The winter months are usually a somber time for the jam band community, seeing as festivals like High Sierra, 10K, and Wakarusa don't roll around until the summer. These next couple months, however, seem to hold a lot more jam rock-centered festivals than in previous winters. It's sometimes nice to vamp on the same chord progression for an extended period of time and let the music build over it. All music is repetition, but this aspect provides equilibrium for many people. Some folks, whether they be Deadheads or not, are still very much rooted in the improv-based 60's rock n' roll scene. Many feel a connection to this type of music for different reasons, be it the counterculture, the drugs, or the peace and love vibe (although this hasn't been present in some of today's concert events). People of all ages are drawn to events like these to both be entertained and to take part in a mutual exchange of musical energy between their favorite bands and thousands of other fans. A common misconception is that a festival of this caliber implies an attempted Woodstock recreation with masses of tye-died flower children, but nowadays, the term jam band encompasses far more than Wah-driven psychedelia. Plus, many aren't held on farms or in parks. If you couldn't make it to Warren Haynes' Christmas Jam or Caribbean Holidaze, here are some upcoming jam band festivals that might catch your fancy... Read more »
Just because it's winter, there's no reason that a rock festival can't take place. The third installment of Florida's Open Grass Festival is scheduled to take place on January 9-10, a bit earlier than it's been the past couple of years. In addition to the date change, the event has been moved south from Brant Park in Lake Worth to the Old School Square in Delray Beach. The reason for this change is that the new location is more accessible. It's easier for tourists to find and the Old School Square is located in dowtown Delray. The festival, therefore, will be in closer proximity to restaurants and the like, with much more locals and tourists passing through. Delray also seems to be a more culturally driven community, and the event will likely thrive better in a location where the music is more appreciated. This will hopefully surpass last year's attendance of 1,000 by a large margin.
