Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
While mostly accompanied by American country-western music, line dancing is found in a variety of other cultures, and is performed both for recreation and as a form of competition. With the efforts of famous line dance associations to promote this folk-based dance form across the world, you can find many opportunities to join in the fun.
Dance festivals are short-term events that include a wide variety of dance-related activities such as watching performances by world-class artists and participating in fun workshops that are open to all skill levels. Several festivals have also become world renowned due to their roster of legendary artists and the overwhelming support of enthusiasts who come to immerse themselves in dance styles ranging from ballet to tango.
Every Monday night for six seasons, from 2006 to 2010, millions of viewers tuned into the MTV network to watch the ladies of "The Hills" navigate their way along the rocky road to adulthood, against the backdrop of the Los Angeles landscape. What separated these young women from many girls outside of L.A. were their upper-class existences and the cameras following them 24/7. The show's original cast continues to capture the imagination of fans eager to know if the girls' dreams came true.
If you live in northern Wisconsin and are looking for a blues festival to attend, you have a number of choices. Wisconsin is a hub for blues festivals, and there are several different festivals located in the northern half of Wisconsin, including Blues on the Chippewa, Big Bull Falls Blues Fest, Trempealeau Blues Bash and Bay Front Blues. These are annual festivals that occur during various months of the year. Some smaller festivals are free to attend while larger festivals sell cheap to moderately-priced tickets.
With the birth of the Internet, musicians have had to play live more regularly to promote themselves. As a result, music festivals have grown in popularity. Festivals act as a hub of creative talent and as a means for music lovers to experience music firsthand. Even in the small city of Montpelier, Vermont, music festivals play a vital role in entertaining the public.
Chama is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and lush green fields. Besides its beautiful scenery, the area offers plenty of activities and events year-round. From winter sports like skiing to all kinds of festivals in the warmer months, Chama has a lot to offer people who love nature and the arts. Outside the area, you will also find a number of musical events.
Although perhaps not as synonymous with the blues like Chicago or Memphis, San Francisco is home to several annual blues festivals and concert series. It also offers a festival dedicated to blues dancing and is home to the longest continually running blues festival in the country.
Blues lovers in Washington and Oregon get to enjoy their favorite music in beautiful surroundings such as lakeside resorts, scenic valleys and riverfront parks. Blues festivals in Washington and Oregon offer top-name national acts as well as local and regional performers.
Bluegrass music, traditionally played with acoustic stringed instruments such as the banjo, fiddle and acoustic guitar, is rooted in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. It takes its name from the Kentucky-based band the Blue Grass Boys, led by "Father of Bluegrass," Bill Monroe, who shaped the style that aficionados enjoy today. Wisconsin boasts a few musical roots of its own, including status as the birthplace of legendary guitarist Les Paul. Finding a festival in Wisconsin that celebrates music steeped in stringed instruments is easy --- there are bluegrass events throughout the state all summer long.
Home to over a dozen blues clubs including the Baltimore Blues Club, the Gold Blues Club and the Western Maryland Blues Club, the state of Maryland has a long and passionate history with blues music. Along with playing host to a number of blues festivals throughout the state, Maryland is also home to Severn Records, an independent record label promoting blues and soul music, located in an old ranch house in Anne Arundel County.
Mississippi blues festivals take place year-round, drawing local and national talent. These events feature musicians, artists, entertainers and vendors who celebrate the state's musical heritage, and teach attendees worldwide about blues and its history.
With its heavy influence on string instruments and deep vocals, bluegrass music has a style all its own. A bluegrass group typically consists of a fiddle, acoustic bass, five-string banjo, mandolin, guitar and Dobro guitar. The music features fast tempos and three or four-part harmonies. Bluegrass fans in North Carolina have access to a variety of annual bluegrass festivals every summer. From May to August, North Carolina is home to several bluegrass festivals, many of which occur in June.
Despite being surrounded by white sandy beaches and lots of sunshine, plenty of Floridians still sing the blues, and celebrate them, too. Several blues festivals are held annually in the Sunshine State to pay homage to what originated on Southern plantations as African American spirituals and work songs. The familiar lyrical repeats and gradual chord progressions are staple stage fare. Good eats also enhance Florida blues events.
The State of Texas has a long history with the blues and many of the pioneers called the Lone Star State home. Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, T-Bone Walker, and Freddie King, just to name a few, thrust the blues into being a recognized and loved genre of music. Great artists like the Vaughan brother, Jimmie and Stevie Ray, brought it into the modern era. Texas is proud of its heritage and is the site of numerous blues festivals each year.
