Although many people might not see Arkansas as a festival hotspot, Wakarusa Music Festival, which will take place May 31-June 3 on Mulberry Mountain, is sure to prove them wrong.

“Wakarusa prides itself on being a grassroots festival and also a trendsetter,” said Brett Mosiman, festival co-director. “Wakarusa not only books some of the biggest national and international acts, but the festival really does an amazing job finding bands and talent that are on the cusp of becoming globally known just before they explode, making Wakarusa one of the most sought after festivals in the country, and world.”

This year the festival features headliners such as electro party rocker Pretty Lights, folk rockers The Avett Brothers and rock band Primus, while also bringing in up-and-comers like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and Big Gigantic, crowd pleasers like Girl Talk, and electronic fan favorite last year, Ghostland Observatory.

“[There are] massive quantities of incredible music,” said Mosiman. “ Several great acts who have never played  Wakarusa like SAVOY, Bob Weir, Chris Robinson & Jackie Green Trio, Balkan Beat Box and Primus coupled with emerging stars like Avett Brothers, Fitz and the Tantrums, Big Gigantic and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes… make Wakarusa the can't miss music event of the summer.”

Mulberry Mountain, the home of the festival since 2009, is literally in the middle of nowhere, making it the ideal festival spot. The festival grounds rest on top of a mountain, so festival-goers are surrounded by nature, rivers and water falls.

“It forces you to put down your cell phone and reconnect with nature, once you step foot on the grass and breathe in the cool mountain air, you are instantly in vacation mode,” said Mosiman. “World class music in an idyllic natural setting has strange and restorative powers that everyone should experience.”

Though festivals can get expensive, Wakarusa festival directors say they have done everything they can to keep prices reasonable and to make sure that anyone who wants to can come to the festival and have a great time.

“Wakarusa is not about breaking the bank for folks.  We have over 100 bands (nearly 200 sets), nearly round the clock music, a plethora of outdoor activities and vending to take advantage of,” said Mosiman.  “This is a phenomenal deal for everything that’s offered at the festival.  It averages out to less than a dollar ($1.00) per set. When was the last time you paid $1 to see Avett Brothers or Pretty Lights or Primus?”

Tickets are available online at www.wakarusa.com with two-day passes starting at $99. If cost is a concern, you can also check out the Work Exchange Team for opportunities to volunteer in exchange for their festival ticket.  More information is available at workexchangeteam.com. 

Last night’s rain has cooled down the temperature to the mid 70s, so it’s a beautiful morning for your drive out to the mountain for Wakarusa 2012. The music is scheduled to begin in the early afternoon today and go through Sunday night, and there are so many awesome and unique bands it’s hard to choose which shows to see.

I’m sure every show at Wakarusa is going to be incredible--if I could somehow make it to every show over the next four days, I would--but unfortunately you have to choose. 

Here are some of the shows you won’t want to miss for Thursday of Waka:

12:00 p.m. War Chief 

Who wouldn’t want to be at the first show of the festival? I don’t know too much about War Chief, but I do know that the people who have been at the site since Wednesday will be ready to get their festival started, so this will be a fun show. If you’re all set up and ready to go at high noon, make your way down to the Backwoods stage for this show.

I, like many others, will probably be setting up camp during the afternoon, so any of the shows I can make it to will be awesome.  There is something going on at every stage except the main stage starting at 1:00 p.m., so there’s plenty to see.

5:30 p.m. Heartless Bastards

I love the Heartless Bastards, so I am definitely going to make my way to this show.  Often compared to fellow Ohio-based band The Black Keys, this garage-rock band will put on a fun rock show to get your night of music started. 

After this show things really start to get good (and potentially confusing), so Shannon McNally (at 6:00 p.m.), Railroad Earth (at 6:30 p.m.) or Kids These Days (at 5:45 p.m.) will all be great places to be. Make sure that you make your way to the Main Stage by 9 p.m., however, because you won’t want to miss...

9:00 p.m. Weir, Robinson, & Greene Acoustic Trio

This may be a once-in-a-lifetime type show, so I will probably stay at the main stage.  Anything that brings Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes and the ever-eclectic Jackie Greene together on stage is sure to be a crowd favorite.  I’m hoping to hear some old favorites mixed in with stuff that may be only played tonight.

After this set I will probably stay at the Main Stage for...

10:30 p.m. Pretty Lights

I’ve seen Pretty Lights twice before, and both shows have turned in to a giant glowing party.  If you are ready to dance, this will be the show for you, but if you’re looking for a little more low-key environment, you can always head over to Perpetual Groove, also at 10:30 p.m.

Of all the conflicts this night, the 12:30 a.m. is probably the worst for me... Quixotic, Tea Leaf Green, Split Lip Rayfield and Dirtfoot are all playing on separate stages at the same time.

Quixotic and Dirtfoot also play around this time on Saturday night, and Split Lip plays late afternoon Friday, so I will probably stay at Tea Leaf Green.  It will be 2 a.m. by then though, so I’m note really sure what I will feel like doing.

If you’re looking for late night dance parties and great people watching, the Satellite Stage will be rocking until 6:15 a.m. I will probably be asleep by then, however, because Friday has some of the best shows all day, and I want to be well-rested.

Other fun things:

Most people will just be getting in today, so keep in mind that you will have all day Friday and Saturday to take advantage of all the non-music fun the festival has to offer:  hike to the waterfall, go down the water slide, ride the ferris wheel and enjoy the vendors. 

Check back tomorrow through Sunday for my rundown of which shows you won’t want to miss. See you on the Mountain!

The rain yesterday definitely put a damper on people’s moods and show attendance, but the artists kept the show going for Wakarusa 2012.  

There are still two great days of music left, hopefully with better weather.  Here are the shows you will not want to miss for Saturday of Waka:

1:30 p.m. Balkan Beat Box

The music starts at 11 a.m. today, so if you are up and about at that hour and ready to start your day off musically, head down to those shows at the Backwoods Stage and Revival Tent. The first show I know I will be at is Balkan Beat Box at the Main Stage.  They have a funky “ethno-electric” sound and lyrics that are very socially-aware, which I really like.

3:00 G. Love & Special Sauce

Every festival if I get the chance to see G. Love I do.  This is an old favorite of mine and it would be tough not to have a good time at this show. It’s also really cool to note that the Avett Brothers had a major role in producing G. Love’s latest album, so there may be a new feel to older music, which I am excited to see.

If you didn’t catch them yesterday, MarchFourth Marching Band will be playing at the same time at the Revival Tent. If you were out here and heard someone playing “Dayman” from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and wondered which band could be so cool as to play that song, it was them. With lots of percussion and horns, the Portlant-based band plays funky circus-style music while standing on stilts, playing with fire, etc.  Definitely worth checking out.

I didn’t really know what to do after G. Love, but my camp neighbors saw me writing about where I’m going and came over and told me I cannot miss...

4:30 Emmitt-Nershi Band

You may know Drew Emmitt from the String Cheese Incident or Bill Nershi from Leftover Salmon, and even if you don’t this looks like it will be a great bluegrass show.

6:15 Slightly Stoopid

The stealth groove is in the house! After you have something for dinner, head over to the Main Stage to get you dance party started with Slightly Stoopid.  This will be the first show a lot of people see all day, so make sure to head to the venue early so you have time to get through the security line.

8:30 Umphrey’s McGee

This show was packed last night as people left Avett Brothers and waited for Girl Talk to come on, so I didn’t really stay long.  I’m hoping tonight with the bigger venue at the Main Stage, it will seem less crowded. Either way, I can’t go through Waka and miss a set from Umphrey’s.

10:00 p.m. The Infamous Stringdusters

If you’re looking for a funky bluegrass alternative to either Umphrey’s or Primus, I would check out The Infamous Stringdusters at the Outpost Stage.  Now that I think about it, the Outpost has great bluegrass all afternoon with The Travelin’ McCourys and Keller Williams at 6:00 p.m. and the Del McCoury Band at 8:00 p.m., so if thats what you’re looking to see today I would just hang out over there.  Maybe ride the ferris wheel in between shows.

11:00 p.m. Primus

I’ve heard so many people this weekend say Primus is why they are here, so expect this to be a pretty packed show. I’m not particularly a fan, but there’s sure to be something funky and weird going on at this show, so I will definitely stop by.

12:30 a.m. SOJA

With an awesome Reggae-bluegrass sound, SOJA will be a really cool show to check out.  The band’s latest album, “Strength to Survive,” was heavily based on Bob Marley’s Survival, so if you’re looking for reggae, SOJA is where you need to be.

Quixotic and Dirtfoot are playing at the same time, so if you’ve missed their sets so far you should definitely try to stop by.

1:00 a.m. Big Gigantic

Playing in the Interstellar Sanctum, Big Gigantic will be an awesome show to dance to.  I’m especially fond of their saxophone. 

2:15 Beats Antique

Beats Antique played an awesome show in Tulsa a month or so ago, which unfortunately I could not attend.  I’m excited to check them out here in the festival setting and see if they live up to all the hype.

That will probably do it for me for the evening, because I get a little tired and people get a little weird around 3:45 a.m.  For those looking to keep the party going, however, shows will be going on until 7:30 a.m. out at the Satellite Stage.

I feel like I should reiterate that these are just the shows that I know I will probably be going to--there are so many amazing bands here at Waka, and I am hearing more each day, that there is no way a person could make it to all the shows.  Good luck to all of you out there trying.  Hope to see you somewhere out here on the Mountain!

Check out more photos from day 2 @ Wakarusa.

The Grateful Web’s Bailey Elise McBride recently had the chance to speak with Jacob Hemphill of DC-based reggae band SOJA while at Wakarusa Music Festival in Ozark, Ark. The two discussed SOJA’s first experience at an American festival, their latest album and why international audiences find SOJA’s music so appealing.

GW: First off, how has your Wakarusa experience been so far?

JH: It’s been cool. We’re having lots of fun--This has been a good time. It’s really our first time doing the American festival circuit and we’re just really pumped up and excited.

GW: You performed last night at 12:30 a.m. and are set to perform today at 6:00 p.m. Do you prefer the late night shows or the day/evening?

JH: There’s different good things about both, definitely. Late night is fun, it definitely gets you going and all the lights make it super kick ass.

GW: Do you think there’s a big difference between the crowds that show up to late shows vs. earlier ones?

JH: Not really, it just depends on the audience. Some times they’re more hyped, sometimes they aren’t. 

GW: What do you think is different or unique about performing at festivals vs. normal concert venues?

JH: Festivals are cool because artists get the chance to watch all the other artists perform and the fans get a chance to see all the artists for one price. You get a lot for what you pay and you get the chance to really experience a lot. 

GW: Let’s talk a little more about you guys and your music. The first thing that I notice about SOJA is that your influences for your music are not necessarily what most people think of when they think reggae. Can you tell me a little about what inspires you musically?

JH: Good songs. My favorite artists are the guys who write the really good song. You know it’s not really about just the finishing touches its about the raw thing the song is trying to convey, what that song is really about. I like the guy like Bob Marley, Paul Simon--folk artists of all backgrounds who are just trying to tell a story with their music.

GW: Speaking of Bob Marley, your fourth album, “Strength to Survive”, has strong ties to Marley’s album “Survival”.  What about that album spoke to you and inspired your latest release?

JH: Well, he was writing about Africa, and when I grew up I lived there for a year and a half. I hadn't really thought about it much until I was a teenager and I was going through listening to all of Bob Marley’s albums and I listened to “Survival” and I thought “This is about Africa.” I started thinking about everything I remembered from growing up and [Survival] became my favorite album he ever did. [SOJA] did an experimental album for our last album and we really wanted to go back to our roots so we really looked at [Survival] as a diagram.

GW: Something that I think is really cool about you guys is that you write lyrics that demonstrate a really sincere concern for social justice issues--the environment, poverty, and the like.  Why do you think it’s important to talk about those things through music?

JH: Music separates us from animals. It’s a reminder that you can do what your instinct tells you or what your mind says is correct. That’s what’s different about humans from animals--you can write a song to show emotion and from the verse to the chorus to the next verse you write it how you want it. It’s really the opposite of just following instinct-- that’s what’s so cool about it.

GW: You all have developed a pretty serious following around the world--playing shows in other countries, people who follow you show to show, a huge viewership online--what do you think these people, many of whom don’t speak English as a first language, find so appealing about your music?

JH: You know, I don’t really know. I think it must be that something they figure out and we just sit around and wait to see what they think. I don't really know--it could be any number of reasons. It could be that Americans think they own the world and we don't think that or that nobody really sings about political and environmental issues and we do but I don’t really know.

GW: You’ve recently had some big breaks--an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, your album in the Billboard Top 40--where are you guys going to go from here?

JH: Honestly, I don't know. That’s a good question--our goal is just to make music and change the world, that’s the only thing that really matters.

I’m coming up on my fourth Wakarusa, and it’s hard to put into words exactly what I’m the most excited about because I just come into the festival KNOWING I’m going to have a great time. Each and every year the festival grows, and I can’t wait to see what all is on-site for the 10^th festival, taking place on Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Ark. May 30 to June 2.

Here are the top five things you can expect from the festival:

1. Classics from your favorite artists

No matter what type of music you’re normally into, some of your favorite artists will probably be at Wakarusa this year. Headlining the festival are Widespread Panic, Dispatch, STS9, The Black Crowes, Amon Tobin, Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg) and Umphrey’s McGee, all of whom will be playing the main stage. One change this year to the festival line-up seems to be the addition of bigger headline performers to Thursday and Sunday night, making the full event pass the way to go if you want to see all your favorites.

For those with more Top 40 tastes, Of Mice and Men, Bauer and Icona Pop will all be playing over the course of the weekend and their shows may be a great way to check out something other than the songs you hear on the radio.

Besides the headliners and Top 40 acts, there are a number of other awesome bands you should get to know if you don’t already.  My friend Michelle has a great run-down of some of the best bands to check out.

2. The great outdoors being…great

Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Ark. is a perfect setting because it doesn’t get too hot (usually) or too cold (usually), and there is plenty of shade if you need to cool down during the day. I’ve been to a few other festivals, but nothing beats shows on the mountain for me.

Shuttles on-site take festival-goers to the Ozark Highlands Trail, where they can enjoy a mid-day hike or a dip in the nearby Mulberry River. If you haven’t made it out to the waterfall, make a point to get out there this year.

The Backwoods Stage is just that…back in the woods, and if you haven’t made it out there for a show I would highly encourage it because it is one of the most unique venue experiences you will ever encounter (jamming in the middle of the forest… It doesn’t get much better.)

A word of warning about camping: DO make sure to secure all of your food items before leaving your campsite or going to bed each night—black bears are natives of the mountain, too, and they love Wakarusa as much as I do.

3. To wander into your new favorite band

I first saw Lord T. and Eloise at a fraternity party at the University of Arkansas my junior year of college. I first saw Quixotic when I lost and looking for my friends a few Wakarusa festivals ago. I really got into SOJA after I interviewed Jacob Hemphill last summer. Whether its wandering into a tent for some shade or passing through a show on your way back to your tent, you WILL find awesome new music—you’ll be surrounded by it all weekend, so it would be impossible not to. Make sure to keep a stage schedule on hand at all times so you can figure out who that awesome band you’ve never heard before actually is and you can check them out later.

4. Interesting people

People from around the country and around the world make their way to Wakarusa every summer. Take advantage of it!

Get to know the people camping next to you. Make friends with the guy in front of you at a show. You never know who will invite you back to their camp for food and fun or what connections you might make. I get to meet so many other awesome journalists through the media tent and media camping, but I always make a point to go visit all my friends in main stage camping to see who they’ve run into. You never know who or what you will see at Wakarusa.

5. Activities galore

I’m a sucker for all the fun stuff that comes with festivals, and Wakarusa delivers. Whether it is the awesome row of food vendors with every kind of food you could possibly ever crave while on-site, the art displays and opportunities for public art, the ferris wheel (a must-ride ride at $5 a go or $20 for a pass, you just have to see the festival from above), yoga, drum circles, a costume contest and parade…the list goes on and on. They activities page is worth checking out before heading out to make sure you don’t miss anything!

Though some levels of camping and passes are sold out, there are still tickets available. See you on the mountain!

We’re about an hour away from kicking off the music here on the second day of the tenth annual Wakarusa Music Festival at Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Ark.After a rough first day of shows getting rained out and mud EVERYWHERE, I have high hopes that things will start to dry out at least by the time we leave Monday. Right now it’s pretty overcast, but I haven’t seen any rain yet. If you’re just heading out to the Mountain, make sure to bring shoes and clothes that you don’t mind covering in up to a foot of mud, which is what the conditions are like in some parts of the festival grounds.If you can get over the conditions, there is some awesome music awaiting you today. Here’s what I’m most looking forward to:I’ll probably start my day with AFROLICIOUS, playing the Outpost Tent at 1:00 p.m. This live/electronic band is a perfect way to start the day party, so if you don’t have something to start your day I suggest you start there.After that show I will need to eat, and there are a of great options along the festival grounds. I’ll probably take my food and head on to BUFFALO KILLERS, playing at the Backwoods Stage at 3:00 p.m.This next slot of time may be the worst of the whole festival in my opinion: at 5:00 p.m. Of Monsters and Men will be playing the Revival Tent, then at 5:30 p.m. The Motet, who killed it last night, will be playing the Outpost Tent and SOJA, who I discovered and love from last year, will be playing the Main Stage. I’m going to try to make all three, but no promises. Any of these three shows will be a great time, though.  I’ll probably try to end at The Motet because Yo Momma’s Big Fat Booty Band comes on right after at 7:00 p.m., and that will be a great time, also.At 7:45 p.m. ZZ Ward will be playing the Backwoods Stage and Umphrey’s McGee, obviously a must-see, will be playing the Main Stage.At 10:30 p.m. I will head to BoomBox at the Outpost Tent, a favorite of mine since I saw them late-night at Bonnaroo a few years ago and always an awesome dance party.At 12:15 a.m., STS9 will play a second set and hopefully get to rock out this time uninterrupted by the weather. That show will be in the Revival Tent instead of the Main Stage, too, which should make for more of an intimate feel.Finally, I will probably end my night with Galactic at 2:30 a.m. in the Revival Tent. A long day of awesome music, Friday will hopefully shape up to be an awesome day out here on the Mountain. Hope to see you here!

At the first Wakarusa Music Festival they were invited to, Jeff Austin, mandolin player for Yonder Mountain String Band, says the band was so unknown he was frisked by security because they didn’t believe he was a band.

Now playing the tenth Wakarusa Music Festival, the band is in a very different place.

Speaking to members of the media on Thursday, Austin and fellow band members described their rise in notoriety and the role that festivals like Wakarusa have played in it.

“It’s been cool to see a festival that was so integral in growing our audience in the Midwest,” Austin said. “We’re just kind of in and out quick, got here just in time to enjoy the deluge on the last day of the beginning of our summer.”

The band’s spirits didn’t seem dampened by the rain and mud as they discussed their upcoming Harvest Music Festival, which will also take place on Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Ark., Oct. 17-19.

“If I made a list of people if I'm at a festival I want to go see, these are those people,” bassist Ben Kaufmann said.

Though Yonder will headline the festival with three performances, other big names include Tedeschi Trucks Band, Les Claypool’s Duo de Twang, Railroad Earth, Beats Antique and JJ Grey and Mofro, among many, many others. Overall, there are nearly 100 sets of live music over the course of the three-day festival.

Though it’s been four years since the last time Yonder played at Wakarusa, the band said they were excited to be a part of the tenth anniversary and be welcomed back to the festival.

“One of the most unique things about this place is where it's located, and it's a pleasure to work with Bret and be a part of his events—it feels like we're throwing a party with a great friend,” Kaufmann said.

The band credits the Colorado music scene with giving them “a lot of open ears” and “Audiences that could easily fill a coffee shop or bigger venue.”

“It was a rare place where you could grow,” Austin said.

For those who have been wondering when they can expect more music to be released (Yonder has not released anything since 2009), the band had an exciting answer: soon.

Yonder has been in the studio recording while touring this year, and already has four songs that are in final edits and they expect to release on an EP in the near future.

“This recording on tour thing has been really cool,” Austin said. “They’re all original songs; now the craving is to put out music that either one of us has written or we've written collectively.”

Because they are not recording with a big label, the members of Yonder have had to  “rethink how to be creative in the studio-- for us things mostly flow on the road,” they said.

“It sounds like us,” Kaufmann said. “There's a sound we've been chasing in the studio and I think we’ve finally got it.”