The 9^th annual Hoxeyville Music Festival, held August 19-21 in the Heart of the Manistee National Forest in northwest Michigan, announces a diverse lineup including fusion masters Umphrey's McGee, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart Band, Michigan’s rising newgrass stars Greensky Bluegrass, New Orleans-funk infused Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, satirist songwriter Todd Snider, reggae pioneers The Itals, Umphrey’s side project Digital Tape Machine and many more.

The Hoxeyville Music Festival is held on 85 acres of pristine North Country farmland and hardwood forest located next door to Kestelwoods campground which includes a swimming pool, showers, plug-ins, dump station and wireless Internet. As in years past, the festival site also features a disc golf course with a glow course, a variety of VIP and quiet camping options, a vendor village and a beer tent featuring some of the finest brews from the region. Hoxeyville thrives on somewhat of an exclusive basis as the event’s attendance is capped at 5000 in order to keep the intimate vibe that the organizers have intended from the festival’s inception.

This summer’s Hoxeyville complete artist lineup includes Umphrey's McGee, Mickey Hart Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Todd Snider, The Itals, əkoostik hookah, Digital Tape Machine, Great American Taxi, Breathe Owl Breathe, Ella Riot, Van Ghost, The Ragbirds, Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, The Macpodz, Steppin' In It, Rachael Davis, UV Hippo, Strange Arrangement, Airborne Or Aquatic, Funktion with additional artists to be announced shortly.

In a crowded playing field of music festivals, Hoxeyville activates the environmentalist in everyone at the event by implementing an incentive based program where all festival goers are encouraged to do ‘green acts’ on the grounds, a continuation of the festival’s pure intentions. The ‘Hoxeyville High Five’ has attendees competing for various festival prizes, upgrades and signed artist gear by doing such conscious clean up actions as using a compost bin or picking up trash.

In 2010, the Festival’s green ethic was wildly successful, helping to compost more than 70% of the waste produced as well as requiring all vendors and caterers to use non-food based biodegradable cups plates which greatly reduced the festival’s impact on the local landfills. Hoxeyville’s natural roots are located deep within the Manistee National forest adjacent to the Pine River, a national wild and scenic river; notably, the festival reduces its carbon footprint further by powering its stages and productions using biodiesel generators.

11130 W 48 1/2 Rd Wellston, MI | All Ages (children under 12 admitted free) | 3 Day Pass $130 in advance (additional $25 per person for camping) | RV and VIP Upgrades Available | Sunday Single Day Tickets Available at the Gate |  www.hoxeyville.com

Great American Taxi will host a night of music at the historic Boulder Theater here to raise money for the Mark Vann Foundation charity.  In its eighth year running, the holiday benefit concert this year includes Great American Taxi, Todd Snider, Bill McKay Band, Bonfire Dub, Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce and others.

“It’s our own little way of keeping alive and nurturing the joyous spirit of Mark Vann,” said Chad Staehly, executive director of the foundation and keyboardist/singer for Great American Taxi. Vann, the banjo player for the Boulder-based band Leftover Salmon, died in 2002; the foundation in his name assists various nonprofit groups.

This year funds will directly benefit There With Care and CareConnect.  Previous beneficiaries include Rock-the-Earth, The Rex Foundation, Tipitinas Foundation Artist Relief Fund, ConservationValue, Community Food Share (Boulder & Broomfield Counties' Food Bank), The Music Maker Relief Foundation, The Van Go Mobile Arts Project and JAMS, and the Steam Powered Preservation Society.

The evening also includes an art exhibit and silent auction. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20. People are encouraged to wear a fun or favorite hat.

Great American Taxi, revered as one of the most energetic country-, rock- and bluegrass-influenced Americana bands in the land, is currently in the midst of its Fall Harvest tour, playing with some of the most innovative and acclaimed players currently on the jamband/newgrass and Americana scenes.

Taxi’s latest CD release, Reckless Habits, remains active on both the Jambands.com radio chart and the Colorado radio chart, complemented by two months in the Top 25 on the Americana radio chart.

GREAT AMERICAN TAXI ON THE ROAD, 2010

Wed., Oct. 27  FORT COLLINS, CO w/Oakhurst
Fri., Oct. 29  ENGLEWOOD, CO Gothic Theatre w/Todd Snider and Drew Emmitt Band
Sat., Oct. 30   DENVER, CO Fillmore Auditorium w/Leftover Salmon and Todd Snider
Sun., Oct. 31   AVON, CO Agave
Tue., Nov. 2   BILLINGS, MT Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co.
Wed., Nov. 3   LIVINGSTON, MT The Mint
Thurs., Nov. 4   MISSOULA, MT Top Hat
Fri., Nov. 5   PORTLAND, OR Mt. Tabor Theater
Sat., Nov. 6   BEND, OR Silver Moon Brewing Co.
Sun., Nov. 7  EUGENE, OR w/Emmit-Nershi Band
Tue., Nov. 9   APPLEGATE, OR Applegate Lodge
Wed., Nov. 10   ARCATA, CA Humbrews
Thurs., Nov. 11   BERKELEY, CA Ashkenaz w/David Nelson Band
Fri., Nov. 12   SEBASTOPOL, CA Hopmonk Tavern w/David Nelson Band
Sat., Nov. 13   SANTA CRUZ, CA Moe’s Alley w/the Down Beets
Sun., Nov. 14   UKIAH, CA Nelson Family Vineyards w/David Nelson Band

Revered as one of the most energetic country-, rock- and bluegrass-influenced Americana bands in the land, Great American Taxi announces tour dates that will feature some of the most innovative and acclaimed players currently on the jamband/newgrass and Americana scenes.

Taxi’s Fall Harvest Tour will showcase the exceptional instrumental and versatile vocal abilities of Drew Emmitt, who will bring his mandolin virtuosity appearing with both Leftover Salmon and his own Drew Emmitt Band. The latter is on the October 29 bill in Englewood, CO. Emmitt will team with (The String Cheese Incident) as Billy NershiNershi-Emmitt to perform with Taxi for one night only at the Wow Hall in Eugene, OR, on November 7.

Modern troubadour Todd Snider continues to add concert dates with Great American Taxi. Snider brings his guitar, piano, and harmonica along with his stellar musicianship and treasured lyrics to the stage with Taxi and the Drew Emmitt Band on October 29 and Leftover Salmon, October 30 in Denver.  Snider is currently criss-crossing the country playing dates in support of his recent release The Excitement Plan.

David Nelson Band brings its exploratory improvisational jam sessions to November 12 and 14 dates in Sebastopol, CA, and Ukiah, CA, respectively. The group features Nelson (New Riders of the Purple Sage) on guitar and vocals; Barry Sless (Phil Lesh and Friends) on pedal steel and guitar; Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna) on bass and vocals; and John Molo (Phil Lesh and Friends) on drums and Mookie Siegel on keyboard, accordion and vocals.

Taxi’s latest CD release, Reckless Habits, climbed to No. 3 and remains in the Top Ten for spins on both the Jambands.com radio chart and the Colorado radio chart, complemented by two months in the Top 25 on the Americana radio chart.

GREAT AMERICAN TAXI ON THE ROAD, 2010:

Wed., Oct. 27  FORT COLLINS, CO w/Oakhurst
Fri., Oct. 29  ENGLEWOOD, CO Gothic Theatre w/Todd Snider and Drew Emmitt Band
Sat., Oct. 30   DENVER, CO Fillmore Auditorium w/Leftover Salmon and Todd Snider
Sun., Oct. 31   AVON, CO Agave
Tue., Nov. 2   BILLINGS, MT Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co.
Wed., Nov. 3   LIVINGSTON, MT The Mint
Thurs., Nov. 4   MISSOULA, MT Top Hat
Fri., Nov. 5   PORTLAND, OR Mt. Tabor Theater
Sat., Nov. 6   BEND, OR Silver Moon Brewing Co.
Sun., Nov. 7  EUGENE, OR Sam Bond's Garage w/Emmit-Nershi Band
Tue., Nov. 9   APPLEGATE, OR Applegate Lodge
Wed., Nov. 10   ARCATA, CA Humbrews
Thurs., Nov. 11   BERKELEY, CA Ashkenaz w/David Nelson Band
Fri., Nov. 12   SEBASTOPOL, CA Hopmonk Tavern w/David Nelson Band
Sat., Nov. 13   SANTA CRUZ, CA Moe’s Alley
Sun., Nov. 14   UKIAH, CA Nelson Family Vineyards w/David Nelson Band

On Saturday night Vince Herman and Great American Taxi finished a two week run of dates in Colorado and New Mexico highlighted by two nights supporting the Bill Kreutzmann Trio and culminating in Durango at the Abbey Theater.  Todd Snider happened to be playing the Strater Theater in Durango the same night and headed over to ride the Taxi.  He surfaced for the entire second set for a freaky folk festival.  Snider led on tunes of his own and some inspired covers including a take on J.J Cale's "Crazy Mama," Snider's own "East Nashville Skyline," and some fractured folk takes on some 70's funk hits.  It was apparent that all on stage and in attendance were witnessing a new musical meeting of the minds.

Great American Taxi is heading through the Midwest over the next couple of weeks while work on their second album is finished, entitled "Reckless Habits," which will expand Taxi's ever evolving sound aided by the production of Railroad Earth's Tim Carbone and supplemented with Barry Sless on pedal steel, the Black Swan Singers from Denver, CO and a horn section.  Although an official release date has not been announced, Taxi has shows scheduled on their home turf on March 19, 20 and 21 to celebrate the forthcoming release, including Hodi's Half Note in Fort Collins on March 19th, Boulder Theater on March 20th with the Peak to Freak Horns and Black Swan Singers and March 21st at the Bluebird Theater in Denver with the horns, singers and special guest Bill McKay Band on support.

Keith Richards said humor was rock and roll's greatest weapon, Bob Dylan proved it and Todd Snider takes it to heart. For twelve years, Snider has been a satirist, class cutup and the rare artist who understands and celebrates the connections between the Stones, Dylan, Bill Hicks, John Prine, Mitch Hedberg, Kris Kristofferson, Hunter S. Thompson and Randy Newman. Snider's records are fun even when they aren't being funny, funny even when they're sad, and no less truthful for the laughs.

For fans of rock 'n' roll, folk, country and Americana music have long been held in Snider's sway. His last album, 2006's The Devil You Know, landed him on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Late Night With David Letterman, and it appeared on numerous year-end Top 10 lists. Peace Queer, his newest release, is just the beginning of his typically unique vision. It is the first in a trilogy. Even as we celebrate the release of Peace Queer, Snider is already working on the follow-up, with Rolling Stones producer Don Was. After that, there will be a rock album called Shit Sandwich.

TODD SNIDER @ the Boulder Theater on Friday, January 30th, 2009. 

Boulder Theater
2032 14th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
303.786.7030