Acoustic artists from near and far will be performing at a number of festivals on Long Island this summer. These include the 2nd Annual Acoustic Long Island Summer Festival in St. James (June 29), a new Great South Bay Music Festival in Patchogue (July 13-15), Babylon Village Bayfest (July 25), the 2nd Annual Huntington Folk Festival (August 11), and the 5th Annual Long Island Bluegrass Festival in Copiague (August 18). [To see the entire article, click on the headline].

The growing popularity of Acoustic Long Island, Dave and Rob Dircks’ wonderful weekly coffeehouse series in St. James, that also ranks as the top acoustic music podcast on iTunes, has prompted the brothers to expand their live venue to hold about 100 people comfortably. After percolating for more than 18 months at Cool Beanz, a cozy coffeehouse in a strip shopping center, the series has moved just a bit further down Route 25A to a larger space within the historic Deepwells Mansion (circa 1845), a Suffolk County-owned treasure situated just west of Moriches Road. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Little Toby Walker, Tom Griffith and Bob Koenig have new CDs out this month... NYC CD release party slated for Johnny Cuomo... Former LIer Arlon Bennett to make Acoustic Long Island appearance in May... Glen Roethel is a finalist in Susquehanna Songwriting Contest... and LI artists offer quality music for children, too. [To read the entire article, click on the title in red above].

Newsday readers are learning what many on the local acoustic music scene have known for some time now: Dave and Rob Dircks’ wonderful weekly Acoustic Long Island series at Cool Beanz in St. James is garnering increased interest from performers and fans alike, and the buzz extends far beyond Long Island. Acoustic Long Island is much more than just a Wednesday night open mic at a cozy coffeehouse - as much fun as that is. As Steven Snyder’s March 20 Part 2 cover story declares, it’s “Long Island’s Podcast Hit.” {Click on the title in red to read more about "Acoustic Long Island" and about a "Long Island Blues Boy" who is starting to gather steam and notice].

With the advent of spring, a lot of good acoustic music is sprouting on Long Island -- with artists ranging from perennial favorites to blossoming newcomers. In addition to a number of talented local singer-songwriters and musicians, visiting acoustic artists performing on Long Island this spring include Scott Ainslie, Gordon Bok, Guy Clark, Slaid Cleaves, Judy Collins, Emma’s Revolution, Steve Forbert, Colin Hay, The Kennedys, King Wilkie, Patty Larkin, Christine Lavin, Terence Martin & Dan Bonis, Michelle Shocked, Livingston Taylor, We’re About 9, Dar Williams and Jesse Colin Young -- and, from Canada: Eve Goldberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Jory Nash, Ian Tamblyn and Lucie Blue Tremblay. [Click on the title in red to see the calendar listings].