Break out your camping gear and head to the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival this weekend
14 Apr
Sometimes you just have to ditch your laptop and your phone and get in touch with music and nature. But since I can never seem to afford and/or get the time off for Bonnaroo, I have to look for options closer to home. That’s why I’m trilled about this weekend’s Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival.
The four-day family-friendly festival in Chatham County features 40 bands performing on 4 stages and BEST OF ALL you can campout there. The festival holds a special place in my heart because in 2005, it’s where I was first introduced to the Avett Brothers.
There are children’s activities — ranging from crafts, story time and skits — and plenty for us big kids to do too. From dance workshops (maybe I’ll finally learn how to hoop like Brandy) … to music workshops (maybe I’ll learn the art of West African drumming) … to movement workshops (finally time for some yoga). There are even plans for a grown-up game of Capture the Flag, basketmaking, pottery and more. You can see all the wonderful random happenings here. Photos courtesy of Todd E. Gaul and Shakori Hills website.
There will also be a sustainability fair, featuring all sorts of lectures and forums.
But best of all, the festival will be packed with incredible performers. I had Jake, the MyNC music guru, look over the list of bands to let me know who I needed to be sure to see, here’s how he responded:
Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Justin Townes Earle, Lunch Money, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Horse Flies, Todd Snider
Locals:
Big Fat Gap*
Birds and Arrows
Butterflies*
Colors of Flying
Des Ark (solo)*
Firehouse Rhythm Kings
Greg Humphreys*
Hobex (a Greg Humphreys band)*
Lafcadio*
Lost in the Trees*
Midtown Dickens*
Northwood Jazz Ensemble
Old 86
Orquesta GarDel
Rootzie
Sweet By & By
The Beast
The Old Ceremony**best of the best locals
Lafcadio album release party slideshow:
http://music.mync.com/2009/01/slideshow-chapel-hills-lafcadio-opens-for-sunfold-at-506/Lost in the Trees performance video from DBB6:
http://music.mync.com/2009/03/lost-in-the-trees-performs-at-double-barrel-benefit-6/The Old Ceremony on Sessions at Studio B:
http://music.mync.com/2009/02/sessions-at-studio-b-with-the-old-ceremony/Greg Humphrey’s will be on Sessions at Studio B on April 23 at 4 p.m.
So with Jake’s musical advice in hand and a weekend weather forecast that seems too good to be true, you can bet you’ll see me disappear into the woods for a while.
Actually my neighborhood hooper friend is going to probably teach there so you will meet her!
I hope you have a lot of fun! It sounds cool.
First time commenter here, found out about you through DSI, where I used to take classes. Disappear into the woods is right, this post couldn’t capture my excitement any more! I am a member of both The Beast and Orquesta GarDel, we’re extremely stoked about finding new friends and fans in the Triangle community. It’s the first time I’ll be giving a workshop (with the beast) and also the first time I’ll be camping. Taxes are done, let’s get into some nature. See you there!
@Eric Thanks for dropping by my blog and commenting. I’ll make an effort to stop by one of your performances while I’m there. I just finished my taxes today!!! So I’m definitely ready to relax.
“This so obvious – I believe, iphone has the looks and the image. It’s “Apple” and once somebody gets it, they become sort of “addicted”. Nokia has great technology, functions etc. – but who cares about battery life, really?”