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    marye
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    10,000 Lakes? Gathering of the Vibes? Grateful Fest? If you've been to these or any others among the growing number of summer fests, tell us what's great about them!

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  • OceanRiverCO
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    GratefulFest 2007
    July 4-8 2007Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, Garrettsville, OH INFO: What can one say- this is one of the tastiest shows in the country. 2 much to list. 5 day event. Extra performers. All-night fun! Summer Quarry water, swimming, camping, family fun. Raising money & awareness for 5 important charities. No lot-rats or druggies, please! What are YOU Grateful for?! ARTISTS: 4 more nights with Dark Star Orchestra! with Umphreys Mcgee, The Greyboy Allstars, Kimock & Zero, Keller Williams, Wookiefoot, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Melvin Seals & JGB, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet, Pnuma Trio, The New Mastersounds, Chef Dave Band, David Gans, Donna Jean & The Tricksters, Boombox, Cornmeal, Tom Constanten & Terrapin Flyer, Big Leg Emma, Sanduleak, The Recipe, Greyspoke, Johny "the King" Koenig Polka, One Way Rider, Willy Mac Music, Japhy Ryder, Roots A Risin, Carlos Jones & The P.L.U.S. Band, Katz N Jammerz, Boris Garcia, Moser Woods, One Under, The Beatnik Cowboys, Fireworks, Stunts, Skydivers, Burning Ted, muchmuch more!
  • Dr. Vitz
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    Summerfest
    Milwaukee does the festival a little differently. Summerfest goes on for 10 days, but admission is separate each day (though lots of promotions make everything but the parking reasonable). There are a number of stages, so there is always something happening somewhere. Mr. Weir is on the schedule this year, but it's all kinds of music - truly something for everyone. You may not find your kind of music every day, but you'd be hard pressed not to find a few worthwhile days in the 10. I'm pretty sure it is now the largest music festival in America - but that could be local hype.
  • crazyfingers
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    Gathering of the Vibes
    I am going to the Gathering of the Vibes this year. It sounds like a great time! Bobby and the drummers in the same place sounds like the best place for a potential reunion set to me! Midnight on a carousel ride, reaching for that gold ring down inside. Never could reach it. It just slips away. BUT I TRY!
  • PK
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    Rex Foundation at Festivals
    Since last year, for the first time , the Rex Foundation has been supported by a few festivals and in turn , we attend the festivals to connect with the GD community. Specifically, these festivals from last year, and this year, in no particular order, Grateful Fest, A Bear's Picnic, 10K Lakes and Gathering of Vibes with great enthusiasm and generosity and heartfelt warmth of welcoming us to their festivals to support Rex . This year we are very happy to say the All Good Festival has been added to this roster of festivals that are deadicated to the support of Rex both monetarily and spiritually.These are wonderful people who create these festivals and we wholeheartedly encourage people to go to these great events.
  • izzie
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    My favorite summer festival
    My favorite summer festival is GratefulFest! I've been to, I think, 4 of the last 5. or something like that. It got a little big last year and I was a little worried about crowd size for the infrastructure and all, but it worked out. I'm working my ass off now to be able to take the time off of my (day) job to get back out there this summer. A few years ago now, I was at more loose ends for the summer and got to see GratefulFest, Great Blue Heron and BlueGrass. I had tickets for Grassroots, but an unfortunate event with a State Trooper kept me home for that weekend.
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10,000 Lakes? Gathering of the Vibes? Grateful Fest? If you've been to these or any others among the growing number of summer fests, tell us what's great about them!
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17 years 5 months
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OK, so I am relatively new to going to festivals. Don't get me wrong, they are a blast! But, they are also expensive. It's costing $270 just to get into Lockn this year. I wonder if it's better to just go to one or 2 festivals a year or take that money and spread it out to see a bunch of shows throughout the year? -Dave
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since I've done the festival thing. But I'd say it's different from going to a show; it's a more immersive scene. Hey, I'll never forget waking up outdoors in Veneta and wandering off to a big field to see the Dead (and a whole lot of cool vendors) in 1982. If that, and the random fleeting community, are not a big deal to you, maybe go with the shows, but if you want that thing you have to get at a fest...
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Yes, I bought tickets for last years event when Neil Young & Crazy Horse were still the headline... even though they had to cancel, this was a GREAT first Festival experience! That's why I'm going again... See you there, iGrateful
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I was disappointed they couldn't get Neil Young for this year. Heard they tried. But still looking forward to it. It will be the biggest festival I've ever gone to, so a bit nervous about that. But hopefully everyone is cool and we can relax and enjoy all the great music lined up. -Dave
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Just got back from our Summer of Love Festival in the UK....more like a big party really with wonderful people and great music. Met up with TigerLilly there too.......some of you might remember her from here.
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Hey! I do remember Tiger Lilly, though I don't know if she remembers me. We used to waste away the days chatting on here back when the chatroom was popular a few years back. I hope she is doing well. Miss our talks. -Dave
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10 years 4 months
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UMF !!!!
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17 years 5 months
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Mary asked me if I wanted a party for my 60th birthday or go to a show, and of course I said a show. So she got tickets for the Interlockin Festival. Sorry that Bob and Ratdog can't make it (all the best Bobby, take care of yourself) but looks like Billy K is fielding a band and will fill in for Bobby. AND Phil and Friend (2 nights), String Cheese (2 night), Widespread Panic (2 nights) Wilco (2 nights), Allman Bros for one night, Tom Petty to close the show as well as other great bands (Tedeski and Trucks, Keller Williams, and much more). Today is our 34th anniversary. I can't tell you how grate a 'ride' this has been. Mary and I went to many Dead shows along with other travels and adventures. 3 healthy happy boys, (all out of the house and employed ;o}!!!! Yay!!!) and looking forward to more travel and fun together. I am the luckiest guy on earth. The truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step.
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15 years 11 months
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I loved All Good, too bad it is nixed. Going to Jerry Jam in NH, anyone coming?
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17 years 5 months
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We used to go only to DelFest & DSO Jubilee, and the All Good. Too old for a lot of travelling these days. But we discovered FloydFest in Floyd, VA about 10 years ago, and haven't missed it since. I'm not gonna spend a lot of time convincing you - it's a small fest, they purposely limit the attendance, it sells out each year weeks before it opens. But you'll be doing yourself a solid if you check it out. This year is Greg Allman, Warren Haynes, Keller Williams, Bruce Hornsby, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, etc. etc. It's 5 days of camping and music right ON the Blue Ridge Parkway in the gorgeous mountains near the North Carolina, SW Virginia border. Floyd, VA has one stoplight. And a Friday night bluegrass jam at the general store that's nationally famous. It's a stop on the Crooked Road, for you roots music fans. Not too far from Blacksburg, if you know where VA Tech is. FloydFest, the last week in July each year. If you miss it, it's your loss.
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Rfk 1973 both shows.Smoked hash with Phil and Bob. Haven't looked back since. Opened with Morning Dew second day, nothing left to say.
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17 years 6 months
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what are the don't-miss fests this year?
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16 years 1 month
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Packing today. Off to the best 5 days on the Australian music calendar tomorrow!Www.bluesfest.com.au See you next year. Come on down ✌️
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17 years 5 months
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I have spent much of today trying to convince my wife that we need to take a little vacation to Milwaukee this July! Peace, -Dave
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since we first started this thread. But the festival scene is going strong. Which ones do you like best these days? Which ones do you really miss?
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My favorite festival is Sziget in Budapest, I always used to go there from my property in Latvia with all my friends, and it is very atmospheric , I stay there for 7 days.

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17 years 5 months
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Taos Pueblo Powwow (New Mexico), United Tribes Powwow (Bismarck, North Dakota)
8/27/72 Veneta was a great time.

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16 years 5 months
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I can't stand festivals! There's more than one band and sometimes more than one stage. The time spent going between stages as well as the short sets each band plays is not for me. I would much rather go to a Grateful Dead concert and get nothing but the good ol' Grateful Dead. This also applies to other acts that I might want to see.

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10 years 2 months
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The Telluride Bluegrass festival is still going strong 40+ years and although bigger and better than ever it still has that down low small town vibe. Cheers!

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Bourbon & Beyond Louisville, Ky. Has had some hidden gym's in recent years and plenty of bourbon and food. This is more of a main stream music festival but it always sprinkles in some good bluegrass (Billy Strings, and Infamous Stringdusters to name a few) John Mayer, Robert Plant, promise of The Real, Margo Price and others have given the festival some character.

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Watkins Glen, '72. The unexpected Friday night sound check was some of the sweetest most laid back jam I've ever heard the band do. Lots of fun despite being quite unprepared. Spent Friday night sleeping in the trunk of a car! Right up there with Barton Hall '77. I was tripping heavily for that and couldn't be sure that it was really as good as it sounded until I heard a recording of it later.

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My favorite summer festival is one that features incredibly unique, professional, unsigned, independent artists that truly need a high-quality exposure event to boost their careers to a level so they can earn a decent living performing and recording their musical visions. Not sure that one exists? If it does, please let me know who I can reach out to in order to be considered for a performance slot.

Thank you,
Pitz Quattrone
pitzquattrone.com

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@Pitz Quattrone that's a Great Idea ...Lot of great Artist that need to be Heard and are Pushed Aside by Weaker mainstream Garbage . ya can't even go to these new millennial shows . to many nonsense Bands music . ya have to wait for a Solid group to play .
The Glory Days of Jerry Garcia are Gone .