A traditional Appalachian band, two masters of Indian music, an intense group from Ghana, a Schubert string quartet, a bit of bluegrass, German songs in recital from a renown classically trained tenor -- those are just a few of the sounds on offer as the Savannah Music Festival continues through April 5th. It is Georgia’s largest music and arts festival, and quite likely its most eclectic too, with classical, jazz, swing, country, folk, bluegrass, Cajun, Indian, African, and many other sorts of music represented in individual performances and in collaboration.The festival, held across many venues in one of the deep south’s most beautiful and unique cities, also commissions works, and is host to the American Traditions Competition, where amateur vocalists sing songs from the American song book. There is a Swing music band competition and education program as well.

Still to come in this year’s program are a Cajun dance party with the group Feufollet, the Academy of Ancient Music performing the complete Brandenburg Concertos, what’s sure to be a lively, funny, and full of laughs family show from Billy Jonas, hot mandolin from Chris Thile, and thought provoking original songs form one of the south’s best singer songwriters, Caroline Herring. Neko Case, Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussein, Marcus Roberts, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are jamong the others who will be onstage in Savannah through April 5th.

Caroline Herring

A tribute concert to Broadway lyricist and Savannah native son Johnny Mercer has already taken place, but you can catch highlights at a pod cast on the festival’s web site, and check into other events form this year’s schedule as well as top events from past seasons.

the festival’s main web site
http://www.savannahmusicfestival.org/radio/

here’s a link for the pod casts
http://www.savannahmusicfestival.org/radio/

and here’s a handy listing of folk, roots, and world music festivals throughout the year, which is updated regularly by the editors at the music magazine Dirty Linen

http://www.dirtylinen.com/linen/special/events1.html

Kerry Dexter is the Music Editor for Wandering Educators.

Kerry's credits include VH1, CMT, the folk music magazine Dirty Linen, Strings, and The Encyclopedia of Ireland and the Americas. She also writes about the arts and creative practice at http://www.musicroad.blogspot.com Music Road. You may reach her at music at wanderingeducators.com.