Summer Camp Music Festival rocks out for 15,000+ music lovers

Summer Camp Music Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with an epic lineup of fantastic bands for 4 days of great music on 5 different stages. With a crowd almost half-again as large as ever before (15,000), the festival was a huge undertaking, with three big stages, as well as two smaller stages outdoors for the massive audience to gather in front of all day, every day.

The event was held at Three Sister's Park in Chillicothe, Illinois. The park was a perfect setting for the music, with lots of open space for two or three bands to play simultaneously without overwhelming each other. At the entrance, campers were put through a search, before being allowed to move their things from the parking lot to the campground. There, another stage was set up where bands could play to keep the line entertained. Although there was already a long line for the tickets, even the Will Call tickets, the line for the campers moving their stuff was much longer, something that could only be avoided if you were sleeping in your car, and had a press pass, but one could only carry what fitted in one's cargo pants then.

The crowd was a great mix of friendly folks from all around the country. License plates from Indiana, Michigan, New York and California demonstrated this coming-together of fun loving music enthusiasts. Every band's set was accompanied by talented jugglers, fire poi-swinging acrobats, and hula-hooping girls, as well as mobs of dancing, drinking party people. Strangers from every walk of life randomly greeted each other, making new friends all the time. But the reason for all this cheerful socializing was the music, which was the very best part of this temporary paradise.

The first great show was Thursday night, when Backyard Tire Fire got the crowd going with their country-laced rock 'n roll. The Bloomington based alt-country trio puts on a fun show with rockin' tunes that warmed up the fans for their first night of fun.

Next came Family Groove Company, who played groovy funk and jazz with a style inspired by Steely Dan as well as The Beatles. The audience really perked up for this set, which took the dancing and good vibes to a higher level.

The last of the act playing on the big stage Thursday night was Cornmeal, one of the greatest bluegrass/folk bands in the country. The fast tempo and intricate harmonies make this band's songs irresistibly dance-able. Everyone gets down and lets loose when Cornmeal takes the stage, and this show was one of the best this reviewer has ever seen. Thursday night was just the beginning but the campground was already alive with energy after the band finished at 11 p.m.

Summer Camp Music Festival has a red barn where the "Late Night Shows" were held each night. Unfortunately most of the nights these "Late Night Shows" cost an extra $25 or so and were sold separately from regular tickets to the festival. The nights were all sold out before the festival began. It doesn't really make sense to have to pay extra to see some of the music, after paying over a hundred dollars to see the vast majority of those bands already. Other music festivals, like Wakarusa, have music late at night, without asking their guests for another penny. But with a big, open room to hold specific shows in, it is easy for the Summer Camp staff to use this venue as a second show to sell. The silver lining to this part of Summer Camp was that Thursday nights' show was free.
The "Late Night Show" at the red barn Thursday night started with The Macpodz who played competent funky jazz, that leaned toward the electronic dance party to come.

Second in the red barn was Dumpstaphunk, getting into some electronic jams. As the second band's set progressed the crowd's energy rose, and the red barn got packed.

To finish the night, Future Rock got crazy with dancy tehcno. This last set was as wild and pulsing as a rave. The impressive electronica was so powerful it blew away the already raging crowd.

The second night of Summer Camp really got exciting when Sound Tribe Sector 9 started their set at the second-largest stage. After a good rendition of Puma, STS9 went on to mess up one of their songs, before playing a fantastic version of Aimlessly. They also did a good job with Beyond Right Now, and Shock Doctrine. The set started the night off right, but they've played better. Odds are STS9 saved their best bass-heavy dance beats for their set in the red barns' "Late Night Show."

After Sound Tribe, Yonder Mountain String Band had just started their set at the biggest stage, over a low hill. The already fantastic bluegrass act was joined by a second banjo player, Danny Barnes, who really rocked out with the band for a couple of songs.

Before Yonder was even finished, another great act was on the stage STS9 had previously been on. Umphrey's McGee jammed loud and hard with funky bass and drums, accompanied by haunting psychedelic guitar riffs. However, this reviewer had to leave this set early to catch the next fantastic show.

Bassnectar finished off the electronic dancing for the night with a great set of hard, rhythmic bass beats. The songs Bassnectar has mixed together range in style from gangster rap, hip-hop to electric tribal techno, from nostalgic references to psychedelic hypnotic harmonics. This was the best show of the night, and possibly the entire festival.

Besides these expert performances there were dozens of other bands playing earlier, later, and at the same time as the above-mentioned sets. All music lovers should keep an eye out for these bands when they come around these parts, and be sure to save up some money to make it to Summer Camp next year!

Next Festival: Wakarusa!!!

L Town Throwdown floods the streets with great bluegrass pouring out of the Granada ALL DAY

Saturday, April 10th the block outside the Granada was drowned in music as over 20 bands performed bluegrass for a mere $10.

How could so many bands play at a single venue? Well it's easy when different bands can play in separate places at the same time, for example, a band was playing outside the Granada, while another played in the entrance lobby. Still more would play in the main chamber of the venue, either on the main stage, in the right alcove next to the bar, or up on the balcony. With so many stages set up, bands could play one after another, without breaks in the music.

But even so, over 20 bands? How much time could any of them play, half a song? Not when the event began at 3 p.m., with bands playing continuously until the headliners, local bluegrass masters Deadman Flats, and national music wizards, Cornmeal, finished the show at 2 p.m.

With separate bracelets for entrance and drinking, audience members could come and go as they pleased. The Throwdown was a family-friendly affair that attracted a huge, diverse crowd of Lawrencians enjoying the gorgeous weather we've had lately.

Among the fantastic acts playing during the day were the up-and-coming sensations of Potbilly, who played on the mainstage around 3:15 for an audience that quickly grew as their music progressed. Josh Inman plays a stirring bass line, and deft jamming skills, while singing with soul. Chris Franzke adds to the vocals to give even more brilliant harmony to their tunes, while melting your brain with his wickedly fast rocking riffs and sharp, skilled bluesy melodies on the guitar and mandolin. Tom Clutter adds to the blend of intricate bluegrass sounds with a banjo, when he isn't giving the songs a heavier dancing beat on the drums. Together the three young artists play a variety of covers and their own work with a slick style and natural talent that is refreshing and fun. Among the dancing, smiling listeners were pretty girls with hula-hoops and the band's growing following of fans.

Later Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy were up on the balcony, playing country americana with a trombone giving their bluegrass instruments a bluesy feel that makes this band especially distinctive. The band played for an increasingly excited crowd, as this all-day-event led to some extreme energy for the early hours of the evening. Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy have a fun, care-free attitude that's exciting to behold.

Finally, to begin the epic end of a long, and wild day, Deadman Flats came on the main stage for a full Granada, playing a fantastic set of classic Deadman hits, rocking out lengthy solos, and shining with a huge stage presence that brought the huge venue together like never before. Experienced Deadman fans gathered together to fill the dance floor with shaking, twisting laughing bodies. Girls filled the back alcoves with hula-hooping. Everything seemed perfect.
And just when it felt like a day full of brilliant bluegrass was over, Cornmeal picked up where Deadman Flats left off.

Cornmeal is one of the best bluegrass bands on the scene today. The band is under-rated compared to their competition, but still widely appreciated for their skill, and unmatched style, however Lawrence has a large and experienced enough base of bluegrass enthusiasts that the town showed the band love like only the best crowd can. The band gives bluegrass a broader, deeper meaning that you've ever imagined before hearing them. With the combined power of a guitar, banjo, upright bass, fiddle and drums, the band creates an ambrosia for the ears like angels playing bluegrass. The sound is so intense, so rolling, changing, moving, it's reminiscent of brilliant metal musicians like early Metallica...only with bluegrass. The band's progressive jams have a quality of growing strength, and relentless energy that sets every listener's heart pounding.
Friends with dozens of Granada shows under their belt declared this show the best show at the Granada before Cornmeal's set was through. The fast, harmonic groove of every song flows unfettered, until just when you think they're finished, then it goes faster and louder. Like the Energizer Bunny, the band just keeps going and going. Every song burns bright, and long like an immortal shooting star. After over 10 years band, the Chicago-based musicians tour constantly, and will be found at Summer Camp Music Festival this May 28-30.