Midwest Reggae Fest

Midwest Reggae Fest
Clay's Park- North Lawrence, Ohio
August 1-3, 2014

The very first reggae band I ever saw was the Wailing Souls, for FREE at Nautica during FlatsFest way back in the summer of 1993.  They performed their radio hit ‘Shark Attack’ and I danced with reggae abandon as I did this weekend when the Wailing Souls were the Saturday headliner for the Midwest Reggae Fest.  Everyone in the crowd was loving the classic reggae groove- two-year-olds dancing with 80 –year-olds and people with cream, brown, gold and tan skin tones laughing and hugging and moving as one.  That feeling of unity reverberated through the crowd and throughout the weekend- this was easily the highlight of this year’s festie season.      

After music at the main stage was over on Saturday night we headed into the woods to a smaller side stage to catch a Florida rock/reggae band Sowflo’s set- it was late at night, there were probably a handful of people gathered, just chilling on the primitive benches.  It is hard to fully convey the magnitude of what happened next.  As soon as Sowflo started to play I turned to my sister and said ‘These guys rock!’  By the second or third song we were up and dancing, making our way to the front of the stage.  Before I knew it, what started out as like 20 people had turned into hundreds of people linked at the arms, singing together, swaying to the beat of the keys and horns and drums.  There was an energy running from the band and we could all feel it- we were truly connected by the power of the music and the harmony we felt with each other.

By the time SOJA headlined on Sunday night, I’d seen many of my favorite festie friends and met a lot of beautiful souls.  I sat around a campfire with some of my closest friends laughing hysterically about past experiences and planning future endeavors.  I could feel a special vibe the moment we pulled in and by the end of the weekend I’d had one of the most beautiful and transforming experiences of my life.  The attitude of everyone in attendance was one of unity which created an atmosphere of peace and comradery.  Reggae has a way of bringing together people of differing age, economic status, race or religion, giving us common ground and we can’t help but dance with each other.  I truly felt the meaning of ‘One LOVE’ that weekend.  

Tribal Connection 3 Art & Music Festival

Tribal Connection 3
Zane Shawnee Caverns- Bellefontaine, Ohio
May 15-18, 2014

I've been trying to think of a way to explain the events of this weekend for a while now. I guess I have to start way back at the Gathering at Chaffee 2012. While there, I met an awesome guy with a beautiful spirit and a love of travel and felt an instant affinity- i mentioned doing shots with a nomad in my Chaffee post- that was him!  So anyway, when I looked across the campfire at our site at Tribal and caught a glimpse of Zach's face on the first night I was instantly filled with a sense that this weekend was going to be amazing.

We reserved our usual spot- #63- and filled camp with a group of at least 15 friends. I decorated the campsite with lanterns I'd made of milk cartons so the whole place glowed at night. Every time someone wandered back and commented on the lanterns I just beamed.  One person said 'your spot just looks inviting!'- exactly the look I was going for! Even though the weekend was cold and rainy, our temporary community was warmed by a lot of LOVE... and a huge fire.  

Tribal always has an amazing lineup of musicians from many different genres performing on multiple stages- this year I enjoyed performances by many different acts including Tropidelic, Vibe n Direct, Minnesota, Funktional Flow and Crosby Sweater but I was most excited to see a band I LOVE- Moon Hooch- perform.  I danced and danced watching my green poncho spin around me and just loving the whole experience.  I was surrounded by friends and loved ones the entire weekend- amazing it was!

A Few Words about Rootwire

A Few Words About Rootwire
Logan, Ohio
August 2-4, 2013

Rootwire Music & Arts Festival had the potential to be an amazing gathering with beautiful, peaceful people interested in a feeling of community and togetherness.  Unfortunately, there was an unsavory element that invaded the space and ruined the experience for many festival goers- the police presence that made a mission of petty busts of hippies with small amounts of marijuana and paraphernalia.  I’m all for a safe festival environment- one free of heavy drugs.  But the majority of the violations issued that day were related to a natural-grown, unprocessed plant found to have numerous medicinal properties which is legal in some states.  I understand that, like it or not, marijuana use is currently illegal in Ohio but this is a time in which that tide is turning and I am willing to stand up and say that it is time to reform the marijuana laws in this country.  My experience at Rootwire only made me more focused on what I can do as an individual to make that happen. 

Still, the festival itself pulsated with a sense of creativity and livelihood.  Everywhere I turned I saw an art installation or a group meditating or a couple dancing in a world all their own.  The lineup of bands was pretty awesome!   I connected with everyone in my festie phamily in attendance and made some unique new friends.  I shared a closeness that was tantalizing and exhilarating and raw.  I’ve learned that if I want to live a life full of experiences, they all won’t be good ones.  The bittersweet truth is that some of the best experiences we have in life are intertwined with some of the worst but those make us stronger and bring us closer.

Be There Festival

Be There Festival
Warsaw, Ohio
August 2-4, 2013

Sometimes the vibe is just right!  That’s exactly how I feel about the Be There Festival.  From the moment I picked up my friend and we started our journey through picturesque Amish Country landscapes toward the small family farm where Be There was held, everything had a rose-tinted quality.  Rolling fields dotted with hand-bailed mounds of hay, stately barns adorned with weathervanes, Amish children riding bikes- we pointed out and squealed over scene after scene.

When we arrived we were warmly greeted and I could just feel it- the vibe.  As my friend and I were setting up camp, he motioned to our neighbor and said ‘I think I know that guy.’  Within 5 minutes of arriving we’d met the first of the people we superbly enjoyed our wild weekend with.

There’s this big hill on one side of the property and as we eyed it up we became determined to climb it.  Just a few minutes later we were conversing about philosophy at the peak of the steep incline looking out over the farm and the festival below.  Yeah, I get that by now I sound pretty nostalgic about all this but I’ll just say it- what an enchanted place the top of that hill was!

The night went on and we enjoyed the lineup of bands and just wandering around the property.  By now more friends had arrived and although this was one of the smaller fests I went to this year, it was just so welcoming.  The intimate atmosphere encouraged everyone to engage.  Even though it was steadily raining, we all remained at the stage or one of the community fires enjoying the good company.

All my siblings arrived the next day to enjoy our favorite band, The Stagecoach Robbery, play an afternoon set.  I walked back to camp and asked all my new friends to come up and check out this awesome band.  They obliged and found themselves jamming out to Stagecoach's funky grooves minutes later. 

We gathered a large group and climbed the big hill again that night.  We felt like we were higher than the tops of the fireworks they set off below.  That hill has a contemplative quality and we sat and talked about everything.  Through the darkness we witnessed shooting star after shooting star draw across the sky. 

I was blown away by a late night set of the band Arpetrio, an electronic band out of Knoxville, Tennessee.  They were my new-band discovery of the weekend!  I spent hours around the fire with my sister and brother and probably about 75 other people just enjoying each other’s company.  Throughout the evening everyone I spoke with said the same thing I was thinking- that they experienced a special closeness with their fellow festival-goer at this gathering.  The best festivals are those in which lasting friendships are developed and nurtured.  That’s what makes the vibe just right!

A Few Words About GratefulFest

A Few Words about GratefulFest
Nelson Ledges Quarry Park- Garrettsville, Ohio
July 5-7, 2013

Remember when I went to The Gathering at Chaffee last year and took a total of 3 pictures, two of which are fairly random?  Well, the same thing happened at Grateful Fest this year.  I was having such a beautiful time at the festival with a wonderful network of pham and friend that I neglected to take any pics at all, save a few with my phone of George Clinton & the Parliament Funkadelic.  BUT, I had an enchanted weekend that was more than I could have ever imagined.  I swam in the quarry, danced in the rain, watched, felt and was nearly maimed by fireworks, got caught up by and lost in every moment. 

Top 3 BEST Fests of My Entire Life

·         Jerry Fest- Spread Eagle Campground, Port Clinton, Ohio in the late 90s or maybe 2000:  A fest with ALL my siblings.  We set up our camp backstage and had one of the most bonding experiences ever.  Hands down one of the very BEST times I have ever had with my siblings!

·        The first fest I went to at Bear Creek with my brother in the mid-90s: We sat on the hill laughing hysterically and cheered The Nomads into playing ‘one more song’ at least three times!

·         Grateful Fest 2013 

Ohio Day Trip- Tiffin Music & Arts Festival

Ohio Day Trip- Tiffin Music & Arts Festival
Tiffin, Ohio
June 8, 2013

When my friend Steven moved across the state last fall, I lost my go-to guy to do whatever.  Steven was always up to hike, bike, paddle, see a band or partake in some sort of cultural event.  Plus, anytime we do something our plans always go a little off course.  I mean, we once went hiking and ended up singing French furtrapper songs and eating pea soup while paddling a giant canoe.  But anyway, Megan and I decided to visit Steven in his new home of Tiffin, Ohio and thought the perfect time to do so would be the weekend of the Tiffin Music & Art Festival.

Megan and I loaded up our bikes and headed out on Saturday morning.  It was a nice drive out to Tiffin taking State Route 224 West the whole way.  We met up with Steven at his apartment, toured his place, then followed him to the trailhead of the North Coast Inland Bike Path.  We biked about twenty miles along a flat, paved, easy trail through country side and small communities between Norwalk and Bellevue, Ohio. 

We were pretty hungry after our ride so Steven suggested we try a little bakery he frequented, Phat Cakes & Café (46 Clay Street, Tiffin, Ohio), for lunch.  We chose items from a menu that lists paninis, wraps and salads, all of which sounded just delectable.  When I asked about getting two glasses of wine, they suggested I purchase the whole bottle for just a few dollars more so Steven, Megan and I ended up enjoying a bottle of sparking Moscato with our lunch which made it all the more delightful.  Before leaving we all chose some sweet baked treats from the case of gourmet cupcakes and cookies to take home with us.

In the short time I was in Tiffin I noticed how important artistic endeavors and cultural activities are to the people of that community.  Murals were painted on many of the downtown buildings.  Small artscapes and interesting sculptures were placed around the city.  Steven said they have a morning yoga class in the town square.  Tiffin is obviously a thriving college town.

After lunch we headed to the Tiffin Music & Arts Festival, arriving in the early afternoon.  We all walked around viewing the arts and craft booths, talking to the Ohio Music Scene and Norml representatives and checking out a lot of local music.  Along the way we met many of the day and evening’s performers, the organizer of the event and a lot of really interesting and fun people to chat with.  Megan and I decided to lay on a blanket in the grass and take a nap under the shade of a tree in the park for a bit, then got up to enjoy some dinner from one of the local food trucks.  My dinner of mexidog, loaded nachos in a bag and a lime-a-rita was spot on!  We watched bands into the evening.  As night fell, the firedancers started doing their thing.  We were fairly exhausted when we pulled away during the last set of the night.  Spending the day with Steven was a total blast because it was a mix of all the things we love to do together and I can’t wait to visit again.

Fires, Festivities and Final Warnings- Memorial Day Weekend 2013

Fires, Festivities and Final Warnings- Memorial Day Weekend 2013
Mohican Country
May 24-26, 2013

So, I met a group of people on Facebook with similar interests, activities and taste in music- we became fast friends!  When it was mentioned that they’d planned an entire weekend of camping out, drinking heavily and floating down the Mohican River, I was in! 

On Friday, Di and I loaded up the Vue with what looked like just about everything we owned and headed toward Mohican Country, near Loudonville, Ohio.  It was an easy drive and we pulled into the Mohican Reservation Campground in the early evening and set up camp.  Joanna and Troy arrived a little while later and we all settled into our spot, made a fire and ate some hot dogs.

We met up with the gang who had the sweetest campsite ever- right on the river- and the party was on!  I’d made a batch of Peach Pie Liqueur to share with the group.  I brought a bottle of tequila for myself.  Di had several bottles of wine.  There were pudding shots and other party treats.  We all settled back by the river to enjoy libations, a roaring campfire and homegrown music. 

Okay, so this group knows how to party and party we did!  So much so that campground security visited the site several times to tell us to pipe it down, stop playing the didgeridoo and hand drums, quit being so unruly.  Most of those times it was good natured with them saying ‘We want you all to have fun- we just can’t have you screaming ’99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall’ at 2:30 am- it is waaayyy past quiet time!’  We did however party ourselves into a final warning and they did seem pretty serious about it. 

It should not go without saying that it was damn cold that weekend- like lows in the 30s cold!  Damn, it was cold!  It was superhard to sleep in a tent what with all the coldness!  But, persevere we did.  We’re tough. 

We chilled for a great amount of Saturday, then decided to rent a raft and paddle an easy 9 miles down the Mohican, which runs through very scenic Ohio countryside.  A lot of other people were out on the river even though it was on the chilly side.  We floated past other campgrounds and waved at the people sitting along the banks of the river.  At one point, we ran into some of the gang kayaking along.  But, the highlight of this paddling adventure was when we ran aground in a shallow part of the river; Jo and I got out to wade our way off the sandbar.  Troy and Di stayed in the raft which quickly floated away from Joanna leaving her stranded in the middle of the river and plowing me right down.  That’s right- I was run over by a river raft!  

Later that afternoon we were busted yet again by campground security- this time for venturing into ‘Authorized Personnel Only’ territory in an attempt to find a secluded spot to chill for a bit.  Same story:  they wanted us to have fun but we could not be climbing, sitting on or otherwise anywhere near the giant pile of wood they have hidden behind the fence.  That’s cool!  We just headed back to the river spot and chilled with everyone back there for the rest of the night.  This evening we kept our shenanigans down to a dull roar and were only approached once, maybe twice by campground security. 

On Sunday morning we awoke, broke down camp and packed up- we were headed for a Loobypham fave- the Utica Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival in Utica, Ohio.   We usually drive right through Mohican Country on our way to the annual event so our location was very convenient and we enjoyed a quick country drive and were soon at the festival. 

Not one to miss a shopportunity, I quickly made my way to the vender tent I’d seen before even pulling into the parking lot- the tent selling hippie dresses!  LOVE me some hippie dresses!  We made our way around the rest of the festival, checking out classic cars, watching a helicopter arrive, cheering for the toddler tractor-pulling, enjoying huge scoops of ice cream and looking at every tie-dyed hippied out piece of clothing I could get my hands on.  I walked out of there with not one but two hippie dresses.  Di and I enjoyed a leisurely drive back home to rest and recover from our crazy Memorial Day weekend.

Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival

Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival
Zane Shawnee Caverns- Bellefontaine, Ohio
May 17-19, 2013

Last year’s Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival was the kickoff to an amazing summer and I was excited to spend the entire weekend at this year’s event with my phamily and friends.  Just about every single person that I know that enjoys local music festivals was there to enjoy a fantastic lineup of bands of varying genres and installations from local artists.

By Friday evening a large group congregated in Camp Spot #63, the very last spot in the entire Southwind Campground at Zane Shawnee Caverns in Bellefontaine, Ohio.  I was in festie mode for the entire weekend, which basically consists of me forgetting about my phone, having no concept of time, dancing around a lot and drinking.  So that’s my excuse for having no idea about the band that I most enjoyed on Friday night- all I can say is that they did a rocking Rage Against the Machine cover that whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

The entire group decided to descend into the caverns for a little Saturday mid-afternoon adventure ($11 per person).  I am typically a little iffy about tunnels, caves and other confined spaces but I really enjoyed exploring the caverns as the guide gave us tidbits of information about rock formations, bottomless pits and missing divers. 

 

Saturday night was one great band after another including Tropidelic, Jones for Revival and Jimkata.  I was thrilled to run into John, the guitar player from my favorite band the Stagecoach Robbery and find out he was playing a set with Broccoli Samurai, which rocked.  Sassafraz, a band from Athens, Ohio, blew me away.  I was transfixed by the fire dancers.  I chilled for a spell in the Dream Machine.  It was a crazy fun night of dancing and wandering around. 

Tribal weekend was indeed one of connections.  I spent time with my core phamily group, some good people, met people I’d only known through Facebook and made some new friends along the way.  Enchanted moments were shared.  A chill vibe of peace reverberated through the event and attendees.  Tribal again was an excellent kickoff to what is bound to be a fantastic summer!

Dennison Railroad Festival- Dennison, Ohio

Dennison Railroad Festival
Dennison, Ohio
June 16, 2012

My sisters and I love a good local festival. We’ll happily celebrate a town’s pride in their strawberries, potatoes or pumpkins. They’re just our thing so when we heard that The Stagecoach Robbery, a local band we’d grown to adore this summer, was playing for FREE at the Dennison Railroad Festival we were so there!

Dennison was founded in the 1860s purely out of the necessity of the railroad. Located on the most direct route between St. Louis and New York City, it thrived as a hub of railroad activity. The influence that the railroad had is still proudly exhibited in the community. The Dennison Railway Depot is a National Landmark. Restaurants have train-centric names. An entire train, caboose and all, is situated in the middle of town. Community pride in the history of their area is evident everywhere you look.

As with just about every other excursion of the summer, Meg and I had such a blast! After walking through the Fun House, we made our way to the Ferris Wheel which remains to be one of the best fair rides of all time. The ride operators let us ride around in circles for like 30 minutes. When we returned for another ride after dark, they let us on for free. How cool is that!

We were at the top of the Ferris Wheel when The Stagecoach Robbery started their first set. We made our way over to the stage, a flatbed railcar used for performances, fair food in hand. We spent the rest of the evening attempting to dance it all off. Stagecoach is awesome like that- you can’t just stand there and listen, you have to move. In a moment of sheer genius we decided to dance in the caboose located right beside the stage. We had a perfect view of the entire band while we boogied. I mean really, how often do you get to dance in a caboose?

Dennison can throw a party! We’ve been to a lot of festivals and this one was a little rowdy and extra friendly. We met John’s dad, a girl gave us high-fives as she walked past while we were dancing, we got a shout out from the band- it was pretty awesome! At the exact moment that the band was singing about a freight train, one actually blew through town and everyone cheered. Dennison loves their trains and they throw a great celebration.

*All photos, except for the caboose, courtesy of the lovely and talented Ms. Alice Coutts- thanks, doll!

Ohio Daytrip- Exploring Ohio & Erie Canal Towns

Ohio Daytrip- Exploring Ohio & Erie Canal Towns
Zoar, Navarre and the Ohio & Erie Canalway
August 7, 2010
Sometimes daytrips just happen. When my idea to spend an afternoon at the Zoar Harvest Festival in Zoar, Ohio combined with Di’s idea to visit the Winery at Perennial Gardens near Navarre a theme emerged. When I first planned this daytrip, I didn’t know I was going to visit several communities that were influenced by the Ohio & Erie Canal. I didn’t expect it to include an assortment of delectable foods. I hadn’t anticipated it being a casual exploration of Ohio history. But that made this summer afternoon in August all the more enjoyable.Thanks to community efforts to maintain the heritage and character of the village, Zoar Ohio looks much like it did nearly 200 years ago when it was founded as a commune by German Separatists fleeing religious persecution. Just 15 miles south of Canton, I’d passed through Zoar many times and always admired the village. I was excited to explore the historic community on foot while browsing the wares for sale at the Zoar Harvest Festival ($7/pp).
Diana and I arrived in the early afternoon and meandered around the quaint village taking in the community buildings, admiring the Communal Gardens, listening to live music near the brew tent and browsing the arts and crafts stands. All of the goods offered for sale were handmade items, quality furniture and unique folk art pieces. Although I left with postcards, a matted print by a local artist and a small carved bird, my best purchases turned out to be food items. First was a German pretzel. After perusing the antique tents,
Di and I shared a bratwurst with sour kraut and mustard while relaxing in the shade. The highlight of the afternoon was sitting at a small table outside the Bakery with Di, enjoying a scrumptious apple fritter. We finished the afternoon strolling around the neighborhood noting the unique features of the homes and B&Bs in the area.
From Zoar we decided to follow a segment of the Ohio & Erie Canalway. The O&E Canalway is a scenic drive that follows the path of the canal from Cleveland to Dover. We drove through beautiful farm land and many small communities. In Bolivar, we stopped by the Fort Laurens Memorial and took a long walk around town. We found a wacky photo opportunity near downtown Navarre. A sunset drive along a scenic byway on a beautiful Saturday evening is hard to beat!

Di and I wound down the day at the Winery at Perennial Vineyards, an Agricultural Winery located amongst the beautiful rolling hills of Ohio Amish Country in between Brewster and Navarre, Ohio. We made our way through the tasting room, dining room and patio to the back pavilion. Di and I enjoyed a bottle of Vidal Blanc ($17) and a tasty white pizza sitting under the stars at a candle-lit picnic table while taking in some live music.
From visiting a community that has been able to maintain its nineteenth century charm to taking a scenic drive following a path of Ohio heritage to spending the evening under the stars with a nice bottle of wine, the day turned out to feature much of what makes the small Ohio communities and countryside a beautiful place to visit for the day, a weekend or indefinitely.