10 great places to get in tune, be outdoors

By Kathy Baruffi, USA TODAY
Pack your picnic baskets and feast on the sound of live music under the summer sky. Tom Clynes, author of Music Festivals From Bach to Blues, shares his list of outdoor festivals with Kathy Baruffi for USA TODAY.
Newport Folk Festival

Newport, R.I.

"Pete Seeger threw a fit backstage one year at Newport when Bob Dylan shocked folk purists by playing an electric guitar," Clynes says. "Nowadays, the festival is unabashedly pop-oriented, bringing in high-profile acts." Among performers expected at this year's event, Aug. 3-5, are Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and the Allman Brothers. "On Saturday and Sunday, the shows are in a picturesque park overlooking Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor." 401-847-3700; newportfolk.com

Tanglewood

Lenox, Mass.

The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is in the heart of the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts, "one of the America's greenest concert venues," Clynes says. The BSO opens its season there tonight with Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Also on the Tanglewood calendar this summer: chamber and choral music as well as musical theater, jazz and a Festival of Contemporary Music. "Most concerts are performed in the Music Shed, which dates back to 1938 and accommodates 5,000 under cover (plus more on the lawn)," Clynes says. 413-637-5165;tanglewood.org

Aspen Music Festival

Aspen, Colo.

"Where else but Aspen could you mountain-bike in the morning, hike to a mountainside for an afternoon concert, descend for a great dinner, then enjoy an evening concert in an acoustically perfect hall?" Clynes asks. This summer's festival, which runs until Aug. 19, features more than 350 musical events. "Many concerts are performed outdoors, reinforcing the concept that music is in many ways an element of nature. Catch one of the festival's concerts on the lawn and you'll see children playing, dogs romping and couples drinking wine and smooching." 970-925-9042; aspenmusicfestival.com

Santa Fe Opera Festival

Santa Fe

"Each summer, a mix of seasoned opera stars and debuting soloists perform in Santa Fe's beautiful open-air theater, which blends seamlessly with high desert scenery," Clynes says. Tailgating before performances is particularly popular in what's billed as "the most beautiful parking lot in the world." This summer's productions include Puccini's La Bohème and Mozart's Cosi FanTutte. "Opera lovers also can attend special picnics, preview suppers and after-opera waltzes with music by the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra." The festival runs until Aug. 25. 800-280-4654; santafeopera.org

San Francisco Blues Festival

San Francisco

"A friendly atmosphere, imaginative bookings and awesome views of San Francisco Bay draw thousands to the country's longest continuously running blues festival, from Sept. 28-30 this year," Clynes says. "The festival features a laudably eclectic mix of urban and rural, acoustic and electric — plus blues offshoots like zydeco and R&B. The Great Meadow location sports one of the city's best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin hills and the city itself." 415-979-5588; sfblues.com

Vancouver Folk Music Festival

British Columbia

"Year after year, Vancouver's Folk Music Festival manages to present one of the world's most eclectic and interactive showcases of traditional and contemporary folk and roots music from around the world," Clynes says. "In addition to traditional singers and songwriters, expect to see and hear exotic drumming, down-home blues and a feast of other musical treasures. Jericho Beach Park is packed with seven stages of music, plus storytelling, poetry, guitar workshops and food stands." This year's dates: July 13-15. 800-883-3655; thefestival.bc.ca

Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance

Trumansburg, N.Y.

"Four days and nights of African, zydeco, old-time Appalachian and rock bring the Finger Lakes region roaring into summer," Clynes says. "With four stages and lots of room for dancing, the event has managed to maintain a volunteer-based, grass-roots feel while pulling in the top rank of musicians from several genres. A laid-back, dance-till-dawn mentality prevails among the thousands who attend." This year's dates are July 19-22. 607-387-5098; grassrootsfest.org

Quebec City Summer Festival

Quebec

"Nearly 350 presentations transform the stunning fortified Old City into a musical performance ground with three big outdoor stages and seven smaller stages," Clynes says. Showcased: "an astounding range" of musicians and other performing artists from 35 countries. "Plus, the streets and parks of the Old City are constantly hopping with buskers, jugglers, acrobats and people having a great time." The festival runs through July 15. 888-992-5200; infofestival.com

Summerfest

Milwaukee

"With music sounding continuously from 11 stages, this huge festival is an explosion of American and world music styles," Clynes says. "National and local acts spill sounds along the Lake Michigan shoreline, while audiences happily eat and dance all around the sprawling 75-acre site." The 11-day event, which opened June 28, continues through this weekend. It also includes a children's theater and play area, exhibitions and 45 local food vendors. 414-273-2680; summerfest.com

Kaslo Jazz Etc. Summer Music Festival

Kaslo, British Columbia

"Big mountains, small village, floating stage — the vibe of Kaslo is intimately amazing," Clynes says. "With pristine wilderness as a backdrop, the musicians are perched on the edge of Kootenay Lake while onlookers swim around the stage, dance in the sand or recline on blankets laid in a natural, green amphitheater. Booths offer ethnic food and a beer garden. There's no restriction on BYO picnics, so plenty of checkered quilts and tablecloths dot the ground." Dates are Aug. 3-5. 250-353-7577; kaslojazzfest.com