Leavenworth, Washington
The squeeze, in its many forms and variations, is king here each June.

Festival International de Louisiane
Lafayette, Louisiana
Come April, in this, the capital of Cajun country, everything French gets its due, including bands from French Africa, French Europe, and French Canada.

Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Held each July at Jericho Beach Park, this mellow folk and roots event complements its Strait of Georgia surroundings.

Fall Polka Festival Champion, Pennsylvania
Polka king Eddie Blazonczyk hosts and headlines this three-day oompah extravaganza in the Poconos in November.

Beale Street Music Festival
Memphis, Tennessee
Each April, state-of-the-art blues, gospel, funk, and rhythm and blues permeate this festival's locale on the banks of the river that inspired its very sounds.

Mariachi Spectacular
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Prepare to get serenaded at this four-day meeting of horns and guitars held at several locales around town each July.

D.C. Caribbean Carnival
Washington, D.C.
Local bands representing every nation in the Caribbean bust out the rhythms in June at this celebration honoring D.C.'s international heritage.

4. great rooms
40 Watt Club
Athens, Georgia
This small club near the University of Georgia launched R.E.M. and the B-52s, among others, and is where an Indigo Girl still sometimes graces the stage.

Agora
Cleveland, Ohio
The storied room instrumental in launching the careers of Grand Funk Railroad, Foghat, and ZZ Top has matured and evolved into the region's premier music venue, while continuing to prove that Cleveland rocks. This is the real Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Antone's Home of the Blues
Austin, Texas