Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past?

worf rat
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Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past? Jan 26, 2016 11:11:24 GMT -5

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Post by worf rat on Jan 26, 2016 11:11:24 GMT -5

Maybe it's just because Peach hasn't announced anything more than Lockn has, and no one knows if there'll even be an AllGood, but I'm sick of seeing fest lineups headlined by these hipster acts. I have ZERO interest in seeing Avett Brothers (particularly since they changed their sound), Trampled By Dave Matthews With A Banjo, Beck (sorry fans), or Adult-Alternative Radio darling Courtney Barnett. Mule and Umph are out there a bit, but are Cheese, Panic or TTB on any fests' radar anymore? I thought this whole thing was about niche marketing to begin with, and every fest seems like it's Roo Lite.

I mean, who the F is Brandi Carlisle and why is she so high on so many lineups? I'll admit it: without even listening, I'm predispositioned to not like based on the fact that anyone who ends their name with an "i" should be hung from the nearest yardarm, and the name sounds way too much like BELINDA Carlisle, who was cool for like a hot minute before the GoGos got a record deal, and then quickly shifted to the lowest common denominator of popular music. I'll try to be objective when I give her a spin, but I dunno if it's possible at this point. Also, while I'm giving the fairer sex a hard time, nice to see ~~Katy Perry~~ ~~Miley Cyrus~~ Grace Potter's back on the scene. I wonder how much of her new sound will come out?

I like acid rock and lots of it. Barring that, improvisational grass or blues. If I wanted to see a chick with an acoustic guitar, I understand Indigo Girls still tour, and I bet they'd be a lot better. At least put this dreck on the undercard where it belongs - that's where I'd put Prine if we got him.

Edit: Well, Brando Carlile is NOT chick with an acoustic guitar after all. It's far, far worse: Coldplay with female vocals.

Last Edit: Jan 26, 2016 11:21:31 GMT -5 by worf rat

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smosey wales
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Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past? Jan 26, 2016 11:26:41 GMT -5

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Post by smosey wales on Jan 26, 2016 11:26:41 GMT -5

It's all about the money--what acts can put asses in the seats (or flip-flops on the grass). There seem to be opposing strategies between variety, or concentration of music types

Indeed, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and the Doobie Brothers don't fit at all into a jam/retro line up like Lockn had, for headliners, nor did many of the undercards, like Del McCroury (much as I liked Del and Tom Petty).

And as we get older, we lose touch with younger acts, while older acts end up with dead or ~~incontinent~~ incompetent musicians. After all. TBB is a relatively young act as are Keller Williams and many of the bluegrass/Americana bands "we" like. Meanwhile, Winwood and MD&E are not relevant enough to the young masses to draw them in (my opinion).

But I think there's a shake-out in the fest business, and the big ones present very large risk of economic failure for the promoters. To me, any long-lived fest has the prospect of getting stale, too. Maybe we'll start seeing a trend of smaller, focused fests--like Lockn.

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worf rat
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Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past? Jan 26, 2016 11:37:51 GMT -5

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Post by worf rat on Jan 26, 2016 11:37:51 GMT -5

Small is the way we're gonna go. I don't mind paying 50-60, up to like 75 bucks for a small local fest where I've only heard of the headliner or a couple of bands, but to go through all the travel and expense of a major fest for the same relative payoff is just absurd.

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lobster
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Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past? Jan 26, 2016 12:06:10 GMT -5 TOO $ and buddy74 like this

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Post by lobster on Jan 26, 2016 12:06:10 GMT -5

I thought that lockn stepped in and filled that gap. I agree that many fests seem like roo lite, but honestly as long as the attendees have fun I see no problems with it.

What other fest has the kind of lineup lockn does? Always something unique that you don't see at other fests too.

I guarantee that after Altamont people were speculating the end of "hippie festivals" and here we are almost 50 years later still continuing tradition.

worf rat
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Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past? Jan 26, 2016 12:19:15 GMT -5 smosey wales likes this

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Post by worf rat on Jan 26, 2016 12:19:15 GMT -5

Jan 26, 2016 12:06:10 GMT -5 lobster said:

I guarantee that after Altamont people were speculating the end of "hippie festivals" and here we are almost 50 years later still continuing tradition.

Pretty big gap of almost nothing between Altamont and the first Roo, though. Altamont damned near did the job.

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southernman
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Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past? Jan 26, 2016 12:48:34 GMT -5 worf rat likes this

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Post by southernman on Jan 26, 2016 12:48:34 GMT -5

Still plenty of room for the Lockn vibe. I agree w/ at least some of the band critiques you've made above. Honestly I did not love some of the Lockn lineup last year either: Fishbone, Slightly Stoopid and (Worf will kill me for this) Love Canon don't do anything for me. A bit too much towards the New Orleans funk and way too light on the Bluegrass for me, although I love Trombone Shorty. Not a big Umphrees' or Panic fan, although I understand they sell tickets and have a place in the scene. The highs were definitely worth it. I got to see some acts that I hadn't seen and surprise by how much I liked some of them (St. Paul, Steve Earle)

Anyway, this is just part of a large fest. Always going to have bands I like more and bands I like less. Overall the experience is great.

I've written this before, but festivals are an oversaturated market. Which means that you have a lot of promoters chasing mostly the same touring acts. Overall it is good for bands (who get great payouts compared to what they get on their own gigs) and fans (who get what has to be considered an amazing price for all that music).

Anyway, there is a lot of churn in this market. AllGood was on hiatus last year, Vibes in on hiatus this year. Phases and Wakarusa went belly-up. Lockn and Peach are still relative newcomers who may have played a part in the struggles of those other festivals.

As long as there is a market for our kind of music somebody will put on those festivals. There will be churn in the acts, as TTB takes a step-up to headliners and Allman Brothers disappears from the scene. Chris Robinson Brotherhood is in heavy demand. I'd like to see Trigger Hippy, but I am not sure if they are touring this year.

smosey wales
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Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past? Jan 26, 2016 14:24:06 GMT -5

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Post by smosey wales on Jan 26, 2016 14:24:06 GMT -5

Well said. And to the point of diversity, I want less bluegrass and more jazz--IMO bluegrass is specialty music that should primarily be in its own small fest, but with just one or two on the roster at a larger fest.

And Lockn is a different dynamic with its single stage, so by that dynamic, fewer bands per day; fewer choices; less of a mix.

A good organizer knows how to place a band that is "you've never heard them but you will like them." If the styles are too diverse, too many people are annoyed.

Too late to die young

Feb 12 Billy Strings NFK
Feb 18 Marshall Tucker Band Philly
Feb 25 Marcus King Band NFK
April 6 Rosanne Cash NFK
April 15 James McMurtry NFK
April 20 Little Feat VaBeach
April 21 Blackberry Smoke NFK
July 2 Last Fair Deal w/John K VaB
July 23 Dave Mathews Band VaB
July 26 Robert Earl Keen C'ville
July 28-31 Floyd Fest BFE
Sept 24 Southern Culture on the Skids VaB
Nov 19 Dark Star Norva
Dec 3 Sky Dog VaB

kuriti
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Are hippie jamband fests a thing of the past? Jan 27, 2016 10:14:52 GMT -5

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Post by kuriti on Jan 27, 2016 10:14:52 GMT -5

I like Courtney Barnett. I'm 41 and decidedly un-hip. Given that the rock genre has moved on and that those who burn bright fade fast, I think it's simple supply and demand. I wish lockn would integrate more new talent that complimented the greats. Without them, yes the hippie fests are over, or maybe they were a long time ago. Also, I don't like the Avett Brothers and haven't heard of the i girl.

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