THROUGH THE LENS: From Australia to Pennsylvania, Five Festivals Offered a Variety of Ways to Explore Roots Music
This week’s column presents five roots music fests that, for a variety of reasons, slipped through the cracks during past few months. Together, they represent the many different aspects of roots music, from their line-ups to their respective locales. In chronological order those festivals are: 1)
Black News 
This week’s column presents five roots music fests that, for a variety of reasons, slipped through the cracks during past few months. Together, they represent the many different aspects of roots music, from their line-ups to their respective locales.
In chronological order those festivals are: 1) Blue Mountains Music Festival (Australia); 2) Central Ohio Folk Festival (Ohio); 3) Nelsonville Music Festival (Ohio); 4) Blue Ox Music Festival Festival (Wisconsin); and 5) River Roads Music Festival (Pennsylvania)
Blue Mountains Music Festival 2026
The fest, held in Katoomba, Australia (March 13-15, 2026) may be less than two hours from central Sydney, but you feel as though in another world. The town has a slow-paced, yesteryear feel, complete with deep sandstone gorges on the edges of town.
This year’s fest, its 29th, featured seven undercover stages that saw over 100 performances, including Stave Poltz, Willie Watson, the Rainbow Girls, and loads of Australian artists.
Frequent contributor Steve Ford, who has attended the fest many times, was once again there, his photos are in the gallery below.
