Sunday, and it's not a school night! Sept. 2, 2012

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The L.A. COUNTY FAIR is now open, and you can get in the gate for just $1 from now through Labor Day Monday, if you go in between 10 am and 1 pm. (After that it gets pricey.) At 3 pm, they distribute a limited number of free tickets for tonight's concert in the grandstands with GRAND FUNK RAILROAD and BURTON CUMMINGS (lead singer from THE GUESS WHO); tix range from $19.50-100. This year's fair is profoundly lacking in folk-americana music acts...
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Unless you're at the new "MAMMOTH BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL" in the Eastern Sierra at Mammoth Lakes or at the "STRAWBERRY MUSIC FESTIVAL" near Yosemite, then you need to know what's happening around these parts.
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So here goes:
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The "E HULA MAU" FESTIVAL brings hula and chant competition, a slack key guitar workshop, and more, to the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. It runs through today, 10 am-6 pm. Call 562-436-3661 for details.
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There's a kids concert at 11 am at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum with EARTHWORM ENSEMBLE. That's in Topanga Canyon.
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The "LABOR DAY BLUES BASH" runs 4-8 pm with ROD PIAZZA & THE MIGHTY FLYERS, LIL A & THE ALLNIGHTERS, BRADFORD ALLEN & BLUEZ PRINTS, and more, at Happy's Grill in Chino.
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The monthly "BLUEGRASS BRUNCH" with MURPHY'S FLAW and the VERDUGO CITY STRING BAND hits Jones Coffee Roasters, 693 S Raymond, in Pasadena, 11 am-4 pm.
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In OC, SLIGO RAGS plays the Harp Inn Irish Pub, 130 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, 4-7 pm.
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At 7 pm, SLUGGER O'TOOLE plays the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena. Tix, $15.
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There's a FREE show by DELHI 2 DUBLIN at Levitt Pavilion in McArthur Park at 7 pm.
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Up in Santa Barbara, HAPA, the hottest Hawai'ian outfit touring today, plays SOho Restaurant and Music Club at 8 pm.
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The "GRAND OLE ECHO" is taking this week off, but there are plenty of recurring events listed in the full edition of the Acoustic Americana Music Guide's "Spotlight Events" section published August 24 and available below or in the sidebar at left, depending on where you are reading this.
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If you're up early, catch FRANK HOPPE'S radio show, "BLUEGRASS ETC" 6-10 am on KCSN, broadcast or web radio. And if you're nit someplace enjoying live music from 6-8 pm, catch ROZ LARMAN'S "FOLKSCENE" on KPFK, broadcast or on the web.
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MUCH MORE SOON, when we can wade through all the raw data and make it make sense for you.
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Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, and think for a moment of those who don't get a long weekend because their jobs are to protect the rest of us. Thank you, firefighters, police officers, public safety employees, emergency room staffs, and members of the military!
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