Horning’s Hideout, and the Shakedown on the countdown…

I just got back from NWSS at Horning’s and the weekend totally F’n rocked!!! There were more than twice as many people as last year, and the weather held through to Sunday. We all got pissed on a bit for Sunday afternoon. Personally, I can’t stand the rain, but that sure didn’t stop me and everybody else from coming out to jam to Yonder. Horning’s has to be my favorite venue for a festival. I mean it’s beautiful with all the foliage. We’re not talking anything like the bigger festies that consist of some flat stretch of deserted farmland.



This venue has a beautiful lake that you can swim in and boats to ride in, lots of streams, and more than enough shade that you could ever ask for. They even have showers!!! The amphitheater includes all but one, but is perfectly situated in a bowl so it’s virtually impossible to not get a good view. Then there’s plenty of room by the stage to get your groove on. I’m pretty sure the capacity caps out at around 5-6000. But hell, who needs more people than that. The management is on top of just about everything in every aspect. And if you spend enough time on the trail, you’ll run into the owner (Bob Horning) who’ll come kick it with you. Believe it or not, the security is pretty laid back as well. Watch out with coming in though, some people got their beers swiped.



They have a big legal dispute going on that’s already causing havoc for us festival kids. Some local schwag neighbors are trying to shut the place down. I don’t get it…So the worst case scenario is, this summer will be the last where Horning’s is allowed to throw so many larger fests all around the same time. So what’s left for the summer there is the, North West Reggae Fest, SCI’s Show, Pickathon, and The Skakedown Fest.

I’ve done the SCI and Pickathon last year, but am really looking forward to the ending festie…The Shakedown.



Again, it’s going down 8/26-8/27, and tickets are still under $100 and kids under 12 are free!!!. Jump on tickets soon though, as prices will jump to $117 at some point closer to the show. The lineup goes like this… Michael Franti and Spearhead, Galactic, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Hydra featuring Mickey Hart & Particle, Soulive, Sage Francis, DJ Logic, Robert Walter's Super Heavy Organ, Skerik’s Syncopated Taint, Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, Benevento Russo Duo, The Big Wu, Global Funk, Green Lemon, Flowmotion, Big Island Shindig, “BIG E” (Eric Scheiterman) of Asbury Park, & Stevi Marie.



I’d have included pictures I took from the NWSS, but need to upload them to my server. So, I’ve included some links to both the fest site and Horning’s site.



Do I have any takers???



http://www.shakedownfest.com/

http://www.horningshideout.com/default.php