This week features two roots festivals new to the column: the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival (Calabasas, California, May 17, 2026) and the Albino Skunk Music Festival (Greer, South Carolina, May 6-9, 2026).
Begun in 1961 as a modest gathering in the Santa Monica Mountains Topanga has blossomed into a celebration of roots culture spread across five lively stages. Beginning as early as 9:00 AM, the fest features instrument contests, spontaneous jam sessions, and performances throughout the day.
Held at the Skunk Farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Albino Skunk Music Festival (affectionately known as SkunkFest) also had a modest beginning. Founded by Glynn "Zig" Zeigler in 1995 as a small, private gathering for friends who shared a love of bluegrass music, the fest has since expanded its scope to include virtually every branch of roots music.
Given their respective mountainous locales, lineups and general atmospheres both fests took roots music fans back in time, akin to community homecomings in the country.
Column regulars were there: Liza Orozco attended Topanga with Larry John Fowler and Alan Perry catching SkunkFest.
Topanga Banjo, Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival 2026 by Liza Orozco
The Topanga fest kicked off with some high energy collaborations featuring local bluegrass band Water Tower with guest appearances from Ethan Hawkins, Old Jitters, Beebs, and 311 frontman Nick Hexum, I was looking forward to seeing Nashville’s Sweet Megg who absolutely delivered, her sultry, vintage voice in the lush, green canyon instantly took me back in time.
