Thousands of music fans made their way to the "land of the delta blues" last weekend for the annual Beale Street Music Festival. This was my fifth time attending the long-running fest, part of the city's month-long Memphis in May celebration in Tom Lee Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.

It's easy to underestimate the impact that MerleFest has on Americana music, and for anyone who hasn't attended, it's perhaps equally easy to overlook.

As a proud Mizzou alumna, I was tremendously excited to attend the 2011 Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival in Columbia, Mo. for the first time last weekend. Now in its fifth year, this mid-Missouri celebration of food and music takes place in the streets of downtown Columbia and partially on the Mizzou Campus in beautiful Peace Park.

The 5th annual Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Festival took over dowtown Columbia Friday and Saturday with sounds and smells that were as sweet as they were satisfying.

Sponsored in part by KDHX, St. Louis Bluesweek gave the city a chance to revisit its nationally-recognized blues roots. Closing out the epic week of blues was the Soulard Blues Cruise.

Last weekend was St. Louis' hottest two day indie music festival, Loufest. Loufest 2011 featured TV On The Radio, Deerhunter, Questlove, Cat Power, The Hold Steady, the Low Anthem, Lost in the Trees, Ume, and many more bands.

Sonny Landreth is performing at the Big Muddy Blues Festival on Sunday, September 4. As possibly the best slide guitar player in the world, Landreth has a long and storied career.

The second and final day of LouFest was headlined by TV on the Radio and featured performances by Ume, Das Racist, !!! and many more.

St. Louis' own Old Lights opened the second day of LouFest with class and passion. Their set was mostly attended by old fans and friends with a slow trickle of people coming in during the music.

Day one of LouFest in Forest Park featured headliner The Hold Steady and included everything from St. Louis local Troubadour Dali to a DJ set by Questlove of the Roots, Deerhunter and many more.

It was surreal to roll through Forest Park Saturday morning, past bikers and joggers, the quiet fountains, apartment buildings looming like mountains on either side of the park, and then, the sound of Troubadour Dali's "Ducks In A Row" coasting out from atop the central field.

Veteran St. Louis band Jumbling Towers stands out in the field of modern indie music with an eccentric brand of pop -- a dynamic collision of electronics, guitar hooks, startling vocals and beats.

David Beeman, of St. Louis band Old Lights, likes pop hits and the fact that his band's name is not rooted in meaning.

I recently had the chance to talk with violinist Jenavieve Varga of Lost in the Trees about what it takes to make the band's big, complex sound happen onstage and how it's possible to reconcile a love of chamber music with an affection for rock 'n' roll and platform heels.

It took awhile for Ben Hinn of Troubadour Dali and I to get together. Our first appointment fell through, and Hinn mistakenly showed up a day early for the second. When we were finally able to meet over coffee, Ben and I had a good, long conversation.

San Francisco knows its psychedelia. So when a young band like Sleepy Sun materializes from the Bay Area and quickly makes its name on the scene, you know that some serious psych fans have vetted them.

Craig Finn is a wordy chap -- but in the best way. For many of the Hold Steady's most ardent fans, Finn's narrative lyrics and spoken vocal delivery are central to the appeal.

I caught Jeff Prystowsky, multi-instrumentalist for the Low Anthem, during morning rehearsals for a short U.K. tour continuing to support the band's latest record, "Smart Flesh" (Nonesuch, 2011). The Low Anthem returns to the U.S. for fall dates beginning with a summer festival show in St. Louis.

Don't call it a comeback. Funk and soul have always played a part in Andy Noble's repertoire as a DJ, record collector and store owner.

An awesome sound just might come naturally to Austin's beautifully dissonant Ume -- either that or through hard work and passion.

I've been back from Lollapalooza for four days now, after being there for all three days for the first time. The blisters have healed, sunburn is aloe'ed to the gills, and leg muscles have finally relaxed to put some notes to paper.

Kansas Speedway played host to the first ever Kanrocksas Music Festival the first weekend of August. With headliners Muse and Eminem sitting atop a field of over 40 bands, playing on six stages, this was one event you did not want to miss.

The first ever Kanrocksas brought a very impressive line-up of musical guests, in addition to performance painting, games, booze, a water slide, dancing, camping, food, and supportive fan bases from all over the country.

A barrage of merchandise tents, non-profits, stages with unfamiliar faces (and names) and active half-pipes is likely to overwhelm even a veteran Warped fan.