It's not quite an old-fashioned hootenanny, but it's close. The annual
Hootenanny festival returns for the ninth year this July 5-6. Fans of the
fest will notice something immediately different - the normally one-day
festival has been amped up to two day.

But that's not all. Hootenanny is also moving venues. Usually held at Hidden Valley, the fest is moving to Calif. State University Fullerton this year, providing not only a larger space for the hot rods and bands but free parking for fans as well. Headlining the Hootenanny are the Stray Cats and Social Distortion, July 5 and 6 respectively. Also on the itinerary are John Doe (solo), Exene Cervenka with the Original Sinners, Little Richard, Junior Brown, and Rocket From The Crypt, to name a few. Bringing together both the roots and offshoots of rockabilly, blues, country and swing, the Hootenanny is one part ode to American music and one part classic car show. In addition to a musical showcase, more than 300 classic cars will be on display during
the fest.

"That's always what Hootenanny has been about: connecting the present to the past," Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats said. "This music has roots. The fans, including the young ones, are really aware of the whole history of where this music came from and who played it. It's a living thing but it didn't start yesterday. I think it's really hip that the people who are into this music really know it."

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster for $45 per day or $80 for a
two-day pass. A limited number of VIP passes are also available for $100 and
$180. Check out thehootenanny.com for the low down.