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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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  • Lovemydead
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    Rothbury Festival
    The first Rothbury Festival was last year, and it was amazing, the music, Phil & Mickey both played on different nights, along with Michael Franti & Spearhead and lots of other great bands, it is totally eco-friendly, and even has a think tank that works to address environmental issues, it is an amazing venue, at the JJ Ranch, and I am so psyched they just this week confirmed that there will be another next year, but not the line-up so I am really hopeful that they will get The Dead!
  • yrnl
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    Delfest, Delfest, Delfest!!!
    DELFEST, It's held in May, not quite summer. Awesome line-up last year and this year too. The late night stage every night is just one big jam session with all the artist from through-out the weekend. It is a must see festival for me. Check out the website!
  • gratefaldean
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    I used to be
    A Newport Folk Festival guy. Now that I'm in NC, it's gotta be Merlefest.
  • JackstrawfromC…
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    Telluride Bluegrass Festival
    Is always a good time. Jazz Aspen Snowmass over Labor Day is usually pretty good too. "I have spent my life seeking all that's still unsung. Bent my ear to hear the tune, and closed my eyes to see. When there were no strings to play, you played to me."
  • fluffhead042
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    Schwagstocks...
    Are by far my favorite summer festivals...there are several throughout the summer...the love, the family, and the music...you can feel it in the air....it's at beautiful Camp Zoe near Salem, MO...in the middle of the forest...thousands of kynd people, hundreds of vendors, all put on by a fabulous GD Tribute band (The Schwag)..I love it...can't get enough of it. "In a bed, in a bed, by the waterside I will lay my head. Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul."
  • grilledcheesevendor
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    the dead
    is the dead hitting any festivals thi summer?
  • Gr8fulTed
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    Wakarusa has moved
    Wakarusa has moved to the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks, after a 5 year run in Lawrence KS. It should be the first weekend in June.
  • Budleyak
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    Nevada NORML Ranch Hempfest.......Up Date
    We just found out that HighTimes mag. will be Co-Hosting the HempFest and that there willbe Paul Stanford from the THC Foundation (www.hemp.org) with a doctor to certify medical cards on site. Still booking bands and opennings for vendors and volunteers.. Also check out (http://nevadanranch.com/42009.htm)
  • Budleyak
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    2009 Nevada 420 Hemp Fest
    Taking place in Eureka County, Nevada. 2009 Hempfest will be on private property at theNevada NORML Ranch. 5 Days 150 Bands on 165 Acres. April 15th to 20th. Free Camping~Still booking bands (www.wwconcerts.com) and still openings for Vendors and Volunteers. (www.myspace.com/nevadanormal) for information and sign-up. Nevada has passed new medical marijuana laws and there will be numerous guest speakers. Three stages and lots of camping spaces on private property. Close to Eureka, Nevada, about 80 miles NE of Reno, Nevada.....Be There or Be Square.
  • Moye
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    GRATEFUL FEST BY FAR
    GRATEFUL FEST by far is the BEST!!!!!!!! NELSONS LEDGES is the best site there is in Ohio. I go there every year (since im only 40 min. away) This will be my 10th time there, been goin since 1999. DARK STAR ORCHESTRA head lines for it and last year was the most heads ive ever seen there. If anyone is reading this ill be campin in the MEADOWS like the past years. I know I know alot of your faces there and look forward to seeing all of you there over the 4th of July weekend this year. Check out my pictures of nelsons ledges, theres 30 ft. cliffs you can jump off and swimmin and all sorts of neat things. OH YEAH!!! I almost 4got, EVAN ( the owner of the ledges ) is 1 of the coolest people on the face of this earth. I love you evan!!! Thanks 4 all the buetiful memories bro., hope to see you this year sittin in on a song or two with DSO Phatmoye
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17 years 5 months
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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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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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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4 years 5 months
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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 .