ALREADY THINKING ABOUT FESTIVAL SEASON February 11, 2016 / by John "Stoney" Cannon A quick look around the internet offers a quick glance at what area music festival fans can expect in 2016. Matter of fact, as early as last fall, promoters began teasing various events scheduled to run run from March throughout the summer. Here is just a small look at some of the events heating up on the horizon...or shall we say...as the horizon heats up. Happening the same weekend but on opposite ends of the area are a pair of festivals that are perhaps as different as their locations. One is well known, the other is a festival that would make the average Augustan give off puzzled looks. The 2016 Papa Joe's Banjobque festival, now held at the Lady Antebellum Ampitheatre is once again chock full of well known artists performing performing over two days March 27th and 28th. Included in this lineup is country music legend Willie Nelson and Family, Old Crow Medicine Show, the Steep Canyon Rangers and a ton of other cool country and bluegrass artists including bluegrass vet Roy Lewis with the Little Roy & Lizzy Show, Packway Handle band, and local faves The Mason Jars and Delta Cane. On the other end is the 3rd Annual Augusta Music Festival to be held at the Augusta Common on May 28th. The website touts this event by the headline "Augusta Music Fest is becoming the premier music festival located in downtown Augusta, Georgia" and many artists that we've asked are even surprised that this isn't the first time the event has taken place. Unlike the Banjobque fest, the Augusta Music Festival has only one artists announced, a wonderful yet not overtly known artist named Gary Palmer. Once we head into April and Master's Week, it's time to jump once again on a pair festivals held on opposite side of the area - the long-running Rock Fore! Dough Festival, in its 12th year and now being held at the Lady Antebellum Ampitheatre, is April 5th and once again boasts some cool artists including Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker, Brothers Osborne, and area favorites Patrick Davis and John Krueger. Where Rock Fore! Dough is more country and Americana based, The Major Rager, a festival still growing in the area, is built on classic jam band festivals and will be held at the Augusta Common on April 7th. This year the festival will feature jam fest faves Umphrey's McGee as well as the Revivalists, Earphunk, and more. These are just a sneak peak of the festivals coming up when the weather warms up. May will bring the second Mayapple Music & Arts Festival and already the words has leaked out on a few cool summer outdoor events before Westobou and Arts in the Heart festivals. Stay tuned online for more to come and for more info on the events above, click on the banners!