Summer is here and music festivals are happening all over the planet. Just peruse the Brown Paper Tickets website and you’ll see that we have no shortage of music festivals to choose from, whether you’re into experimental jazz or death metal, there’s a festival for you.

While trying to decide what to write about for this week’s Mid-Week Beat, I looked out my office window at the gorgeous Seattle sunshine and thought that the best, and most memorable, music festival experiences that I’ve had have always been when I’ve escaped the city, headed into the woods and totally immersed myself in the rural music festival experience. There’s just something about hearing the music reverberate off of the tall trees surrounding you; creating a sense of freedom and escape that’s unattainable at urban music festivals.

So, this week, we’re highlighting some of the rural music festivals that are happening around the country this weekend. There was certainly plenty to choose from. Hopefully, one of our picks is in your neck of the woods (pun intended!) and you can get out into the great outdoors and enjoy your favorite bands under glorious blue summer skies.

What are you waiting for? Start packing the car and get ready for your musical road trip out to the woods. Tell ’em BPT sent you!

Thursday, July 25

Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival – Stevenson, Washington   The Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival, in scenic Stevenson, Washington, is a unique blend of the best in bluegrass. The event features amazing talent, workshops, instrument contests and raffle, fine craft and food vendors, a merry beer garden, and nightly dances. The 2013 Festival spotlights the great talent of the Jim Lauderdale, the James King Band, SteelDrivers, Town Mountain, Rural Delivery, and Jim Faddis.  Located only 45 minutes from Portland, Oregon, event camping is available with hot showers and an unforgettable vista.

Friday, July 26 

Timber! Fest 2013 – Carnation, Washington   Timber! is the new outdoor Music festival from Artist Home Presents uniting music, community and the beautiful natural environment of the Pacific Northwest. To present Timber!, Artist Home is partnering with King County Parks to set the festival in the rural splendor of Carnation, Washington. The stellar line-up includes: The Helio Sequence, Fruit Bats, Quasi, Ivan & Alyosha, Noah Gunderson, Lemolo, Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers, Bryan John Appleby and more.

Electric Loft (A Barn Party) feat Dirty Talk – Litchfield, Minnesota   Darwin Theory and Barn-taur Bar are proud to bring you the next installment of their barn parties!  If you haven’t been to one of the barn parties, you’re definitely missing out on some amazing fun with some of the best people out there and just an all around awesome vibe! They’ve got some amazing DJs coming in for this one too: Dirty Talk, Sipher, Darwin Theory, struggleb0x, Miles, KRL, Hapka and NeZzie, to name a few. They’ll be adding some additional lighting to the already large light display as well as a few fun surprises! As for lodging, everyone is welcome and encouraged to camp. There is plenty of room for tents and campers.

Flamenco 3-day retreat – Lakemont, Georgia   Flamenco dancers, guitarists, and singers come together for three days at Lake Rabun, Georgia, to learn from Maestro Juan Paredes. Classes of bulerías por fiesta focus on palmas and compás; dance elements of llamadas and marcaje and the ever important role of waiting. Singing and guitar students benefit from learning the structure of bulerías por fiesta and live experience with dancers during fiestas, which will be subtly coached.

Folk Off at Strawbale Winery – Renner, South Dakota   Folk Off at Strawbale Winery is a two day folk music competition and concert. Up to 28 musical acts will compete for cash and a slot to play at the Sioux River Folk Festival, the following week. There will be food, beverages, and shopping vendors during the event. Folk Off is a fundraiser for the Friends of Traditional Music and the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Relax, enjoy the outdoors, and listen to your favorite music all day long. Music, wine, beer and a beautiful country setting.

Saturday, July 27

The Grape Escape Music Festival – Silver Creek, New York   A one day, all ages music festival with eight fantastic bands, a huge barbecue, the world famous Willow Creek Winery wine and wine slushies and an amazing stage. Bands include: The Town Pants, Consuelo’s Revenge, The Howlin’ Brothers, Sim Redmond Band, Mike Slo-Mo Brenner, The Weedrags, Lorne Keogh and the Back Door Men. Plus a midnight campfire jam with Not Sold Seperately & friends. Tickets include camping. Everything is on a first come first serve basis, so get there early! Music starts at 12:30pm! Pack your tent…ROAD-TRIP!

Sunday, July 28

Billy Brandt and the Sugaree’s at Dhaseleer Events Barn – Charlevoix, Michigan   Dhaseleer Events Barn is home to the Black Cat Concert Series. Now in its 8th year! Featuring live weekly concerts in an 1870’s re-modeled barn. The barn has handicap accessible bathrooms and a great hardwood dance floor. Amazing acoustics for an intimate concert experience. Bands perform 2- 45minute sets with a 15 minute intermission break. During the break there will be potluck food, so bring a dish to pass or bring your own private picnic.

Photo of The Barr Brothers at Pickathon 2012 courtesy of Pickathon.com