But, here, in Nevada County, live music almost comes up to your door and drags you out to hear it. You'd have to be a hermit to avoid it. It's at the Fairgrounds, the Miner's Foundry, the street festivals, the gas stations (well...). It seems that where there are more than 10 people gathered at any one time, there's some kind of live music going on. Classical to Hawaiian, it's around somewhere nearby.
Last Saturday, I reported that we'd gone to the KVMR anniversary celebration to hear a few bands (some snappy Reggae, among others). Then, when Tom was gone, this week, I took myself on over to both Nevada City's and Grass Valley's Street Fair/Growers' Market parties. GV's happens every Thursday evening. NC's is bigger, but only Wednesday nights in July. We go to all of 'em. They all have lots of music, from Rock to Jazz to Folk to a Guy With A Guitar Doin' His Own Thing.
Grass Valley had Great America Taxi (some leftover Leftover Salmon sounds) and several other bands, last week. Nevada City (a long walk away) led with Masang Marimba Ensemble and about four other musical groups (all playing simultaneously) plus the ever-present belly dancers and Amazing Yo-yo Guy (he really is amazing!).
I was so impressed with the Marimbas, that, I dragged Tom over to see them Friday night at the Miner's Foundry. So much fun! They are the teacher and various students (from the last several years) of a class at Northridge State. It was a combo of African and Central American music. They brought with them, two Zimbabwean dancers, who tore it up! Tom enjoyed it, as well, and (I'm not making this up, a la Dave Barry) was almost ready to get up and dance with the rest of us. Next time could be it!
The California World Music Festival was at the Fairgrounds Thursday through Sunday. We attended on Saturday. It was the Pinnacle of Our Live Music Week. No! It was the Pinnacle of Our Live Music Experience, maybe! Seriously!
There we were, sitting in our lawn chairs, a few feet from the outdoor stage and the microphones of the Wailin' Jennys, some of our favorite performers of all time!. And that was just after (sitting in the same lawn chairs in front of the same stage), listening to Moira Smiley and Voco, another one of our top groups (wrote about them in December after a concert in the Odd Fellows Hall in NC). We followed both groups around all day, to different stages, and filled in the gaps with some interesting Vietnamese music, nan wraps and Lazy Dog ice cream. It was a wonderful day! 
We chatted a bit with both groups (I thought of so many interesting questions AFTERwards, of course) and snapped some pictures. But the music! I'm a total harmony junkie--and Tom is a total chord junkie--related obsessions! And these groups are the Ultimate Fix! Beautiful and interesting music! Since I can't say enough about them, I'll quit trying, but check them out, if you haven't already. Do it!! Here are their websites: http://www.thewailinjennys.com/ http://www.moirasmiley.com/I hope our kids are proud!
