soulohio wrote:where was this at?
Rothbury, Michigan which is Northeast of Muskegon, Michigan and about an hour and a half from my place. I have a good friend that was with us at the event who lives 20 minutes away.
who played?
Ha ha...this was the good part. There were 3 MAJOR stages: The Odeum (pictured above), Sherwood court, The Ranch arena (2nd free hugs pic background above - showing stage left back stage area), and three smaller stages which I would consider "medium" in size: The establishment (giant circus tent), Tripolee domes (final night rave pic above), and The Wagon wheel, which is the only stage I didn't get to see. There was also a smaller stage in the woods that only played at night - There could have been more stages around that I didn't see as well. I saw as much as I could but you can't be everywhere all the time and the entire festival was overwhelming from my personal perspective...Here is the line up (try not to shit yourself):
* Dave Matthews Band
* John Mayer
* Phil Lesh and Friends
* Thievery Corporation
* Snoop Dogg
* Gov't Mule
* Widespread Panic
* 311
* Primus
* Modest Mouse
* Michael Franti and Spearhead
* Slightly Stoopid
* Sound Tribe Sector 9
* Colbie Caillat
* Drive-By Truckers
* Mickey Hart Band with Steve Kimock and George Porter Jr.
* Of Montreal
* eTown Radio Show
* Dresden Dolls
* Gomez
* Brett Dennen
* Taj Mahal
* Rodrigo y Gabriela
* The Black Keys
* Keller Williams
* Yonder Mountain String Band
* Gogol Bordello
* Citizen Cope
* The Disco Biscuits
* Medeski Martin and Wood
* Ray LaMontagne
* Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival
* Perpetual Groove
* Boombox
* Atmosphere
* Ingrid Michaelson
* Four Finger Five
* Zappa Plays Zappa
* Crystal Method DJ Set
* State Radio
* JJ Grey & Mofro
* The Greyboy Allstars
* Secret Machines
* Railroad Earth
* Beth Orton
* The Wailers
* Jakob Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels
* A3
* Bettye Lavette
* Emmitt-Nershi Band
* Lotus
* Eoto
* Panjea with Michael Kang
* The Beautiful Girls
* Yard Dogs Road Show
* Sage Francis
* Tea Leaf Green
* Bassnectar
* Pnuma Trio
* Flosstradamus
* Diplo
* The Juan Maclean
* The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker
* DJ Rekha
* Dead Confederate
* Trampled By Turtles
* Motion Potion
* DJ Rootz
* Sojorn
* Busdriver
* Greensky Bluegrass
* Steel Pulse
* Kyle Hollingsworth Band
i did not catch any info on this gathering in Rolling Stone.
As usual, It's hard to promote a first time festival. I am not sure if they got press in Rolling stone or not, but I guarantee you they will mention something about now that year one is over. *IF* they have this in 2009, I would not be surprised for a moment if the attendance doubled next year.
Just as an indicator one the friends who was with me who has gone to lots and lots of festivals over the years said this was his favorite festival including the 20+ times he's seen the grateful dead perform. Seriously, the fucking place was amazing.
It wasn't perfect and there some things that need to change (the tickets will have to go up in price if they are going to sustain this years level of performance) if they do this again (I can only hope), but I'd seriously give them a 9 on a 10 scale for overall creativity. There was a lot there that required a serious sense of out of the box imagination and innovation. Definitely a pinnacle experience in my own life.
Life is short. Eat, Drink & Be Merry!