TicketNetwork Blog

The following is a guest post by Djembe Drum Shop.

The USA is the land of many things but there are two exports that, when married together, are the perfect pairing. Folk festivals are hugely popular across the world, and no-one does a folk festival quite like the Americans.

If you’re into this niche of music and know your Billy Dean from your Dean Para, you will be no doubt counting down the days until your next festival. Here is our pick of five top US folk festivals happening in 2013:

1. Central Ohio Folk Festival

The Central Ohio Folk Festival always takes place on the first full weekend in May, and lasts for three days. This folk festival is as much about the teaching of music and jamming sessions, as it is the music and performers. You can watch artists such as Cathy Barton and Dave Para in the day; and enjoy workshops, jamming sessions, and even a worst song contest in the evenings. If you’re heading to Ohio this May, be sure to take your instruments along and show off what you can do.

Last year was one of firsts at Coachella^®. It was the first time it brought a holographic singer to the stage. More than that, it was also the first time it spread to two weekends. Although the first first is not likely to come back, at least for now (one of companies involved folded shortly after), the second was apparently successful enough for other festivals to adopt it. This year the Ultra Music Festival did it in March, and the Austin City Limits Festival^® will do it in October.

Although it's the in thing right now, this practice actually originated much earlier than last year. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival^TM, for example, has run two weekends since 1976. So there was some precedent for this before 2012 — it just took a while for other festivals to catch up.

Festivals tend be a great deal because you get a lot of bang for your buck. While they typically cost more than a single concert, you get access to a wide array of artists. More, in fact, than you could possibly fit into a two-, three-, or four-day schedule. Some festivals have a more limited selection, but for a few hundred dollars you still get a lot of music.

Then major exception, at least on TicketNetwork.com, is the iHeartRadio Music Festival, which started up last year. The current average selling price for iHeartRadio on TicketNetwork.com is a whopping $954, which is far above the price of any other festival held this year. In comparison, the Bayou Country Superfest — a similarly-sized festival held in May — had an average selling price of $154 for single-day passes. Meanwhile, festivals with a much larger selection often have lower prices, such as the recently held Lollapalooza, which on TicketNetwork.com had an average price of $184 for single-day tickets.

August brings with it both National S'mores Day (August 10) and Toasted Marshmallow Day (August 30). Why aren't those both on the same day? I digress...here are the top live events coming up in August:

Concerts

Madonna: The Material Girl is continuing her epic world tour this fall, kicking off the North American leg in Philadelphia, PA, on August 28. Dates continue through November 20 in Miami, at which point she will take on South America.

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Festivals: The festival season is in high gear in August, with Lollapalooza taking place Aug. 3-5; Warped Tour and Mayhem Festivals running until Aug. 5; Fresh Music Festival continuing through Aug. 11; Peach Music Festival playing Aug. 10-12; and Electric Zoo Festival on stage Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

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Keith Urban: The country legend has several dates across the US and Canada starting August 19 in Halifax, Canada, and continuing through Sept. 2 in Gilford, NH.

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Other Concerts in August:

• Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kelly Clarkson, Big Time Rush and American Idol Live continue their respective tours.
• The Honda Civic Tour with Linkin Park and Incubus revs up August 11.
• Gotye becomes somebody we...still know...kicking off his tour Aug. 22.

Happy Friday the 13th! Check out this week's list of popular discussion topics:

Friday the 13th

Of course, the most popular discussion for a day like today is just how lucky or unlucky today is going to be. Those with friggatriskaidekaphobia (the fear of Friday the 13th) are probably just staying at home in bed, others are watching Friday the 13th, and some people are just going about their normal, everyday lives without any idea of the peril they may be risking. What do you do on Friday the 13th?