Summer's Mini-Festivals/Road Trips

Gas prices be damned: I'll take about any excuse to get in the car and do a little road trip -- whether that's down the coast or just across the Bay. Add music to that destination and it's all the better. A couple of the more intimate-sized festivals and one-off events have made announcements in recent days about their upcoming lineups ... fill up now, while gas is still under $5 a gallon.

(((FolkYeah!)))'s big bash will also be a benefit for the Big Sur volunteer fire brigade, a group that's been unfortunately too busy over the last couple months battling the wildfires down there. In their support, the indie promoter is bringing to the Fernwood two days of music, including Silver Jews, Entrance Band, Port O' Brien, Beach House, Tussle, Lemonade, and more on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27.

A little sooner, and up on the north coast, Indian Summer Music is hosting a couple one-off shows in Bolinas. Those looking for a good excuse to skip town can find one on July 31, when Sonny Smith (and a band called the Sunsets) performs at Smiley’s Schooner Saloon. On August 14, that same venue will be host to Citay and The Dry Spells.

And while Budget Rock hasn't announced its lineup quite yet, it is planning on taking over the Stork Club October 23-26, so stretch that beer gut into good garage rock 'n' roll shape now. -- Jennifer Maerz

(Photo: Citay)