The zealous fusion of music and a counterculture movement brought on during Woodstock ’69 will return in the form of another music festival that is predicted to be one of the summer’s biggest events.

The Imagine Music & Arts Festival, derived from John Lennon’s song “Imagine”, is a two-day charity event that is tentatively being held from July 10-11 in Toronto’s Downsview Park. Organizers are expecting about 350,000 people to attend each day and have already been in contact with musicians like Lady Gaga, Nickelback and the Foo Fighters according to an article in The Torontoist.

Artie Kornfeld, one of the four original organizers of Woodstock ‘69, is working closely with artist David Kam in order to bring both the Woodstock generation and today’s generation together in one event.

Kam, creator of the Thinkism Art Movement, is described by the Earthship Summit website as a man who is “not famous, nor is he rich, nor is he even well connected; David is just a ordinary unknown artist with a small idea and a big dream.”

Kam’s dedication and devotion to Imagine, along with Kornfeld’s seasoned ideas and skill, will make the festival an experience for everyone.
The Imagine Festival is said to be “infused with the spirit of Woodstock ’69 to create a ‘spark’ for massive environmental and social change,” according to its website.

Projections show that today’s technology will allow for more than 300 million people to be a part of the show worldwide in an attempt to “save planet earth and humanity” according to the Imagine website.

The event will be broadcasted in more than 200 theaters across the continent, and “international interactivity will be the name of the game, with plans for a green-oriented, Facebook-style network,” according to The Torontoist.

The festival was originally planned to occur during the G8/G20 summit in Canada from June 25 to 27; however, those plans fell through when organizers realized there would not be enough security available for both the ambassadors and concert attendees during the same weekend.

Regardless of the minor switch to the schedule, the festival will still attempt to reach out to the world to become united as a “green” generation, while creating the same intrinsic feel that Woodstock ’69 brought to its attendees.

The only major difference between Imagine and Woodstock, besides the band lineup, is there will be no onsite camping, but Kornfeld is still enthusiastic about the turnout.

“As soon as I tell people what it’s about, it will sell out,” Kornfeld said, “It’s going to be a wonderful experience. I’m really into the rebirth of the experience of Woodstock.”

Even though Kornfeld was one of the fathers of the original Woodstock ’69 at the age of 26, he has made it a point that he had no participation in Woodstock II and Woodstock III. The fact that he is the one of the leaders in orchestrating the Imagine Music & Arts Festival and that he is proud of it, hints another world-changing event will occur this summer.

“Woodstock may have defined a generation, but Imagine has the potential to stretch across three or four,” according to The Torontoist.
Another unique feature that Imagine is the use of three different stages: Peace, End Poverty and Save Our Planet. On the first day, Peace (Stage One) will include a tribute to The Beatles and End Poverty (Stage Two) will include a tribute to Pink Floyd. Save Our Planet (Stage Three) will be utilized on the second day with a tribute to Led Zeppelin.

The festival will also be promoting the use of green energy and disposable table products that correlates with its effort to “go green.”
The world will not be the same after Imagine: 2 Days of Love & Music.

If you’re into sweet music and outdoor-related activities, then Wakarusa at
Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas is the place to be from June 3 to June 6
this year. From its birth in 2004, the four-day music festival took place in
Clinton State Park, Kansas through 2008, before the change in venue. Wakarusa
features an eclectic mix of artists, including jam bands, alternative rock, hip-
hop, americana, country, bluegrass, funk and electronica. Full event passes start
at $129, a much lower price than festivals like Bonnaroo. Wakarusa’s relative
anonymity allows for a relaxed vibe and a less manic atmosphere than your
typical music festival. All parking, travel and camping information can be found
on www.wakarusa.com .

The 2010 lineup features a variety of your favorite artists (and many, many
more!), including John Butler Trio, Slightly Stoopid, Bassnectar, State Radio,
STS9, The Disco Biscuits, Rebelution, The Black Keys, The Bridge, and The
Machine performing Pink Floyd. There are more artists to come, but the initial
lineup is certainly reason enough to draw in loyal fans from all over the country.

Wakarusa offers several activities alfresco, such as:
A Friday night costume contest, morning yoga, disc golf, hiking in Ozark
National Forest , fishing in the mini-lakes of Mulberry Forest, and float trips
and kayaking. Not only is Wakarusa super duper exciting, it’s eco-friendly as
well, all thanks to the Recyclusa team providing ample sustainability at the
festival. Go and enjoy it while it remains uncharted by the mainstream!

This summer might just prove to be a battle of the epic music festivals. After Bonnaroo and Coachella released incredibly impressive lineups, The All Good Music Festival followed suit this week and released an equally musically exciting lineup. Usually considered the underdog of music festivals, All Good has stepped up their game this year. Not only will they be hosting their traditional jam bands but they now have major names coming that should make any audiophile start packing for the mountains immediately. From July 8 through 11, All Good will be hosting Furthur, Widespread Panic, George Clinton and Parliament Funk, Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Cornmeal, Lotus, The New Deal and Perpetual Groove, and others that will be announced in the coming weeks.

One of the most exciting bands included in the lineup is Further, a band consisting of Phil Lesh and Bob Weir formally of the Grateful Dead. With both Furthur and Dark Star Orchestra playing at All Good,I have a feeling we are all going to leave feeling like we hung out with the Dead for four days. Phil Lesh also just celebrated his 70th birthday, potentially making this Further/Dark Star treat a rare musical experience that deserves to be taken advantage of.

For those who do not know, All Good sets up shop on Marvin’s Mountaintop in Masonville, West Virginia and has the kind of views that provide the absolute ideal backdrop for a music festival like All Good. This amazing campsite is unlike others that you might venture to this summer in that you cannot camp near your car (less people booming trance at 5am from their Honda Civics) and most importantly the folks at All Good do not want you to miss a single show. This means that all shows are independent of each other and there is no set overlapping! So for four whole days an individual, with the means and the will, can see every single show performed at All Good. Long gone will be the nightmares of picking and choosing what to see at This stage or What stage at Bonnaroo. This just points to the kind of people who are behind All Good and how they feel about the music they are putting on: it is just too good to miss.

What separates Posner from your typical college artist is the way he thinks. We asked Posner why he’s so successful, touring from coast-to-coast, while his peers are barely passing their exams; he told us, “I knew it would be hard when I decided to do it…I’m 21. When I’m 24, I’m going to be a fucking rockstar.” For those of you reading this who are in your own bands, this is it. This attitude is what gets you out of house parties and into the studio. Not to discount house parties, though; when asked which school was his favorite to perform at, Posner told us about a house party at Purdue co-sponsored by four fraternities that sweat was dripping from the ceiling, and the DJ had to wear a raincoat. These 500-person late-night ragers are what Posner is best at. He sees his music as a unifying force; coming from Southfield, MI, where the economic spectrum ranges from trailer parks to the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, when performing to a diverse crowd, it’s just like standing on stage and performing to his high school.

Posner’s live show doesn’t lose any of the pure sound on his mixtape, while only adding to the energy level. The dynamic between Posner and Big Sean, as seen onstage, riles up the audience and gets everyone ready to party. If he keeps up the way he’s going, you’ll be hearing about Mike Posner in some big places, and for a long while.

How do you plan to kick-off your Halloween weekend? Sure, you could head to Cornerstone and wade through an overcrowded collection of co-eds on your way to the bar; but that sounds just like every other weekend in College Park. Instead of trading elbow shots with a beefy bro, head to Sonar nightclub in downtown Baltimore for ChangeUp Fest, presented by changeupmag.com.

“This isn’t just another concert, and it’s definitely not another bar night” said Andrew Schuster, co-founder and editor-in-chief of changeupmag.com, a budget lifestyle and culture online-magazine, ”ChangeUp Fest is a showcase of the best local talent.”

ChangeUp Fest, which brings together 15 of the region’s best up-and-coming bands for 15 dollars, is a must for anyone who loves live music or wants to “change up” their usual weekend, Mr. Schuster said.

The festival, which will take place at the Sonar nightclub, located in the heart of Baltimore’s vibrant music scene, embodies the vision of its namesake magazine which demonstrates how to have a good-time without breaking the bank.

“It’s all about affordability without sacrificing quality” explained Mr. Schuster “the whole idea is to create a festival atmosphere, that would normally cost a lot of money, but make it cheap; a great show and a guaranteed killer time, for an affordable price.”

Sonar, a multi-stage venue that features three rooms, each with a distinct theme and personality, is the perfect setting for a festival atmosphere. Modeled after events like the HFStival or VirginFest, ChangeUp Fest boasts a night of non-stop music with genres ranging from dance and hip-hop to rock.

Mr. Schuster and his staff devoted three months towards talent scouting. “These bands are stellar, they are all on the rise” said Mr. Schuster “they represent the current trend in the local scene.”

The line-up is headlined by DJ Logic, who will perform alongside legendary keyboardist Steve Moltiz. Molitz, best known for his band Particle, has played alongside Phil Lesh and the Allman Brothers Band. The two came together just for ChangeUp Fest, but will continue to collaborate after their stint at the festival, and are planning a future tour. While DJ Logic and Steve Molitz’s performance is sure to be on point, a bit of Charm City nostalgia may steal the show.

The reunion of local favorites VooDoo Blue, a show several months in the making, may stand out as the high-point of the night. The reunion performance marks the first time in five years that VDB will play alongside original front-man, Mike Silberman.

“Silberman is one of the best front-men I’ve ever seen before” said Mr. Schuster “I got a sneak peak of their set list and its going to be amazing. This is going to be a truly special show.”
A show you might never get to see again.

The ChangeUp Fest line-up also includes College Park DJ’s PhilReal and Soohan. PhilReal, known for his infectious re-mixes, will be spinning his party-banger anthems at a late night-show on the lounge stage.

“We’re really excited to be playing ChangeUp Fest, it’s our first time really playing out in the Baltimore scene” said the College Park celebrity “and with all the other great acts that ChangeUp Fest has brought together, you couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.”

The festival also seeks to showcase talented emerging bands, such as Shook out of Towson University, whose unique blend of dance, funk, and soul, will be a presence on the regional scene for years to come.

The admission price also includes a free-raffle ticket and festival-goers have the chance to win a free-meal at a restaurant featured on changeupmag.com, or other prizes. Mr. Schuster said a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the “Playing for Change” Foundation, an organization that promotes music education in under privileged communities around the world.

“This is for the people” said Mr. Schuster “this event embodies what we are all about; we want to entertain people in this uncertain economy.”

ChangeUp Fest kicks off Thursday, October 29th, at Sonar night club, 407 East Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. For more information including the complete line-up, schedule, directions to Sonar, and other event information, please visit www.changeupmag.com

See yesterday’s news for why the Beasties can’t make it.

Anyone else going to be there? If you’re going, look out for Matt and me!

All Points West is going down pretty soon; July 31-August 2nd at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Camp Barefoot, now in its third year, has released its weekend schedule. Going down in Gore, VA, two hours south of College Park, from August 13-15, the festival feature three sets from Lotus, two sets each from Perpetual Groove and Jazzam, and single sets by The Bridge, UMelt, The Breakfast, Toubab Krewe, and many others.

The festival schedule is available download here. Thursday night kicks off with The Bridge, Segway, Basshound, and Toubab Krewe, and the schedule rages on straight through until Saturday night, ending with a late-night set by Existor.

Tickets are for sale on the festival website: $100 for a three-night pass, bought in advance; $75 for a two-night pass; $175 for three nights with RV/VIP camping. The festival encourages carpooling; any car with 3+ people parks for free, and cars with 1-2 people pay $5 for the weekend.

Delfest 2009 in Cumberland, MD

I was extremely impressed with how much the festival seemed to be geared towards the fan experience. The longest line I waited in was about 10 minutes for coffee each morning. Prices were completely reasonable, only two bucks for a bag of ice, or a cup of coffee! My feeling is that the prices were kept low to keep people from leaving the fairgrounds and keeping traffic in and out of the festival to a minimum. Of course, I was told that most festivals make it impossible to leave and come back, so being able to come and go as I pleased was a convenience.

The Main Stage Delfest 2009

Most importantly, the staff was not a comprised of robots, but rather understanding people who were allowed the flexibility to make the weekend run smoothly. There were multiple instances in which an employee following a strict set of rules may have put a sour taste on the weekend, but I instead was pleasantly surprised at the manner in which I was treated.

My fears of waiting in line for hours to get in, and my will call ticket not being found were relieved when we made it into the Allegany County Fairgrounds with relative ease on Friday afternoon. We went and set up camp in some tall grass (rookie mistake) in the 90 degree midday heat just in time to drink a few brews and head over to the main stage.

Original Campsite

The first band we saw was the The Infamous Stringdusters. The Nashville-based sixtet seemed odd to me, it looked they were putting absolutely no effort into their playing, yet the music coming out was energetic. They had some well written songs, with good vocals and some nice tradeoffs with their leads.

The Infamous Stringdusters

Next up was the Del McCoury Band. It was hard not to be impressed by Del McCoury, a bluegrass legend who even played rhythm guitar for Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys back in 1963. McCoury is a true performer with palpable charisma. I was fortunate enough to walk by Del as he was riding his cart out of the main stage area and see him joking and talking with all his fans walking by. His smile and stories are charming, and his Friday night set became a sing-along for his longtime fans.

Railroad Earth closed out Friday night with a fun and energetic set. Railroad Earth is one of my favorite bands out there today, writing great songs and combining that with great live jamming and interplay. Their songs are truly classics, they ooze with passion and very American themes of freedom, hard work the simple life. I’ll save my thoughts on their improvisational abilities for their late-night set on Saturday.

After Railroad Earth we decided to move the campsite to some well-groomed grass near the baseball fields. We must have looked a little strange carrying fully set up tents across the campgrounds at midnight or so, but it proved worth it later in the festival when we have some shelter from the storm to come. Too tired and worn out to make the late-night set, we hit the sack and called it a day.

Camping at Delfest

We woke up Saturday morning to more heat and sun, and decided to go play some frisbee on the baseball fields. After this a friend and I headed down to the Potomac, which runs right along the campgrounds. We decided that we’d try our hand in some crayfish hunting, something neither of us had done since childhood. With some limited success we ended up swimming around for a while before going back to the campsite.

Around 11 a.m. we made our way back to the mainstage for The Lee Boys. Save for Roosevelt Collier, their brilliant 12 string pedal steel guitarist, I find their rock / soul to be fairly generic. The set was enjoyable, like some Sunday morning gospel rock.

Sam Bush

After The Lee Boys we headed back to the campsite for a few hours. Our friend Jeremy of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong fame (yeah, he opened for Ludacris) started playing some acoustic guitar for us, and upon hearing the guitar, a friendly stranger came by and joined with his steel guitar. Jeremy and our new friend got down to some serious pickin’.  Here’s a short video I got of a traditional bluegrass song.

Saturday afternoon we went to see Sam Bush at the main stage. While Sam Bush has some great songs, and that polished sound of a well-practiced band, what I really dig is the jamming. Bush has the rare and special ability to hit those notes that transcend standard improvisation and elevate jams to new heights. We were all thoroughly enjoying the music and sunshine when the rain came. It started slowly, though even from the very beginning each raindrop was noticeably large and freezing cold. About 10 minutes later the skies opened up into one of those storms where you wonder if it would actually be possible to rain any harder.

Thunderstorms

Looking back, the storm seems like a blur. We went through about half an hour of hail, flash-flooding and tornado-like winds. In an area near our campsite that was completely dry before the storm there resided a 15-foot wide river. Tent and canopy pieces were scattered across fields, and the parking lots had turned to mud and water.  Two of our tents were destroyed, while Alan (a former boy scout) proudly boasted about the miraculous survival of his tent. Our cookies had been transformed to cookie soup (delicious…) and campsites and vendors everywhere at the festival had been completely ravaged.

Hail at Delfest

As we learned later, winds hit 80 mph, two people got struck by lightning but refused medical attention (I for one had no idea that it is possible to survive lightning, let alone be conscious enough to refuse medical attention) and the main stage had been so torn apart by the storm they had to move shows to the late night stage temporarily on Saturday night. Originally I was a little peeved that there was no warning, but I recently came across this excerpt from the Del McCoury Band forums answering why there was no warning for the storm:

“None of us knew of the storm until it was right on top of us. The forecast was clear with widely scattered showers. The storm that hit just couldn’t make it over that mountain and it kept feeding off of the Potomac and circling back around to the Fairgrounds. It took everyone by surprise!! I was in the merchandise tent along with Del’s wife Jean and his daughter Rhonda and their manager Stan and many others. Everyone was working together just to hold the tent down and ride out the storm. Like I said..it took EVERYONE by surprise. I have heard that there hasn’t been a storm like that in the area for over 55 years! It was just an ‘Act of God’…and we’re glad that no one was seriously hurt.”

Mud on Sunday Morning

After Del McCoury played his Saturday night set at the indoor late-night stage while the main stage was being rebuilt. They finished their repairs just in time for Leftover Salmon to play their set. While they played with a remarkable energy, Leftover Salmon played a short set without too much jamming. A highlight was “Rise Up,” a fan favorite. From that point on, anyone could shout “rise up” to be greeted with a resounding chorus of “wake and bake!”

After Leftover Salmon we went to see Railroad Earth’s late night set. They played so much differently than their Friday night set it was hard to believe it was the same band. Hardly using any song structure at all, they took the audience with them into a bluegrass trance world. It was as spacey as I’ve ever seen bluegrass. Here’s a video from one of their late night jams.

On Sunday afternoon I saw my last show of Delfest, Cornmeal. One of my favorite bands heading into the festival, I was extremely impressed with their set. Allie Kral plays one of the best leads out there, on fiddle no less. Honestly, I don’t remember anyone else at the festival being able to top the energy of Cornmeal’s peaks when Allie took the lead. It’s not as if Cornmeal is one dimensional though, both “Wavy” Dave Burlingame on banjo and Kris Nowak on guitar are more than capable taking the lead themselves. Cornmeal was the perfect way to send me on my way, a long 10-hour drive to Rochester, NY.

Cornmeal

An event like Delfest 2009 brings people together. I don’t know if it’s human instinct to unite in the face of danger or it’s just the nature of having a uniquely shared experience. Personally I believe that we know no matter how much we write or talk about an experience, only those there will truly understand, and in this way we are bonded. For those of us who stayed Saturday night into Sunday you could sense the closeness. Delfest 2009 was truly a remarkable experience for all those involved, and I for one am looking forward to the third annual Delfest next summer.

"Artwork"

This weekend the 5th annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will take place in our nation’s capital. The event starts Friday and will feature numerous jazz performances from various artists. Should be a good one. NBCWashington.com has a preview of the festival: http://www.nbcwashington.com/around_town/the_scene/Brunch-and-Bossa-at-Cashions.html.

For one weekend of every summer, a little mountaintop in West Virginia becomes a big family campground. Marvin’s Mountaintop, twelve miles outside of Morgantown, is host to Walther Productions’ annual All Good Festival. Featuring a combination of well-known and emerging artists, All Good was described by Jambase as “an annual exploration of who we are and a much needed soul cleansing”.

A small festival with only two stages, a main stage and a smaller side stage, All Good has a family vibe that keeps going right through the weekend. Navigating the festival can be confusing, though, so let me help you get started with some tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way.

Paying for your ticket
At press time, GA tickets for All Good were priced at $139, Early Arrival passes (for Thursday  night) were priced at $20, and Even Better VIP passes were $379.

Going to festivals can get expensive, especially if you want to go to more than one in a summer. What I did last summer, and thoroughly enjoyed, was the Work Exchange Program. Headed by Shimon Presents, WET (Work Exchange Team) is a way to pay for your ticket by doing odd jobs around the site. Jobs included doing artist check-in at a nearby hotel, helping other WET attendees check in, guiding traffic, and fulfilling artist’s needs (MORE BEER!). All that’s demanded is twelve hours over the weekend, and most jobs still allow you to see and hear the music, sometimes even from backstage. You can request off for the artists you really want to see, though nothing is guaranteed.

Another option is leading a playshop. Throughout the weekend, All Good has relaxed “playshops”, or workshops about doing yoga, painting kites, playing the bongos, or anything else you could imagine. Teach one or two of these, and admission is free!

More about this on the All Good website.

Getting to the festival
Twelve miles outside of Morgantown, WV, All Good isn’t near much. While driving is probably the best way, there are a few other options for getting to the fest.

Flying: If you’re going to fly, fly into Pittsburgh International Airport. It’s the closest to the fest, 93 miles away, and from there you can catch a ride with a friend or rent a car.

Carpool: The Internet is the greatest social networking tool. Hit Jambase, Craigslist, and Phantasy Tour, and gear up to make some new friends.

Once you’ve figured out how you’re getting to West Virginia, start planning when you’re going to leave. The $20 Early Arrival pass is well worth it, because it allows you not only to beat the hours of traffic up the mountain, but also to set up camp early at a prime spot. There’s also the whole Thursday night music scene, but – whatever. This is about logistics. Be warned: If you have to come on Friday, the line to get into the festival can be hours long. Be ready to miss all of early Friday’s music, and to camp pretty far away from the stages.

If you’re driving, beware of I-68 through southern Maryland. This is a notorious cop hotspot. I cannot stress this enough. Cops will pull over anyone who looks like they’re headed to All Good and search thoroughly. If you’re riding dirty, even slightly, do not drive through Maryland, or have someone ready with bail money. A better choice is taking 66 through Tera Alta, WV; it takes a little bit more time, but a lot less hassle and worry.

Necessities
Just like any other festival, there are certain things you’ll need at All Good. Then, there are things you’ll want, and there are things you definitely don’t need. The rundown:

Need
-Reusable water bottle (There’s clean, cold water available, but feel free to bring your own if you don’t want to get muddy by the bus. The water comes out of a bus; it’s awesome.)
-Tent, tent stakes, mallet
-Sleeping bag, pillow
-Food (there are vendors, but three days of Shakedown food can wreak havoc on your wallet – and your stomach lining.)
-Toilet paper (you never know where you’ll have to go!)
-Sunscreen
-Lots of clothing. It gets wicked cold at night, so be ready to layer.
-Plenty of socks. Cannot be stressed enough.
-Trash bags (Put one inside your tent; you want to leave the mountaintop like you found it!)
-Umbrella
-Positive attitude! Heady vibezzzzz.
-Lighter
-Backpack, with enough room for your:
-Cell phone
-Camera
-Flashlight
-Cash (There’s an ATM, but lines tend to be long and fees can be rough. Also, the ATM doesn’t open until Friday, so if you’re coming Thursday, it’s good to be prepared.)
-Baby wipes
-Baby powder (No chafing, no problems.)

Want
-Fan
-Batteries
-Tapestry (Wonderful to sit on!)
-Notebook
-Sunglasses
-Hat/bandana
-Festival map/program

Leave at home
-Glass bottles
-Makeup
-High heels
-Fireworks (Seriously. They’re dangerous, and they’ll get you kicked out of the fest.)

Miscellaneous
The vibes: The greatest thing about All Good is that there are only two stages, and the sets never overlap. There’s none of the worry or stress that you find at other festivals, when your three favorites are all playing at the same time and the stages are all on opposite sides of the campgrounds. At All Good, the main stage and the secondary stage are right next to each other, so you never have to move far in between sets. The crowd is fairly laid-back, also, so there isn’t much pushing and shoving to get to the front. Wait your turn, and you’ll get there.
Security: Don’t cause trouble, don’t bring nitrous tanks, and you’ll be fine. Be discreet, but remember: This is a music festival in the middle-of-nowhere, WV. Break out your bowl, and the comments you’ll be getting will probably be along the lines of, “Sweet, brah! Did you blow that yourself?”
Your car will get searched, but the chances of it being thorough are slim. It’s always good to be on the safe side, though, and since you’ll probably be able to find everything you’re looking for inside, it might not be worth the risk.
The campsites tend to be safe, but as a general rule: Don’t leave anything you’re interested in keeping lying around. There’s always that one asshole who ruins the fun, and you don’t want him ruining the fun with your car. Your best bet is to carry a backpack or fanny pack (they’re coming back in style!) with your keys, wallet, and other valuables, just in case.
Money: Bring a lot of it. Food, ice, souvenirs, goodies, and other trinkets add up. It’s easy to go through the fest without spending, though, if you come prepared – so if you’re strapped for cash, pack your cooler up with plenty of food and ice.
Alcohol, drugs, etc: Cans aren’t allowed by the stages; glass bottles aren’t allowed into the grounds. Pack accordingly.
Drugs are available. Drugs are everywhere. If you’re coming with kids, camp in the family grounds, where drugs are less common. If you’re looking for some good times, walk around Shakedown Street (the vendor area) and it shouldn’t take you long to find what you’re seeking. Remember, though, that lots of powders are white and lots of things can be printer on paper. Buyers, beware.

VIP, Family camping, ADA camping
What’s the deal?
VIP/”Even Better”: At $379 for the weekend, VIP camping doesn’t come cheap. However, it does come with free private showers, campgrounds overlooking the stages, Thursday admission, one car permit (not RVs), an exclusive viewing area, private bathrooms, discounted beer, snacks, festie gear, and shuttles to take you around the mountain. Also, VIPs have a private check-in and separate entrance, so there’s no (or less) Friday backup.
Family camping: Kids 0-3 enter free, 4-12 pay $60, and 13+ pay full price. Any family with a child under 12 is eligible to park in the “Family with child under 12” area, which is typically quieter, cleaner, and less crowded. It’s near the stages, and has a kids play area with scheduled activities throughout the weekend. RVs are not allowed. Across the way, there is a “Family Camp/Quiet Camp” area, which is for families with slightly older children. Anyone looking to camp in the family area can register online.
ADA camping: Accommodations are available, but advanced registration and a state-issued handicap permit are required. The campsite is close to the stages and wheelchair-accessible. RVs are not permitted. All port-a-johns on the festival grounds are handicapped-accessible, but roads are not paved; assistance is available at the gate.

Lineup:
Assembly of Dust, Bassnectar, Ben Harper and Relentless 7, BK3 (feat. Bill Kreutzmann, Oteil Burbridge, & Scott Murawski), Bob Weir & Ratdog, Boombox, The Bridge, Buckethead, Cornmeal, Dark Star Orchestra, Donna the Buffalo, Fear Nuttin’ Band, Galactic, Hill Country Revue, Jackie Greene, Jeff Austin & Brendan Bayliss, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Keller Williams, Lake Trout, Les Claypool, Lotus, moe., The New Mastersounds, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, SOJA, Steve Kimock Crazy Engine, STS9, Tea Leaf Green, That 1 Guy, Todd Snider, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave., Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band

In summary, show up on Marvin’s Mountaintop with a tent and a smile, and you’ll be in for a great weekend!

Tomorrow morning, a contest is opening up on the All Good website! Test your festival knowledge by downloading the All Good crossword puzzle; clues will be going up on the fest’s Twitter and Facebook pages. Once you have all the answers, email them to intern@allgoodfestival.com for a chance to win tickets!