Folks in and around Denver, Colorado and Taunton, Massachusetts have an opportunity to discover and hear some good folk, blues and roots music over the Columbus Day Weekend.  The Swallow Hill Music Association in Denver presents its 17th  Annual HarvestFest, Oct. 10-12, while the 2nd Annual Taunton River Folk Festival takes place Oct. 10-13.

From its origins as a 24-hour non-stop celebration of folk music and kinship, HarvestFest has evolved into a weekend event focused on what the nonprofit organization that bills itself as Denver’s home for folk, roots and acoustic music, describes as “building community through interactive fun that revels in the merriment of great music.”

The rootsy South Austin Jug Band and Italian acoustic guitarist Beppe Gambetta kick-off the festivities on Friday night, while the lineup for the rest of the weekend includes such notable local artists as Harry Tuft and Carla Sciaky, and the talented Vermont-based husband and wife duo, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen. Jam sessions, a wide array of workshops, a “What is folk?” panel discussion, arts & crafts, sing-a-longs and a Folk Idol contest round out the weekend’s activities.  For more information, visit  www.swallowhillmusic.org.

Organized by The Dessert Club as a benefit for the Taunton River Watershed Alliance, the Taunton River Folk Festival will feature more than 60 performers and 200 performances of contemporary and traditional folk, Piedmont and Delta blues, string band jazz, and Appalachian, Celtic and Native American music at five venues in the downtown area. Artists of note include John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers, The Dillonaires, The Folk Brothers (David Massengill and Jack Hardy), bluesman Paul Geremia, Peter Stampfel of Holy Modal Rounders fame, and Jeff Warner.

In the spirit of “front porch” music, many of the artists will participate in instrumental, vocal and thematic workshops, panel discussions and jam sessions.  Dancing, unorganized singing poetry, “joyous outbursts and spontaneous folksong” also are on the docket, according to the website www.tauntonfest.org.