May Daze

With the success of jamfests such as Bonnaroo, roots-music gatherings continue to dot the countryside like mushrooms after a summer rain. Now the Denver area boasts its own Woodstock-inspired revel, in nearby Strasburg. Stir Fried (featuring pedal-steel master Buddy Cage) and the venerable David Nelson Band will headline May Daze. Cage and Nelson both did time in New Riders of the Purple Sage, a group founded by Jerry Garcia. To further satiate local Deadheads, Betty Cantor, the legendary audiophile responsible for the renowned early-Dead soundboard recordings called "Betty Boards," will be on hand as chief sound engineer. The five-day festival will also include music by homegrown acts such as Electric Side Dish, which features the dual-guitar attack of John Tipton and Phil Dudden and the husband-and-wife keyboard-and-drums combo of Stefani and Charlie Briggs. So round up your camping gear, kids, pets and patchouli -- and get your tickets soon, because space is limited.