Happy Heron!

Photo by Ryan Smith

One of local summer music fest-lovers' longest-standing traditions -- and most deservedly favorite get-downs of every year -- the Great Blue Heron Music Festival is one where, in my experience, the music is always sounding sweet, and everyone's really getting to feeling like both family and friends.

The Heron's soaring into its 25th year from Friday, July 1 through Sunday, July 3 at its beautiful festival grounds in nearby Sherman, New York, and everyone -- from longtime Heron-goers (there are a lot of them) to newbies (that is, future longtime Heron-goers) -- is welcome to join the family for the weekend.

This year's lineup includes performances by regional and national jam scene staples like Donna the Buffalo, The Horse Flies, Jim Lauderdale, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jimkata, The Town Pants, Driftwood, Big Mean Sound Machine, Smackdab, Band of Peace, Plastic Nebraska, The Gunpoets, and a hefty lot more.

Check out a few shots from the Great Blue Heron's not-too-distant past here, and, for tickets, directions, and more info on what's happening in its not-distant-at-all future, visit greatblueheron.com

Ryan Smith can be reached at rsmith@eriereader.com, and you can follow him on Twitter @ryanmsmithplens.