A semi-circle of six acoustic guitars with a microphone in the center shone down on by natural, uncolored stage lights faced the crowd. Show-goers enthusiastically bantered in anticipation and sipped their drinks.

I started off my musical day with two exceptional bands that weren’t on the program. Enchanted Ape and Mountain Standard Time played acoustic sets in the VIP Chill Tent. Enchanted Ape had a guest guitarist join them, a performer who had played with frontman Chris Obrien years before and who added some really nice vocal backups. The regular guitarist will come in Friday just before Enchanted Ape’s slot that day. Chris also added a tenor sax player to this acoustic set.

Summer is almost here and this year’s 10,000 Lakes Festival is just over a month away, taking place July 22-25 in Detroit Lakes, MN.  Leading up to this year’s event, two of the 10,000 Lakes Festival’s headliners are releasing highly anticipated new albums in June with Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey and The GooGrux King out June 2 on RCA, and Wilco’s Wilco (The Album) out June 29 on Nonesuch.

With summer just around the corner, the 10,000 Lakes Festival has added Atmosphere and Ozomatli to the lineup and will host four nights of music and camping with headlining sets from Dave Matthews Band, two nights of Widespread Panic, and Wilco for the 7th annual event held at the Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota July 22 – 25.

The final artist lineup for the 10,000 Lakes Festival features over sixty acts performing on four stages including:

The 10,000 Lakes Festival has confirmed additional performers to the 7th annual music festival held at the Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota July 22 - 25. The festival, anchored by headliners Dave Matthews Band, two nights of Widespread Panic, and Wilco, has added artists such as Gomez, Mason Jennings, Todd Snider, North Indiana All Stars and many more.

The 10,000 Lakes Festival has announced Dave Matthews Band, two nights of Widespread Panic, and Wilco as headlining artists for four days of music and camping at the 7th annual music festival held at the Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota July 22 - 25.

The 10,000 Lakes Festival's artist lineup will feature over sixty acts performing on the festival's four stages. The first round of confirmed acts includes:

Summer seems to be coming quickly to a close, and the end of festival season is in sight.  This summer was somewhat special, as I was able to witness the birth of two new music festivals onto the scene.  In July it was the mega-sized Mile High Music Festival, and on August 16th and 17th the smaller, cozier Jackson Hole Music Festival.