Summer music festival season kicks off next weekend
The 50th anniversary of Woodstock is getting a lot of ink this year, which isn’t surprising for a historic event that attracted half-a-million rock fans to upstate New York to see performances by legendary such acts as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Who, Ravi Shankar and the Grateful Dead. While it is an iconic event for live music and communal fellowship, it wasn’t the first public music festival in the United States.
The Newport Jazz Festival had been going strong in Rhode Island for 15 years before the hippie gathering on Max Yasgur’s farm. It wasn’t even the first rock festival. The Monterey Pop Festival took place on the West Coast two summers before Woodstock and featured a cross section of acts, including the above noted performers with many others like Otis Redding, Simon & Garfunkel and the Byrds.
Today, U.S. festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo are big business. They book some of the biggest names in music from the past and present and attract audience members from outside of North America.
However, for every highprofile national festival, there are dozens of regional, homegrown gatherings of music fanatics of every age, race and economic status. Dayton and the surrounding area don’t boast anything that well-known, but there are still plenty of topnotch events, from the local-musicfocused Sideshow 14 at Yellow Cab Tavern on Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25, or a mix of local, national and international acts like the Dayton Celtic Festival at RiverScape in Dayton July 26 through 28, or Bellwether at Renaissance Park in Waynesville on Aug. 9 and 10.
Here’s more info on those and other summer music festivals in the region. Sideshow 14
May 24 & 25
The annual volunteer-run festival of local music and visual arts returns to Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton. Show time is 5 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost: Free. 937-424-3870 or www.yellowcabtavern.com. Nowhere Else Festival May 24-26
Over the Rhine hosts this three-day event featuring James McMurtry, Carrie Newcomer, John Paul White, the Band of Sweethearts and others. Nowhere Else Farm, 190 Townsend Road, Martinsville. Gates open 4 p.m. Friday, VIP farm to table dinner at 5:30 p.m. and music at 7 p.m. 10 a.m. workshops Saturday and Sunday, music at 1 p.m. Cost: $90 single day full festival pass, $90 two-day discounted pass for teens, college students and active military service personnel. $150 two-day full festival pass, $500 threeday full festival pass. www. nowhereelsefestival.com.
Caesar Ford Summer Fest
June 1
Joe Diffie headlines the second annual country music event at Caesar Ford Park, 520 S. Stringtown Road, Xenia. 2:30 p.m. Gates open at 1 p.m. Justin Bryan, the Cleverlys and Mo Pitney will also perform. Cost: $50 stage front, $35 reserved seats and $25 general admission. gcparkstrails.com/summerfest. Dayton Jazz Festival June 9
The annual festival at Levitt Pavilion, South Main streets, between Fourth and Fifth streets, Dayton. 1-9 p.m. Cost: Free. www. levittdayton.org. SpiritSong
June 20-22
The annual contemporary Christian music festival features Toby Mac, For King & Country, Skillet, Crowder and others. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Cost: Threeday tickets are $90 by May 24, $96s May 25 through June 19 and $105 at the door. Three-day VIP gold tickets $117 by May 24, $127 May 25 through June 19 and $132 at the door. Three-day VIP platinum tickets $154 by May 24, $168 May 25 through June 19 and $175 at the door. spiritsongfest.com. Springsfest
July 6
Deerhunter, Amen Dunes, Post Animal and Grapetooth are among the acts performing at the annual music festival. John Bryan Community Center, 100 Dayton St., Yellow Springs. 11 a.m. Cost: Early bird tickets $50 before June 14. $60 general admission after June 13. www. springsfestival.com. Dayton Blues Festival July 14
The annual festival at Levitt Pavilion, South Main streets, between Fourth and Fifth streets, Dayton. 1-9 p.m. Cost: Free. www. levittdayton.org.
Dayton Celtic Festival July 26-28
Headliners include Gaelic Storm, Scythian, Rory Makem and Socks in the Frying Pan. RiverScape MetroPark, Dayton. 5:3011 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Cost: Free. www.daytoncelticfestival.com.
Canoegrass
Aug.2&3
This year’s lineup includes Controversy for Breakfast, Peaceful Sorrow, Unlawful and Highly Unlikely with returning fest faves the Repeating Arms and Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle. Masters Outdoor Retreat, 5486 State Route 47, Houston. Cost: $85 before June 30, $90 June 30-July 26, $95 July 27-29. Parking is $10 per vehicle. canoegrass.com.
Bellwether Music Festival
Aug. 9 & 10
The second annual festival features Beach House, Cold War Kids, Guided By Voices, Twin Shadow, Real Estate and more. Renaissance Park, 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville. Gates open at noon. Music starts at 2 p.m. Cost: $59 per day general admission, $99 for two-day general admission pass. VIP, camping, glamping and RV packages are available. The festival is rain or shine. www.bellwetherfest.com.
Miami Valley Music Fest Aug. 9 & 10
Musical acts and ticket prices had not been announced at press time for this annual event. Eagles Campground, 2252 TroyUrbana Road, Troy. www. miamivalleymusicfest.com. Festival of the Vine Aug. 10
The annual wine tasting event also features live music featuring opener New Basics Brass Band followed by Fo/Mo/Deep and Hot Tonic. Lincoln Park Civic Commons, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering. 3 p.m. Cost: Free. 937-296-3300 or www. fraze.com.
Dayton Funk Festival Aug. 11
The new music festival at Levitt Pavilion, South Main streets, between Fourth and Fifth streets, Dayton. 1-9 p.m. Cost: Free. www. levittdayton.org.
Wham Bam Thank U Jam
Aug. 16-18
The ninth annual festival features music on three stages, with performances by Arrows of Neon, Founding Fathers, Lemon Sky, RIND and others. Hannon’s Camp America, 8501 Camden College Corner Road, College Corner. www.facebook.com/ whambamthankujam. Dayton Reggae Festival Sept. 1
The annual festival closes the season of city-sponsored festivals Levitt Pavilion, South Main streets, between Fourth and Fifth streets, Dayton. 1-9 p.m. Cost: Free. www.levittdayton.org.