Visit a fest this weekend

Michael Smith - lifetime achiever

Indoors, outdoors, there's music everywhere this weekend.

First the fine fests (say that five times fast).

Midwest Folk and Fiber Art Fair, at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Friday and Saturday, 10 AM - 6 PM, and Sunday, 10 AM - 4 PM. Among the many performers are Small Potatoes on Friday, Mark Dvorak, Lou and Peter Berryman, Trillium, and Amy Dixon-Kolar on Saturday, and an open mic on Sunday. Check their web site for a complete schedule. Mim Eichmann, of Trillium, will be a strolling musician on Saturday. It's worth the trip to Crystal Lake just to see her stroll with a hammered dulcimer.

24th Annual Woodstock Folk Festival, Sunday, July 19. Music starts at 12:30 PM, going until about 6 PM. Their great bill includes Magpie, the Jamie O'Reilly Trio, and Trillium (they were in the neighborhood anyway), plus other mini-venues around the square.  Michael Smith will receive a much-deserved lifetime achievement award.WFMT's Rich Warren will share emcee duties, probably sans sweater, unless it is rchilly out.  Like the Fox Valley Folk Festival, this one is on the honor system - so find the donation box and be sure to contribute. No money, and the music goes away.

A short aside: word is that Off-Square concerts will be starting up again in the Fall. How's that for great news?

Friday, July 17 Robbie Fulks, with Rob Gjersoe and Jennie  Scheinman at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln, Chicago, 6:30 PM $12

June Shellene and Michael Johnson at Evanston's SPACE, 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, 8 PM. $15 in advance, $20-28 at the door.

Saturday, July 18 Jazzman Jeff Justman at Palatine's Farmers' Market Corn Roast, downbtown, just east of the train station. 10 AM - 1 PM. Lend an ear and have an ear.

Steve Justman, participating in the "Where Were You?" remembrance of the first moon landing (I was in a motel in Virginia on a weekend pass from Ft. Lee), Villa Park Public Library, 305 S. Ardmore, Villa Park, 7 PM.

Dean Milano, et. al  at the Heartland Cafe, 7000 N. Glenwood, Chicago, 8 PM, only five bucks. Another aside: Dean's long-awaited book on Chicago music from the 50's on, is completed. A celebratory concert planned for the fall looks like it will put Woodstock to shame. Watch this column for details when the time comes.

Sunday, July 19 K. C. Clifford at Bill's Blues Bar, 1029 Davis Street, Evanston, 7 PM.

Steve Justman continues his world library tour at the Park Ridge Public Library, 20 S. Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge. 2 PM.