Music Festivals and Airstreams

[SteveSueMac]

So - FYI - this is the INAUGURAL year of the Black Bear Fest. So far so good. Camping a bit sloppy (muddy) in the local fair field. Starting Friday during the day can be problematic. Most fests we’ve camped at start Friday night. So probably lots of folks at work. So far - about 100 folks here. Pretty good music so far. GREAT weather!

Will keep you all updated as we go....

[OTRA15]

Thanks. Great weather indeed -- have fun!

[SteveSueMac]

Well - this was an outstanding fest. Inaugural year. I can’t believe only a couple hundred people showed up! Then again - DW and I wouldn’t have known about it if the Mamals hadn’t announced it at their show at Fresh Grass (a bluegrass festival held at Mass MoCA) just a few weeks ago.

We already bought our camping pass and tickets for next year.

This year - amazing artists like John Gorka, Vance Gilbert, Sweetback Sisters, The Slombovian Circus of Dreams, and our fave - the Nields - to name just a few. We got in Thursday night - music from 11 or noon until 11 pm Fri/Sat - an awesome Gospel session Sunday morning and the day ending at 5. Throughout there were workshops (Gorka held one on songwriting which was great) and a Gazebo for intimate performances.

Lineup was great, food/beer/wine trucks were great, music was just outstanding. Camping was fun - you’re steps from the main stage and other areas.

Highly recommended if you’re in to Roots/Americana music! Hope to see you all next year! Columbus Day weekend - this will be a terrific festival!!!

[Dtrentr]

Has anyone attended a music fest at Spirit of Suwannee Music Park? Thinking about the Suwannee Spring Reunion in March. Stellar lineup.

[Tomzstream]

Yes Indeed. We were at the Spring Reunion this year. The Park is well laid out and can accomodate rigs of every size. We stay out on the outskirts of the park (actually close to the entrance) and are happy doing so. We had full hook-ups. The section is called Banjo-Moon. Flat with lots of shade. There are sections closer in, but not all have hookups and some, very close are dry camping only. If you want to be close to the late night jam action, there are camps specifically designed for that which include a facility for congregating, or you can just wander around the campfires in individual camps. And there is an area designated for a drum circle, but be forewarned, they drum ALL NIGHT. There are forums that discuss all of these considerations through the festival website. There is one indoor facility, the Music Hall, with a grill and they serve beer with folding chairs for a more intimate setting. We saw Billy Strings and friends performing in there doing a set of Doc Watson tunes. Phenomenal!

We have gone for other festivals and even stayed there during Hurricane Matthew with our dogs, however, no pets are permitted during "Event" weekends. Lots of great food and beer vendors and several stages that they stagger the performances on. It's a very well run facility. Hope this helps!

[Dtrentr]

Originally Posted by Tomzstream

Yes Indeed. We were at the Spring Reunion this year. The Park is well laid out and can accomodate rigs of every size. We stay out on the outskirts of the park (actually close to the entrance) and are happy doing so. We had full hook-ups. The section is called Banjo-Moon. Flat with lots of shade. There are sections closer in, but not all have hookups and some, very close are dry camping only. If you want to be close to the late night jam action, there are camps specifically designed for that which include a facility for congregating, or you can just wander around the campfires in individual camps. And there is an area designated for a drum circle, but be forewarned, they drum ALL NIGHT. There are forums that discuss all of these considerations through the festival website. There is one indoor facility, the Music Hall, with a grill and they serve beer with folding chairs for a more intimate setting. We saw Billy Strings and friends performing in there doing a set of Doc Watson tunes. Phenomenal!

We have gone for other festivals and even stayed there during Hurricane Matthew with our dogs, however, no pets are permitted during "Event" weekends. Lots of great food and beer vendors and several stages that they stagger the performances on. It's a very well run facility. Hope this helps!

Thanks so much. They got my attention with Steep Canyon and
Billy Strings. I’ll call tomorrow and see if we can get a site at Banjo Moon. I’ll hope to see you there!

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by Dtrentr

Has anyone attended a music fest at Spirit of Suwannee Music Park? Thinking about the Suwannee Spring Reunion in March. Stellar lineup.

I used to go to the Suwannee Springfest there. I believe the last year I went and the last year of that festival was 2016. Sometimes I would tent camp and sometimes I would bring my Airstream. Either way I would primitive camp as it was included in the festival price. Always found a good place to camp. One year I brought my dog even though they say no dogs. I camped next to folks that always brought their dog. They said never a problem, as long as your dog doesn’t cause a problem.

It looks like Springfest is back, but now they call it Spring Reunion. Whatever, I will go again as this always was a great festival. The lineup looks ok but nowhere near as good as Springfest 2016. Hopefully, they are not finished with the lineup yet.

Dan

[Dtrentr]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

I used to go to the Suwannee Springfest there. I believe the last year I went and the last year of that festival was 2016. Sometimes I would tent camp and sometimes I would bring my Airstream. Either way I would primitive camp as it was included in the festival price. Always found a good place to camp. One year I brought my dog even though they say no dogs. I camped next to folks that always brought their dog. They said never a problem, as long as your dog doesn’t cause a problem.

It looks like Springfest is back, but now they call it Spring Reunion. Whatever, I will go again as this always was a great festival. The lineup looks ok but nowhere near as good as Springfest 2016. Hopefully, they are not finished with the lineup yet.

Dan

I got my ticket this week and will plan to boondock. I read that it’s a big park. Where’s a good spot to set up camp?

[OTRA15]

Too far away for us, but it looks good.

History: https://suwanneespringreunion.com/history/
Lineup: https://suwanneespringreunion.com/line-up/
Directions: https://suwanneespringreunion.com/di...-to-the-venue/
Tickets: https://suwanneespringreunion.com/tickets/
RV info: https://suwanneespringreunion.com/lodging/
Festival map: https://suwanneespringreunion.com/festival-map/
Area map overview: https://www.google.com/maps/place/93...01004?hl=en-US

Have fun!

Peter

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by Dtrentr

I got my ticket this week and will plan to boondock. I read that it’s a big park. Where’s a good spot to set up camp?

I could show you where I would recommend but it will be very hard to splain it, but I will try.

After you go in the festival entrance, you will turn left to enter the campground. Go straight for about 1/4-1/2 mile. When the road turns to the left, this is where we found to set up camp that was a short walk to the stages. I might be able to find a photo.

Dan

[OTRA15]

There is a festival map link in Post #169 FWIW.

[Dal Smilie]

Think about coming to the Fiddlers Picnic Rally. 500 pickers. First weekend of August just north of Yellowstone NP

[OTRA15]

FYI Bourbon and Beyond Festival [9/20-23 in Louisville KY]:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f290...ng-193320.html

Hope to get the trailer on the road earlier this year . . .



. . . and get to at least one festival in the NE!



Peter

PS -- Wide Open Bluegrass in Raleigh NC the next weekend . . . thanks to TouringDan for the heads up on this one.

https://worldofbluegrass.org/wide-open-bluegrass/

[Leicalla]

Hi! We just found this thread. We have our tickets to Floydfest and might go to Shakori in May.

[OTRA15]

Starting to think about festivals this year, and hoping to get to one or two in New England, probably in the fall. Maybe Fresh Grass 9/20-22, in North Adams MA? A great line-up!

https://freshgrass.com/2019-lineup/

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

. . .
We have tix
. . .

Originally Posted by TouringDan

. . .
I have been to FreshGrass the last two years.
. . .

Are you guys familiar with the private campgrounds near Fresh Grass?

https://freshgrass.com/camping/

. . . in particular these two?

http://camping.northadams-ma.gov/
http://www.pinehollowcamping.com/gen...formation.html

Thanks,

Peter

[SteveSueMac]

Peter - I stayed at Historic Valley - it’s ok. You’re spending most of your time at the festival (which is a great one) so I didn’t care that it wasn’t a resort. I think that’s the closest one - about 1.5 miles to Mass MoCA where the festival is held.

[SteveSueMac]

Oh and by the way - if you do stay there, use their directions on the website not your GPS which will likely route you up what feels like a 100% grade

And don’t overlook Black Bear Americana Music Festival in Goshen, CT: https://www.blackbearmusicfest.com/

Columbus Day weekend which usually means cooler camping weather. Last year was their inaugural year and the lineup and sound quality were both outstanding - participation was sadly very low - not a lot of publicity. I’m definitely going again this year - camping is on the fairgrounds so you can roll out of your trailer and you’re steps away from the shows.

[TouringDan]

One of my favorite festivals is the Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival at the Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, NC. It is May 15-18. It has always been in the fall, but will now be in the spring. I will be going and will camp at the Oregon Inlet National Seashore CG.

The website is www.bluegrassisland.com.

Here are some photos. The band in the photo is one of my favorites- The Lonely Heartstrings Band from Boston, Mass.

Please send me a pm if you would like more information or are going.

Dan

[OTRA15]

Thanks SSM and Dan . . . it is looking like the Fall will be our best shot to make a festival. Both Fresh Grass and Black Bear are fairly close and possible. Have a great time at all the events you attend!

Peter

[CapeMark]

Perhaps someone would love to attend this festival...

We have been attending the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival for many years and we were looking forward to attending again this year. Unfortunately, the new rig we have on order will not be delivered until after the festival dates. Bummer!

This year the festival runs Thurs, May 16 through Sun May 19.

This is one of the top Bluegrass/Americana festivals in the Country, held at a beautiful time of year in a fantastic location. Campsites at the festival are in high demand, people set up chairs in the wee hours of the morning on the night before sites for the following year become available in hopes of landing a premier location. We've been fortunate to get one of best sites at the festival, Site #B8, with full hookups, on the hill overlooking the main stage.

Here is a link to the festival:
http://www.gettysburgbluegrass.com/may-festival/

A full week of camping and tickets to the festival cost us $544.
I'm willing to give away our two 4-day festival tickets and 7 nights of camping for $400.

We usually arrive on Monday and leave on the Monday after the festival ends on Sunday afternoon, you could tweak your week-long stay to arrive Wed to Wed or Thurs to Thurs.

There is a ton of stuff to do in Gettysburg; the festival site is close to town and the National Park; many good restaurants (we go the the Blue & Gray every year); I usually play a round of golf ($25 for 18 holes- what a deal!).
There are usually other Airstreamers attending. I know Tess & Todd from CT will be there.

I know that this is short notice, but perhaps someone may be interested in attending...
Please contact me at my email address (mth107@gmail.com) or by phone (508-681-9774) ASAP if you would like to attend.

Happy Trails,
Mark Hickman