2006 North Creek, N.Y. Three days of bluegrass featuring Smokey Greene, Al & Kathy Bain, Gary Blodgett, Gold Wing Express, Acoustic Blue & others. Contact 518-251-2612 or visit www.GoreMtnRegion.org for additional information. Fabulous Folk Concert September 3, 2006 Bolton Landing, N.Y. Contact 518-644-3831 or visit www.BoltonChamber.com for additional information. Otis Mountain Music Festival August 25-26, 2006 Elizabethtown, N.Y. This two-day concert is quickly becoming one of the premier music events in the Adirondacks, providing entertainment and music clinics for attendees. Call 518-962-8687 or visit www.otismountain.com for more information. Lake George Jazz Weekend September 16-17, 2006 Lake George, N.Y. Well known jazz musicians including Bobby Floyd with Houston Person, David Sanchez and Jon Faddis perform. Call 518-668-2616 or visit www.LakeGeorgeArts.org for additional information.