The Longfellow Roots, Rock and Deep-Blues Festival, presented by Patrick's Cabaret, returns on Saturday, July 18 for its fifth year, expanding from Lake Street to Minnehaha Avenue. The festival, which has earned numerous media honors, is returning this year with an even larger event than ever, featuring over two dozen bands on six stages, many local artists, and a new international food court.

Among the performers are Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition, who released their latest album Blue Healer earlier this year and will be touring all summer. Festival favorites Kent Burnside & The New Generation, Duluth's Charlie Parr (who also released new music this year with his latest album Stumpjumper), and Black Market Brass will also be returning as headliners. The festival features many other returning artists along with fresh faces like Mississippi-style blues musician Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes and Toronto-based punk-blues duo Catl.

Early-bird tickets are still available for $15 and will increase to $20 the week of the event. The Longfellow Roots, Rock and Deep-Blues Festival benefits non-profit community theater Patrick's Cabaret, which supports the growth and development of local performing artists, "specifically reaching out to artists of color, LGBTQ identified artists, and those with disabilities," according to their mission statement.

Sadie Bell, of Wayzata, is a Journalism + Design major at The New School in New York City.