Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival Oct. 20-21, 2007
Billed as a “rootsicana, newgrassy, folkadelic” experience, Joshua Tree’s annual Roots Music Festival is once again occurring October 20 and 21st at the Joshua Tree Lake Campground in Joshua Tree, CA. With acts from Australia, Tennessee, San Francisco, Hawaii, Joshua Tree, and Yosemite, this promises to be a diverse range of blues, folk, rock n’ roll, and purely unclassifiable sound pleasure.
Management reminds you to:
Respect all your fellow music loving campers.
No dogs allowed. Strictly Enforced.
No glass in festival site.
No on site camping w/o a music festival wristband.
No swimming in the lake.
No unauthorized vending.
No amplified music or generators in the campground.
No leaving your campsite a mess. Really.
and to bring these……
Directions to the site and PHOTO ID for will call.
Shade for camp, and stakes to tie it down.
Water, Sunscreen, Hats & Umbrellas.
Bring food if you like, but there are yummy eats on site.
Byob. No alchohol is served at the festival.
Cash. No ATM on site.
Heaps of smiling friends.
Dancing shoes.
Curious? Call 877-237-6265 for more information or visit joshuatreemusicfestival.com
More information about the line-up below:
the avett brothers - (SUNDAY 4:20pm)
These acoustic rockers are undeniably eclectic musically. Traces of the Band’s old weird Americana, bluegrass as filtered through the mind of a Led Zep fan, sleek Everly Brothers roots-pop and Violent Femmes-style folk-punk. But the Avetts, two brothers (banjo, guitar) and a buddy (Bob Crawford, standup bass), are also a most compelling live act, tearing up the stages of decrepit roadhouses, collegiate pubs and old-time music festivals with equal ferocity ‘n’ velocity. Even their latest studio album crackles with a live ambiance and spontaneity. From vocal-harmony-strewn foot-tappers to Steve Earle-esque harp twang anthems to yowling, positively insane high-energy party starters. The Brothers are a mixture of old-time country, bluegrass, pop melodies, folk, rock n’ roll, honky-tonk and ragtime. Don’t miss the Avetts live, either.
hot buttered rum (SATURDAY 10:30pm)
A “High Altitude Acoustic Experience”. Praised by fans, peers and national media alike for ’stunning instrumental and vocal virtuosity.’ Hot Buttered Rum weaves together grounded traditions of folk and bluegrass with modern influences of rock-n-roll, reggae and acoustic singer/songwriters. Their musical evolution has not only defined their sound, with their extensive touring schedule, the band has become established as one of the nation’s hottest young touring acts since setting off as a group of friends on a trail in the high sierras in the early part of the decade to emerge as a band, appropriately named, Hot Buttered Rum. The band has performed at premier music festivals such as Telluride Bluegrass, Newport Folk and South By Southwest, and received an invitation to perform at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 5. HBR’s talent has led them to the stage with artists Phil Lesh, Ben Harper, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Chris Thile, Bela Fleck, Peter Rowan, Billy Nershi and Mike Marshall.
the greencards (SATURDAY 9:10pm)
(AUSTRALIA & UK) With good reason Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson chose the Greencards to open up all 30 dates of their (2005) summer tour. Kym Warner’s rapid-fire mandolin picking dances from an Irish jig into something more colorful and chromatic, then back into a jig. Eamon McLoughlin’s quick fiddling goes from a bluesy lick that suggests a rolling freight train picking up speed (where would American music be without trains?) to an upbeat Celtic dance number with plenty of diversions into snippets from Christmas carols and The Beatles. Carol Young, meanwhile, supplies a lively bass line and dark, expressive vocals. These are musicians who can turn out music with color and texture by using traditional forms to do something new. “This imported, original bluegrass trio is making some of the finest Americana around.” Rolling Stone Magazine. Though they’re steeped in the tradition of bluegrass, The Greencards weave influences as disparate as Bob Dylan, Newgrass Revival and Patty Griffin into a compelling sound that starts in bluegrass, but moves far beyond it. They honor the past, but refuse to live in it.
uncle earl (SATURDAY 6:30pm)
“The all female band taking the festival scene by storm and winning the hearts of the pigtailed future of bluegrass worldwide.” At the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Uncle Earl shook the Rocky Mountain resort town with a mix of catchy songs and musicianship that soared with velocity and virtuosity. Uncle Earl members Kristin Andreassen, Rayna Gellert, KC Groves, and Abigail Washburn each take a turn in the spotlight — trading instruments and lead vocals with ease. From a fast fiddle tune to an a capella gospel number (“Divine”), from a trio for banjo, fiddle, and clogging to an old brother duet or an original ballad that sounds as old as the hills (“Pale Moon”), the musical range of Uncle Earl is both surprising and wholly organic. Audiences all over the country have fallen in love with the “g’Earls” for their evident delight and camaraderie as they twist and twirl around the single microphone on stage.
dan bern (SATURDAY 5:10pm)
(SF) “Dan strums drop dead georgeous melodies like a demon with his tail on fire, and expresses his love for humankind with scabrous, literary, hyperarticulate rhymes.” (Washington Post) “Folk musics’ most accomplished new wordsmith.” (Village Voice) This prolific (5 full length albums and EPS since 97) stream of super consciousness folkster turns the genre sideways with his Lenny Bruce meets Dylan and Henry Rollins political and personal rants. His latest release, BREATHE, was voted Album of the Year by the Independent Music Awards (judges included Peter Gabriel, Bill Frisell, Buddy Guy, David Grisman and more). A phenomenal collection of songs that go from heartland rumble to acoustic softness, with free flowing lyrics and insightful storytelling painting pictures and evoking emotions all the while. “The closest thing we have to a modern Dylan (SF Chronicle).”
south austin jug band (SATURDAY 7:50pm)
(AUSTIN) This rip roaring musical tour de force was named Best New Band at the Telluride Bluegrass Fest (2003) and Best Bluegrass Band at the Austin music awards. You will experience bluegrass breakdowns, extended jam groovers, passionate vocals (think Steve Earle), spitfire solos and intricate instrumentals with a South Austin Jug Band show. They are crowd faves at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, High Sierra, Austin City Limits and Ski Jam festivals. Together they’ve created a sound that’s been described by San Francisco’s East Bay Express as “a joyful noise that seems made of pure sunlight and moonshine.”
martha scanlan (SUNDAY 1:40pm)
(Johnson City, TN) The haunting quality of Martha Scanlan’s voice, unique perspective and poetic imagery of her songs helped to gain national acclaim for the innovative old-time string band, Reeltime Travelers. In their six years of touring they played some of America’s most prestigious venues and festivals from the Grand Old Opry to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The group recorded a cut for the soundtrack to Cold Mountain and were featured on the Great High Mountain Tour along with Alison Krauss and Ralph Stanley. Martha’s songwriting first gained national attention in 2003 at the prestigious Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest where a panel of judges including Gillian Welch and Jim Lauderdale awarded her first and second place in the bluegrass and country music categories. When not on the road she divides her time between the mountains of East Tennessee and those of Western Montana.
jake shimabukuro (SUNDAY 3pm)
(HAWAII) What’s unusual about Jake Shimabukuro’s version of George Harrison’s classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps?” He plays it on a ukulele. For those who think that’s a sacrilege, think again. Shimabukuro does for the uke what Ian Anderson did for the flute or Béla Fleck did for the banjo—breaks it out of its doldrums and introduces it to modern rock, jazz and blues. Like Anderson and Fleck, Shimabukuro has taken his instrument where no musician has gone before. His use of various guitar effect pedals while plucking and strumming creates jaw-dropping sounds. There’s even ample evidence that Harrison would have enjoyed the tunes of this modern-day uke master. “George Harrison loved the ukulele,” says Shimabukuro, who met Harrison’s widow, Olivia, when she attended one of his concerts. “She was telling me these great stories about parties they had where George Harrison got out his uke and they all started jamming together.” A true showman, Jake captivates audiences with intricate strumming and plucking, electrifying, high-energy grooves and smooth, melodic ballads evoking heartfelt emotion. His performances are mesmerizing!
bluehouse (SATURDAY 2:30pm)
(AUSTRALIA) As one of Australia’s premier independent bands, Bluehouse have stamped out their own unique style by combining folk flavored melodies meshed with heavenly, intricate harmonies and inspired guitar and bass, along with sardonic wit and one liners thrown in between songs. WOMAD, Edinburgh Fringe Fest, Kerrville Folk Fest, CA World Fest and Philadelphia Folk Fest attendees love them. Their voices range from teardrop soft to thunderstorm forceful. They fill venues across Australia, get 5 star reviews in Edinburgh and break attendance records in England. They are wrapping up a new cd with Grammy Nominee Tommy Emmanuel. If you were here for the roots fest this past October, you’ll recall the goose bumps Jacquie and Bernadette sent thru the audience. A Bluehouse live show is immensely entertaining and engaging. Classy, original songs, emotional depth, and wicked humour!
the reverend peyton’s big damn band (SAT 3:50pm)
(INDY) The BDB is a hopped-up crash course in raw Delta Blues pounded out with crazed fury. But the Reverend is no modern primitive. Traces of the East Coast Piedmont Style and Southern Gospel heard in his high-energy guitar wrangling betray a clever mind, well-versed in numerous other genres, as well. Like a rabid wolf crossed with Leadbelly, Reverend Peyton bellows and howls wildly while his right thumb drops like a sledgehammer on the guitar strings, threatening to shatter his national steel under the force of his frenzied picking style. “Boom Chank” is not just a song; it is the Big Damn Band’s signature rhythm, the foundation of their sound. Though back-beated by the simplest, most repetitive of grooves, it perfectly sums up their heart-pounding fervor. Stomp your feet and clap your hands (boom-chank). This s*** is red hot.
merle jagger & tim easton (SUN 12:05pm)
(LA & JOSHUA TREE) Boiling out of the stills of LA’s underground is Merle Jagger, an instrumental trio blazing a new trail of amped up rock’n bluegrass for the new western millenium. Blistering riffs inspired by the guitar slinging ghosts that pioneered the twang of electric guitar. A modern day wild bunch shooting it out, searching for the truth, not just the cake. Alterna-country storytellin’ songsmith Tim Easton gives MJ a voice amidst the rocket fueled wild west musical urgency. A prolific singer songwriter, Tim can growl and roar and wail atop his gibson like a time traveler outta Clarksdale, Mississippi. The Merle Easton Tim Jagger set will take you on a journey, riding original tunes from both artists.
the everybodyfields (SATURDAY 1:10pm)
(TENNESSEE) Their sound, deeply rooted in americana, bluegrass, and classic country, is an intense folk ocean with crystal blue waters that run deep. Brilliant songcrafters, the Everybodyfields won 1st place at the prestigious Merlefest Songwriters Contest (2005). Subtle soundscapes with a vein of rock and punk that is so well hidden, you don’t even know it’s there. They are masters at blurring the lines that separate various musical genres. Sam Quinn (vocals, bass and guitar), Jill Andrews (vocals, bass and guitar), and Dave Richey (dobro) have been playing together in their current incarnation for a few years, and and produced two amazing albums. Their recent release, Plague of Dreams, was recorded almost entirely in one day to capture the feeling of playing together. This affords a fluid, connected sound that you will not find when musicians are recorded separately onto a record. All the songs on this album are original, written by Jill and Sam.
carolina chocolate drops (SATURDAY 11:50am)
(CAROLINAS) When people think of African American music; Jazz, Gospel & Blues usually come to mind. Few people think of old time string band music. But the antebellum combination of Banjo and Fiddle used to be tradition in most rural communities of the south, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops lead the revival of this venerable tradition. They honed their skills under the tutelage of octagenarian Joe Thompson, said to be the last black traditional string band player. They play in the Piedmont style with the Banjo leading, vs. the Appalachia with the fiddle out front. Their music belongs to an era where music was not something to be sold, but something from the soul !!
honky tonk train (SATURDAY 10:30am)
(JOSHUA TREE) Honky Tonk Train plays a brand of music that is a freewheeling blend of atmospheric country and western, rockabilly rave-ups and great original songs. The band includes Bill Maresh on vocals, pedal steel guitar and electric guitar. Jane Allingham, on vocals and rhythm guitar, adds her distinctive and roots informed singing style as a real trademark of Honky Tonk Train’s unique style. Bill has applied his talents on session work for Jack Clement of Memphis Sun Studio fame, as well as contributing backup vocals on Johnny Cash’s “Mystery of Life” album. More recently you can check out Bill’s Pedal Steel Guitar playing on Dwight Yoakam’s new CD “Blame the Vain” on the cut “I’ll Pretend.” Honky Tonk Train is proud to announce the release of their new CD “Honky Tonk Train,” produced by Mitch Marine(drummer for Dwight Yoakam) with guitar touches from Keith Gattis and upright bass from Dave Roe (former Johnny Cash bassist).
the trespassers (SUNDAY 10:45am)
(YOSEMITE) The Trespassers are a string band from the Yosemite National Park area. Original music inspired both by the beauty of their wild surroundings and the decline of natural places like it. We trespass social and political boundaries, as well as the boundaries of musical genres. We write and cover songs influenced by bluegrass, old-time, and gypsy-jazz. Our aim is to travel around celebrating life, spreading a message of peace, love, respect, political revolution, social consciousness, and creative expression through song and dance!
Source: Joshua Tree
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