Our annual Summer Stars series features a variety of groups making the rounds on the festival circuit. Today we feature Shovels & Rope. We’ve also checked in with Passion Pit, John Scofield, The Lumineers, Futurebirds, Tea Leaf Green and moe..

“Michael [Trent] and I have always wanted to take the festival circuit for a spin and that is happening in spades,” says Cary Ann Hearst. “We will be the two-man band with the tiny, tiny keyboard that makes your innards turn inside out. Don’t get close unless you like the taste of sweat. We tend to sweat.” Expect to see a lot of foot-stomping, lead-vocal sharing and instrument switching (guitars, a junkyard drum, harmonicas).

In addition to many festivals, the Charleston, S.C.-based indie folk-rock duo has a tour with Dawes ( “We are smitten with their musicianship” ) and a couple of shows with Dave Matthews Band ahead, which “kinda blows our minds,” she says.

They just released their 2012 album O’ Be Joyful overseas and will tour in Europe, “which is something we have always dreamed of.” Shovels & Rope also recently put out a 7" as part of Third Man Records’ Blue Series. “We were like kids in a candy store. Jack White [is] the Willy Wonka of rock and roll,” she says.

Currently, Hearst and Trent are spending their days touring and writing. ( “These little ditties bring us a great deal of joy. The storytelling is the part we like the best.” ) In addition to the music of Elvis Costello, Levon Helm and Lead Belly, the South inspires their “language and turn of phrase,” Hearst says.

“These days, we are never home – it lends itself to waxing poetic. Musically, it’s not the geography as much as the topography of the American musical landscape that informs what we try to do.”

Album for a Hot Summer Night: Blitzen Trapper, American Goldwing

Summer Drink: Kalimotxo (red wine, Coke and ice with an orange twist and a mint leaf ) – ‘cause why not?

Festival Stops: Coachella, Sasquatch!, Newport Folk, Lollapalooza, more.