Nature, science, spirituality and music will come together for one transformational weekend in the hills of Logan, Ohio, where many come to find not only entertainment but self-discovery.
The 2013 Rootwire festival will celebrate its fourth year headlined by the Athens band that founded the festival — Papadosio.
The band started the festival to be more than the average music festival, said Anthony Thogmartin, guitarist and vocalist for the band, in an email. Rootwire combines visual art, installation pieces, performance art, presenters and spiritual seminars with music.
“While not everyone is a musician, we believe everyone is an artist,” Thogmartin said in an email. “Whether it's musical, visual, performance based, etc., everyone will be able to find something that inspires them to create.”
Transformational festivals are not a new creation, but they are rare to come by. Dave Weissman, media director for the festival, said it’s something you just have to experience in order to understand.
“There may be so many things happening at Rootwire that someone might not be able to see it all,” Weissman said. “But, if you're able to immerse yourself in one presenter or one yoga workshop or talk to one artist about their inspiration, then it can really bring change in people’s lives. That’s what (Papadosio) is trying to make the festival a catalyst for.”
Papadosio will headline three of the four nights with a different set each night, Thogmartin said. The first is a live electronic set similar to their usual sound, the second night is an acoustic set and the band will finish by remixing all of their songs through DJ equipment.
Karsh Kale, Eskmo and Hundred Waters will also headline the festival, each with a blend of electronic rhythms combined with live instrumentation and improvisation.
Presenters such as John Perry Barlow, who formerly co-wrote songs with the Grateful Dead, will give a lecture about the cyber economy and the United States’ tech future, while other presenters will have more spiritually based presentations.
“Music festival culture is based on appreciation of present moment performance,” Thogmartin said.“It is rare in people’s lives to be present, let alone present with each other. The sense of connection you have when the mind is not distracted by arbitrary goals and thoughts is immense. Now, add the attention a spiritual approach has to this presence, and you've got an extremely potent medicine for a troubled world.”
wh092010@ohiou.edu
If You Go:
What: Rootwire 2K13
When: Thursday-Sunday
Where: Kaeppners Woods, Logan, Ohio
Admission: $125 presale, $140 at the gate
