Weekend Festivals Preview, Music on Thursday

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The THURSDAY music scene in a moment. First, here's a roundup of the amazing offerings this weekend...
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PREVIEW OF THIS WEEKEND'S FESTIVALS
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PLENTY is local, but we start with the one that requires a drive...
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Oh, boy! This friendly festival is outdoing itself with acoustic and Americana star power. It's east of the High Sierra, but not as far as you drive to ski for a weekend. It's Friday-Sunday, different acts each day, and an enthusiastic Guide "SHOW-of-the-WEEK" pick:
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The 21st annual "MILLPOND MUSIC FESTIVAL" is a hoot and a half, with LAURA LOVE, BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY, DAVE ALVIN, TOM RUSSELL, RONNY COX, PINE LEAF BOYS, JO HENLEY, SAMANTHA ROBUCHAUD, STRING THEORY, DEAD WINTER CARPENTERS, HUUN HUUR TU, LOS CENZOTLES, LITTLEST BIRDS, SWEETWATER STRING BAND, and MAMMA JOWALI - the band of WALTER STRAUSS, MAMADOU SIDIBE, and JOE CRAVEN, at Millpond Park, 6 miles NE of Bishop; www.inyo.org; 760-873-8014. Details, tix, campground info in the Guide's full edition.
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The 10th year anniversary "VENTURA HILLSIDES MUSIC FESTIVAL" is Saturday only, in Ventura, with BLUES TRAVELER, ELVIN BISHOP, and DR. JOHN & THE LOWER EAST SIDE featuring JON CLEARY, in Arroyo Verde Park, Ventura; www.venturahillsides.org.
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The weekend's most trad folky festival, and a "SHOW-of-the-WEEK"pick, is the 18th annual "HARVEST FESTIVAL OF DULCIMERS," Saturday & Sunday. Most events, including the free noontime concert and ticketed evening concert, are Saturday in Culver City. Workshops are both days, and on Sunday they move to different venues in Huntington Beach and Garden Grove. See the "2012 festival" tab at www.scdh.org.
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The annual "SIMI VALLEY FAIR & MUSIC FESTIVAL" presents a double-headliner concert with LISA HALEY & THE ZYDEKATS plus PANCHO SANCHEZ at Rancho Simi Community Park, Saturday at 8:30 pm.
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The 8th annual "MOOMPETAM NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL" is at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Saturday & Sunday, 9 am-5 pm.
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The annual "REDONDO BEACH LOBSTER FESTIVAL" is at Seaside Lagoon, Redondo Beach, Friday-Sunday; 310-376-6911; www.lobsterfestival.com.
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PLUS, there's an indoor pseudo-festival on FRIDAY, 2-4 pm: the "LATIN AMERICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION" is at Angelus Plaza, 255 S Hill St, in the fourth floor auditorium, downtown L.A.; info, 213-623-4352 x317. Free.
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Now, for today and tonight,
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Live events, and music on TV...
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Music on TV Thursday:
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4-5 pn JOE WALSH & FRIENDS on a 2012 episode of "CMT Crossroads,"the on Paladia.
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An "Event-of-the-Week for Artists" is 5-7 pm on Paladia: "IT MIGHT GET LOUD" (2008) is a documentary about top ELECTRIC guitar players. (Repeats Sep 21, at 10 am.)
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10:30-11 pm "MUSIC VOYAGER" visits Israel, on KLCS. (Repeats 4:30-5 am.)
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11 pm-midnight "LIVE FROM DARYL'S HOUSE" brings a 2012 episode with BUTCH WALKER, on Paladia.
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THURSDAY'S LIVE PERFORMANCE PICKS:
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Tonight brings Irish and bluegrass residencies and jams, open mics, and more. All are in the full edition. HERE are the events we're highlighting:
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6-9 pm, THE FAMOUS NO NAME BLUEGRASS BAND brings their "as many as ten members" to play their residency at Main Street Restaurant, 4902 Main St, Yorba Linda. This attractive venue serves Mexican and Italian food with "complete menu flexiblity."
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6-10 pm, the 2nd annual "ARTRAGEOUS ART WALK" includes music along Sherman Way, between Canoga and Topanga in downtown Canoga Park; www.canogaparkcal.com. Free.
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7:30 pm in OC, LISA HALEY & THE ZYDEKATS play "Concerts at the Muck" at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton; www.themuck.org. Lisa's new video has over 555,000 views on YouTube!
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8 pm, also in OC, TAB BENOIT plays the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.
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8 pm, BIG WIDE GRIN, a big-deal nationally-touring act, plays the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena. Tix, $15.
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8 pm, WILL RYAN & THE CACTUS COUNTY COWBOYS play the Talking Stick in Venice.
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8:30 pm, up in Santa Barbara, BLAME SALLY plays SOHo Restaurant and Music Club.
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And check this weekend's CONCERTS!
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Amaaaazing stuff, with shows by MERLE HAGGARD & KRIS KRISTOFFERSON; BONNIE RAITT & MAVIS STAPLES; BLAME SALLY; BERKLEY HART; LILA DOWNS; DANA COOPER; IAN WHITCOMB; ROY ZIMMERMAN; REBECCA TROON; JOHN YORK; MINDY SMITH & JAY NASH; DAVE ALVIN & THE GUILTY ONES; STEVE POLTZ; DEBRA DAVIS AND HER BAND OF GOLD; BIG WIDE GRIN; JANET ROBIN & ALI HANDAL; HARRIET SCHOCK; KRIS COLT; TRACY NEWMAN & THE REINFORCEMENTS; PISTOL ANNIES; the play "REX BRAVO, THE WHISTLING COWBOY," and more!
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More tomorrow. Meantime, the latest full edition of the Acoustic Americana Music Guide's "Spotlight Events" published September 14 is thete for you, with tons 'n tons o' details and lots more events!
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