Now in a new location and season, Black Bear Music Fest returns August 14–16, 2026 at the Harwinton Fairgrounds for its eighth year!

Black Bear Music Fest
‍The Harwinton Fairgrounds
150 Locust Road
Harwinton, CT 06791

Three days of music, art, nature, and community are in store at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY

Aug 28, 29, 30

Experience three days of world-class roots music, featuring more than 20 acts including Hoot founders & hosts The Mammals. Reconnect with friends and neighbors as you explore a vibrant handmade craft village, enjoy activities in the Kids Zone, and savor local food, beer, and cider. Join a jam or singalong, try blacksmithing, or take a guided hike to breathtaking Cathedral Gorge. Unwind with intimate mini-concerts in the Pewter Shop, and start your mornings with rejuvenating gong baths and yoga. Stay the weekend—camp under the stars, or book a longhouse bunk or a limited private room. More info available at the festival website.

LINEUP ANNOUNCED:

THE MILK CARTON KIDS • TUBA SKINNY • THE MAMMALS • GAIL ANN DORSEY • THE BIG TAKEOVER • JAY UNGAR & MOLLY MASON • JIM KWESKIN & SAMOA WILSON • CHATHAM COUNTY LINE • JOHNNY IRION • JORDAN HAMILTON TRIO • KARA MCKEE • THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN NOVELIST • KATRINA DICRASTO • THE MOON SHELLS • ANDALUCIA • FURNACE MOUNTAIN • THE CITY STOMPERS • NATE THE GREAT • THE GOLDEN HOURS • THE SPRINGTAILS • BUGS ON A LOG • PICNIC COMMITTEE • LOVE WAVES • ARM OF THE SEA THEATER • AND MORE!

Learn more about each artist on the lineup page.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW:

Friday 4pm gates open, live music 7pm-midnight
Saturday 9am gates open, live music 10:30am-10pm followed by pavilion square dance & hilltop sing
Sunday 9am gates open, live music 10:30am-6pm ending with acoustic finale of Ashokan Farewell
More info on the schedule page.

ADVANCE TICKETS:

$115 Weekend (BEST value!)

$55 Friday Only

$75 Saturday Only

$55 Sunday Only

$315 Taste the Garden Reception (free to donors & sponsors, includes weekend)

+$60-110 Add Camping

+$100 Add Bunk

+$330-590 Add Private Room

Sliding scale tix available at the gate while space allows.

Hoot Volunteers and advance ticket holders will be guaranteed parking and entry.

No one turned away for lack of funds!

Produced, Directed, and Edited by Simon Feldman. Cameras by Ethan Molomut, Sam Tercek, Simon Feldman, and Rick Rock.

Sing Sing Sing

We're gathered here tonight
to do a sacred thing
sing sing sing, sing sing sing
sing sing sing, sing

It says in the Bible somewhere
that singing is praying times two
and whenever angels show up
it always seems that's what they do

We're gathered here tonight
to do a sacred thing
sing sing sing, sing sing sing

millions of pilgrims every day
visit Mecca and I've heard it said
when you hear their song
millions singing all at once
it's a sound you'll never forget

We're gathered here tonight
to do a sacred thing
sing sing sing, sing sing sing

the Navajo and Cherokee
Lakota and Cheyenne
Shawnee, Pawnee, Crow and Cree
all had one common thread
beside the one Great Spirit and the one Mother Earth
they all raise their voices for all that they are worth

We're gathered here tonight
to do a sacred thing
sing sing sing, sing sing sing

Words and music by Fred Gillen Jr.

Memory is unreliable and I wrote Sing Sing Sing in 2007 or so. What I do remember is at the time I’d just spent a bunch of time with Pete Seeger. One night Steve Kirkman drove Pete to and from a concert with a kids choir that Turk had organized. After we dropped Pete off Steve and I were talking about how easy Pete made it look to teach 400 people how to sing his very complicated song “Take it From Doctor King.” I was thinking that no amount of practice would ever help me pull off something like that but that I’d like to write a song of my own which was easy to teach to a room full of people. Usually it’s hard to write from an intention, but in this case I wrote ABOUT singing, and it worked! Since then the song has been sung by many people with and without me (including Pete, with Sue Wright and her Sargent Elementary students.) From being in the songbook at a church in Toledo to me teaching the audience at Patan Durbar World Heritage site in Nepal to Solar Punch playing it in Haiti, I think the song really is a connection between the Hudson Valley (and the spirit of Pete) and the world.