In 1988 Legend Valley hosted the largest and “tripped-out” stop on the Grateful Dead Tour with cars and tents as far as the eye could see.
Now, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the famed psychedelic band are making their way back to the historic venue as the 2013 All Good Music Festival kicks off on Thursday in Thornville Ohio.
The lineup includes an eclectic mix of different genres from dubstep to straight jug band folk. Pretty Lights is one of the largest headliners this year with his distinctive blend of psychedelic EDM and dubstep alongside the classic rock vibe of The Grateful Dead and Yonder Mountain String Band for an unusually diverse lineup.
Dave Weissman, media director for the festival, said they have always strived to appeal to all genres of music.
“People have been coming for such a line-up for the past 16 years,” Weissman said. “Everything has its own style but you put it all together and it makes for one tasty salad of a large variety of music.”
Last year the festival took some criticism from a vocal minority that was upset with the increased security and bag checking at the entrance to the festival. User TennesseeRambler commented on a review of last year’s festival in Cleveland Scene saying “Getting in on Thursday was like going from East Germany to West Germany 30 years ago.”
“We took people’s feedback to heart and are looking to address those,” Weissman said. “We want to streamline the entrance and the wristband checkpoints. We need to speedup the flow.”
All Good Music Festival is not all about what you can get in however; it’s also about the camping experience, the vendors and the music. And this year boasts loads of both national and local acts.
Les Claypool will grace the Legend Valley stage as he slaps, taps and distorts the electric bass as frontman for Primus. Claypool is largely considered to be one of the best rock bassists and it will surely be a treat to see the group’s one of a kind music centered on the thick bass licks.
Ohio natives Papadosio and The Werks will also make an appearance at the festival, playing a one of a kind blend of jam band and electronic music that Ohioans from east to west have been enjoying for years now. And rounding out the bottom of the artist list is Columbus funk group MoJoFlo, fronted by the soulful Amber Knicole.
Weissman said one of the acts he is most looking forward to is the Everyone Orchestra. For this act, conductor Matt Butler assembles a number of performers from the festival and attempts to bring the audience on an entirely improvisational music journey guided by cue cards and hand signals that Butler teaches the band before the performance.
The Everyone Orchestra will play twice over the weekend, once for show and the other for charity, as volunteers will walk through the crowds raising money for a local non-profit organization. Last year the money went to funding new instruments for local schools.
Weekend tickets for all four days of the festival are selling for $199.00 and include parking and camping in the price. A full schedule of events will not be posed until Thursday.
wh092010@ohiou.edu
