In looking at the festival schedule, the possibilities are endless. I see that on Sunday that Trey Anastacio will be playing before Mike Gordon, so I am wondering whether we will see some sort of semi-Phish reunion.

I will be updating as soon as info is available.

Update: All times are Eastern Standard Time

Friday, July 4th

• 12:45pm - The Dynamics
• 1:45pm - Greensky Bluegrass
• 2:30pm - TBA
• 3:30pm - The Beautiful Girls
• 4:15pm - TBA
• 5:30pm - Tea Leaf Green
• 6:15pm - 311
• 7:45pm - Mickey Hart Band
• 8:45pm - Widespread Panic
• 10:30pm - Railroad Earth
• 11:00pm - Widespread Panic
• 12:00am - The Disco Biscuits

Saturday, July 5th

• 12:00pm - Kyle Hollingsworth
• 1:15pm - Yonder Mountain String Band
• 2:15pm - TBA
• 2:45pm - State Radio
• 3:45pm - Keller Williams
• 4:30pm - TBA
• 5:45pm - TBA
• 6:30pm - Michael Franti and Spearhead
• 8:00pm - Of Montreal
• 9:00pm - Dave Matthews Band
• 11:30pm - Primus

Sunday, July 6th

• 12:15pm - Railroad Earth
• 1:45pm - Dresden Dolls
• 2:45pm - Rodrigo Y Gabriela
• 4:00pm - Brett Dennen
• 4:30pm - Slightly Stoopid
• 5:30pm - JJ Grey & Mofro
• 6:15pm - Gov’t Mule
• 7:45pm - Primus
• 8:30pm - Phil Lesh & Friends
• 11:00pm - STS9

To start things off right on Thurs, Sept 11th, the Bel Maison this year will have Back Door Slam at the Fly Me To The Moon Saloon. Those tickets also go on sale tomorrow for $20.

To bring a end to the Fest , The Fais Do Do Pass at the Sheridan Opera House will set you back 35 bucks but for that price you will get the Diry Dozen Brass Band, Chris Thomas King Band and Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band.  That is one hell of a bargain.

See you in Telluride…..

Le Ritual Stage:

• Erykah Badu
• Dashboard Confessional
• Wyclef Jean
• Death Cab for Cutie
• Panic at the Disco
• Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
• Cold War Kids
• Joss Stone
• Ghostland Observatory
• Lupe Fiasco
• Joseph Arthur
• Tokyo Police Club
• Innerpartysystem
• Colour Revolt
• Thievery Corporation
• Manchester Orchestra
• Big Blue Marble
• the Vettes
• Sons of William

Le Flambeau Stage:

• New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
• Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers
• Reverend Horton Heat
• Old 97’s
• Marc Broussard
• Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the True Loves
• Ozomatli Reunited w/Chali 2na
• Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
• King Britt’s tribute to Sister Gertrude Morgan
• Rebirth Brass Band
• Ivan Neville
• Trombone Shorty
• Preservation Hall Jazz band w/ Marva Wright
• Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• Blind Boys of Alabama w/ Preservation Hall
• Fatter Than Albert
• Walter “Wolfman” Washington
• Treme Brass Band
• The Dan Dyer Band
• Washboard Chaz
• The Iguanas
• Soul Rebels
• Bonerama
• DJ Soul Sister
• Big Sam’s Funky Nation
• Shamarr Allen
• Rockie Charles
• Paul Sanchez
• DJ Butterfoot
• Deacon John’s Tribute to New Orleans R&B featuring Wardell Quezerque
• Preservation Hall Hot 4 w/Special Guests
• Melody Clouds

Le Carnival Stage:

• Man Man
• DeVotchKa
• The New Orleans Bingo! Show plus Special Guests
• The Gutter Twins
• Morning 40 Federation
• Shudder to Think
• Clint Maedgen
• Quintron & Miss Pussycat
• Extra Action Marching Band
• Fleur De Tease
• Rotary Downs
• Paul Varisco & the Milestones
• New Orleans Jazz Vipers
• One Man Machine
• The Happy Talk Band
• Bones
• The Tin Men w/ the Valparaiso Men’s Chorus
• Worms Union
• Oscillation Communications
• Ratty Scurvics Singularity
• Crimes Against Nature
• Sirena Serpentina
• Illusion Fields
• Good Guys
• Nag Hammadi
• Andre Williams
• My Graveyard Jaw
• NOOMOON Tribe
• Widetrack
• C-Ba$ Sideshow
• Proppa Bear
• sHeLLShoCk
• Ray Bong
• White Bitch’s Prey Drive
• Hands of Nero
• Sista Ottis
• New Orleans Sunken City Circus featuring Pain Tribe, C-Ba$, Tap Water Mind Control & Activity 3

Tickets go on sale today with 3 day passes going for $115 and the VIP tickets (Loa Lounge) are $450.  The benefits are similar to what was offered in 2007 and include the following:

• Premium grandstand viewing of the main stages
• Reserved VIP Parking and line-free entrance
• Exclusive New Orleans cuisine menu selections
• Full-bar service
• Private restrooms
• Official Tenth Ritual Poster autographed by the artist
• Dining tents with tables, chairs, and view of cooking by legendary New Orleans Chefs
• Exclusive musical performances in the Loa Lounge Joe’s Woody Piano Bar
• In/out privileges all weekend

I did the VIP last year and it was not bad, but most of the music I listened to was at the Le Flambeau Stage and was about 100 yards away from the VIP area.  Not a biggy though, just walked over and hit the food and drinks in-between bands.  Will I do it again this year????  We shall see….

So as I get ready for a business trip to Chicago, I will be watching U.S. Open golf on mute and enjoying the sounds of The Ranconteurs, Les Claypool and Sharon Jones. Hey, Tiger Woods is talented, but I doubt he can sing really well… Ahh, he probably does…

So here is the tentative lineup, but stuff happens so you can check up here for the latest and greatest. All times are EST.

Friday, June 13th

• 12:30 PM - Drive By Truckers
• 01:15 PM - Fiery Furnaces
• 02:15 PM - Umphrey’s McGee
• 03:45 PM - Bluegrass Allstars
• 05:00 PM - The Raconteurs
• 06:30 PM - Swell Sesason
• 07:30 PM - Les Claypool
• 09:00 PM - Metallica

Saturday, June 14th

• 12:45 PM - Two Gallants
• 01:45 PM - The Wood Brothers
• 02:00 PM - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
• 03:15 PM - Ozomatli
• 04:00 PM - Gogol Bordello
• 05:30 PM - Against Me!
• 06:30 PM - Iron & Wine
• 08:00 PM - Cat Power
• 09:00 PM - Mastodon
• 09:30 PM - Ben Folds

Sunday, June 15th

• 12:30 PM - Abigail Washburn & Sparrow Quartet
• 01:45 PM - Donavon Frankenreiter
• 02:45 PM - Robert Randolph’s Revival
• 03:45 PM - Yonder Mountain String Band
• 05:15 PM - Rogue Wave
• 06:00 PM - Broken Social Scene
• 07:30 PM - Sigur Ros
• 09:00 PM - Death Cab For Cutie

Here is what I found so far and if you have a review or pics to add, send me a shout.

• Back To Rockville - Kansas City Star was on the scene with Thursday, Friday, Saturday and the Finale/Redux.
• Pop Free Radio - was only able to make it Sunday (that bites)
• Wayward Blog - Pics with reviews of Day 1, 2, 3 and what was left of 4
• A Novel No One Will Read - not quite a book, but lengthy
• ProgBlogSTL - amused by white guys dancing (or attempting anyway)…. I learned long time that most have no rhythm, no matter what they are taking/drinking, but funny to point and laugh
• StellaPuella - Great, that ZZ Top song will be banging around in my head all day
• Karlas Cottage - have to start them young
• Lawrence.com - When a press pass really is not a press pass…
• Consequence of Sound - Day 1 and Day 2 up and running…. Update: Day 3 and Day 4
• University Daily Kansan - Hey, at least he missed all the weather
• Lawrence Journal World - take a gander on the left hand side, a ton of stories, photos with some video thrown in

Update: June 10th

• Jambase.com - Nathan Rodriguez and Andrew Wyatt teamed up for a rundown of epic proportions. Met Andrew last year at Wakarusa and again at 10KLF, very cool guy….
• The Marquee - Brian gives a complete weekend overview, with video of the storm on Thursday and also a bit of The Flaming Lips
• Coventry Music Blog - almost an hour-by-hour breakdown of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with pics to boot

I spent almost 2 weeks back home in New Orleans for the Jazz & Heritage Festival this year and saw some of the performances below and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Once the window pops up, look over on the right hand side for the connections settings and adjust for your bandwidth. Enjoy.

• Porter - Batiste - Stoltz with Page McConnell on organ
• Alejandro Escovedo
• Bonerama - with Hot Dancers
  
• Dr. John
• Ivan Nevilles Dumpstaphunk
• Kim Carson
• Papa Grows Funk
• Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars
• Salvador Santana Band
• Susan Cowsill
• The subdudes

I love free stuff….

The folks at Bonnaroo Music Festival have put out a sampler of 20 songs for no money down at iTunes that includes such artists as LIttle Feat, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, Disco Biscuits, The Radiators, Lyrics Born and many others.

To get them, here is the download code: WWMXJFJR67HX, Well, I learned from a few of my readers today that this was a one time code. My bad. I will go crawl back under my rock now…..

If you have iTunes installed already, then head over to the iTunes store, hit redeem on the right hand side and put the code in and hit enter.

If you don’t have iTunes, shame on you… so go install it and follow the directions above.

The code expires June 30, so hurry….

Rothbury

The Rothbury Music Festival has put out it’s schedule and this will be one hell of a 4th of July weekend party on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Austin City Limits Festival will have three jam-packed days of music and I hope the change to two weeks later in September will give the faithful a break from the heat. Single days tickets are also on sale for $80 and 3 day passes are going for $170.

VIP tickets are going for a sky-high $850 but you get air-conditioned bathrooms. Ever been in a Port-a-Pottie in 100 degree heat?? Not pretty… and you have to hold your breath….

I will not be making the 3 hour trip down I-35 for the madness but if you are going I would suggest making hotel reservations soon.

High Sierra - July 3-6

The High Sierra Music Festival has their grids available courtesy of Jambase.com. This is one that I will try to attend in the next couple of years as Northern California certainly appeals to me better in July than the DFW area.

4 Day passes (Thur-Sun) are going for $168, 3 day passes (Fri-Sun) for $157 and 2 day passes ( Sat-Sun) are $136. VIP passes for the event a bit more reasonable than ACL at $650 and that will get you in all 4 days, access to the Pit and Lounge, drink tickets and other assorted amenities.

Gathering Of The Vibes Music Festival - July 31-Aug 3

The Gathering of the Vibes was my last fest of the summer season in 2007 and even though I will not be making the trip back to Bridgeport this year, this lineup sure makes it enticing.

Single day tickets are now on sale for $70 and 3 day passes with camping are $185. If you want to get in early on Thursday, July 31st it will set you back another $20, unless you have 3 or more adults then it is free. Gotta love the Green Effort!!!

Sorry, VIP is sold out…..

The reviews are trickling in at this point and I will update during the week as I find out who has the best run-down of the events:

• Mountain Jam Blog - Rich Lieberman did a great job of reporting what is happening on and off stage, with photos and set lists
• Dino Perrucci Photography - Dino did his usual bang-up job
• Live Music Blog - Paul was there front and center with the better half with some sweet photos for Day 1, Day 2
• RecordOnline.com - Sandy Tomacho is over from Hudson Valley
• Hudson Valley Record Blog - gives Sandy a bit of grief about her shopping exploits and being a virgin to the Fest scene
• Dim to the World - packed and ready to go to head to Mountain Jam, then a flat tire… but she has still got it what it takes…. You go, girl !!!
• bt.etree.org - it never takes long for the downloads to hit the wire, tapers are quite the dedicated group…
• The Great Affair - another festival newbie… and yes, live music outdoors does make some of us undergo the Jekyll/Hyde transformation
• Rolling Stone - catches the faux pas by Bob Weir
• GrassCity.com - Anybody know a good lawyer??… extremely funny and make sure to read the responses

Update, June 4th

• JamBase.com - Great collection of photos by Adam McCullough and rundown by Brian Bavosa
• Relix.com - Overview by Mike Greenhaus
• Poughkeepsie Journal - Pics with a short blow-by-blow
• Hudson Valley Blog Party - a full recap and a thanks to Warren
• This is Somewhere - Grace Potter download with a few shots of her and the boys….
• Here Come The Flood - Gov’t Mule torrent from 2nd night
• A Meadow Lark - Feelings…
• Bands that Jam - torrents of Gov’t Mule 1st night, Ratdog, Umphrey’s McGee and MMW with Scofield… Sweet…
• Roz Recommends - she really loves her significant other
• Dim to the World - free tickets are always good….

If you run across any that need to be added to the list, send me a buzz…

Bo Diddley, one of the great pioneers in forming the music of many bands that are in existence today has died at the age of 79.

It has been many moons since I had last seen Bo DIddley, probably when I still lived back in Louisiana over 20 years ago, but I always held him, his music and his odd shaped guitars in high regard.  Everybody from Clapton to the Stones were influenced by him and will be interesting to see the reaction of the musicians in the next few days.

I wrote a post last year after Bo had a stroke and why you need to see the greats why they are still around.   Rings even truer today…..