Hailed as one of the most-anticipated festival line-ups of the season, the third annual Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival, presented by Fat Tire Amber Ale, is set to blow the socks off concertgoers, slated for June 8-11 at Clinton State Park near Lawrence, Kan. The event will combine four days of live entertainment with camping and other outdoor activities.
Wakarusa exploded on the national festival scene during its second year in 2005, selling out to an estimated 15,000 concertgoers per day, attracting attendees from all 50 states and five foreign countries. With a stellar line-up of musical acts scheduled to perform, another sell out is expected in 2006 – which would make Wakarusa once again one of Kansas' biggest tourism attractions.
All-in-all, around 150 acts will perform on seven stages at this year's festival, including Lee's HomeGrown Music Stage, which features Battlerusa winners and more, and then turns into an electronica/DJ stage late at night. New to Wakarusa this year is The Porch, which will showcase acoustic acts by professional performers and an "open mic" for amateurs.
More than 80 performers are top-billed acts from a variety of musical genres, including: The Flaming Lips, Gov't Mule, Les Claypool, Disco Biscuits, Oteil and the Peacemakers, Todd Snider, Gabby La La, Bob Schneider, Jerry Joseph & the Jackmormons, Jackie Greene, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Truckstop Honeymoon, The Avett Brothers, Trampled by Turtles, Del Castillo, Virginia Coalition, Groovatron, Green Lemon, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, Bootyjuice, Benevento-Russo Duo, ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), Cracker, Donna the Buffalo, Jake Shimabukuro, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Brandi Carlile, Delta Nove, Backyard Tire Fire, The Yonder Mountain String Band, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Keller Williams, Gomez, The Greyboy Allstars, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Cat Empire, Assembly of Dust, The Mutaytor, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Railroad Earth, Bernie Worrell and the WOO Warriors, Buckethead, Perpetual Groove, Tim Reynolds, New Monsoon, Shooter Jennings, Tea Leaf Green, Brother's Past, Split Lip Rayfield, Pnuma Trio, Lucero, MOFRO, Camper Van Beethoven, Lotus, Andrew Bird, Shanti Groove, Yard Dogs Road Show, Rose Hill Drive, and Honeytribe featuring Devon Allman.
Whew! Let's all take a breath and then ponder the newest line-up additions: Sound Tribe Sector Nine (STS9), Moonshine Still, Daniella Cotton, William Elliot Whitmore, Papa Mali, Hot Buttered Rum, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Chris Berry & Panjea, Bassnectar, Will Hoge, Full Throttle, White Ghost Shivers, 56 Hope Road, Alfred Howard & the K23 Orchestra, Speakeasy, Hillstomp, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Four Fried Chickens and a Coke, Samantha Stollenwerck, Hackensaw Boys, and Deep Fried Pickle Project.
Tickets for Wakarusa are on sale via the Web site at www.wakarusa.com and a number of point-of-sale box offices in cities through out the country (check out the Web site for a complete list). A limited number of $99 Early-Bird tickets are still available at these box offices, however these special tickets are sold-out via the Web site. All tickets include four days of music, camping and free parking. Camping upgrades and special VIP tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For complete information, including an update of scheduled artists, visit the Wakarusa Web site.
"At less than a dollar per set of music –not to mention all the other extras like free camping– this represents the best value imaginable," said Brett Mosiman, Co-Director of the festival.
For those choosing to take a break from the music, various activities will again be available, including mountain biking, disc golf, wind surfing, swimming, nature hikes and more. A costume Mardi Gras-style parade, lead by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, is scheduled for Friday night, and yoga will be offered in the mornings.
A variety of eats and treats will be offered by food-and-beverage, as well as arts-and-crafts vendors in three official areas, and the Wakarusa General Store will be open 24 hours offering sundries, snacks, packaged beverages and general merchandise. Concertgoers will also be able to purchase recordings of live performances at the festival, as well as a variety of official Wakarusa and band merchandise.
"We will have everything you need," said Mosiman. "Once you hit the Wakarusa site, you won't have to leave the grounds the entire weekend. Wakarusa 2006 will truly be the complete package of music and Mother Nature."
Once again, Wakarusa will offer a secluded family campground. Children under 12 will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. Wakarusa will continue to feature special children's concerts, family activities and educational programs.
For those who prefer the great "indoors" for sleeping, Wakarusa will offer travel packages, including hotel accommodations and scheduled transportation to and from the site. Complete hotel information is available at www.wakarusa.com.
