Wed, 07/31/2013 - 4:58 pm

Looking for some local fun, beer, and music? Look no further then WARMFest in Broad Ripple, Indiana, Labor Day Weekend 2013. This local festival will be held in Broad Ripple Park , and will feature many local favorites and local vendors. In its 7th year, this festival has moved from the main streets of Broad Ripple to the park and will now feature five different stages. Broad Ripple, Indiana is a close knit and young community that is focused on being locally sustainable. In this small corner of Indianapolis you will find art galleries, local markets, restaurants, and bars. It is a popular place for its night life and eclectic atmosphere.Every month Broad Ripple hosts the Indie Arts & Vintage Marketplace (IAVM). This is an even where local antique collectors and upcyclers  get together to sell some of their goods and promote the message of living sustainably and buying locally. Usually, this is a one day a month event, but in September it will be three days long, during the entire course of WARMFest. This puts a new twist on the commonly found vendors at music festivals. Local artists and creators will not only be selling their work, but also communicating their message of a closer community with locality as their focus.WARMfest not only promises some great local artisans, but also, some great local and regional musicians.  There is a great mix, from local favorites such as Hyryder, a Grateful Dead and Phish tribute band that has a great jam-fusion style, to DJ’s such as RJD2 for you late night dance party fans. Other bands include Big Head Todd and the Monsters, JJ Grey & Mofro, G.Love & Special Sauce, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Coup, Whipstitch Sallies, Max Allen Band, and so many more. You can find the full line up, as well as the schedule on the WARMfest website: warmfest.org. There you can get tickets and learn more specifics about everything that this festival is about. You can build a custom schedule for the times that you will be at the festival, as well as read bios about the bands.So if you are looking for something to do on Labor Day weekend, get your tickets for WARMfest now. The community atmosphere and local love can’t be beat. Come see Broad Ripple, drink some local beers, and dance to some home-town favorites. Weekend and single day tickets are available!

Mon, 08/26/2013 - 3:45 pm

Friday, August 16th, 2013, at White River State Park in Indianapolis was perhaps my favorite night of the STUMS9 tour so far.  Maybe I love it so much it’s because it is in my hometown, but White River State Park is a great place to see a show. It was a beautiful summer night, not too hot, like it was last year, and there were wispy clouds in the sky.  The stage is set in downtown Indianapolis off of the canal that runs through the city. It is a large lawn with VIP seating to both sides, and by far one of the best places in Indianapolis to see a show.

Sound Tribe Sector Nine opened for Umphrey’s McGee and it was an impressive set. The sunset behind the stage was a beautiful addition to the already amazing light show. It was a mellow set starting out with “Grizzly” and “Equinox,” a song from their album Seasons 01.  As the set progressed, so did the beauty of the sunset and the vibrancy of the light show.  The five piece band plays so perfectly together, it’s hard to know where one musician stops and another starts. They took the audience on a journey through the beautiful sunset ending with the song “20-12” accompanied by beautiful lights that looked like spiral clocks, and a fiery pink sunset.

Umphrey’s McGee took the stage to the sound of welcoming cheers from their hometown fans. The band started in South Bend, Indiana, and White River State Park is one of their stomping grounds. This show was one for the record books. They opened with an older song called “Believe the Lie,” and played one of my all time favorite “Words.” But, one of the highlights from this set list was the “Cemetery Walk I” followed directly by “Cemetery Walk II.” These songs feature beautiful piano solos by the talented Joel Cummins, and are rarely played one after another. It was a special combination. For the encore, they played two (that’s right, two!) Pink Floyd covers. First, “In the Flesh” into “Another Brick in the Wall” where Dave Murphy of STS9 played bass and David Phipps of STS9 played piano with Joel. This truly was a show to remember. Umphrey’s McGee gave their hometown fans just what they were looking for.

Check out more photos from the show.

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 5:39 pm

In less than two weeks the beautiful grounds at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio will become alive again for the Werk Out Music and Arts Festival. September 12th-14th there will be a great family gathering featuring three sets of The Werks and tons of other great musicians along with camping, awesome venders, and some of the best people in the world.  This festival is truly a hidden gem in the Midwest jam band scene.Legend Valley is a great place to go for a festival. The stages sit at the bottom of a naturally formed bowl that provides great acoustics where the music never overlaps.  There’s plenty of space for camping in shade or sun whatever is your preference, tons of vendors, and visual artists of all types.The line up this year is one of the best I have seen in the Midwest this summer. It’s stacked with artists such as EOTO, Lotus, Conspirator, GRiZ, Ekoostik Hookah, Johnny Neal of the Allman Brothers, and Papadosio. This is the perfect Midwest showcase of favorites, headlined by three sets of The Werks. Other featured artists include David Gans, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Cosby Sweater with Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee, and Dixon’s Violin. Dixon’s Violin is a unique project that experiments with the vibrational and transcendental sounds a violin can produce. I can’t wait to hear how the sound reverberates off of the natural valley.So, if you’re interested in finding out more information on rules, tickets, and maps you can check out the festival’s website www.thewerkoutfestival.com. Get your tickets early and get ready to close out your summer with an amazing gathering of family, friends, and beautiful music.

Mon, 09/09/2013 - 4:31 pm

In its first year WARMfest in Broad Ripple Park, Indianapolis, Indiana should be counted as a success. It was a great, and warm, way to spend my Labor Day Weekend. With six stages, one being a riverboat stage, this event was one of massive size and variety. I have been in Broad Ripple Park at least 20 times, and never realized how much space there truly was in my little town. WARMfest started off a bit rough on Saturday, getting rained out a few hours into the event. I feel as though the staff made a good call, as there were severe storms in the area, typical of the unpredictable Indiana weather. None-the-less, Sunday turned out to be a perfect day for a music festival.

It was an eclectic crowd of old and young, but everyone seemed thrilled to be spending the long weekend hanging out in the park and listening to some great bands play. The Broad Ripple Vintage Art Fair was vending for this event and added to the eclectic feel of the festival. There were booths with old-fashioned popcorn, vintage clothing and furniture, and all sorts of knick knacks.  Also, all of the local food trucks came to the festival giving the crowd so many choices of food.

I started my Sunday off with a set from Jennie DeVeo, a curly blonde headed woman with a beautiful, mellow voice. She is a strong lead female singer, and brought a nice indie sound to the stage.

I then wandered into a band that I have never seen before, but suspect might become a new favorite. Red Wanting Blue decorated their stage with all sorts of things like sticker covered suitcases, mini Darth Vaders, and a light bright with their emblem in it. It turns out this is band is a local Midwest favorite in the indie Scene. The 5 member band brought a happy, upbeat sound and got everyone in the crowd dancing and singing.

Sunday night closed out with two great headliners, JJ Grey & Mofro, from Florida, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. JJ Grey brought his soulful sound to the stage for a heart felt and heart warming set, where he reflected on some of the good times he’s had in Indianapolis in the summer.

Monday I arrived just in time for one of my local favorites, Hyryder. This band is a Phish and Grateful Dead cover band, and played an entire set of Grateful Dead covers. I have to admit it was nice to hear some familiar tunes, and see the familiar smiling faces that happen everytime a Grateful Dead song plays at a festival.

The weather Monday truly made WARMfest true to its name. It was a perfectly sunny and warm summer day, but that didn’t stop the crowd from having a great time, and being thankful that the rain from Saturday was long gone.

Next up was a band all the way from New Orleans, Trombone Shorty and Oreleans Avenue. This funk band took the stage with tons of energy.  The lead singer and trombone and trumpet player Troy Andrews took the stage to his wailing sax player with such energy. This was one of the most anticipated shows of the festival and the crowd was feeling it.

The night was just getting started with Trombone Shorty. G. Love and Special Sauce and Michael Franti had yet to take the stage. G. Love and Special Sauce has a blues influenced sound that singer Garrett Dutton raps and plays the harmonica over. This is a unique sound that gets the crowd singing along right away.

Michael Franti was perhaps one of my favorite sets of WARMfest. His energy cannot be matched by anyone else, and you can tell he truly loves all of his fans. His songs have a message of peace and love, which is very inspiring. He kept me on my toes while taking photos as he jumped off the stage several times to go into the crowd and hug his fans and sing to them. He threw huge pink balls into the crowd and it was a truly beautiful way to end a festival in its first year.

Check out more photos from WARMfest 2013.

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 3:25 pm

The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival was a great way to close my festival season. Held September 12-14th at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, this festival was full of some the midwest’s favorite musicians and artists. It was an absolutely beautiful weekend to spend outside, although it was a bit chilly at night, the sun was out all weekend.

If you have never been to Legend Valley, Ohio, I suggest you give it a try next year. Larger festivals like All Good are held out there, but I especially like going there for the smaller events like The Werk Out. They let you camp in the concert bowl which really makes things a lot more accessible.  Also, there is always the best pizza vendor there called Disco Pizza. I suggest you give it a try if you are in the area, it really redefines what you think good fest. pizza is.

I arrived on Friday night just in time to see Johnny Neel play with the Big Bad Jam. This is a group made up of keyboardist from The Allman Brother’s Band, Johnny Neel, members from the Werks, and John Mullins from Big Ear and formerly Ekoostik Hookah. Their jam-band sound and upbeat music and covers really set a great tone for my weekend.

After Johnny Neel and the Big Damn Jam, Dopapod got to play an impromptu set as one of the other bands had cancelled. This band is pretty well-known in the Midwest and always plays a consistently great show. They got to play two full sets and sat in with The Werks for almost a whole set as well this weekend.

Conspirator was one of the highlights of my night on Friday.  I have seen this band only once before, and I have to admit I enjoyed this set much more. They brought in the sunset with a great electronic, jam, fusion sound. Conspirator is a side project of the keyboardist and bassist for the Disco Buiscuts, Aron Manger and Marc Brownstein. I cannot describe their style more accurately than they do on the website, so I will quote it here:

“Unleashed is a crystal clear demonstration of Conspirator’s heavy, electronically produced core coupled with a skillful and melodic homage to live instrumentation. Electronic rock sensibilities are gracefully smashed into jaw dropping, dance-floor shaking dubstep rhythms to create an effortless fusion of all things deep. This high-impact collision creates an all encompassing, energetic spectacle…”

After another Dopapod set, The Werks took the stage for one of the best sets I got to see all weekend. They brought a full light set, including several large lasers and a big “W.” There were two fire spinning troupes and several live painters near the stage for this performance, as well as a podium for live dancers. The Werks really went all-out this year for the fourth year of their festival. They played a great set of originals and covers such as “Rambling Man” with guest keyboardist, Johnny Neel. Halfway through the set, Dopapod took over, and the transition was so seamless I hardly realized that they had taken over. Not a note was missed as Dopapod took over instrument by instrument and continued to play for several minutes. They left just as seamlessly, leaving instrument by instrument and ending the jam with dueling keyboard solos from Norman Dimitrouleas of the Werks and Eli Winderman of Dopapod. They went on to play some great covers like “2001,” “Onslaught,” (by TOOL), and “Walking on the Moon,” and left the crowd begging for more as they exited the stage.

The rest of Friday night was a mix of blue-grass and electronic bands. In the electronic tent stage, Magua, Eric Evasion, Roevy , Attak/Carma, and Mr. Oblivious were some of the bands featured late night. In the main stage area, there was late night blue grass from Blue Moon Soup. Between the stages there was a screen playing “Alice in Wonderland” where people gathered around fires to watch a late night movie.

Saturday morning was a crisp and beautiful morning without a cloud in the sky.  I wandered down to the stage area to check out some of the vendor booths. BLVisuals, a new group of artists to the festival scene, live painted articles of clothing and hats, as well as body painting. There were booths with beautiful hand blown glass, and hand crafted jewelry as well as clothing, tie dyes.

It was a beautiful day to spend outside with the early afternoon bands such as Bigear, Arrows of Neon, Glowstick Willy, Kung Fu, and, one of the highlights of my afternoon, and local favorite, Ekoostik Hookah. 

Another one of my favorite sets of the evening was EOTO. Michael Travis and Jason Hann of The String Cheese Incident played into the sunset. As the light show got better and better, so did the energy of this set. Although they did not have their lotus flower light rig, the stage lights were still quite good. EOTO got the crowd moving and set the stage for another cool, but energetic night.

As the clear cool night came, you could see every star in the sky for the Werks set. They took the stage with the same if not more energy than the night before. They had many guest sit-ins throughout the set. First, Steve Sweeney for “Cruel Stone Blues” and then Jason Hann for “No Diggity,” which also featured Colin Martin on horns. They had awesome aerial performers through their entire set. First, it was two dancers in a hanging cube, and then a beautiful performance on silks. They closed their set appropriately with “The Party Ends” and a group photo with all of their fans.

Late-night for Saturday night was once again a mix of bluegrass and electronic music. In the tent stage was a great line up with Cosby Sweater with Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee followed by Broccoli Samuria. Both bands’ sound is somewhere between electronic and jam band. The crowd was definitely moving in the tent, as it was much warmer than any other place.  At the movie screen between the stages, they played “The Wizard of Oz” in sync with The Dark Side of the Moon album by Pink Floyd.

At the bottom of the hill, by the main stage area was once again the sight of late-night bluegrass. Rumpke Mountain Brothers played late into the night with David Gans. It was a perfect way to close a perfect weekend. As I walked back to my tent I couldn’t help but be in awe by the beautiful starlit sky. It was a beautiful weekend in the Midwest and a great way to kiss summer goodbye.

Check out more photos from The Werk Out & Arts Festival.

Fri, 11/01/2013 - 7:17 am

ON October 26th I got the honor of seeing Yonder Mountain String Band for their Halloween party at the House of Blues in Chicago. It was a beautiful night out in the city. The House of Blues is nestled right downtown among all of the stately buildings and bright city lights. The interior of the building is just as impressive as its stately surroundings. Every wall is painted and decorated differently and the balconies that are stacked three high are decorated with filigree, which is illuminated by color changing lights.  It is truly a beautiful building.

I arrived to a growing crowd, some people dressed for the holiday, and others ready to hear some blue grass. The opening band was called The Founding Fathers, and is a side project by two of the members of the Infamous String Dusters, Andy falco on Guitar and Chris Pandolfi on banjo. This group offers bluegrass with a twist you’ve never heard before. It’s an experimental mix of some blue grass and some bare bones electronic sounds that come from a simple set up of two guys a guitar a banjo and synthesizer.  They have a mixed set list of originals mixed with familiar tunes. One of my very favorite moments was the cover of “While my Guitar Gently Weeps” by the Beatles. I have heard many covers of this song, but this was one of the most unique translations I have ever heard. The blue grass, yet electronic sound as well as the charismatic stage presence of the musicians, really made it something special.

After a short break, the Yonder Mountain String Band began to take the stage and I could feel the excitement in the room come to a peak. This four piece blue grass group has a dedicated following all across the U.S., but they are definitely a Mid-West favorite. The group originates out of Colorado and has been touring for the last 14 years.  The group is made up of  Adam Aijala on guitar, Jeff Austin on mandolin and vocals, Dave Johnston playing banjo, and Ben Kaufmann on the stand up bass. Even though this is a classic combination of instruments for blue grass, these guys have a unique way of playing blue grass. They started the set with a high-powered, and dare I say, foot stomping song, called “If you’re ever in Oklahoma” which is off of their 2001 album Mountain Tracks: Volume 1. They went on to play a first set packed with a list of 14 songs.

By the second set, the House of Blues was packed to the brim. The mazes of painted hallways were elbow to elbow as everyone geared up for the second set. They started the second set with “Sidewalk Stars,” an up-tempo song with a catchy melody and deep lyrics with a nostalgic feel. This ended up being another power packed, knee stomping, set with another 13 songs featured. Songs like, “Isolate,” “Night out,” “Keep Going,” and “Shake Me Up.” They closed the night with a three song encore of “Town,” “Raleigh & Spencer,” and “Bloody Mary.”

Overall it was a beautiful night in the Windy City. As I walked out of the House of Blues I was met by the impressive sky scrape of Chicago and meandered down the river to my bus stop. I reflected on what a great night of music and celebration it was. Yonder Mountain String Band put on a show to impress. Check out their newest album that was released in early October and see their website www.yondermountain.com for future tour dates and to purchase the newest CD.

Check out more photos from the show.

Wed, 01/29/2014 - 10:13 am

Friday January, 24th was a special night at The Vogue Theater with Keller Williams and special guests More then a Little. Indianapolis packed the Vogue that night, the cold weather and three inches of snow didn’t make anyone feel like missing out on this unique event. It was packed wall to wall for the first Keller show in Indianapolis this year, and a great night to hear a little soulful funk.

Keller opened the show with his one-man band act where he uses various loop pedals to create a sound that is as full as a full band. Keller is a guru at almost all instruments, guitar, keys, drums, kazoo, bass, Keller can play them all. His style is very unique to him. His songs are often narratives about his life, loosely written, and likely to change from show to show. He also tends to throw in some neat covers, with a very “Keller Williams” spin. He played some of his favorites in the first set like “Uncle Disney” and “Pepper, “ but I have to admit this first set seemed like a warm up for the second set.

Keller’s newest band More Than a Little took the stage for the second set and started to lay down a soulful beat. More Than a Little is a group of local singers from Virginia known for their gospel sound around local churches. The gospel and at times R&B was a refreshing sound, as Keller took the stage with his bold and unique guitar riffs, the two distinct styles merged naturally. They started off the set with the title track from the newest album More Than a Little. Singers Tonya Lazenby and Sugah Davis added the perfect soulful sound to Keller’s unique, bluesy style. Keller can shine just as much with a band as he does without. 

The energy of the second set was amazing. Everyone on the stage was clearly having a great time. As Keller pushed the band forward, he seemed to bring a unique take on gospel as he played one of my very favorites “Freaker By the Speaker” unlike any other time I’ve heard it before. The theater was full of energy at this point, no one even remembered the cold night outside. Keller closed the set with “Woman are Smarter” and everyone was smiling from ear to ear.

This is a tour I would not suggest missing anytime soon. This is a truly unique group hitting the Jam Circuit right now, and it’s unlike any other show I have seen recently. These musicians make up a truly talented group, full of soul and funk. They are on the move across the country out west with dates in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming so check out Kellerwilliams.net to get tickets and see tour dates.

Check out more photos from the show.

Wed, 02/05/2014 - 6:49 pm

ON the last day of January 2014 a great group of people gathered in the snow and ice at the LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio for a sold out Friday night show. Umphrey’s McGee never fails to impress and also draw an impressive crowed. The band sold out the LC Pavilion which holds almost 3,000 people at 3p.m. that day. This was a special stop on the tour as the day before the band got some heart breaking news. The first drummer for Umphrey’s McGee, Mike Mirro died at the age of 36.

Mirro started with the band in 1997 and was their drummer up until 2002. He is featured in many of the early albums like Local Band does O.K. He was a big influence on the group and was with them through the toughest beginning stages. Umphrey’s had this to say on their website after receiving the news:

“There are no words that can convey the feeling of loss we are collectively feeling, we have lost a friend, a brother, and a man without whom there would be no Umphrey’s McGee. Mikey, we will always love you for the amazing person that you were and we’ll carry your spirit with us through the music.

“We’ll miss you.”

The show that night was packed with feeling and some great deep tracks. The 2004 album Anchor Drops seemed to be in the spotlight. The set list featured several songs from Anchor Drops such as “Plunger,” Ja Junk,” and “Robot World.” They also featured a very heart-felt “Glory” in the first set featuring some teases from “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac. Each song reminded me more and more how much I love this band. After following the band for the last 6 years I have to say that they are truly at a peak in their skill level as well as showmanship. There is no other experience quite like the one this band provides.

It’s hard to pick a favorite moment from this set, but one of my top two would have to be the “Hajimemashite” which Brendan dedicated to Mike Mirro.  This heartfelt song was the perfect dedication to him. The only thing that possibly could have topped that was the encore that featured a high powered cover of “Kashmire” by Led Zeppelin. Singer and guitarist Jake Cinninger’s voice beautifully mimics Robert Plant’s raw and dynamic voice. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to close the show as they went into “Andy’s Last Beer.”

Umphrey’s McGee is traveling on through the Midwest and up through New York and Virginia. They will be back in the Midwest to visit their home town of Chicago for the last weekend of February before heading out West. The three night run at the Riviera in Chicago has already sold out one night, so if you want to see the hottest band in the jam circuit in their home town, get your tickets early!

Check out more photos from the show.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 5:31 am

Nothing makes me happier than a night full of some great classics from the Grateful Dead. Every time I hear one of those familiar melodies I can feel my soul awaken and my heart become a little lighter. There was nothing but smiles across every face this past Friday, February 7th as Dark Star Orchestra graced Indianapolis with some of the first Grateful Dead tunes of the year in the Egyptian Room. It was a chilly night outside, but the room was warm and the music was friendly, and there were so many lovely faces in the crowd.

Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) took the stage with a familiar tune. The crowd sang along to every word, “Nothing’s Shakin’ on Shakedown Street,” as the lights from the stage lit up a sea of smiles. Young and old souls came together and danced and sang to a lighthearted set. I am always impressed with how DSO seems to capture the spirit of the Grateful Dead without trying to be something they aren’t: The Grateful Dead. Lead guitarist Rob Eaton has a magnetic stage presence, as he brings the crowd down memory lane.

The set list included some great classics like “Althea,” “Hey Pocky Way,” “Maggie’s Farm,” and “Playing in the Band.” The second set featured a great “Terrapin Station” that went straight into an amazing “Drums > Space.” I am always impressed with how drummers Rob Koritz and Dino English so perfectly complement each other in these sections. They allow themselves a bit of creative freedom and provide an experience that is progressive without forgetting the roots it came from. They always entrance the crowd and focus the room. They wound the crowd through ups and downs almost to the edge of being lost, and then they pulled the room back together with a beautiful and familiar song “I Need a Miracle.” The room came back to the lively state it was in earlier and the band took the stage.

Dark Star Orchestra closed the night with a song everyone could sing at the top of their lungs, “Quinn the Eskimo.” The mood was light and the band closed thanking the city of Indianapolis for such a warm welcome. They announced that the set list was originally performed by the Grateful Dead on 11/14/1987 at the Long Beach Arena in California.  With the remaining moments they threw in a spur of the moment filler, “Strange Man,” and the night ended just a beautifully as it began.

Check out more photos from the show.

Thu, 05/15/2014 - 9:43 am

The seasons have turned. The sun is warm the sky is blue, and even the grass is getting green. This can only mean one thing. It's almost summer. What better way to get rid of that winter blues then to bring in the summer with one of the best festivals of the the season? In just over a week, for Memorial day weekend, Dark Star Orchestra gathers the best of the Midwest for a Jubilee. 

Over Memorial day Weekend, May 23, 24, and 25th, Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio hosts the third year of the Dark Star Jubilee. This weekend is sure to be a place with endless smiles, great music, and all of the most grateful people you will meet. The beautiful venue offers camping so close to the stage you can see it from your hammock, music that never overlaps, and a natural, simplistic landscape where every star shines as bright as you have ever seen. There are two stages set in the bottom of a small, natural bowl, providing some of the best acoustics for some great classics from one of the best Grateful Dead cover bands, Dark Star Orchestra. 

This three day festival features some great acts. Keller Williams with More Than a Little has been making it's way around the country, and it's soulful gospel sound mixed with Keller Williams' signature style is a unique feature. Galactic will be bringing in the jazz fusion, Yonder Mountain with that high powered blue grass, The Wailers bring the essential reggae tunes, and so many more acts like, UV Hippo, the Ragbirds, The Werks and three nights with Dark Star Orchestra. This weekend is meant to celebrate the memory of the Grateful Dead, with three long sets of original and recreated Grateful Dead shows, by one of the most widely known and revered cover bands in the country. 

To top it all off, there will be a special performance from The Everyone Orchestra. The Everyone Orchestra is conducted and founded by Matt Butler. This is an experience like none other. It is a set of completely improvised music, with musicians who have often never played together and are from completely different genres. The Everyone Orchestra has featured so many amazing musicians. Members for the Jubilee consist of musicians from Dark Star Orchestra, Yonder Mountain, Toubab Crew, and the Ragbirds. All playing a completely improvised set with the only common thread being Matt Butler conducting the journey. It is sure to be sure to be a memorable way to start out the summer festival season.

So, pack your bags, blow the year old dust out of the tent, and get your tickets! Information on the line up, ticketing, and the venue can be found at www.darkstarjubilee.com. I'll see you at the Jubilee!

Tue, 06/03/2014 - 3:12 pm

For the third year in a row I had the honor to attend one of my favorite events all year.  There is nothing else in this world that can put a smile on my face quite like a familiar Grateful Dead tune can. This year at Dark Star Jubilee was just as beautiful as the last three. I couldn’t have picked a better way to spend my Memorial Day weekend. As I walked through the gates, and to the top of the ridge of the pine trees, I remembered what it was like to feel at home.

As I set up my hammock between two towering pine trees, I was struck by the beauty of Legend Valley. The Midwest has a certain type of unique and simplistic beauty. The small valley has green grass that stretches as far as you can see in each direction. The green grass, speckled with a few patches of trees, meets at the end of your view with a sky so impossibly blue. A quaint little gray house sits in the valley with a small cow farm in the back next to a brand new permanent stage, built and broken in this year. Legend Valley was the site of my very first festival several years ago, and ever since then, it has felt like home.

The first day of the festival, Friday, May 23rd, started beautifully. The crowd slowly filtered in and set up camp. One of the best features of this festival is that you are allowed to set up camp anywhere in the concert bowl. Music didn’t start until 6 p.m. the first day, giving everyone time to get settled and ready for an amazing weekend of music and good times.

The first night was a great way to be eased into the festival. The Werks had the honor of being the very first band to play on the brand new, permanent stage. They played a great opening set, and I can’t wait to see more of them at the Werk Out later this year. Following The Werks was Keller Williams and More Than a Little. This is Keller’s newest project featuring two beautiful female soul singers and a backup band. This is a new sound he is experimenting with. He is mixing his well-known loop and solo act with an R&B Soul band, bringing a whole new level to his musical performance.  He set the stage for the first night of Dark Star Orchestra.

DSO took the stage for the first night and a four hour original set list. I started the set in my campsite, hanging in my hammock, with a perfect view of the stage. They opened the night with “Box of Rain,” one of my very favorite Grateful Dead tunes, but they eventually coaxed me out of my hammock by calling to me with “Cassidy.” Then I was sucked into the whirlwind set where they invited fiddler, Nicky Sanders from Steep Canyon Rangers, to play “Mama Tried” > “Big River; Sugaree; Gimme Some Lovin’.” The first set came to a close with “Might As Well,” and we had no idea what we were in for next.

Second set opened with “Feel Like a Stranger, “which set the tone for the amazing drums to space that they eventually worked their way into. Drums to Space is a unique feature of DSO and the Grateful Dead where the drummers are allowed to take over the stage and provide a unique experience of drum beats and transient sounds that take you on a journey unlike any other.  As they break away from the rhythms and tones of the rest of the set, the world as you know it melts away. Lisa Mackey read the poem “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Caroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, accompanied with the spacey, transient, indescribable tones and notes, this journey was unlike any other I have taken. The crowd listened with rapt attention as the story of the great Jabberwocky was told, in a way that is hard to imagine and describe as the nonsense words somehow made sense to us all in that moment.  As the poem closed with the famous line

“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.”

The band took the stage to land us back on planet Earth, they wound us down from the summit they had raised us to, with “Dear Mr. Fantasy.” They encored the set with one of the crowd favorites “Werewolves of London,” citing inspiration from the impending meteor shower.

Day one closed with a great dose of some knee-slapping blue grass from the trio “The Devil Makes Three.” I heard rumors of a meteor shower late at night, but only saw two shooting stars myself, realizing that I had not a wish to make, as I was living out a perfect moment in my life.  I fell asleep at the top of the hill lined with old Pine trees with the sounds of a drum circle and violin player lulling me to sleep.

Day two was just as beautiful as the first day. The sun rose, lighting the sky a beautiful pink which eventually faded to that perfect blue with fluffy white clouds.  Music started earlier on Saturday May, 24th and provided a perfect tone for the beginning of my day. Bands like the Devil’s Lettuce, UV Hippo, and The Ragbirds, filled my ears as I cooked breakfast at the top of the hill. The highlight of the afternoon, in my opinion, was the Everyone Orchestra. This was a group of many of the musicians featured in this festival, all playing together for the first time, directed by a man in a crazy white coat and red pants named Matt Butler.  He uses a white board to conduct many of the musicians featured at this festival from Dark Star, the Ragbirds, Toubab Krewe, and many more on their first musical journey together. You never know what you’re going to get with the Everyone Orchestra, even many of the lyrics are improvised.

Dark Star took the stage, night two, for another four hour set of some Grateful Dead tunes. This time they chose to play a set list originally performed 11/6/77 in Broome County Arena, Binghamton, NY. This set list features some Grateful Dead favorites such as “Tennessee Jed,” “Friend of the Devil” and “The Music Never Stops.” During the first set, they invited the Amazing Giants to the stage. This is a performance group that has been at Dark Star Jubilee in the past. They are dancers on stilts, and they provided a great way to close the first set. Second set also featured some fire performers for “Fire on the Mountain” as Dark Star used the new, larger stage to their advantage. The second set ended with a few spare minutes for the band to fill, which they had no problem doing. They played a wonderful cover of “Dear Prudence,” originally a Beatles tune, featuring once again the amazing fiddle player Nicky Sanders.

One of my favorite parts of Dark Star Jubilee is the late night blue grass. Night two featured Yonder Mountain String Band, and some of the best lights I have seen in Legend Valley. The new stage set up really showed its worth during the YMSB set. The lights could be seen all through the Valley, they were like nothing I have ever seen at this venue. Yonder Mountain with its newest members, brought the night to another perfect close with not a cloud in the sky and every star shining as bright as you could imagine.

Day three broke just as beautifully as the first. I spent the morning listening to some new bands for me, AJ Ghent and Aliver Hall and walking from vendor to vendor, enjoying the atmosphere of the festival. This festival is unique in its genuine family spirit. People of all ages and walks of life can feel welcome here. There’s a smile on every face and hugs to go all around. You get the feeling that you are in a place where the best of human kind has come to share the feeling of love and oneness that comes with a band like DSO or the Grateful Dead. It’s hard to express the amount of love that is shared from person to person in a place like this, and I can’t help but wish that every person could experience this just once. Sunday was a day of great music featuring The Rumpke Mountain Boys, a Midwest bluegrass band, Orgone, a first time experience for me, Cornmeal, and the amazing Wailers. It was the perfect Sunday Funday.

Dark Star closed night three with another original set list that was just upbeat enough to keep us all grooving, but also down tempo enough to reflect the third night of an amazing festival. This night was just as beautiful as the last two. I couldn’t help but get distracted by the amazing night sky and the lovely people surrounding me. They played some of my favorites, “China Cat Sunflower,” “Help on the Way,” “Slipknot,” and “Shakedown Street.” They closed the festival with “Ripple,” and it almost brought tears to my eyes. The song is so beautiful and I knew it meant it was time to leave this utopia.

Dark Star Jubilee is truly an example of one of the best qualities of humankind. We have the ability to share love, contagiously. When this love and passion is shared, the beauty it creates will never stop amazing me. Legend Valley is a special place in the Midwest and worth a visit. The energy can be felt in every tree and blade of grass. Dark Star Orchestra’s fan base is unlike any other. They value family, friends, fun, and love. This weekend lived up to the last two, and I can’t help but count down the days until next year, when we can all gather again at the Jubilee.

Check out more photos from DSO Jubilee.

Sat, 07/05/2014 - 12:05 pm

There is one thing I know, a little rain will not stop an Umphrey’s McGee Fan. Last weekend, June 28th, in Kettering, Ohio, there was an epic rock show at the Fraze Pavilion. This was UM’s first show at this venue and it was bound to rock rain or shine.

The Fraze Pavilion is celebrating its 23rd year, and I can’t say enough good things about this venue. The staff was so friendly and the area is just beautiful. When you walk in you are greeted with small pools with fountains in the middle where you can soak your feet. As you walk towards the stage, there is a large lawn area and a pavilion area with VIP seating.  The staff was helpful in seating and couldn’t have been more kind to all of the patrons. It was a great venue to see a rock show.

The Werks, a local Ohio band, opened up the show as the storm clouds rolled in. It was a warm, muggy day, but the rain would soon change that. The Werks have a sound that goes well with Umphrey’s. They have an eclectic rock sound, that is energetic and well-structured. They played into the oncoming storm, and their set ended right as the cooling summer rain rolled through.

Umphrey’s McGee took the stage as the storm was still in full swing. The crowd was not deterred by the rain as the band opened with “October Rain,” a new melody they have been playing to open shows. It drizzled through a majority of the first set as Umphrey’s pushed forward into “Room To Breath,” “Andy’s Last Beer,” and “Hourglass.” The weather finally broke as they went into one of my personal favorites, “The Fussy Dutchman” as fleeting glimpses of a rainbow hung in the sky, the colors of the rainbow were reflected in the light show. The sunset was beautiful, and as the storm rolled away, they closed the first set with “Miami Virtue > Miss Tinkles Overture.”

I am constantly impressed by this band’s ability to bring a perfectly composed rock show, night after night.  They play so tightly together with no matter how many nights they have been touring. The two nights previous to this show, they played Electric Forest and were booked for Milwaukee the next night. They have toured in this fashion for several years, and rarely disappoint.

The second set in Kettering, Ohio left nothing to be desired. They opened with a classic “Wappy Sprayberry” into “Jajunk.” The sun had set and the light show was as beautiful as ever as the band pushed forward with the powerful guitar riffs of one of their harder rock songs, “Tribute to the Spinal Shaft.” The set came to an end all too fast with the band coming back into “Jajunk” from the opening song. They encored with Led Zeppelin's “Fool in the Rain” reminding us of the storm at the beginning of the night and leaving the crowd reluctant to say goodbye to such an amazing night.

Check out more photos from the show.

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 1:46 pm

In less than a month, Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio will be opening its gates once again for The Werk Out Music Festival.  This event, hosted August 7, 8, and 9th is in its fifth year is one you should not miss. The lineup features some of the best bands from around the Midwest, combined with exquisite visual and performance artists. This festival truly shows what the Midwest is about: good music, good friends, and good memories.

Legend Valley is one of the best festival locations in the Midwest. They provide a family atmosphere and a very friendly staff, never pushy, and always ready to greet you with a smile. The venue is beautiful, and camping is allowed in the venue, with plenty of hammock space and shade only a short walk from the stages. This venue is truly a bit of paradise in the Midwest. The stages are set in the bottom of a natural valley, which provides amazing acoustics, and features staggered sets so that music never overlaps. The stars are beautiful and bright on a clear night and there is a ‘Shake Down Street’ with colorful booths of clothing and delicious vendor food.

The Werk Out features a unique line up made up of some of the best music and artists of the Midwest and is the creation of The Werks. The Werks are from Ohio and are booked for three sets, which are sure to impress. Last year their sets featured special artist sit-ins and aerial performances, including a sit in from Jason Hann of String Cheese Incident. I can only imagine what this year will bring. Not only is there a set from the Everyone Orchestra, but also a collaboration of The Werks, Papadosio, and Dopapod playing The Dark Side of the Moon.  As well as individual sets from Dopapod, Papadosio, and many other talented musicians like UV Hippo, Future Rock, Toubab Krewe, Rumpke Mountain Boys, and This Must be the Band, a Talking Heads Tribute band. This line up is truly a homage to the Midwest and the spirit that is held in the Legend Valley. There’s just something magical about that place that makes it feel like coming home.

Check out the website, www.therwerkoutfestival.com for presale tickets and the schedule announcement!

Check out our review from last year (2013) and photos.

Fri, 08/22/2014 - 3:17 pm

Once again The Werk Out music festival impressed me beyond belief. This is the second year I have attended this event at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, and I can’t imagine missing this music festival. Legend Valley has always had a very special place in my heart. It is near Buckeye Lake, a venue the Grateful Dead frequented in their later years. It features two stages, one being a brand new permanent stage, camping in the concert bowl, a beautiful ridge of pine trees for hammock camping, and often brings in some of the most beautiful groups of people.

The Werk Out was held over the weekend of August 7, 8, and 9th this year. One of the special features that caught my eye when I arrived on Thursday was the original Further bus parked at the bottom of the hill and illuminated in the night. For those of you who don’t know, in 1964 Ken Kesey traveled around America in this brightly decorated bus, from show to show picking up and expanding the minds of all who were willing to come along on the journey. They are now back on tour celebrating 50 years. They made a special stop at the Werk Out and it was truly one of the great attractions, and a treat to be able to see.  The bus is painted from end to end, with bright colors, scenes from the Wizard of Oz, and other psychedelic designs, even the hub caps are painted. I spent a good amount of time walking around the bus to truly appreciate the artistry and history this vehicle holds. Their next stops include The Ville and Phases of the Moon, so catch them while you can, and hop on for the journey if you’re daring enough!

Thursday night at The Werk Out was a special night. It featured one of the sets I was most excited to see, Dark Side of the Moon performed by a collaboration of artists from Dopapod, The Werks, and Papadosio. As I entered the media pit I could feel the energy streaming from the crowd. The feeling of excitement and anticipation as the bands prepared to play together for the first time was almost overwhelming and I was struck with awe from the amount of love and togetherness I could feel being directed towards the stage from the crowd of beautiful people. As the first notes of “Breath” were sent through the night air, the crowd roared with excitement and I felt energy like I have never before. I turned to take photos of the crowd and everyone’s arms flew into the air. I knew this was going to be a special set. This collaboration of some of the midwest’s great musicians played perfectly through the Dark Side of the Moon and truly did this great album justice. It is an hour of my life that I will never ever forget, not only because of the great musicianship, but also the love and energy of the crowd that night, it was so beautiful it brought me to tears.

Thursday night closed with some amazing bluegrass by Rumpke Mountain Boys, that took us late into the cool summer night. There was also a late-night tent that hosted DJs until 6 am. As the Rumpke Mountain boys played, I wandered up to a dome that was lit blue at the crest of the hill. It was a giant jellyfish equipped with several adult-sized swings. I spent the last hours of my night there swinging in the cool summer air and listening to the bluegrass below, reflecting on a beautiful night.

Friday morning broke with a beautiful pink sunrise and fog rolling out of the valley. Music didn’t start until 2 pm, so I took the time to walk around and see some of the vendors and food on Shakedown Street. My first stop was an amazing bacon and egg breakfast burrito, and then up to the vendors to appreciate some beautiful creations of clothing, jewelry, crystals, and glass. I noticed the lovely geometric string art hanging from the old pine trees on the crest of the hill and some of the amazing paintings that had been created the night before. The sun was up and the day was in full swing when the first band, the Main Squeeze from Bloomington, Indiana took the stage.

Friday featured some great artists from around the country like The Macpodz, Zach Deputy, Dopapod, Zoogma, and the second set of awesome bluegrass by the Rumpke Mountain Boys. Papadosio got the privilege of playing into the beautiful pink sunset, giving us a calm, reflective, and entrancing set that I watched from the hilltop. As the night grew darker, their LED screens began to light up the valley and the nighttime mood began to set in. Friday night featured another awesome set by the Werks, who took the stage to the Mission Impossible theme song that went right into “Disco Inferno.“ It was a power-packed set featuring some originals and covers that lead right into the anticipated Everyone Orchestra set. The Everyone Orchestra is directed by Matt Butler and tours the country putting together combinations of artists for a completely improved set. Many of these musicians have never played together, so each set is a completely unique and exciting show.

Saturday morning broke just as beautiful as the last. The sets started with a jazzy, funky, soulful set from Sassafraz, a group from Ohio, followed by an energetic set from Broccoli Samurai, a band that has been gaining steam around the Midwest. One of my favorite sets of the day was from Ultra Violet Hippopotamus, their second set of the festival. This band has great energy on stage and a rock, jam sound that sets them apart from other local bands.

Saturday night featured another great set from The Werks and a late-night jam by Zach Deputy that went into the late hours of the morning. I would compare Zach Deputy to someone like Keller Williams. He is a one-man-band, using loop pedals to create the sound of a full band. His soulful voice is what really sets him apart from the crowd. He plays originals and covers and it was a great set to end such a perfect festival to.

As the sun began to rise and the crowd began to thin, I went to bed with a smile on my face and the soulful sound of Zach Deputy in my ears. The Werk Out always turns out to be a perfect weekend, bringing some of the most amazing people and talent together.  From the live art to the art installations across the valley, it becomes a unique experience from year to year. It is really a labor of love, and I hope to be able to return to this event year after year. Thank you to Legend Valley and all of the talented musicians who made this event happen!

Check out more photos from The Werk Out Festival 2014.

Thu, 10/16/2014 - 12:20 pm

Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the up and coming centers for the Jam band scene in the Midwest. More and more musicians are beginning to recognize that there is a great fan base here in the Midwest and specifically in Indianapolis. We were honored on Thursday, October, 9th to host STS9 at the Old National Center for the start of their massive Fall tour with new bassist Alana Rocklin.

In the last year, STS9 fans were rocked with the news that the original bassist David Murphy was leaving the band.  At first I was a bit worried about this transition for the band, but after the show in Indianapolis, I am sure it was a good move for the band. Alana Rocklin is a very talented and played not only the electric bass, but a stand up fretless bass. I could tell she loved every moment on the stage, she had a grin from ear to ear the entire show. He first official show with the band was in Pheonix, AZ, but she has opened for STS9 with other bands in the past as well as sitting in on the New Year’s run at the Tabernacle in Atlanta this past year.  The band seemed very familiar with her style.

Rocklin wasn’t the only new thing in this show. The light rig was also brand new. Last summer, STS9’s lights featured LED screens built into a triangle shape. This tour they ditched that light set up for a ton of movers for a more typical jam band light show. I was very impressed with the new light show. I felt like it added to the experience instead of distracting from the experience.

This set seemed to be a bit different then the ones I have seen in the past from STS9. There was more of a clear vision and direction that the band was going in, a more circular performance and set list. For example, they opened with an unfinished “Breath In” and closed in the encore with the second half of this song. They even premiered a new song called,  “Love Don’t Terrorize.” Overall, I would say the difference in the band now is almost a greater willingness to explore the jams and take some different twists and turns. Before, it was almost like they stuck to a script that they were afraid to stray from, now with a new bassist, STS9 seems ready to explore some new musical avenues that before they would not have journeyed down.  In the encore Alana Rocklin got to show off her skills on the stand up bass for  “986 Ft. Tall Trees,” which was my first experience seeing this song.

It was a night of intoxicating music. I couldn’t help sway from side to side and enjoy every minute of the show. There were so many familiar faces and so many smiles from wall to wall. It was an awesome kick of to a tour that will stretch across the United States starting here in the Midwest and moving down South, so catch a show close to you for a new STS9 show experience.

Check out more photos from the show.

Wed, 11/12/2014 - 3:36 pm

Umphrey’s McGee is simply on fire right now. This is a band that is on point every single show and will always bring the best rock show in town. I was able to catch the first show of their tour leading up to the 2,000 show, at the Canopy Club in Urbana, Illinios  November 5th.

I have been seeing this band for years now and I have to say they are on top of their game. Every show seems to be perfectly orchestrated and each time I see them I feel as though they get better and better. This six-piece band is so in tune with each other that every song, every jam, is tight and executed with musical perfection.  No genre is out of their range. They weave covers songs and original songs together seamlessly without hesitation, but they always bring one thing, and that is rock n’ roll.

Umphrey’s McGee has a long history in the Midwest, and it’s only fitting that they returned here to celebrate their 2,000 rock show. Umphrey’s McGee has been touring for years unlike any other band in the jam scene. Every season, all across the country for the last several years, there has been an amazing rock show by Umphrey’s McGee. The Midwest has always been a special place to them, they started first at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana around 1997, and they always seem to remember to honor their roots and provide us with special treats. This band has toured all over the United States, and also this year they went to Brooklyn Bowl in London, and in recent years their popularity has sky rocketed.

One of the special things about Umphrey’s is that they really embrace the new technological world we live in. For the entire 4 night run leading up to the 2,000th show, the band offered a feature called Headphones and Snowcones. This is something that is unique to Umphrey’s where you can rent a pair of sound cancelling headphones that play the live soundboard recording. It is an experience unlike any other. The room around you just melts away and you can hear every note and word perfectly clear. Beyond that, Umphrey’s offers live streams, like no other band. Their live streaming or couchtour, is higher quality and priced better then any other band of their kind.

The Canopy Club was the first of a four night run, leading up to two nights in Madison, Wisconsin for a huge celebration. The Canopy Club is a smaller venue in comparison to a lot of the places. It has a large dance floor and an even larger balcony area, all standing room. It is a very intimate setting to see this band, and also a very hot venue, so leave your coats at home.  They opened the set with a song called “Room to Breath” off of their new album Similar Skin. Some of the highlights of the show were “Hangover,” one of my favorite songs, “Booth Love,” and an absolutely metal, “Miss Tinkles Overture.” This show was a short, tight, classic Umphrey’s McGee rock show.  It was no frills, no messing around, just rock and roll and great company dancing the night away.

It’s not only the music and the drive that makes Umphrey’s McGee something special, it is also the base of fans that follows them. These people are some of the most dedicated and passionate people, traveling to different states and countries to support the music they love. You will always find friendly conversation and smiles on every single face. There are rarely incidents of fights, or disagreements, even though it’s a rock show. Among this crowd I feel at home, and I feel like the band feels the same way.  Congratulations on 2,000 shows boys, it’s been a great ride.

Check out more photos from the show.

Fri, 02/20/2015 - 6:01 pm

In the snowy bleak winters of Indianapolis, there are few things that will make you leave the house, but there is one shining light every year when you think you may never be warm again, Dark Star Orchestra’s winter tour always makes a stop in Indianapolis to warm us up. There is no better way to warm your body and your soul, then some sweet Grateful Dead tunes. No matter what the weather is like outside, Dark Star Orchestra will always bring a smile to my face.

Dark Star stopped at the Old National Center’s Egyptian Room in Indianapolis February, 12th to shine some light on one wintery night. It was the first night of a three night run through Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and it was a great show way to start off a weekend. Dark Star Orchestra, for those of you who haven’t caught wind yet, is a Grateful Dead cover band. In my opinion, they are one of the best touring tribute bands and they are true to their motto, “Continuing the Grateful Dead concert experience.” They stay true to their roots, but they aren’t afraid to explore and expand upon the ideas that the Grateful Dead created. They usually recreate Grateful Dead shows in entirety, but occasionally they will throw in an original set list to keep everyone guessing.

I could tell the set in Indianapolis was an early set from the beginning. It was a night filled with deep tracks and classic hits. I walked right in to a big bold “Truckin’” and couldn’t help but start dancing to the catchy melody. The lights that night were amazing. DSO is unique because they use huge tie dye tapestries as a backdrop. The stage lighting and design they get from projecting colored lights onto the tapestries is unlike no other band. The highlights of the first set for me were “China Cat Sunflower” straight into “I know you Rider,” “Sugar Magnolia,” and the close of the first set, a classic version of “Casey Jones.”

Set break came and we all took guesses as to the year this show was from. When they broke into a cover of “Me and Bobby McGee” followed by another cover of “Deep Elem Blues,” we had run out of guesses as to what show it could have been. All we knew was the music was sweet and the room was warm. The second set ended with “Good Lovin’ > Drums, > Good Lovin’ > Uncle John’s Band,” where they didn’t skip a beat and the music didn’t stop until the set was over, in classic Grateful Dead style.

They announced that the set was from El Monte, California, performed on December 28, 1970 and didn’t have an encore. But, they just couldn’t leave Indianapolis that early, and they treated us to a closer of “Hard to Handle.” It was a night worth braving the cold for beautiful music, people, lights and vibes. I am lucky to live in a city that Dark Star never fails to visit. They know the magic that is in the Midwest hospitality, and they almost never pass us up.

Catch Dark Star Orchestra at their very own festival in May called Dark Star Jubilee in May in Ohio. It will be a great way to start your summer and to get excited about this summer’s Fare Thee Well tour in Chicago. Until then, Dark Star has headed to the warmer South for some fun in the sun at another Dark Star festival called Jam in the Sand. Check out their website for more details!

Check out more photos from the show.

Fri, 04/24/2015 - 10:08 am

The count down for Dark Star Jubilee has begun. In less than one month, deadheads of all ages will gather at Legend Valley, Ohio for a celebration of the Grateful Dead. This festival is over Memorial Day weekend, May 22-24th in Thornville, Ohio, it will be my fourth year covering this festival, and I cannot wait! If you’re looking for an experience that is far different from the big, shoulder to shoulder festivals full of EDM kids and poor decisions, you are headed the right direction. I would travel across the world to see this festival, as soon as I step my foot on the grounds of Legend Valley, I feel at home.

This festival is a family friendly atmosphere that I haven’t found anywhere else, where you can camp, literally, feet from the stage and the music never overlaps. You are welcome to hang your hammock in the treeline, where you have a perfect view of every band. There are two stages set in the middle of a naturally formed concert bowl where sets alternate from stage to stage so you will never miss a set of music. I can only hope that the weather will be just as beautiful as it was last year.

That brings me to the lovely, unique line up this year that offers, of course three sets of Dark Star Orchestra, the best Grateful Dead cover band on tour, and tons of great bluegrass names. Kyle Hollingsworth, of the String Cheese Incident will be playing with his side project, and has recently posted on the Facebook group about his excitement for his set. I am particularly excited for the Keller and the Keels set. Keller Williams has been at this festival a couple of years and his sets never fail to impress. Some of the great bluegrass bands that I suggest you get familiar with are the Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Austin band, and The Drunken Hearts. Also, there will be some awesome reggae provided by the Ark Band, because what is a weekend at Jubilee without a little bit of smooth reggae? And don’t forget to check out some of the other great acts like, Kung Fu, Melvin Seals, Moonalice, and Jahman Brahman, to name a few.

So, bring your family, bring your friends, everyone is welcome to the Jubilee. It’s sure to be another great year of shared memories and friendships, as we celebrate the lasting legacy and community that the Grateful Dead created. Join me in celebrating 50 years of loving the Grateful Dead. I have one final question for you: Will you meet me at the Jubilee?

Check the Event Page for ticketing and all the details on the event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/764770150272531/

Thu, 06/04/2015 - 7:07 pm

What a magical weekend it was indeed at the Dark Star Jubilee. Each year is just as good as the last if not better. I had the honor of attending this festival for the fourth year in a row out at Legend Valley, Ohio over Memorial Day weekend. There are so many positive things to be said about this festival. It is a world of its own filled with beautiful music, positive people, smiles in every direction, and of course Grateful Dead Tunes.

I arrived early on Friday to the Jubilee for day one of what was a spectacular weekend. As is my tradition of the last four years, I scurried through the lines of cars, hammock in hand to grab a spot right on the ridgeline of pine trees, where you can see the stage where the music never stops. As I strung up my hammock in the old pine trees, I could feel the outside world melting away and I had that familiar feeling of being home again. I saw faces from years past, hugs upon hugs from everyone around. Neighbors were greeting each other and everyone was setting up for another amazing weekend with Dark Star Orchestra.

One of the unique things about this festival is that it has a different pace and rhythm then the rest. Music doesn’t start until 6 pm on the first day, giving everyone time to settle in and get comfortable and also making the line to get into the festival only just a few minutes long. The staff each year is friendly, personable, and they make it clear they are there to help, not to hinder, each one with a big smile on their face. The atmosphere is laid back, you won’t be running from stage to stage and place to place. You can see the stages from virtually anywhere you camp, so it’s easy to relax and just take in the music and the people around you. It’s an environment that encourages constructive conversation and embracing everyone’s unique perspective that you come in contact with. It is truly a place where lifelong friendships can me made.

Night one of music started off with a surprise twist. Kung-Fu was scheduled to open the festival, but unfortunately they got stranded on the side of the road. So, the crew improvised and we got a completely off the cusp set of music made up of various members of bands that would play throughout the festival, playing a set list that was made up on the spot. There were members from the Steep Canyon Rangers and Dark Star Orchestra (DSO). It was a special treat to see lead guitarist Rob Eaton play an improvised set with his son on stage!

As the sun began to set, the band began to take the stage. The main stage is new and in its second year, and I have to say DSO has really hit their stride with lighting this large permanent feature at Legend Valley. The excitement in the crowd was almost tangible as the band started to strum it’s tuning notes. The first set started off slow and easy with “Cold Rain & Snow,” “Tennessee Jed,” and of course one of my personal favorites “Cassidy.” They kept their first performance short and sweet, with no journeys to drums and outer space, and they set the tone for a great weekend ahead throwing in “The Music Never Stopped” in their second set to remind us about the weekend we were about to have. This first show was a Grateful Dead recreation of a 1976 show in New Jersey, which the band laughed about as being not on the their top 10 favorite destination lists. As they exited the stage Jeff Austin took the second stage in a seamless transition. Once a member of Yonder Mountain String Band, he now plays with his band, the Jeff Austin Band, and we were treated to some late night blue grass tunes as is tradition at the Jubilee.

Night one ended just as beautifully as I could imagine, with the crescent moon rising in the cancer constellation and every star visible in the night sky. I fell asleep in my hammock under a pine tree lit up bright yellow, and I’m sure the smile never faded from my face as I drifted to sleep.

Day two broke just as beautiful as the last. I wandered down to grab a smoothie and some breakfast from some of the amazing vendors that were featured this year. Each year the food and drink selections are amazing. There’s vegetarian options, vegan options, and of course meat options. By far one of the things I look most forward to each year is the best pizza in the Midwest served up by Disco Pizza.

I wandered up the hill smoothie and burrito in hand to check out some of the vendors on Shakedown Street as the crews began to reassemble the stages. There were beautiful tie dyes, paintings, jewelry and just about everything else you would expect on Shakedown at the Jubilee. One of the booths that stood out to me this year was the register to vote booth. It’s nice to see that among all the reputations that festivals have, there is a political voice. With thousands of people gathering in one place, having a constructive booth like this was great to see.

The musical lineup for the day was stacked with bluegrass and easy going music, to wake you up, but also encourage a relaxing atmosphere. It was amazing to be able to lay in my hammock, enjoy the sunshine and watch family play and dance to music. The day started off with Rob Eaton's son’s band, The Drunken Hearts. They played a little bit of bluegrass and a little bit of Grateful Dead music, the perfect start to a perfect day. Other great acts from that afternoon were Moonalice, The Weight (The Band cover band), and one of my favorite bluegrass bands Railroad Earth.

After the knee stomping set provided by the guys of Railroad Earth we were all ready to see what Dark Star Orchestra had in store for us tonight. We were treated to yet another Grateful Dead recreation from 1969 in Boston. This set featured some deep tracks and showed the softer side of the band. Songs like “Dupree's Diamond Blues” and “Turn On Your Love Light” really remind you of what the Grateful Dead were all about, music that brings a smile to your face and reminds you of the community spirit that we are still nurturing today.

As the sun went down and the moon came up, I moved to the back of the crowd to take in the amazing light show. Dark Star Orchestra is the only band I have seen that uses giant tie dyes as part of the visual light show. It is a unique experience and I always think that if Jerry were alive today, he would be proud of what Dark Star has done to extend their legacy.

Late night of the second night was definitely something special. We celebrated that night with Keller and the Keels. One of my favorite features of Dark Star Jubilee is the late night bluegrass every night. They jammed late into the night with the typical Keller Williams spunk. It was a set I wouldn’t have missed for the world.

By day three I was wondering what could make this weekend any better. There were giant bubbles, and the Amazing giants for crowd entertainment, wonderful friends all around me, Grateful Dead tunes, and bluegrass, but then something happened. The Kyle Hollingsworth Band took the stage, and graced us with some String Cheese Incident tunes! String Cheese Incident goes so well with Grateful Dead. These songs just put a smile on your face, they remind you of good times with another band who has been touring for many years. I was so pleased; I don’t think I could have smiled any bigger. Other highlights of day three were the Robert Randolph Family Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, and a band I have never seen before, Los Lobos.

By night three DSO was ready to take us on the journey they create with their original set lists. We got a “Sugar Magnolia,” “Eyes of the World,” and a thrilling “Drums>Space.” As they encored with “Tangled Up in Blue” and “And We Bid You Goodnight,” I stood there with my arms around the lovely friends I came with and we all teared up just a little knowing that this was the end of a beautiful weekend. We ended with a group hug and all of the strangers around us joined in. What a beautiful community, what a wonderful weekend, and what beautiful humans.

I’ll be at Jubilee this year, and for each year that Dark Star Orchestra continues to hold it. This festival is truly different from any other. I’ll leave you with the parting words from Dark Star Orchestra:

“Welcome back to those who have joined us in previous years and greetings to those of you joining us for the first time. We are truly blessed with a ridiculously talented and compelling lineup of like-minded musicians who set the stage for what promises to be a magical weekend of music and community. We are procuring a peaceful and family friendly environment where we can all share in music, love and laughter. As a part of this intimate setting, we hope that you each experience your own individual freedom while enjoying the communal spirit of the whole. Please respect each other, the few rules, and may the music never stop."

Check out more photos from Dark Star Jubilee 2015.

Tue, 08/18/2015 - 10:46 am

Each year Umphrey’s McGee makes a point to stop in at their home town for a mid-summer throw down at the Lawn at White River in Indianapolis, Indiana. This show is never one you should miss. From lightning storms, to blazing hot summer nights, and throw downs in the rain, the show at White river is always something special.  This year on August 8th, Umphrey’s McGee pulled off a show stopping five song second set and a show packed with some new material. They live up to their written standard, “You have yet to witness our best.”

I have been seeing this band for years now, and I have to say they never fail to impress. They have pushed the standards of what a jam band can be. From their amazingly timed and technical light shows put on by Jefferson Waful, who is just as in tune with the music as one of the band members, to their high quality live streams, this band doesn’t just settle for your run of the mill rock show experience. When you choose to attend an Umphrey’s McGee show you are signing up for an entire rock and roll experience. These boys are bringing us the future of rock and roll and, boy, is it sweet.

It was a perfect summer night for a concert at the White River State Park which is nestled in downtown Indianapolis right by the canal. The sunset was beautiful and the people in attendance were even more beautiful. The White River State Park is a great place to see a show, it is a large outdoor amphitheater with plenty of elbow and dancing room on the large inclined lawn. It almost seems out of place to have such a large patch of grass right in the middle of a downtown area, so conveniently close to any sort of food and drink you could want.

As always, the band took the stage with punctuality and didn’t bother to warm us up for what was to come. They started the first set confidently with a song that isn’t often on the setlist, and was a first for me called “They Got the Wrong Guy,” and launched straight into an Umphrey’s classic called “Plunger.” I always have to note how incredibly impressed I am with this band's technicality in their music. It is amazing to me how each transition to each song is so perfect that it seems rehearsed, but almost none of it is. They set up a game plan and go for it tenaciously without hesitation. One moment you will be deep in a heavy guitar jam and suddenly realize that you are listening to a Metallica tune right in the middle of an Umphrey’s original, like they did during “Utopian Fir.” Each member of the band reacts together at the same time, without skipping a beat, it’s almost like they are in each other’s head. They ended the first set with and old school classic “In the Kitchen,” which references the band’s early days spent playing bars in Chicago, and always brings back a sense of nostalgia for me.

As the sun began to set during set break, we prepared for another set. The second set always seems like a second show to me. The lights are completely different and the rock and roll seems to sound different in the dark warmth of a summer night. This second set was something special. The band took their time exploring just five different songs, each with a more intricate jam then the last. The set list is simple and started with a song played by the band many, many times, “Bad Friday,” and went right into “JaJunk,” “Slacker,” and a stellar cover of “Kashmir,” by Led Zeppelin. They ended the technical jam set with quite possibly one of the songs that impresses me the most and is quite likely one of the most difficult songs the band performs, “Dur Bluten Kat.” This song references Beethoven inspired piano riffs surrounded by echoing guitar riffs. The musical knowledge and reference of Umphrey’s McGee never ceases to impress me. They ended the night with a three part encore of “Similar Skin” > “Triple Wide” > “Similar Skin” and left me counting down the days until the next time I get to witness the killer rock and roll experience that is Umphrey’s McGee.

Check out more photos from the show.

Tue, 09/15/2015 - 6:06 pm

As everyone is winding down from Lockn’, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on Labor Day Weekend in one of my favorite towns in the Midwest, Nashville. I had the opportunity to photograph Widespread Panic for my very first time at the beautiful Ascend Amphitheater for the second night of their two night run over Labor Day weekend. I have to say, that it is true, you should never miss a Sunday show. What a beautiful night to see some music!

Ascend Amphitheater is one of the most unique venues I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing in a long time. It is nestled right in the middle of downtown Nashville. There are high rise buildings behind them, a small, but ample stage which adds a beautiful view to the already amazing light show. The stage sits at the bottom of a grassy knoll which slowly inclines from a pit area to a seated pavilion area, and finally into a large lawn where groups of friends gathered. As I stood at the front of this amazing venue and looked toward the crowd, I could see a bridge that went across the river. Ascend Amphitheater is definitely something special, and I suggest seeing a show there. There’s nothing like being in the middle of a huge city knowing that everyone around is listening to one of your favorite bands.

There was no opening act the night of September 6th. The boys took the stage and opened with a cover that I’ve heard them play several times “Can’t Get High.” They went straight into “Chilly Water,” which has become somewhat of an anthem for the band. The set started out mellow as they played into the setting sun. Worth noting was that sit in keyboardist, Jon “Fish’ Michie, a pianist that is famous in Nashville, sat in for two songs in the second set, “Ride Me High,” a J.J. Cale cover, and “Arleen,” another cover by General Echo. Widespread Panic’s keyboardist, John Hermann returned for the end of the second set to close the night with a power-packed “Fishwater” with “Another One Bites the Dust” teases.

Widespread Panic gave me an amazing first photography experience. The light show was on point, the venue was amazing, and the music couldn’t have been better. Nashville is a great town for music in the Midwest, that city is definitely alive and moving. I haven’t spent much time seeing Widespread, but I have a feeling I’ll be back again soon to be under their spell.

Check out more photos from the show.

Tue, 12/08/2015 - 10:58 am

In April 2015, Matt Reynolds released his first album. You may be asking, “Who is this Matt Reynolds you speak of?” If the name sounds familiar at all, you may know him as tour manager for Dark Star Orchestra. Reynolds has been touring with the band since 2006, and had help recording this new album called Been Long Gone from rhythm guitarist, Rob Eaton. Eaton is not the only big name off of this new album, which was recorded as Dark Star Orchestra toured across America.

Matt Reynolds has always been a musician, but put his projects on the back burner to help support the music he loved. So, in creating this album, he had a ‘go big or go home’ attitude. He searched and scraped together funding. With the support and help of those around him he was able to reach out to some of the musicians he could only dream of playing with in the past. Of course, the guys from DSO were more than willing to help. Rob Eaton helped with recording and producing the album in an RV on tour and Rob Barraco sits in on keys on most of the tracks. Some of the other big names found on this album include Loriele and Durga McBroom, Back-up vocalists from Pink Floyd, Nicky Sanders from the Steep Canyon Rangers who recorded his tracks backstage of Dark Star Jubilee 2014, and Jimmy Herring and Duane Trucks from Widespread Panic. These tracks traveled the country more than Dark Star did in 2014.

As you can imagine, with so many great names and influences, this album has a very unique sound. Reynold’s voice is sultry and southern. It’s comforting and warm, I can just imagine him sitting on a porch in a cowboy hat and dusty work boots with a piece of wheat sticking out from his mouth. His lyrics are in some way nostalgic, with the nostalgia being reinforced by the familiar backup vocals from the McBroom’s, reminding you of this album’s many points of reference. Suddenly a female voice will sing a note that pulls you right back into “The Wall.” Each track has a different story to tell, as different musicians have taken their turn with it. Some tracks feature beautifully rendered fiddle solos from Sanders, which intertwine with a guitar solo from who even knows which influential musician. This album has so much depth, each track has been rendered to perfection, it has hints of the grateful dead and jam band music genre, but it doesn’t wander too far into the depths of jam music. The southern roots of the album’s creator still manage to shine through. This album was clearly made with a lot of love and care, and is compiled in a way that makes you want to listen to the next part of the beautiful rendered musical story.

Mon, 01/11/2016 - 10:44 am

There’s something about Grateful Dead tunes that no other song, lyric or melody can really duplicate. There’s something about a Grateful Dead song that reminds you of every happy moment, every smile you’ve seen from a stranger, and makes you want to dance. I was lucky enough to roll in the New Year with that warm, comforting feeling of the Grateful Dead with the longest touring Grateful Dead cover band, and one of my greatest muses, Dark Star Orchestra. DSO welcomed in 2016 at the Electric Factory, in Philadelphia. This was a city I was looking forward to visiting for the first time and a venue that has a long history in the city. The set list was also unlike any other Dark Star show I’ve seen, and I have seen many a DSO set.

The Electric Factory is an impressive venue. It’s an old warehouse that has been converted into one of the oldest music venues in Philadelphia. For 40 years they have hosted a variety of music and have become a hot-spot for jam bands in the last few years. It’s a large building with mostly standing room. For New Year’s Eve, to the side of the stage, there was a large tree decorated with tinsel. DSO called this the “Dream Tree.” On each of the pieces of tinsel were handwritten notes from the crowd about their wishes for 2016 or something they were grateful for. This, to me, is why DSO is so amazing, they love their fans and they speak about this family they have created and family is always at the forefront of their message. At one point, in the busy, confused New Year’s crowd, a family with two small girls dressed head to toe in patchwork made their way to the front pit area, and the crowd parted for them, the people around the family watched out for the young girls and made sure they too were enjoying their time that night. It's things like that which keep me coming back again and again.

DSO started the night with something quite unexpected, an acoustic set. This set, from everything I can tell, was an original DSO set, and they picked a perfect way to start it, with the great classic “Friend of the Devil.” I think everyone was a bit surprised with the choice to start the night out acoustic, but the crowd settled into it, and it was a very heartwarming experience, and a nostalgic setlist. It featured many of the Grateful Dead’s great and well-known tunes like “Box of Rain,” “Moonlight,” and “Ripple.” They also threw in a light-hearted cover of “Cocaine Blues.” I couldn’t think of a better way to start off three sets of Grateful Dead.

After a short break, Dark Star was ready to get serious. They plugged in and sat down to give us a nice solid two sets of the Grateful Dead. This again was an original setlist, but they stayed true to the Grateful Dead, as they always do, except with an awesome light show. Dark Star does something that I find very unique, they have beautiful tie-dye tapestries hanging from floor to ceiling, which they project their lights on. Also, walking through the crowd that night, were the Amazing Giants, some beautiful and talented ladies from Columbus, Ohio, that walk through the crowd on stilts. During the set, they projected images of their fans from the night before, all with smiles from ear to ear. They played videos of people saying what they were grateful for in 2015, it was truly a family affair that night. The setlist was also something just as beautifully crafted. One of the highlights of the evening was a beautiful “It Hurts Me Too,” featuring their talented singer Lisa Mackey, not only with her powerful vocals but also on the harmonica, the band was definitely highlighting her talent through this song. I have never been so impressed with her voice then at this moment. Some other highlights were “China Cat Sunflower,” a cover of “It’s a Man’s World,” “St. Stephen,” and so many other great tunes that I haven’t even mentioned.

All-in-all, there is no other place I would have ever been for New Year’s Eve. There’s just something that feels right about starting my year with such a smile on my face. Every time I’m with the Dark Star Orchestra, it just feels like I’m home. Maybe it’s the music, maybe it’s the people, maybe it’s the band, but every time I see Dark Star, I wish it will never end and I’ll never have to leave all of the beautiful people that make me feel so at home. It’s hard to picture becoming a family with a bunch of strangers in a three-hour time line, but somehow Dark Star Orchestra does this and keeps us all coming back again.  So here’s to another year of good music, good friends, and being grateful.

Check out more photos from the show.

Fri, 04/15/2016 - 10:18 am

Imagine a paradise that contained all of your family, friends, and favorite music. A place that feels like home as soon as you walk in and everyone is considered family. A place where a smile never leaves your face and the music never stops playing.  Imagine no further, I’m here to tell you of such a place! Join me at the Dark Star Jubilee for its fifth year at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio. It is just over a month away and is held May 27th-29th. I'll be there for the fifth year in a row, and I have to say, if I lived halfway across the world I would still travel to this festival.

Dark Star Jubilee is one of the most family friendly festivals that I have been to. All ages and creeds are welcome and if you weren’t family before you came, you will be family when you leave. The festival ground, Legend Valley is a unique venue, they allow you to camp in the concert bowl. There is a short walk from parking lot to venue, which makes it one of the easiest festivals to lug all your camping gear into. There is also a towering tree line of old pine trees right in front of the stage where you can set your hammock up and listen to the music all day and all night. There are two large stages set in the bottom of a natural valley in the rolling hills of Ohio. The best part? The music never overlaps! You aren’t running around from stage to stage missing parts of your favorite sets. Here, at the Jubilee, the music simply switches from stage to stage, one band after another, meaning you never miss a note. And did I mention, all the friendly smiling faces? The staff is the nicest, easiest going staff around, they are there to help not to hassle.  

This festival is Dark Star Orchestra’s festival. Dark Star Orchestra is one of the longest touring Grateful Dead cover bands and in my opinion one of the best. They play three sets at the Jubilee, and in my four years at this festival, I have never been disappointed or seen the same show twice. Sometimes DSO will play recreated Grateful Dead shows, but other times, they play their own original set lists. They bring out the big guns for the festival, with surprises like fire spinners on stage or the Amazing Giants walking through the crowd. As always, they have their lovely tie dye tapestries decorating the stage. There is no other place like this place, I can promise you!

If the Grateful Dead isn’t your cup of tea, or if you are looking for more variety, there are tons of other great bands that are featured that weekend. Check out sets from Yonder Mountain String Band, Hot Tuna, plugged in, and unplugged, Leftover Salmon, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Steve Kimock, Jeff Matson, The Wailers, and several other collaboration project from the members of DSO and their friends. There are also tons of vendors to pick up many whimsical creations or some of the best pizza in the Midwest made by Disco Pizza. It is sure to be a weekend of music you won’t be forgetting anytime soon!

The countdown begins with some dancing in the sun and Grateful Dead tunes. So I have one question for you, will you meet me at the Jubilee?

Wed, 06/08/2016 - 4:57 pm

I had the privilege of attending my favorite festival of the year for the fifth year in a row, and I am here to tell you about the best place on Earth. I would travel across several oceans to get to this festival. It is one that if you haven’t experienced, it should be placed on your bucket list. I’d like to start this tale of Dark Star Jubilee, held at Legend Valley, in Thornville Ohio, each Memorial Day weekend, with some words from the band, written in each schedule passed out:

“We would like to welcome all of you to the fifth installment of the Dark Star Jubilee. We are fired up for what is sure to be a magical weekend of love, life, and music. For those of you who have joined us at previous Jubilee’s, we are happy to see you once again. If you are new to the Jubilee, we plan to show you why we all look forward to this weekend more than any other. From the amazing music you are about to experience, to the food and craft vendors, our crowd performers and activity leaders, we hope you have a relaxing and entertaining Memorial Day weekend with friends new and old. Get ready to Turn On Your Love Light!”

The Jubilee is a magical place of likeminded, loving people. It has become my home away from home, where my friends become family, and a place where I have met life long companions. It is at the core a family-friendly festival. All creeds and ages are welcome; there’s just one thing I ask of you..you gotta love some Grateful Dead.

The festival grounds of Legend Valley, Ohio, are some of my favorite fields to roam. Legend Valley is about half an hour East of Columbus, Ohio and very close to some of the Grateful Dead’s old stomping grounds of Buckeye Lake. There is a stage set at the bottom of a natural concert bowl. Camping is allowed inside of the venue, so you are never further than a 10-minute walk from the stage. There is a row of beautiful old pine trees which sit at the top of the ridge in front of the stage, I can only imagine the years and years of beautiful music these trees have witnessed, and how many people have slept under their sheltering branches. If you arrive early enough and can get your hammock in one of these beautiful pines, there is almost no reason to leave it the entire weekend. You can see and hear the only stage perfectly. The staff is friendly and clearly there to help make your weekend something enjoyable, not to hassle and harass. They are there to pass along a smile and to point you in the right direction. One of the best parts of the Jubilee, the music never overlaps. You aren’t rushing from place to place, waiting in long lines, and having to miss some of your favorite bands. The venue is completely family friendly and very welcoming to kids and family. Each year there is a kiddy parade, where all of the kids march around the grounds in their brightest colors. If you leave this place with anything but a smile, you’re doing it wrong.

This year, 2016, was the first year that the festival has ever sold out. It was brimming with some of the best people I’ve ever had the chance to meet. The energy in the concert bowl this year was vibrating at a frequency that I have never experienced. The excitement coming from the musicians, who were so excited to play the festival, and the people who have been waiting all winter to get their dancing shoes on made the place just buzz with life. As people began to shuffle in, we got started on what was going to be a warm, beautiful summer night of six and a half hours of Grateful Dead music. The first band of the weekend was Melvin Seals and DSO (Dark Star Orchestra) performing a Jerry Garcia Band set. All of the members of DSO join the well-known keyboardist Melvin Seals. I could just see the excitement over every member's face! DSO’s keyboardist, Rob Barraco was on vocals for this set, and his face expressed every bit of pleasure he was feeling from sharing the stage with a talented musician such as Melvin Seals. There were smiles all around on the stage and in the crowd, what a perfect way to start the summer!

The Wailers took the stage and gave us a laid-back reggae set and set the stage for my very first Dark Star Orchestra set of the summertime. They started the festival with a recreated Grateful Dead set list from March 27th, 1987. This set featured some great classics like “The Music Never Stopped,” “Tennessee Jed,” “Eyes of the World,” and a killer three-song encore of “Big Boss Man,” “I’ll Take A Melody,” and closed the epic four hour set with a lovely “Franklin’s Tower.” But, the night didn’t stop there, one of the best parts of Dark Star Jubilee, the late night bluegrass set started with the harmonic sounds of Yonder Mountain String Band. Everyone grabbed their whiskey and danced late into the night to some knee stomping blue-grass. YMSB has become a staple of the Jubilee over the years; there’s nothing better than the sound of a fiddle in the summer air.

Day two I awoke in my hammock staring into the long thin branches of an old pine tree, I heard the sounds of laughter around me, I woke up glad to be where I was. I took the morning to explore the grounds of the festival before it got too hot. The grounds were much more full than years past, but not full to the point of feeling crowded, just the right amount of friendly faces were in that valley. I walk past morning drum circles, and groups of morning yoga, families waking up cooking breakfast, and the wonderful shops on Shakedown Street starting to open. I walked past booths full of tie-dye and all sorts of jewelry, clothing, and general sparkle. I wandered towards the food to grab that crucial morning smoothie, and there were many different food choices, for those who didn’t bring a grill and cooler full of food. If you’re looking for the best pizza in the Midwest, may I suggest checking out Disco Pizza, a staple at every Dark Star Jubilee, let’s just say they stuff the crust, with the toppings, and it’s two slices for five bucks all day. All in all, I’d say morning well spent, as I wandered back to camp watching the biggest bubble maker I’ve ever seen paint me a bubble landscape. The festival this year definitely had a slower more relaxed rhythm. In years past, there were two stages where the music never overlaps, as it did this year, but there were no set breaks between bands because of the alternating stages. This year, there was only one stage, which in my opinion, made you want to slow down and smell the roses (or other hippies) around you. It did limit the number of bands this year, but the quality line-up made up for the smaller docket.

Some highlights from Saturday included the kiddie parade run by the ever talented, Kristin Blair followed by a set by Owsley County. Owsley County is a side project of Dino English, one of the percussionists of DSO, and is formerly known as the Very Garcia Band. It’s always lovely to hear Grateful Dead tunes in the afternoon; I can’t always help but smile and appreciate the sunshine so much more. There was also a great Electric set of Hot Tuna. Hot Tuna formed when Jefferson Airplane went on hiatus. It was a special treat to have such wise musical talent grace the stages of Legend Valley.

After a brief set change, DSO took the stage with a bold tribute to Jefferson Airplane, Jorma Kaukonen from Hot Tuna joined the band for “White Rabbit.” With an opener like that, we knew we were in for a special night of Grateful Dead tunes. Not only were they joined by a musical great, but the first set also featured Allie Kral from Yonder Mountain String Band. She joined DSO for a unique rendition of “Dire Wolf” and “Catfish John.” This was an original set list not to be forgotten, with a beautiful red sunset and all the bubbles you could imagine floating in the air. It truly was a romantic sight; I couldn’t help but feel so grateful to be in that place at that time, something special truly happens in that valley.

Sunday broke cooler than the previous days, so I was able to get a little more shut-eye in the morning. I awoke to one of my new favorite bands; I suggest you add these ladies to your playlist. Jemntonic is a lovely little indie/bluegrass band run by three ladies with attitudes they aren’t afraid to show. I suggest you give them a listen, as ridiculous as it sounds, they do the best cover of “My Milkshake.” Another highlight of my Sunday at Jubilee was a power-packed set from Leftover Salmon. Leftover has been touring since 1989, and their lead singer Vince Herman brings so much energy to the stage, it was impossible to stand still during their set, I couldn’t help but dance!

The festival closed of course with an amazing set by Dark Star Orchestra. This was a three-set show originally performed by the Grateful Dead August 27th, 1972 in Oregon, and what a treat this set was! It featured some of my favorite Grateful Dead tunes like “Sugaree,” “I Know You Rider,” and “Casey Jones.” The crowd was in beautiful form for the final night, and the stilt walking group, The Amazing Giants, sauntered through the crowd adding an extra dimension of beauty and wonder to the night. The moon shined a bright orange as DSO played late into the night. I wished that the night would never end and that I could freeze time and live in these moments for the rest of time. But alas, all good things must end.

DSO closed the night, and the festival with an acapella “And We Bid You Goodnight.” My friends and I stood arm in arm and swayed to the music. You could feel the love flowing through the crowd. That moment, I wished to be nowhere else, I thought of nothing else, then the beautiful humans, music, and landscape that surrounded me. I couldn’t have picked a better moment to spend with the people who have made my life so interesting and amazing. It was an honor to be standing in front of the band I love, playing the music I love, with people I love so much. I couldn’t help but feel truly grateful, and isn’t that what the Grateful Dead are here to remind us of? Stop, take a moment, breath in the inspiration around you, and smile. I want to thank all of you for meeting me at the Jubilee, until next year, be well, and hopefully, we meet again.

Check out more photos from the Jubilee.

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 8:05 am

There is nothing better than summer nights spent with good friends and great music, dancing all night long through the gentle warm rains and colorful sunsets and forgetting every care in the world. There is something about Nashville that brings some form of nostalgia for a simpler time, where things move slower, and smiles from strangers are quicker to form. The city has a laid back energy and a friendly atmosphere. I was thrilled to be there to see Umphrey’s McGee perform in this city known for great music. They played at one of the newest, and one of my favorite venues in the city, Ascend Amphitheatre on August 20th, 2016. Also special about this show, they were playing a set with members from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. In the city of music, they would be teaming up with some of the best classically trained musicians in Nashville. We all knew it was going to be a great night, and the news only got better as the band tweeted out before the show, “UM 2.6 Sets.”

Ascend Amphitheatre in Nashville is a breathtaking venue. It’s right by the river in downtown Nashville. It’s so easy to access and walking distance from many of the well known bars and hotspots of the town, where live music and lights can be found just around every corner. The stage has a large concrete pit that is covered by a canopy directly in front of it, which was so clutch for the warm and stormy summer night. There is also a large lawn that sits on a slight incline, and it is covered in grass. As I’ve been reading about Ascend, this was one of the major reasons they opened this new venue, was to preserve one of the last green lots in Nashville. Not to mention, the view of the Nashville skyline, right behind the stage, is absolutely beautiful. The stage faces away from the city, the sound is spot on just about anywhere in the venue, unobstructed by any of the sounds from the city. This place should definitely be on your must see list, and it’s in one of the best and most diverse cities in the Midwest.

As Umphrey’s took the stage, the crowd was actually quite thin. Perhaps it was the early set time, or the lines that seemed to take a bit longer, but I suspect it’s just the way of the city of Nashville, everyone seems to just take their time there. I was glad to be able to spend the first couple of songs with a little extra elbow room. The band began to play to a stormy looking sky, but not a drop of rain falling, and announced that they would be doing two normal Umphrey’s sets, and one extra mini-set with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. The band started with “Bridgeless,” and then went straight into one of my favorite classic Umphrey’s songs, “Made to Measure.” Being about 70 Umphrey’s shows into this band, that song just reminds me of being young and it brings back so many great memories from Umphrey’s shows so many years ago when that song was new. Soon after that, I noticed that the crowd was beginning to grow, and the storm clouds were getting ever closer. The first set ended with a few big raindrops and an absolutely perfect cover of Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years.”

Set two, the orchestra set, was clearly what everyone was waiting for. The band had released few details about how this set was going to be constructed. Was there going to be an entire symphony on stage? Would the guys switch out all of their instruments and play orchestral instruments? We had no idea what was in store for us. For me, when I saw only four members of the orchestra take the stage I was a bit disappointed. To me, this was more like Umphrey’s with a string quartet, which is still a pretty awesome thing, don’t get me wrong, they used the four-string players very well in this set. But knowing the band and how they like to go above and beyond, I thought it might be a larger, grander gesture. Instead, they used the string instruments gracefully and in a way that enhanced the existing sound. Instead of replacing guitar riffs with say, a violin, they used the strings to add to the sound. This added an extra layer of depth and complexity to their sound that was added with such delicacy. They were careful not to overuse the strings, I was impressed with the restraint, and also the song choices in this set. They opened with “Deeper” and “Educated Guess.” The sky was starting to darken, and the light show was really starting to pop, as I turned around during “Hajimemashite,” one of my favorite songs, the clouds just emptied on to the crowd. The lights bounced back off of every single raindrop and the crowd burst into a cheer, it was a moment where the energy was almost tangible by the stage, I could feel the intensity of the moment in every bone in my body, what a great time to be alive! They closed the set with a classic “Preamble > Mantis,” which was absolutely stunning and graceful with the orchestra accompaniment. Overall, although I was expecting a bigger gesture from the band, I felt the use of the strings was graceful and appropriate. And I could see the excitement on the orchestra members’ faces. They were taking photos and selfies on stage, I’m sure they aren’t used to such a rambunctious crowd.

Some highlights from the third set, and probably my favorite set of the evening, were the opening with the classic Umphrey’s love song “Wappy Sprayberry,” “August,” and a great “In the Kitchen,” which always reminds me of the good old times. It sprinkled on and off through most of the third set, but no one seemed to care about the rain. It felt good in the hot summer night, and everyone always looks super awesome in a plastic poncho. They closed the night with a super appropriate, “Fool in the Rain” cover.

Check out more photos from the show.

Setlist

Set 1: Bridgeless > Made to Measure, Tribute to the Spinal Shaft > Make It Right, Comma Later > Utopian Fir > Reelin' in the Years

Set 2: Deeper[1], Educated Guess[1], Rocker[2], Hajimemashite[2], Preamble > Mantis[1]

Set 3: Wappy Sprayberry > JaJunk, Speak Up > August > Out Of Order, In The Kitchen[3] > Bridgeless

Encore: Fool in the Rain

[1] with Carrie Bailey on violin 1, Jessica Blackwell on viola, Hari Bernstein on violin 2, and Steve Drake on cello (all of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra)

[2] with Carrie Bailey on violin 1, Jessica Blackwell on viola, Hari Bernstein on violin 2, and Steve Drake on cello (all of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra), and with Brendan on acoustic guitar

[3] unfinished

Fri, 12/23/2016 - 3:34 pm

With my belly full of turkey from the day before, I waddled my way out to the wintery streets of Indianapolis to The Vogue Theatre to catch my very first Turkuaz show. And, oh what a show it was! On November 26th, Turkuaz and The New Mastersounds, came to shake the dance floors of Indianapolis. It was a night of firsts for me. I have listened to both of these bands over and over, and this was my first opportunity to catch them live and in action.

Turkuaz recently announced a huge Fall tour where they are co-headlining with the British funk band, The New Mastersounds, and will be traveling from coast to coast across America spreading their funky tunes. They kicked off the tour with four nights in Colorado and then headed straight down to Texas, back up the East Coast, and then ran through the Midwest, not missing a major city as far as I can tell.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Turkuaz, I am going to try to describe their sound to you in words, but with a style so unique, it can be hard to put into words what your ears are hearing. So, here is my attempt, although my best suggestion is to get off your computer and go see this power packed band, they will most likely be in a city near you sometime soon!

Turkuaz is a 9-piece band out of Brooklyn, New York and their style is self-described on their website as “Powerfunk.” The band features a full horn section which includes, trumpet, trombone, and sax as well as two funky female backup singers that bring to mind that old time soul band and lead the crowd through choreographed dance moves. Everything down to the cloths that the band members wear reminds you of the 70’s era Funk/soul band. There’s big bold vocal solos and funky instrumental jams that remind you of something old, but somehow, they manage to have a fresh and current sound. They mash together styles, which is becoming a huge movement in the funk jamband scene. They like to take elements of R&B, jazz, soul, and mix it with some 80’s dance sounds. It’s unlike anything else that is out there. They are so boldly themselves on stage, everyone dancing and having a good time. It was an honor to be part of such an upbeat, excited crowd and to see a band that may become more than just some little band that tours coffee shop to coffee shop. I think with this unique sound, and the wide range of vocalists and musical talent this band is going to blow up. So, see them while you can and while they are widely touring.

The band's funky grooves were the highlight of the show for me, the nightclub atmosphere was perfect for the sound that Turkuaz puts out. The light show was spot on, and even had a few moments where the dance floor was lit by disco balls, what a perfect way to remind us of the era they pull their inspiration from. Turkuaz’s Fall tour ends with a three-night New Year’s Eve run in Providence, Rhode Island, so check them out if you can.

Check out more photos from the show.

Fri, 01/20/2017 - 7:13 am

What an honor it was to see one of my favorite bands in one of my very favorite cities, and with some of my very favorite people. This year I traveled my way three hours to Chicago by car then by train to get to the Aragon Ballroom on December 30th, 2016 to see one my favorite bands of all time Umphrey’s McGee.

The last time that Umphrey’s played in Chicago was in 2010, I was there for that. We didn’t know that we were seeing the last New Year’s Umphrey’s would play so close to their home town, and not to mention in one of the best venues in the Midwest, the Aragon Ballroom. The Aragon is a very historic venue in Chicago. It was built in 1926 and was elaborate for its time. Its walls are filled with the history of great musicians. It once hosted 6-hour long rock concerts and was the place where Nirvana played their last show in Chicago. It really is only fitting for a band like Umphrey’s to call this place home. The history is so very rooted in the Midwest, as is theirs, and really my own.

The show on December 30th was a show unlike many of the Umphrey’s shows I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of Umphrey’s McGee shows. This show was made up of only originals songs from the band, something that is not often seen with this band. They are so widely influenced by other bands, and the history that surrounds rock music, they can’t help but let that leak into their music from time to time. But this show was one made completely of the history of Umphrey’s McGee. They played songs that took me back to my youth, songs like “Anchor Drops,” “Nothing Too Fancy,” and “Walletsworth.” These were all songs that sort of defined my youth, and reminded me of what it was like to be young, and wide eyed and bushy tailed. I couldn’t help but be pleased to be standing there with friends new and old, as I heard the familiar tunes of my youth, and watched the bright familiar lights grace the stage, and light up the familiar faces of the band that showed me what home was. I was there. Home in Chicago, under the starry Aragon Ballroom sky.

The second set was much like the first, a set that brought back feelings of nostalgia. It was short and sweet and still it was like a story that shared the band’s past, and brought it to the current. They played some more deep hits like “The Floor,” a song I heard at my very first Umphrey’s show and “1348” which I can’t even count how many times I’ve witnessed. But it wasn’t like repeating the past. Each incarnation of the song is different, and that’s what I love about this band. This version of “The Floor” was unique to this show, as it has been to each of the 207 times the band has played it. They are like lightning, or snowflakes, never the same thing twice, each as beautiful as the last. They closed the night with a single encore. A song that only a band like Umphrey’s McGee could write and play perfectly each time, and a song that I’ve seen and heard countless times, “JaJunk.” They ended the night with bright white lights, and screaming fans, and raging guitar riffs, in true Umphrey’s style.

I was sad to see the night end, but I am forever grateful to have witnessed this night, and every night I have seen Umphrey’s McGee. I am grateful for the things I have experienced in the past year, and I am happy to bring in the next. I am so honored to be writing and photographing for such an amazing outlet. Grateful Web has allowed me to see so many great shows, and to share that experience with as many people that want to see it. What a year 2016 has been, this world has seen so much but now it’s time to put that in the past. Here’s to 2017 being another year for the record books, and another year filled with great memories of great music. Until the next show. Stay Grateful and Happy New Year.

Check out more photos from the show.

Sun, 06/11/2017 - 12:24 pm

It is my honor to be writing to you all again about the wonder and beautiful sight that is Dark Star Jubilee. However, this year I write to you with feelings of pure joy and love that come from this festival but also a heavy heart. Dark Star Orchestra has had a tough week, as they face a possibly career-changing event. But more about that later, let’s talk about the joyful, blissful, wonderful, paradise event for friends and family that was Dark Star Jubilee. This year it was held once again and Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio on May 26th-29th, Memorial Day weekend. Legend Valley is a very popular gathering place in the Midwest. Many well-known artists have graced the stage at Legend Valley and it is the site of All Good, The Werkout, Resonance, and even the Gathering of the Juggalos.

Legend Valley is a beautiful place. Quite possibly one of my very favorite venues in the Midwest. It’s hard to believe you’re right in the middle of Ohio. It is a short walk from your car to where you camp, and as you come around the gravel path, there is a row of old, old pine trees. I can only imagine the music these trees have to hear, so many favorite artists, including the Grateful Dead (7-8 Shows) ZZ Top, and The Allman Brothers Band. This venue has a deep history in Ohio, and you can almost feel the energy this place holds from hosting all these great musicians. Just beyond the pine trees, where I set my hammock up every year, the ground breaks into a gently sloping hill that runs straight into the only stage at Dark Star Jubilee. Possibly one of my favorite features of this festival, there is only one stage, so the music never overlaps. You’re never torn between favorite bands, you have the chance to hear every single note, possibly from a hammock if you wish.

Another one of my favorite things about Jubilee is how family oriented the festival is. The staff at Legend Valley, in my opinion, is some of the best in the business. Friendly, understanding, and promoting of the family nature of this crowd. Dark Star Orchestra has always been supportive of its large family following, and I think the children and adults alike feel safe and welcomed at this festival. They offer great events for all of the kids, so this festival is also a memorable event to them. There’s the bubble guy, who tirelessly provides a beautiful landscape for all of us, blowing the biggest bubbles you can imagine and allowing the children to endlessly jump through the bubbles streaming from his wand. There’s the kid parade, where the kids are led through the grounds to wake everyone up Sunday morning, and of course the yearly family photo, which I am sure to never miss. I just hope as this festival grows larger and larger each year, the gentle ecosystem that has allowed families to feel comfortable here is not forgotten about. I really think it’s one the things that make this festival stand out from others, you get to see joy and happiness written all over young people’s faces. I can only wish I had been raised in such a great community.

This year, they waited until a bit later in the day on Friday to start the music. It was nice to be able to settle into camp without feeling rushed, we had time to meet our neighbors, which would soon be family. The beautiful thing about this festival, it’s a lovely mix of like-minded folks, almost anyone could feel comfortable here, deadhead or not. The first band I was excited to see was Railroad Earth, a great little string band. It was my first time photographing this band, and I have to say their stage energy is just captivating. It was a great way to start out an amazing weekend, with a little bluegrass. Soon it would be time for the thing that we all came to see, Dark Star Orchestra.

DSO started out the weekend with an original set list as is usual of Dark Star Jubilee, but we knew by the decorations, this weekend was going to be something slightly different. Behind the band was a large banner that declared it was Dark Star’s 20th anniversary! I was honored to be at this event, and I am honored to write to you. It’s not often you get to write about one of your favorite band’s twenty years of success, touring hard, working hard, and playing even harder, but I am honored to bring you all the latest updates. DSO has played over 2600 shows over the last 20 years, and they strive to “continue the Grateful Dead experience.” I’d like to dive into this phrase just a bit “continuing the Grateful Dead experience” to me means they aren’t trying to be The Dead, they are trying to bring you an interpretation of what could have been. They continue the legacy in the family, good people, and a good experience with like-minded people, but also, in my opinion, they are continuing the vision Jerry had for the band. They are taking the idea of The Grateful Dead and expanding on it, allowing the music to morph, daring to be different, but also delicately keeping the balance the same. This is one of the reasons I love the Jubilee, I get to see a different side of the band, they play at least one or two original sets that allow their creative musical voices to sing. Friday night was one of those nights, an original set. They played some great hits such as “Franklin’s Tower,” “Feel like A Stranger,” “Cassidy” (one of my personal favorites), and “Eyes of the World.” And we welcomed in the rainy summer night with a signature of the Jubilee, late night bluegrass with the Rumpke Mountain Boys.

Saturday morning broke, after a rainy, rainy night, I emerged from my car expecting low morale, but upon arriving back to my hammock I found everyone had made it through the storms alive and intact, and ready for another great day of music. We all kept our fingers crossed, the forecast for the weekend looked dreary at best. But what’s a little rain when you’re surrounded by the people and music you love? Saturday morning, I was on the hunt for some delicious breakfast, so I decided to take a walk and peruse all of the beautiful things that the vendors have to offer at this festival. My first stop was some breakfast, and I can’t ever pass up some Disco Pizza. You may think that only cold leftover pizza is what’s for breakfast, but I was happy to find a warm breakfast pizza from my favorite pizza gang in the Midwest. I suggest you give it a go, breakfast pizza is the truth, and Disco Pizza hits the spot every time. I took my trusty pizza and wandered through the ever-expanding shakedown street. Previous years, it was just one row of shops. This year I was surprised to find two different vendor areas, filled with art, jewelry, and all kinds of different colorful odds and ends. I am pleased to report that after years of lacking a good crowd of visual artists, there was finally live art, and a booth selling only original art, one of my very favorite things to find at a festival.

Saturday was jam packed with some great music. Some of the notable acts were Hot Tuna, again gracing the stage this year with two sets. First an acoustic set on Saturday and a plugged-in show on Sunday. A new band to play this year, was met with much enthusiasm, Twiddle played their first Dark Star Jubilee set, and the crowd absolutely loved it. Perhaps it was the slide guitar, or the charismatic stage presence of the band, or maybe the catchy melodies coming from the stage, but no one could stop dancing. It was a great way to start the evening, with some light melodies that were easy to dance to and easy to love. Then it was time for the moment we were all waiting for, Dark Star Orchestra took the stage. Briefly commenting about the beautiful sky, and the lack of rain, we were in for another great set. Earlier in the weekend, we heard the shocking news that Gregg Allman had passed away, and it seemed to hit everyone hard. We’ve been losing a lot of greats in the music world lately, and well there had been reports of Gregg’s failing health, no one expected it to come so soon, in fact, there were rumors of a 2017 tour. So, with this news fresh in our minds, and Allman Brother’s covers being played almost every set of the weekend, we knew this was going to be a special show. Dark Star Orchestra dedicated the Saturday show to the Allman Brothers Band. They played some great songs, although, I’m not sure how they all related to Gregg, with such unique covers, I can imagine they had a personal meaning to the band. One of the covers I loved best, and I think stood out to me the most was “Imagine” by John Lennon. What a treat to see them cover this song! Two of my favorites becoming one.

Saturday night ended with a firecracker set from Keller Williams with Kwahtro, that was so good it could write a review for that show alone. But I’ll save you the pain and say that I have seen Keller each and every way, with all sorts of different musicians, and I have to say this might have been my favorite Keller Williams set of all time. Armed with DSO’s lights, this was Keller like I had never seen him. It almost seemed like he didn’t stop to breath. What a way to end a Saturday night, and Keller Williams set, sprinkled with all sorts of Allman Brothers covers!

We awoke to Sunday with one of the worst forecasts of the whole weekend. Rain, Rain, Rain, was all anyone’s weather said. I buckled up my rain boots, waterproofed my camera, and located my umbrella, and I was ready for the final day. But, alas to everyone’s surprise, not a drop of rain fell that Sunday. The morning started with the lovely Kid’s Parade and the yearly family photo, a must see. The kids all dress up in their brightest colors and parade around the grounds, the pure, unadulterated happiness of the children is a refreshing way to start out a Sunday morning.

Now is the time when I move to the part about having a heavy heart, the difficult news to share with the world. Sunday morning started with a set they have every year at DSJ the Matt Reynold’s Band. This is always a feel-good set, and a warm up set for the festival. Usually one of the first musicians Saturday or Sunday, most people don’t realize that not only does he have his own music but is also Dark Star Orchestra’s tour manager, or WAS. He appeared well and happy for his set on Sunday, but upon return home Monday morning, Dark Star Orchestra announced the untimely death of their beloved tour manager. It seems that this leaves the direction up in the air for the band, they mention being a ship of fools with no captain, and my heart feels heavy for them. What a sad moment in history.

But enough being sappy, we still have Sunday to talk about! Sunday not only featured Matt Reynolds but also great acts such as TAUK, playing the Jubilee for the very first time. There was also Like Father, Like Son, lead guitarist and singer Rob Eaton, of DSO and his son’s band, and the lovely Greensky Bluegrass. But murmurs around the ground, kept everyone waiting on the edge of their seat for the Sunday night set by DSO, we all heard it was going to be one of the most famous Grateful Dead sets there is. As the band took the stage and the familiar notes of “Bertha” quieted the hum of the excited crowd, we knew the rumors were true. DSO was creating the ever-famous Hartford, Connecticut show of 1977 when some would argue the Grateful Dead were at their best. IF you haven’t heard this show before, I suggest you give it a listen. There are some great hits from that show, such as “Good Lovin,’” “Sugaree,” “Jack Straw,” “Brown Eyed Woman,” and so many other greats I can’t name them all. They did this great historical set list justice. All we could do was smile, smile, smile. With a brief encore of “US Blues,” the set ended with everyone holding hands, hugging the ones we loved, and vibrating with all the positivity that surrounded us. It was another weekend for the books, and a great way to start out the summer, I wouldn't change a thing. I’ll meet you at the next Jubilee.

Check out more photos from the Jubilee 2017.

Sun, 02/18/2018 - 2:19 pm

Last week I had the honor of seeing one of my very favorite bands in my new home of Portland Oregon. Dark Star Orchestra, one of the longest running Grateful Dead cover bands, in fact on their 20th year of touring, graced the beautiful West coast with a lovely winter tour. One of the stops was the Roseland Theater in Portland. I have so much to say about the music, it was on point as always, Dark Star almost never disappoints, but for me, the venue left a bit to be desired.

Rob Barracco | Dark Star Orchestra

Portland is an amazingly vibrant city. The nightlife is unlike any other place I've been.  Happy hour specials at every corner, delicious food for any diets, and a thriving, bustling art community. So much music comes to the city, and the population is so young and lively, public transportation is on point, Portland is slowly becoming one of my favorite big cities. Not every place you go will be a winner, but you'll surely find your vibe there. The Roseland Theater was not my ideal venue to see Dark Star though. The theater didn’t seem particulary well-kept, and the sound seemed rough at best, but for the venerable DSO, it was one more sold-out Saturday night. The theater was packed rim to rim; hippies were coming out of the walls! It was a rough go down in the pit area, but if you made it to the upper balcony, the view and sound were much better.

Jeff Mattson | Dark Star Orchestra

This was an entertaining DSO show; they recreated the Grateful Dead show from July 1st,1985 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland, from a fondly remembered summer tour. 1985 was a strong year for the band. They were celebrating 20 years since the Warlocks formed, and it's quite fitting to see DSO play this show as they are also celebrating 20+ years of touring. The set opens with a downtempo 'Dancing in the Streets.' Every time I hear this song as an opener I'm surprised, it always seems like a second set kind of song, but the slower tempo helped ease us into the set and was followed by 'Dupree's Diamond Blues,' which was a bit down tempo as well. The first set was a sort of mellow string of songs that showed off the band's artful composing and lyrics. It is a unique line up for the first set including 'Walkin’ Blues,' 'Jack-A-Roe,' and 'Stagger Lee.' They kicked it up to close the set with a song that was relatively new to the Dead at the time, 'Keep Your Day Job.'

Dark Star Orchestra | Roseland Theater | Portland, OR

The second set had such a different feel from the first; there was so much more energy! Maybe it was because I had made it out of the pit into the beautiful view and elbow room of the balcony, but the second set was terrific! The light show looked brighter, and the sound mix was much improved just as the band opened with a crowd-pleasing 'Scarlet Begonias.' I could see the floor coming to life, friends hugging friends, singing along, laughing together. DSO not only matches the sets of the Grateful Dead but also the loving family atmosphere. Even in a crowd as thick as a sold-out Saturday night show, everyone is trading grins and hugs. One of the highlights of set two had to be the Drums>Space, a second set staple where the band slowly breaks off until the only members left are the two drummers, Dino English and Rob Koritz. These two guys have to be some of the best drummers in the scene; their drum set up on stage alone is impressive. My very favorite moment of the second set had to be the closing with 'Good Lovin.' Standing on the rail off the balcony I could just see the floor come to life with every type of groove and embrace as the crow jostled in a harmonic back and forth with the lyrics we love driving the train. What a good way to end a set where the energy had been building and building. They closed the set with an 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue,' and we all wandered off into the drizzly Portland winter to get weird in one of the weirdest cities in the USA.

Dark Star Orchestra crowd in Portland, Oregon -- Thank you for a real good time!

Check out more photos from the show.

Wed, 07/31/2019 - 6:40 pm

I have been blessed with the opportunity to share my very first Northwest String Summit experience with you all. I will do my best to honor this festival’s long history, while explaining my first experience, not only with this festival but at Horning's Hideout. This festival is in its 18th year here in Oregon, and it’s hard to think of another festival in such a serene location. That’s a whole generation of people growing up in this festival, which is something very unique and beautiful. The family roots that are set here run deep, and I can’t even pretend to know about all of them. The community this festival has created is unlike any other I have encountered in my many years of attending such events. Either you’ve been coming for years, or like me, this is your first time, but you’ll find your place and people on the hillside all welcoming you home. Strummit is known for its “Kinfolk” community, which started with the band Yonder Mountain Sring Band. From what I have gathered, this group strives to be supporting and loving to each other and share in their love for good music and good times. They promote a message of love and understanding for all walks of life, and they are one of the reasons Northwest String Summit has existed for so many years, the community and love that surrounds this festival is unique, to say the least.

Northwest String Summit 2019

As I pulled into the festival early on Thursday, July 18th, I was surprised by how quickly we got into the grounds. In my past life, I’ve waited in a line over 24 hours to get into a festival. Not only was it super organized at the gates, but I cannot stress enough how friendly and helpful all of the staff were. I’m not sure I’ve been to a place where the venue employees have treated the patrons so well. No shouting at cars and one-word answers, in fact, almost every employee or volunteer I encountered told me to have a good Strummit. Once I got in, I was in awe at the beauty of the grounds. Horning’s Hideout is nestled in the rolling hills just outside of Portland, in a place where the pines grow tall and strong, and the sun shines through them turning the grass into diamonds. You camp among the great pines, where the friendliest festival taxi driver helps you deliver all of your gear to a perfect spot. At first, the grounds seem large and intimidating, but as you get to know the area, it’s small and intimate, but not overcrowded.

Dark Star Orchestra | NWSS

For me, the highlight of my Thursday evening, and my first ever night at Horning's, at the Northwest String Summit, was one of my very favorites, Dark Star Orchestra. Now, this is not to say there weren’t some note-worthy talents playing that day on the four stages that this festival featured. To talk about every band, every set, every notable talent, or every sit-in at this festival would surely make up a small novel, but I’m going to do my best to mention the things that stood out to me personally. But to really understand and appreciate it all fully, you have to go and see it with your own eyes and experience it with your own heart. I don’t mean to leave any stellar performance, unacknowledged, but each festival-goer knows that you have your own experience of the place, and you can’t be everywhere at once.

"The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began"

As I mentioned, one of my favorite parts of Thursday was the Dark Star Orchestra set. For this set, the venue requested they play and abbreviated version of the August 27th, 1972 show, which was originally played at the Old Renaissance Faire Grounds in Oregon, during which the documentary “Sunshine Daydream” was recorded. This set originally featured a 31-minute long ‘Dark Star,’ which DSO could not resist reproducing, and I have to say they really did it justice. You could see that the band was having the time of their lives playing their first set at the notorious Horning’s Hideout. They closed the set with a killer ‘Casey Jones’ as the day gave way to night, we danced under the stars to some of our favorite tunes from the past. I retreated to the forest which was alive with the sounds of music, and good times underneath the moonlit pine trees. The sounds of distant violins in the cool night air lulled me into sleep.

lots of great vendors and food/drink available @ NWSS

Friday morning broke, with the sun shining, the birds chirping, and the neighbors next to me warming up on their violins and string bass. I grabbed my best girlfriend, and together we wandered down to Shakedown Street. We scored the best vegan-friendly breakfast at the local juice bar and Hawaiian cafe. As we ate, we watched the sun reflect off the original Further Bus, and children dance in the bubbles coming from the roof. We wandered from booth to booth, checking out everything shiny and glittery. After filling our bellies with good food and our bags with colorful creations, we wandered down to the band competition and the first music of the day.

One Way Traffic | Northwest String Summit

The main stage sits in the bottom of a valley, right in front of a lake. As we approach the stage, we see kids playing with a parachute, and I was immediately reminded of how much of a family event this festival is. It’s encouraged to bring your little ones, to introduce them to the community of love that you can find in a group of like-minded people. Not only that, but there is an atmosphere of respect for families and children. All weekend long, there’s a kid’s camp, where there are endless activities to entertain the whole family. It was here in the first set of the day, watching the kids play with a giant, multi-colored parachute during the band competition, that I discovered a band who I won’t forget shortly, One Way Traffic. This five-member group features not only five talented bluegrass musicians but also a washboard player. That’s right, one whole person dedicated to playing the washboard, is there anything better? If there’s one thing I try and walk away with at a festival, it’s a few new bands to add to my playlist, One Way Traffic along with Banshee Tree are two bands I won’t be missing when they are in my town.

Fruition | Northwest String Summit

I also had a second first experience on Friday the 19th, my very first Fruition show, a band I’ve wanted to see for years and years. I have to say; they did not disappoint. There’s no better way to welcome in a Friday evening on the side of a mountain top then with some high energy bluegrass. But the show everyone was waiting for was Yonder Mountain String Band, and boy was their first set a feeler.

NWSS was a special place to be in 2019 -- RIP Jeff Austin!

It’s been a rough few months for the bluegrass community, with the passing of one of the greats, Jeff Austin, an original member of YMSB, and the Kinfolk family. His death hit me particularly hard, as I grew up in bluegrass with him. In fact, it was 20 years ago that Yonder released their first album, Elevation. For their first set on the mountain, they took us way back and played through this first album that they recorded with Jeff so many years ago. As they opened the set, they acknowledged their fallen comrade with nothing but love and respect; they dedicated this festival and the next sets of YMSB to Jeff Austin. They opened with “Half Moon Rising,” and I couldn’t stop the tears as I remembered years of playing that song in the warm summer nights of my youth. We truly lost one of the greats this year, but the love, community, and music he made will live on forever.

Allie Kral | YMSB

As much nostalgia that first set brought on Friday, the Saturday set of YMSB doubled down on the nostalgia. In years past, the Saturday night set of Yonder Mountain is notorious for being a set, unlike any other YMSB plays. In past years they’ve covered full albums from people like Pink Floyd. This year, they made us a mixed tape, and it was a mixed tape I’d play every day if I could. They did bluegrass covers of some favorite anthems like “Flagpole Sitta (I’m not sick, but I’m not well),” “Starman,” and “Space Oddity” by David Bowie.

Ben & Adam remembering Jeff @ NWSS

One of my favorite moments of the show was the dedication of the Grateful Dead’s “He’s Gone” to Jeff Austin, where the band started by sharing a story of listening to this song with Jeff as they cruised the country in an RV held together by duct tape. I could almost hear Jeff singing along. What a beautiful tribute to some of the greats who have left us in recent times. I highly suggest you take a listen to the Bowie covers as well, nothing like it exists elsewhere, it is truly a unique listening experience. As the band winds through the psychedelic harmonies of the “Space Oddities,” from the crowd a giant flower sculpture emerged and bloomed, followed by a swarm of space bees and their queen dancing proudly in the middle. Saturday night at the String Summit is known for its spectacular interactive art displays by Tyler FuQua Creation, that become part of the crowd and show. The Saturday night Strummit set is built for those who have an affinity for the psychedelic. I feel blessed to have witnessed such an event in such a place. The art, the music, the community, is a world of its own.  By the end of the YMSB set, the stage was full of musicians from almost every band that played on the mountain that weekend. It ended with a family performance of The Band’s “The Shape I’m in.”

Northwest String Summit 2019

Saturday the 20th was filled with so many great bands, and events. There was the kid’s parade (the largest parade of children I’ve ever seen) and sets by bands like The Infamous Stringdusters, Lindsay Lou, Trampled by Turtles, and a late-night set by Galactic and Fruition. I fell asleep in my hammock with a smile on my face, exhausted from the hours and hours of dancing, listening to sweet bluegrass lullabies.

The Infamous Stringdusters | NWSS

I awoke Sunday morning to a very different vibe on the mountain as the emphasis had switched from the music to something a bit more on the spiritual side. I wandered to the Sierra Nevada stage to find Brad Parson’s Gospel experience belting old-timey hymns like “I’ll Fly Away” into the Sunday morning, dressed all in white surrounded by a crowd all wearing white peacock feathers. I could feel the spirit of the community, togetherness, and unity you don’t get to feel out in the world often. I was reminded of the roots of this festival, the family that it came from, and the warmth of the people around me. The trees at the main stage now wore pink sweaters, in honor of the tradition started many years ago at the String Summit for a little girl with cancer. The community comes together every year, not only to have fun and hear good music, but also to raise funds for causes that need our help and raise awareness for those in the community that needs a little help. I have never been to a festival with a mission of not only giving to the community but giving back. The grounds were never trashed, everyone left their campsites as they found it, and there was recycling, trash, and compost bins everywhere. There were no drum circles at 4 am outside my campsite or cigarette butts under every step. I think it’s worth mentioning the efforts everyone puts forth to respect the hallowed grounds of Horning’s Hideout.

Lindsay Lou | Northwest String Summit

It was a weekend of many firsts for me that I won’t quickly forget. As I lay on the hill listening to one of my favorite female vocalists Lindsay Lou, I was reminded why I do what I do. The community that we belong to is something special in this tumultuous world. There are not many places I have found in this world where people can gather peacefully in love and harmony. I am lucky to have found a place where I can feel free and accepted, where hate is frowned upon, and love is exalted, where your freak flag can fly as high or as low as you want it to. Needless to say, I’ll be back year after year. Thank you Strummit, for welcoming me home to Oregon, I needed it more than you know.

Northwest String Summit

Check out more photos from Northwest String Summit 2019.

Mon, 03/07/2022 - 12:21 pm

After two long years of anxious hibernation, Oregon is beginning to wake up. Friends are hugging friends, smiles are being shared, and Northwest String Summit and Horning’s Hideout have announced that this year, the 20th anniversary of the music festival, will be moving ahead and will be the very last year for the event known as one of Oregon’s largest and most esteemed bluegrass music festivals. The lineup has been finalized and announced and the event sold out this week! The excitement is finally back in the air, and for the first time in a couple of years, I finally have something to mark on my calendar.

NWSS 2022

So, you may be asking, what should I know and be looking forward to at Northwest String Summit? (or Strummit for short) Well, I cannot stress how many beautiful things I have to say about this festival and its location, but I will do my best to keep it short and simple. Strummit is being held just outside of Portland, Oregon in North Plains, and runs July 21st through the 24th and the legendary Horning’s Hideout. This beautiful venue is 160 acres of beautiful rolling hills dotted with tall Douglas fir trees, and a beautiful lake that sits right behind the main stage. It’s far enough from the city to feel like you’re hiding from civilization, but close enough that the drive back to civilization isn’t a complete drag. This is a camping music festival, so bring all your gear for cooking out in the woods, and sleeping under the stars, I also highly suggest bringing a wagon to cart your things, but if you don’t have one, the courtesy shuttles will happily help you cart your things to your site. If cooking on the old camp stove isn’t your cup of tea, then not to worry, the vendor food selection is sure to be impressive, as it has been in the past years.

YMSB will once again anchor the NWSS lineup - photo by Jake Cudek

There’s a large “Shakedown Street” with all sorts of vendors, to fill your belly, and adorn your body with all that is glittery and gold. Also, and perhaps most importantly, this event is a family friendly event, so bring all of your little ones. They have a kid’s camp and unlimited activities, crafts, and even music just for all the little ones. One of my favorite things about this festival is the family friendly nature of this event. Kids can be seen running around blowing bubbles and using a giant parachute tent during the day.  It really gives you the feeling of coming home, and we all get to come home one last time, for that, I am eternally grateful.

Greensky Bluegrass will perform once again @ NWSS

Strummit is also known for its larger-than-life art installations and its lineup that tends to bend the idea of what band is which and what set has ended and began. This year’s lineup is so very exciting. Firstly, all weekend long, the founding fiddlers of the festival, known for giving this festival its glowing reviews and bringing all these beautiful people, artists, families, and musicians together in this special place, Yonder Mountain String Band will be playing all weekend long. A promising set up for lots of guest spots and sit ins.  Also, for the first time ever, Umphrey’s McGee is playing the festival, they were booked for the canceled 2020 event, and I am so thrilled they have stayed on the lineup. Along with these guys, the lineup features some of the best touring bluegrass bands like Greensky Bluegrass, Keller and the Keels, Railroad Earth, the Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, and so many more, including what for me is a bucket list show, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, a well know Grateful Dead cover band that will change what you think of when you think Grateful Dead.

Molly Tuttle

Also, something I think that is notable, is the lineup of female musicians Strummit offers. Featuring big hitters like Holly Bowling and Ghost Light, Lindsey Lou, Molly Tuttle, Banshee Tree, and the 2019 band competition winners, One Way Traffic featuring Leah Osborne on washboard. Check out the full line up poster to see the bands that I’ve run out of space to mention, but I promise each and every one of them is noteworthy, and has earned their place as part of the Stummit family. There’s sure to be some mind-bending collaborations and sit ins, all features that make Strummit a festival like no other. Don’t forget to keep your eyes open for whatever surprise art installation they have planned for the infamous Yonder Mountain set, which in 2019, was a playlist cover set, curated by Yonder, just for us, where a giant glowing, interactive sculpture emerged from the crowd…so don’t forget to look up. You never know what you might see floating above you and winding through the dancing crowd at Strummit. I’m telling you, this is a place like none other, and I feel so sorry if you slept on buying tickets this year, because as I have mentioned this event is now officially SOLD OUT!

Horning's Hideout

Check out their website, stringsummit.com for more information on the rules of the venue, tips and tricks, and the yet to be announced event schedule, and be careful out there if you are trying to get a ticket. Northwest String Summit suggests you visit Cash or Trade to find secondary market tickets.

Del Yeah! - Del McCoury Band will play NWSS

Mark your calendars, dust off your dancing shoes, and watch for more updates from us in the coming days as we speak with the founders of the festival!

Sun, 03/20/2022 - 9:40 am

Northwest String Summit is one of the most well-known festivals of the Pacific Northwest. It has deep roots in family and bluegrass that have extended, intertwined, and grown deep over the last 20 years. We had the opportunity to chat with one of the founders of the festival Skye McDonald about the festival and what the last 20 years have meant to him and the other founders.

So here’s the story of Strummit, according to one of those closest to the festival and some hints as to what this last year of the festival will hold, and maybe a few answers to some questions we’ve all wanted to ask.

YSMB | 2000

According to Skye, it all started in Boulder, Colorado, back in 1999 with Yonder Mountain String band. The movie “O Brother, O Brother, Where Art Thou” is where this story begins. After that movie came out, bluegrass and old timey music became a national sensation, and Yonder Mountain String Band began gathering a diehard following in the Pacific Northwest.  There was a small festival outside of Eugene, Oregon, called Dexter Lake Music Festival, which was originally marketed and run by a company out of Portland, Oregon, Segue Productions that became the genesis for Northwest String Summit.  The event quickly outgrew Dexter Lake, and Segue began looking for a new place to host the festival. Horning’s Hideout had been hosting several well-known events with The String Cheese Incident and Leftover Salmon, so it was already a known locale for some big happenings in Oregon. The move to Horning's Hideout became the catalyst for what we now know as Northwest String Summit, and the magical grounds provided the perfect set for the family event that developed. Two years into the festival the partners Gregg Friedman and Skye McDonald joined the Northwest String Summit Team. Here's what Skye had to say about the beginning years of the festival.

Northwest String Summit

"The first year of the festival started with three nights of Yonder and was very true to the traditional bluegrass bands of the time, with only one stage, it featured some of the most notorious bluegrass bands that were touring at that time, such as David Grisman, Hot Rize, Tim O’Brien, Psychograss, Danny Barnes, and a few other bands. The first two or three years were in June, and were a bit cold and rainy, as it can be during that time in the Pacific Northwest. They moved the date to July, one of the best and sunniest months in this part of the country. The rest, as they say, was history. It only took a handful of years for this festival to become one that was known across the country."

Skye McDonald has been to every single Strummit, as well as the two years that it was hosted at Dexter Lake. So he’s truly been along for the ride. I asked him to share some thoughts about some special times or memories that Northwest String Summit brings up for him…

Northwest String Summit

 “The event is a special place, not just because I’m a co-owner of the event, but because of all the friends and family, kinfolk, and extended network of people that I know because of this event….what a lot of people may not know is that my wife and I first expressed our interest in one another at the event….and here we are 17 years later together, with 14 years of marriage and two kids who have been at Strummit since before they were born. There's a network of friends that may only get to see each other at the String Summit, but nonetheless have become lifelong families. Similar to my story, there have been countless relationships forged by meeting folks at our event. That is really what feels the best of all, of course the music and the community, but just the relationships that have come out of it are just amazing. It's important to everyone involved that it's a safe place for people of all backgrounds of any difference you can think of…can come together and enjoy humanity. That's what we strive to be and have accomplished, I feel.”

This place to me, is very true to Skye’s words and I couldn’t help myself but ask the question, why now, after 20 years of a beautiful and successful event, is this the end? Here’s what Skye had to say about that…

Northwest String Summit

It's a pretty straightforward answer, my partner and I both kind of got into this serendipitously as I was describing, we never had a long-term game plan until about the 10th anniversary which was the first year the event sold out and we realized the event might have legs. At that point we were able to see into the future and build the brand and the marketing and a team that extended beyond year to year. But, our long-term goal all along was to reach 20 years. We were almost there come 2019 and 2020, and then the last two years with Covid have really shined a light and exposed a lot of things personally and business wise that had us punctuate our stay here. Plus coming out of two years off, having done virtual events and Covid podded events, it really felt like this year we can go out on our 20th with a big bang and feel good about it.

Greensky Bluegrass| Northwest String Summit

It's been a pleasure to have a second home in the Portland and Pacific Northwest area” said Skye, speaking to me from Boulder, Colorado. He and his family will be in attendance this year and have high expectations for what they have planned this year. He and I both can’t emphasize enough how much this event is like coming to a big family gathering. Bring your children, bring your campfire stories, bring your big plans and thoughts to discuss with all walks of life. We are here for it, and this place is a safe space, where we all can feel how alike we are as humans, instead of how different and divided. This may be the last year, but this is not the end to a story of how we are all connected in some way.

I asked for some hints on what to look forward to or what to expect. Please tantalize us with some tidbits on what we can expect in this final 20th year blow out, I asked. Here’s what Skye had to say….

Fruition | Northwest String Summit

Tyler Fuqua’s Saturday night spectacular, I would definitely bank on that going above and beyond anything in the past, and maybe even more than just Saturday night, so that will be very exciting….I feel like a lot of the fun for me beyond booking the talent and curating the music is working with partners like vendors, or crafts, or food and sponsors, is actually being able to work with them for community activation. So look for a lot of new cool activations with brands, lounges and that kind of stuff… is going to be pretty neat. There will be five stages that will have music from 10 am to 3am, there's going to be about 85 hours of contiguous music. Everything is just going to feel very electric, but naturally the magic comes from the people and the location and I just feel like we don’t have to add a whole lot beyond what we already do to get one of the best vibes out of it. I’m just excited to have that feeling again with everybody. And put an exclamation note on the paragraph that is Northwest String Summit.”

Northwest String Summit

I think with those words, there’s not much else I can add. This year is sure to be one for the record book. We are sad to see you go, Northwest String Summit, but we love to watch you walk away, and now its history is in the record, and can be something we reminisce on for years to come. The family nature of this event is something that, I personally, will miss. It gave me a place to feel at home in a strange state. It’s a place where you can let your freak flag fly and a place where you will make relationships that will last a lifetime. It may be the end of an era, but the relationships and joy that this festival has brought to this area, will not be soon forgotten. Whole families were raised in this place, with this festival and that is a legacy that can’t be bought. To convey the impact that this event has had on the local community is hard to put into words, registering to vote, speak on important topics, support local arts and music and vendors is something you don’t usually get to do in one place, and not all festivals have this bigger picture in mind.

Northwest String Summit

I hope to see you all there, I hope to hug every one of you, and get lost in your smile and joy. Let’s have one last get together, hold hands, embrace, and dance under the fir trees and stars.

Check out Northwest String Summit’s website for more information on the event and how you can be a part of it. This event is sold out, but not all is lost, there will be tickets on the secondary market so start wheeling and dealing now and let's give this festival the best sendoff we can. Grateful Web will see you there, smile for my camera, and watch for updates as they are announced.

Mon, 08/01/2022 - 3:02 pm

Where to even begin when trying to tell you about the last ever Northwest String Summit? To put into words what this last gathering was, and the effect that this festival has had on the Northwest over the last 20 years is nearly impossible. After three long years of waiting out a pandemic, this gathering was what everyone’s heart needed. It truly was a labor of love, and you could feel it in every corner of the venue. I haven’t stopped smiling for nearly a week; I think we were all craving a gathering of like souls and I am so grateful to Northwest String Summit for providing that for us. From the music, to the interactive art, to late night chats and star gazing, to the children laughing and playing in the sun, these memories we made together will last a lifetime. Together we will carry the beauty with us out into the world, 20 years of positivity will radiate around us and to everyone we know.

Northwest String Summit 2022

Yonder Mountain String Band | Northwest String Summit

Northwest String Summit (Strummit) started as a small group of bluegrass bands joining together to make a little music festival just outside of Eugene, Oregon 20 years ago. Whole families were created and raised within this festival, and have seen it in every year of its existence. Inconspicuously, a unique community of artists and musicians began to gather around bluegrass legends, Yonder Mountain String Band. They labeled themselves the Kinfolk, and they offered a community of love and acceptance to any wayward traveler that dabbled in a bit of music and fun. When the festival started to outgrow its hometown, the decision was made to move it to Horning’s Hideout and it became the thing we all know and love. It was a wise choice to move this festival to such a special place, where the pines and redwoods grow tall, the lake shimmers in the sun, and a small creek babbles through the grounds. They sent a message out to the world that all are welcome here, bring your freak flag and wave it high. Bring your children, bring your grandma, everyone here gathers in love and acceptance. I’ve never been to a festival with such welcoming staff and volunteers, the energy here is and was infectious. The sign as you drive into the grounds says “Welcome Home.” You could feel the love and happiness radiating from every person, which truly makes this place feel like the blissful home we all dream about. This year, we all knew we were sharing something special and together we celebrated a long history and beautiful story. As sad as it is that this year, the 20th year, was the last, but this was the ultimate goal of the founders of the festival. To make it to twenty years, and finally, the goal was achieved.

20th & final Northwest String Summit

Greensky Bluegrass | Northwest String Summit

One of the unique things about Strummit is how the music is set up. A set simply listed as Greensky Bluegrass is actually a collaboration of many different musicians. Greensky may be the focus, but they were constantly calling other artists and friends on stage with them. Holly Bowling sat in on the piano for the entire set, not to mention guests like Lindsey Lou joined them on stage. Greensky’s two sets were the best way to close out the main stage for Thursday night of the festival, a little bit of good old-fashioned bluegrass set the scene for the weekend. The band spoke about how the pine trees were much shorter when they first played Horning's Hideout and how they’ve watched them grow as the festival grew and how it was bittersweet to be playing their last set in such a special place. Many bands over the weekend would be mentioning this, their gratitude and love for the community and to a place that they themselves, as musicians, called home for 20 years.

Northwest String Summit | North Plains, Oregon

As I wandered away from the main stage, full of anticipation for what the next days would hold, I caught a glimpse of Keller Williams and a bit of late-night grub at one of the many food vendors. If you haven’t had a Killa Dilla, I highly suggest it. Keller is always a delight to see, he doesn’t take himself too seriously, and always plays a fun show full of original and cover songs, he had many guests sit ins for his set, and in true Keller fashion, the entire crowd was on their feet dancing and singing along. As I wandered onward into the night, I heard the sweet sound of the Talking Heads hanging on the night air. I wound my way down to the Cascadia stage passing that babbling creek and light and art installations along the way, with one of the installations featuring the history of the String Summit and 20 years of photos and highlights. Once again, I was reminded that I am here to be a part of this history one last time. The sweet sounds of the Talking Heads cover band, Life During Wartime, drew me further down. This was my first time seeing this band, and I could rave about what I saw for hours.  David Byrne would be impressed by the energy this band brought to the stage. I couldn’t take my eyes away and I will never turn down dancing to some classics by the Talking Heads.

North Plains, Oregon | NWSS

fun for all ages @ Northwest String Summit

Friday morning broke with a perfect misty marine layer, that was a welcome respite from the sun of the day before. All through the camping area the smell of sizzling breakfast and children laughing hung in the air like the perfect mountain mist. One of the great features of String Summit is the family nature of this festival. There is camping reserved specifically for families as well as a stage area that is completely dedicated to the children of Strummit. It featured activities such as crafts, juggling, learning to play the violin, and of course the famous kid parade that happens each year. It is a welcome change to the normal festival scene to have a place where you can share your happy place with your whole family.

Northwest String Summit

Some of my favorite sets of music from Friday were One way Traffic, kicking off the day, they were the winner of the 2019 battle of the bands, and I just can’t get over their old timey single mic bluegrass and washboard player. I was so happy to see them return to the stage. The first set on the Main Stage was Ghost Light, followed by a Keller and the Keels set. Both bands were perfect daytime music and stuck true to the bluegrass nature of this festival. All you can do is smile and dance to the sound of the plucky strings and catchy lyrics as they wind through the sun beams and fir branches. Friday was a great day of music and I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about Joe Russo’s Almost Dead set. Many of the past years of Strummit have featured a Grateful Dead cover band set, because what goes better with bluegrass then The Grateful Dead? This was my very first time seeing JRAD and also key player Marco Benevento’s birthday, and we all got the honor of singing a classic happy birthday to him! The band celebrated with some cake, caught skillfully in the mouth of Joe Russo, and a very interesting set list featuring some covers like “Jessica” by the Allman Brothers and “Yazoo Street Scandal” by Bob Dylan. But, by far, my favorite moment was the final song “Not Fade Away” when the band stopped playing and let the crowd sing into the night, our love is real, not fade away, our love is real, not fade away, like a creed or promise made between us all, we will carry this with us, it will not fade away we sang into the night.

Jennifer Hartswick & Brendan Bayliss | NWSS

The final Saturday of Northwest String Summit, was jam packed with music and all sorts of other crazy happenings. The kids’ parade at 2 with bubbles and costumes and clowns, Holly Bowling playing a solo afternoon set, and Brendan Bayliss and Jen Hartswick playing together in their newest project called Hartliss. It was great to be able to look around the crowd and see other musicians and their families enjoying some daytime music and dancing with their fellow cohorts and children. I wandered through a sea of smiles and huge psychedelic plant life sculptures, as you could feel anticipation for the night’s festivities building. Saturday night is always a big night at Strummit. During the Yonder set there has always been a tradition of Tyler Fuqua’s larger than life creations coming to dance. This year we had dancing caterpillars and a huge butterfly joined us in celebrating Yonder’s last Saturday night at Horning’s Hideout. The only band that could appropriately follow such a spirited performance was Umphrey’s McGee, with their first time gracing the Strummit stage. It was a night that is hard to describe on paper as there are few words in this language that can touch the beauty that I saw in the concert bowl that night. As the lights glimmered off the lake, I held all my friends close, and lived in the bliss of those moments, and possibly one of the best Umphrey’s McGee sets I have seen to date. I couldn’t think of a better way to end such a perfect night.

Ryan Stasik | Umphrey's McGee

There’s so much more that could be said about this festival and what it means to the people involved. There were so many speeches during and after sets about the impact this place and this event has had on anyone who was involved over the last 20 years. But I think one person said it well and I’d like to close with the words of Pastor Tim, Northwest String Summit’s long time MC and one of Yonder Mountain String Band’s trusted confidants:

Northwest String Summit 2022

In dark times, gratitude is always our light. These last couple of years have been hard for all of us, and this is a hard day. It’s hard to say goodbye to this amazing event, festival and community, which is what we tried to do here at Northwest String Summit. Someone once said what we once enjoyed and deeply loved, we can never really lose for all that we love becomes deeply part of us. It’s kind of like the Horning’s dust. It stays with you, in our tents, in our cars, in our sleeping bags…. God knows we have brought back a big piece of Bob Horning’s land over the last 20 years, and so the beauty, magic, holiness, of this place and this event has become a part of us too. This joy, music, love, this community will stay with us. So, with a spirit of gratitude, we want to thank you Yonder Mountain String band, for being the host and heart of the festival and welcoming us all into your lives and making this possible…. your love, your joy, and through your music you have shown us how this can be done. So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. And here’s the real secret, this has never been about them, it has always been about you.”

Northwest String Summit bids us adieu

What a cool dad!

Railroad Earth | Northwest String Summit

See you all around somewhere soon!