I’m always looking for summer music festivals that celebrate old-time music, and so far my favorites are Oldtones (September 6-9), Caramoor’s American Roots Music Festival (in June) and the Brooklyn Folk Festival (April 5-7 next year).

Donna the Buffalo go on at 10 p.m. Friday night.

But now there’s a new kid on the block, the Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots Festival in Manchester Center, Vermont. This is the first year, and it’s coming up this weekend. Learn more about it here.

Here’s why I think it’s great: The lineup is a mix of bands I love and bands with great names I don’t know at all–but know will be great. Jill Turpin told me about her enthusiasm for this music, and she has great taste.

Mandolin Orange has great word of mouth.

Among the bands: Mandolin Orange (headliners), Peter Rowan’s Carter Stanley’s Eyes, Sierra Hull, Mipso, Donna the Buffalo, Molly Tuttle, 10 String Symphony (whose Rachel Baiman told me about the event), Upstate Rubdown, Mile 12, Eli West, Rayna Gellert and Kieran Kane (both radio guests of money), Lula Wiles (recently signed to Smithsonian Folkways), Allison de Groot (of Bruce Molsky’s band), Jordan Tice, Twisted Pine (seen several times; they’re great), Matt Flinner Trio, Saints & Liars, Green Mountain Playboys and Carling & Will.

Check out Carling & Will’s instrumental duets. He makes the instruments, too.

The latter are Will Seeders Mosheim and Carling Berkhout, and I had them on WPKN this week to talk about the festival. They’re native Vermonters, and they told me enthusiastically about a small but enthusiastic old-time scene in the Green Mountain State. Will also makes instruments, including many of those that will be on stage.

The music is spread out over four days, and it sounds very laid back and fun. And in a very nice part of the world. Here’s some Carling & Will video: