Humboldt music fans have some hard choices to make when the end of August comes along. The already crowded weekend just got more so with the Dimmick Ranch folks announcing a country music fest called Live on the County Line . That show on Saturday, August 29, features Dwight Yoakam plus Kelly Willis , Wanda Jackson , John Doe and the Sadies and I See Hawks in LA providing support. I don't know who assembled this package, but the bands fit together well, offering an overview of alt. country, mostly out of L.A.

Elsewhere that weekend: On Friday, Aug. 28, African reggae star Alpha Blondy plays as the Mateel while gutbucket blues duo Hillstomp is at HSU in the Depot.

There's more on Saturday: a sold out Passion Presents show with Ween at the Eureka Theatre, Built to Spill is at HSU, St. Croix reggae singer Midnite is at Nocturnum and it's day one of the Humboldt Music and Arts Summit in Willow Creek, a festival that shaping up as an East Humboldt version of Reggae on the River with a couple of dozen acts mixing reggae, world music and rock with an all night rave.

Sunday, Aug. 30, the Organic Planet Festival in Halverson Park has bluegrass legend Del McCoury and his band and reggae singer Tanya Stephens (who's also at Reggae on the River next weekend). Chris Isaak is at the Van Duzer Theatre for a CenterArts show, country rebel David Allen Coe plays that night at the Mateel, and Humboldt Music and Arts Summit goes into it second day.

After a break on Monday you can head back to the Mateel Tuesday, Sept. 1, for a show by the legendary '60s Brazilian psychedelic tropicalia band Os Mutantes , who reunited a few years back. Or you could go back to HSU where The Avett Brothers play neo-old time music at the Van Duzer, while indie rock duo Matt and Kim are at the Depot.

That's a helluva lot of music in just five days, and it doesn't even factor in shows in various nightclubs and coffee houses. Unless you're stuck on must-see TV, there's no excuse to stay home, but save some energy -- Blues by the Bay is the following weekend.