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Blame the recession, the mortgage crisis or just a paucity of touring acts. But whatever the cause, some of the great New England festivals of the past are looking a little peaked this year.

Chief among them is the Newport Folk Festival, which is no longer even the Newport Folk Festival. Due to financial trouble the concert promoter that had purchased the right to stage the festival has handed back the annual folkfest to founder George Wein along with its stablemate jazz festival. But since Wein no longer owns the trademarks, those festivals have become the George Wein Folk Festival 50 (after its 50th anniversary) and the George Wein Jazz Festival 55 (now 55 years running).

Oh, and longtime title sponsor JVC? Gone as well.

No matter, pioneer impresario Wein says the Aug 1-2 folk festival must go on. And that may be a good thing, with artists drawn primarily from seminal folk performers like Pete Seeger and Joan Baez and a supporting cast rich with pure folk and Americana artists rather than slumming pop stars.

The Wein Folk Festival will run 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. both days at Fort Adams State Park on Harrison Avenue, Newport. On Saturday, performers include Pete Seeger, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Gillian Welch, The Avett Brothers, Billy Bragg, Iron & Wine, Mavis Staples, Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Ben Kweller, The Low Anthem, Brett Dennen, Tift Merritt, Tao Rodriguez Seeger and Langhorne Slim.

On Sunday, Seeger will be joined by Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Neko Case, The Campbell Brothers, Josh Ritter, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Tim Eriksen & Shape Note Singers, Del McCoury, Guy Clark, David Rawlings Machine, Deer Tick, Balfa Toujours, Dala and Joe Pug.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.folkfestival50.com or by phone.

The George Wein Jazz Festival 55 is set for Aug. 7-9 at Fort Adams State Park with headliners including Tony Bennett, Etta James and Branford Marsalis. You can find details at www.jazzfestival55.com.

Into this challenging atmosphere comes the brand new Patriot Place Jazz Festival, a grassroots affair featuring outstanding local and Boston area artists instead of national names, and offering all types of jazz from Dixieland to swing and beyond.

The free festival will be held June 20-21 at Patriot Place Plaza next to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

On Saturday from noon-5 p.m. there'll be outdoor music and dancing with the Roy Scott Big Band, Elm Street Jazz, Dixie Diehards Jazz Band an the Mike Erickson Band.

On Sunday, with an abbreviated schedule necessitated by an international soccer match, there will be performances from Swing 7, flautist Steve Tapper and the Little Mahrud Jazz Orchestra. Sunday's hours are 11:30 am.-2:30 p.m. It's all weather permitting, of course. Visit www.patriot-place.com or www.dixiediehards.com.

The Lowell Folk Festival, an epic three days of folk, Americana and jazz music and dance along with crafts, food and art presentations, is set for July 24-26 in downtown Lowell, beginning with a Friday evening parade. Most of the action revolves around Baording House Park and the festival dance pavilion on Dutton Street. For details visit: www.lowellfolkfestival.org.

On a sad note, the Blackstone River Theatre Celtic Music Festival won't be around this year. Held annually at Diamond Hill State Park in Cumberland, R.I., the open air fest was a showcase for a delightful melange of folk music, dance and crafts. But the economy has put an end to this year's edition, say organizers.