Looking ahead on The Day's unerring Accu-Cast Weather prognostications — compiled by a squadron of meteorologically-trained pelicans we keep in the newspaper basement — we see that the high temp/humidity factors for the weekend are pretty stinkin' nice.

THIS is why musicians from Louisiana and the Gulf Coast love to tour the New England festivals during summer — to get out of the Hell-Broth climate in their home states.

This is all great news for the annual Blast From the Bayou Festival taking place Thursday through Sunday at Strawberry Park in Preston. There's an all-world lineup of Cajun, Zydeco and roots music acts to go along with dancing, indigenous foods, workshops, camping and an all-around lifestyle celebration.

The four-day lineup is consistently good, but here are a few insider's tips as to which sets to see on a daily basis: Magnolia (5 p.m. Thurs. and 11 a.m. Sat.); Savoy Doucet Dance Band (3:30 and 8:30 p.m. Fri.); Pine Leaf Boys (6 and 9:45 p.m. Fri.); Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (2:45 and 9:30 p.m. Sat.); Jesse Lege & Bayou Brew (1:30 p.m. Sat. and 11:45 a.m. Sun.); and Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie (8 p.m. Sat. and 1:15 p.m. Sun.).

5-10 p.m. Thurs. noon-11 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Strawberry Park Campground, 42 Pierce Road, Preston; $40 Thurs. and Sun., $80 Fri. and Sat., $160 four-day pass; $70 children four-day pass; (860) 886-1944.