The surviving four members of the Grateful Dead -- with their
solo projects -- will join the Avett Brothers, Primus, Zappa Plays
Zappa, Steel Pulse, Sound Tribe Sector 9 and others at the 17th
annual Gathering of the Vibes festival, which will take place July
19-22 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Conn.
Friday,
July 20, will be "pretty much about the Grateful Dead" according to
Vibes founder Ken Hays, including performances by bassist Phil Lesh
& Friends, guitarist Bob Weir with Bruce Hornsby and Branford
Marsalis, and percussionist Bill Kreutzmann with his latest group, 7
Walkers. Percussionist Mickey Hart and his new band -- promoting
the "Mysterium Tremendum" album that comes out April 10 -- will
appear on Saturday, July 21.
"It's a kindred
spirit thing," Hart tells Billboard. "It feels very homey, very warm
and fuzzy for us. After Jerry (Garcia) died, these people...didn't
want the groove to stop, didn't want the vibe to stop, so they put
this (festival) together over the years. The momentum built and now
it's quite formidable. We feel a bit of responsibility to carry it
on and help them and be a part of it and enjoy it with them. I
really do none of the work for it, putting it on and everything, but
I do support it, and I always look forward to playing it."
Hays
adds that having the Dead members on board in any capacity adds
meaning to the festival. "We're keeping the torch alive for them,"
Hays explains. "As long as they're well and able to perform... we'll
always have a place for all the members of the Grateful Dead and
whatever they're doing. They are very, very close to my heart and to
those of 99 percent of the attendees." But neither Hays nor Hart
would commit to the Dead members playing together in any way since
they'll all be in attendance.
"You just
never know," Hays says. "They're all getting along beautifully
together and making incredible music. I think all that we can do is
lay out the framework and let the possibilities and their
inspiration decide." Hart adds that "everyone's doing what they
really want to do and really enjoying it. Everybody's having a good
musical life. I'm always up to play with (the others); then the
times right, perhaps that'll happen."
In
addition to the music, this year's Gathering of the Vibes will
feature an assortment of extra attractions. There will be a School
of Rock Stage as well as a Kids Corner and Teen Scene; the latter
will feature the hands-on technological display of concert sound and
lighting equipment that was popular last year. The Silent Disco -- a
late-night party at which attendees dance on the Seaside Park beach
with headphones rather than listening to a sound system -- will
return, as will the World Peace Sanctuary parade and flag ceremony
on Sunday morning. There will also be a ferris wheel and a full
array of waterfront activities such as jet skis, sailboats, paddle
boats and swimming.
"It's
consistent with what the Vibes audience has asked for," Hays says.
"Last year we had Jane's Addiction and Elvis Costello and people
loved it, but I think this is a little bit more back towards the
foundation of our roots in terms of the music." The 2011 edition of
the Gathering drew about 20,000 fans per day, according to Hays.
It's
also the final year of the festival's five-year contract with
Seaside Park and the city of Bridgeport. "We'll make some decisions
after this year's festival as to the future and where we go from
here," Hays says, though the festival has generated goodwill by
donating money from previous years that have gone to build a splash
pad and a handicapped-accessible playground.
Gathering
tickets have already been on sale for awhile, and Hays says the
festival is "about one-third of the way sold out." A weekend pass is
$185 for general admission, $420 VIP. Single day tickets will be on
sale soon at prices to be determined, while Connecticut residents
and state employees will receive a 50 percent discount for the
festival's final day, and children 15 and under accompanied by
parents will be admitted free.
Festival information and updates are available at www.gatheringofthevibes.com.
Hays
says he's working on locking in a few more acts he hopes to
announce soon, but the festival's current lineup includes:
July 19 -- Dark Star Orchestra, Yonder Mountain String Band, Zach Deputy, Royal Family Ball featuring Soulive and Lettuce
July 20
-- Phil Lesh & Friends, Bob Weir, Bruce Hornsby & Branford
Marsalis, 7 Walkers, Greyboy Allstars, Conspirator, Kung Fu
July 21
-- Mickey Hart Band, Primus, Zappa Plays Zappa, Sound Tribe Sector
9, Deep Banana Blackout, Ryan Montbleau Band, Strangefolk, McLovins
July 22 -- Avett Brothers, Steel Pulse, Band Together
Jeff Lynne's ELO Announces 2024 North American Fall Tour
Jeff Lynne’s ELO is set to embark on the band’s final tour dubbed “The Over and Out Tour.” The 27-date trek, produced by Live Nation, will...
-
As reported by Variety Melanie, the singer who performed at Woodstock in 1969 and had major pop hits with “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Can...
-
After the recent death of original founding member Gary Rossington, the Lynyrd Skynyrd band members and estates have been in discussion on w...
-
Van Halen will release a new box set this fall spotlighting the iconic band's second incarnation, with singer Sammy Hagar, guitarist Edd...