When it comes to rock, everyone sort of expects the requisite sex and drugs to be along for the ride. And while that is certainly true for far too many rock stars, it is, sadly, also true for quite a number of their kids, too. Some of those young addicts are definite cases of the apple not falling far from the tree. (Think Theodora Richards, Mackenzie Phillips, and Bobbi Kristina Brown.) Others, though, are a bit more surprising. Case in point is one of the most recent entries: Stephanie Bongiovi.

Stephanie is the 19-year-old daughter of Jon Bon Jovi who is the front man for, of course, Bon Jovi. She recently survived a heroin overdose and a misdemeanor arrest for two counts of possession (controlled substance and marijuana). Her dad really isn't the picture of addiction that comes to mind when contemplating drug-addled musicians. Rather, he's always seemed pretty clean cut. He's a good samaritan, not a bad boy.

In contrast, no one can think of Keith Richards and not immediately think of drugs. So, it's not at all shocking to know that his daughter, Theodora, has had some trouble in that realm. Actually, Theodora got a double dose of addiction-prone genes because her mother (Patti Hansen) was a model. Last year, it all came to pass when Theodora got busted for graffiti and had some weed in tow. Her current way-too-thin physicality keeps the drug rumors alive and well, as well.

Considering that her mom (Whitney Houston) actually DIED from substance abuse and her father (Bobby Brown) is the butt of many drug-tainted jokes, Bobbi Kristina Brown should have gotten the point. But, nooooo. Cocaine, pot, and booze are her refuges of choice. Some say that she was even tipsy at Whitney's funeral. Guess that's her prerogative.

As the spawn of Cher and Gregg Allman, Elijah Blue Allman really had the cards laid out for him from the get go. The wild child has never even had a shot at normalcy. Shots at other stuff, though? Sure. When he got too out of hand with heroin, Cher laid the rehab smack down.

Party girl Nicole (daughter of Lionel) Richie seems to have, as of late, tempered her tendencies a bit. A heroin arrest in 2003 was followed by a DUI chaser in 2006 that landed her in jail for all of 82 minutes. Unlike Lindsay Lohan, Nicole learned her lesson. Now, she has a couple of kids and a burgeoning fashion business.

Famed addiction-addled rocker Ozzy Osbourne got two for the price of, well, two, as his youngest kids Kelly and Jake both have had their share of problems. Jack did a stint in a psych ward before turning 18 and has managed to stay clean since. Kelly hasn't been as fortunate, serving two tours in rehab.

Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew was the way Sean Stewart (son of Rod) went when he needed help in 2008. But, it didn't stick. So off to Malibu he went no sooner than he had wrapped with Dr. Drew. A couple of arrests and recent rumors of drinking continue to plague the lad.

One of the craziest stories to ever emerge from a child of rock stars has to be that of Mackenzie Phillips. Her papa, John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas, allegedly engaged in a decade-long sexual relationship with Mackenzie. Pretty much anyone would want an induced exile from that, and Mackenzie found hers in cocaine and heroin. Blackouts, arrests, rehab... it's all in there.

Really, the only kids on this list who probably shouldn't be are Stephanie and Nicole. Their parents haven't modeled substance abuse as a way of life for them like the others have. In fact, Bon Jovi is still going strong more than 25 years after their massive breakthrough success. Come February 9, they will be rocking faces off on tour--the first show finding Bon Jovi at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

It goes on and on until April 25 lands Bon Jovi in San Jose, California, for the last date of the North American leg. In between, the guys blanket the U.S. and Canada with shows in support of their latest album.

North of the border, Bon Jovi hits Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. In the States, cities as far-flung as Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Tampa, St. Paul, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles host Bon Jovi on their Because We Can World Tour. No doubt Jon will be thinking about his kid the whole time.

What Mumford & Sons have accomplished in their few years on the music scene is nothing short of stunning. Their latest set, Babel, debuted in the top seat on Billboard’s album charts with sales of more than 600,000 units its first week out. That was the best debut of 2012 until Taylor Swift came along with Red. And that was following up on their 2009 record, Sigh No More, which has moved more than 2.5 million units. Kudos certainly go to singer-guitarist Marcus Mumford, bassist Ted Dwane, banjo player Winston Marshall, and keyboardist Ben Lovett.

Their own personal successes aside, the British foursome have blazed a trail that other folk-roots artists are eagerly following—some of whom have been slowly and steadily clearing the brush since well before Mumford & Sons came along and set it all on fire. In a way, it's a throwback to the pre-grunge folk-rock scene of the late '80s and early '90s that made names of Cowboy Junkies, 10,000 Maniacs, Indigo Girls, Michelle Shocked, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Shawn Colvin, Tracy Chapman, and others while giving birth to triple-A radio. But this new vanguard is a bit more rootsy—more gutsy, even—as they often lean heavy into banjo, fiddle, and/or mandolin to round out their sounds.

The Avett Brothers, like Mumford & Sons, have forged their career on the road, one show at a time. And, honestly, that's how it had to happen with them. Sure, their records are solid, but the Avetts are an experience to be fully had in person. Their energy can and will never be captured to its greatest effect—not even on vinyl. Their songs, too, live in a world of their own, in terms of structure and presentation. The Avett Brothers are one of a kind.

Brandi Carlile, who has opened shows for the Avetts, has the voice of her generation. Truly. Such is the power that Carlile wields, she could easily go note-for-note with country greats like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline or cut loose and wail on par with rockers such as Janis Joplin, Freddie Mercury, and Pink. And, while she enjoys blowing it out on the occasional cover of Radiohead's “Creep,” she more comfortably and regularly summons up her inner Johnny Cash with “Folsom Prison Blues.” Despite hailing from outside of Seattle, there's a legitimate twang present in Carlile's voice and she works it like nobody's business.

The Lumineers, in true trickle down economics, have opened for Carlile. That's one of the cool things about the current roots music scene—the artists readily support one another, recognizing that they are each part of something larger than themselves. It also indicates a pure, deep love for the music rather than the fame. And so the Lumineers have grabbed on to whatever coattails flowed their way. But that's not to say that they don't have the chops to back it up and earn their keep. They do.

The Civil Wars nabbed a gold record and two Grammy Awards earlier this year, but, as of two days ago, were calling it quits. Joy Williams and John Paul White seemingly had the world at their feet so those must be some truly “irreconcilable differences of ambition” to say no thanks to all that lay ahead. They even had to cancel a tour that was already sold. Bummer.

Maybe all those folks will, instead, catch Mumford & Sons when they hit the road. This weekend, yet another roots band—Dawes—will warm up the crowd at the Hollywood Bowl as Mumford & Sons folk Los Angeles in a big way on November 10 and 12. Then they are off to their UK homeland for about a month's worth of shows.

On February 5, they return to the States. The first stop finds Mumford & Sons in Boston at TD Garden. The second stop puts Mumford & Sons in Brooklyn at the new hot spot, Barclays Center.

Two other shows round out that particular leg of touring. On February 13, it's Mumford & Sons in Fairfax at the Patriot Center. The final show has Mumford & Sons in Camden on February 16 at Susquehanna Bank Center. No opening act has yet been named.

Now that Hurricane Sandy has come and gone, the clean up is steadily under way. But cost estimates predict that the losses may reach $50 billion. Rather than spreading her wrath around, most of the damage was centered upon New York City and the surrounding area in New Jersey. In response to the tragedy, some of Jersey's finest are rising to the occasion—Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi are teaming up with Sting, Billy Joel, and Christina Aguilera for a benefit concert.

NBC's Matt Lauer is set to host the November 2 televised event with appearances by Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Jon Stewart, Kevin Bacon, Mary J. Blige, James Gandolfini, and Al Roker. Proceeds from Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together go to the American Red Cross. The Walt Disney Co. is chipping in $2 million to the Red Cross, with Viacom, Inc. ponying up another $1 million in matching funds for employee donations. Comedian Chelsea Handler and Green Bay Packer Charles Woodson each added $100,000 to the hat, with the NFL going in for $1 million and the New York Yankees for $500,000.

When the storm hit earlier this week, Jon Bon Jovi was in London promoting some upcoming shows there. He rushed home to be with his wife and kids who had been trapped at their home without electricity or water. The rocker commented, “We may not have electricity but we have power.”

The band recently announced that the UK leg of their Because We Can World Tour would feature low ticket prices due to the ongoing global financial crisis. Those shows are slated for next summer. There's a lot of work to be done before then.

First up, obviously, is Jon's commitment to rebuilding and supporting his community, both personally and through his Soul Kitchen restaurant. Second, the band has dates booked in Canada beginning in mid-February. To get things rocking (and rolling), Bon Jovi hits Montreal for a two-night stand on February 13 and 14. A few days later, it's more double-duty for

Bon Jovi in Toronto on February 17 and 18.

The last show of that abbreviated run puts Bon Jovi in Ottawa on February 20. More than likely, performances in the U.S. Will fill in the gaps between that time and the April 2 stop that finds Bon Jovi in Calgary.

Two more Canada shows are currently on the books: Bon Jovi plays Edmonton on April 3 and Winnipeg on April 5. Their calendar is open for a month after that. Then, dates in South Africa and Europe lead up to the UK run.

Right now, though, all eyes are on the East Coast as residents rummage through the rubble. Some residents of Manhattan have been told they will not have power restored until November 11. Bad as it is, that's still better than the more than 100 families who lost their homes to a fire in Breezy Point. Jon Bon Jovi singled out that hard-hit area when speaking to the media, noting that his kids surf there.

Hurricane Sandy was—and continues to be—a tragedy of epic proportions. The New York Metropolitan Area knows how to rally, as evidenced by both the attacks on September 11, 2001 and major storms in recent years. It's still nice that folks like Springsteen and Joel step up to help take care of their own.

Reinterpreting traditional folk songs is a niche musical tactic, to be sure, but it can be a very effective—often lucrative—one, if done well. Some artists make the practice their stock and trade; others simply dabble when the urge emerges. In the former pack, Canada's Great Big Sea has to be one of the leaders. In the nearly 20 years they have been together, the band has released nine studio albums, one compilation, two DVDs, and three live records.

Great Big Sea's current lineup includes founders Alan Doyle (on vocals, guitar, bouzouki, and mandolin), Séan McCann (on vocals, bodhrán, guitar, and tin whistle), and Bob Hallett (on vocals, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, concertina, bouzouki, whistles, and bagpipes) still going strong. The fourth founding member—Darrell Power (vocals, bass, guitar, and bones)—took his leave of the group in 2003, after which they haven't matched their previous platinum-level successes, but still manage to go gold (at least in Canada).

Still, the trio is out on the road, slogging it out with their brand of rocked-out folk tunes and amped-up sea shanties. One remaining 2012 performance has Great Big Sea in Toronto on November 4. They will take the holidays off, as well as the first bit of 2013, starting up the bus engines again come early March. Then, Great Big Sea plays Anaheim on March 5 and goes on from there for about 30 more dates.

Among the Canada stops, Great Big Sea hits Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Montreal, Moncton, London, and Kingston. Dates in the States put Great Big Sea in San Francisco, Portland (OR), Seattle, Saint Paul, Chicago, Omaha, Boulder, Buffalo, Ann Arbor, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Burlington, and Portland (ME).

The whole tour wraps up when Great Big Sea heads home to Halifax on April 26.

But what of the dabblers, the artists who occasionally meander into traditional music as a creative expression or a marketing ploy? Natalie Merchant and Sinéad O'Connor both fall somewhere along that spectrum.

For The House Carpenter's Daughter, Merchant took on and arranged mostly traditional folk songs, but threw in four contemporary ditties, as well. The project was a labor of love and released on her own label, so it would have to be considered a creative expression.

Track Listing for The House Carpenter's Daughter:

"Sally Ann" (Jeff Claus/Judy Hyman/Dirk Powell)

"Which Side Are You On?" (Florence Reece)

"Crazy Man Michael" (Richard Thompson/Dave Swarbrick)

"Diver Boy" (traditional)

"Weeping Pilgrim" (traditional)

"Soldier, Soldier" (traditional)

"Bury Me under the Weeping Willow" (A. P. Carter)

"House Carpenter" (traditional)

"Owensboro" (traditional)

"Down on Penny's Farm" (traditional)

"Poor Wayfaring Stranger" (traditional)

In contrast, O'Connor “sexed up” a bunch of Irish traditionals on Sean-Nós Nua for what was probably more of a marketing ploy to bolster a flagging and tumultuous career. The effort topped Billboard's World Music chart. It's worth noting that she did, in fact, tip her hat in respect by singing two of the tunes in their original Gaelic.

Track Listing for Sean-Nós Nua:

"Peggy Gordon"

"Her Mantle So Green"

"Lord Franklin"

"The Singing Bird"

"Óró Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile" (in Irish (Gaelic))

"Molly Malone"

"Paddy's Lament"

"The Moorlough Shore"

"The Parting Glass"

"Báidín Fheilimí" (in Irish (Gaelic))

"My Lagan Love"

"Lord Baker"

"I'll Tell Me Ma"

Still others—like Kate Rusby, Dolly Parton, and Alison Krauss—have a more natural relationship with song interpretation, folding traditional tunes in with original compositions. The soundtracks to Songcatcher and O Brother, Where Art Thou? are both fine collections of contemporary artists singing traditional songs. But to really be immersed in the genre, stick with Great Big Sea and you won't be disappointed.