Influences: Ralph Stanley’s banjo has led the pickin’ pack straight and true for over a half century. Bela Fleck forges a more circuitous route

Kickin’ in Your Stall: Smokey clubs, high school gyms, festival stages big and small, ballparks: Carl Gustafson has played them all. No acoustics compare with the marble fl oors near Sunglass Hut, in an Idaho Mall

Festivals: Lakes, rivers, oceans east and west, mountains or downtown, upcoming festivals worth the journey

On The Record: Tab Benoit fishes music from the bayou, and has reeled in a keeper; Mavis Staples and Porter Wagoner represent the veterans, while youngsters Joss Stone and Matt Mays + El Torpedo strut their chops. Special page on Paul McCartney and Les Paul

Collecting: Albert King influenced every blues and rock musician on earth. Ten albums that belong in any serious collection

Also Appearing: The hills were alive with the sound of jamming at Hunter Mountain: make plans for next year. A selection of beachworthy books, and DVDs for those inevitable rainy Sundays

Re.Issues: Turning 50 is this year’s event, and Vanguard’s no exception: Junior Wells, Charlie Musselwhite and James Cotton celebrate the milestone, too. Benny Goodman, Jose Feliciano and Robert Lockwood, Jr. (among others) sound better than ever