RG 2008 Impressions

[jjwood64]

For the line to get onsite, a few suggestions to PB:

1.  Determine an official time that Olson Field opens.
2.  Have your maps, rows and labels already in place instead of waiting one day after two dozen vehicles were parked.
3.  Have one person onsite between 8 am and 8 pm to keep the line organized.

I had a great time camping in Olson prior to RG, but the first vehicles were lined up in Row B instead of A when looking at the map.  This error would not have happened had the maps, rows and labels were already in place.

[The Beatts]

For the line to get onsite, a few suggestions to PB:

1.  Determine an official time that Olson Field opens.
2.  Have your maps, rows and labels already in place instead of waiting one day after two dozen vehicles were parked.
3.  Have one person onsite between 8 am and 8 pm to keep the line organized.

I had a great time camping in Olson prior to RG, but the first vehicles were lined up in Row B instead of A when looking at the map.  This error would not have happened had the maps, rows and labels were already in place.

Good suggestions.

Wouldn't just handing out a number as people enter/get their wristbands and then have us directed to the end of the line work o.k., too? I realize that some people drop their vehicles off several days prior to Thursday even, but lock the gate maybe, open up at 8 a.m. Thursday and hand out the ticket when you get your wristband.

[amarti]

I've been thinking a lot about that Punch Bros set. What was that all about? Does anyone really dig that stuff? And for those who do, is it a love of the music, or more appreciation for the technical skills? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

For me, I always appreciate the musicianship - which the Punchers certainly have - but I need more than just technical skill. I need to hear a good song. I need to see energy on the stage. I need to see they're having fun.

I missed all of that with the Punch Bros. set.

[jjwood64]

While I wouldn't call the Punch Brothers set a dud, to these ears,
much of the material was too dry to keep a Summer crowd
interested.  I was hanging with a few friends in the back of the
board for the latter half of the set, and it was the one time of
the festival I heard far more conversations from the audience
than what was on stage.  It told me that Thile and company
lost a good portion of the crowd.

[TheBanjomatic]

I've been thinking a lot about that Punch Bros set. What was that all about? Does anyone really dig that stuff? And for those who do, is it a love of the music, or more appreciation for the technical skills? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

For me, I always appreciate the musicianship - which the Punchers certainly have - but I need more than just technical skill. I need to hear a good song. I need to see energy on the stage. I need to see they're having fun.

I missed all of that with the Punch Bros. set.

Personally, I think its a combination of the technical skill of everyone in the band + the quality of the composition. The problem as I see it, is that the music doesn't fit in with the festival vibe... people want to dance and smile and bop about. The Punch Brothers don't really play that kind of music, to me... its a thinking man's music. I love to listen to that CD straight through while driving, or with a pair of headphones. Its a journey to listen to, but you have to be up for the ride. That means being attentive to the music, and listening to it as a whole rather than just individual parts. When in a festival environment, you don't really get that, there's too much going on, and you only catch pieces.

Thats my 2 cents.

[jjwood64]

banjomatic, you summed it up very well --- much agreed!

[historyman]

It's really interesting seeing the different opinions here.

For example, jjwood, Laura Love's set last year was the weekend highlight for us.

Let your freak flag fly!!

[jjwood64]

historyman, I found Laura's "freak flag" bit to be thoroughly contrived,
and her vocals far too over-the-top for my taste.  Again, it's subjective!
I would up leaving 25 minutes into her set to catch a workshop
at the Wildflower Pavilon.

[BanZoid]

It's the little things, like getting Noam, Chris and Ben with Casey at the Wildflower.  Sublime.

[landshark]

I've been thinking a lot about that Punch Bros set. What was that all about? Does anyone really dig that stuff? And for those who do, is it a love of the music, or more appreciation for the technical skills? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

For me, I always appreciate the musicianship - which the Punchers certainly have - but I need more than just technical skill. I need to hear a good song. I need to see energy on the stage. I need to see they're having fun.

I missed all of that with the Punch Bros. set.

Personally, I think its a combination of the technical skill of everyone in the band + the quality of the composition. The problem as I see it, is that the music doesn't fit in with the festival vibe... people want to dance and smile and bop about. The Punch Brothers don't really play that kind of music, to me... its a thinking man's music. I love to listen to that CD straight through while driving, or with a pair of headphones. Its a journey to listen to, but you have to be up for the ride. That means being attentive to the music, and listening to it as a whole rather than just individual parts. When in a festival environment, you don't really get that, there's too much going on, and you only catch pieces.

Thats my 2 cents.

Well said. I agree.

[Dancin-feet]

Wowzers! What a great week we had!
THANK YOU Craig and all of the Planet, it was an amazing time.
We began with the Academy and were treated each day to instruction from wonderful teachers, I thought that I had died and gone to heaven when I found Daryl Anger teaching us one day!
I was surprised to find what a good teacher Jeremy Garrett from the String Dusters is, he knows his stuff!
We made so many more new friends and were able to jam with them and just enjoy being immersed in the music pre-festival. I feel that this is the very best possible way to spend a vacation!
Thank you, thank you!
The festival itself was wonderful. There was just not a bad set the entire 3 days!
We enjoyed the line-ups each day beginning with Spring Creek, Mike Marshall & Darol Anger,The Steeldrivers, Russ Barenberg & Bryan Sutton; John Cowan Band;  Béla Fleck & Friends,Dan Tyminski Band, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas & Edgar Meyer
.. and this was just the first day! Not a bad set this day.. or any day.
The highlights for me were: Instrument Contest Finals
Chatham County Line, Infamous Stringdusters, Psychograss, Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet, Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy- this was an incredible set, what talent!
I too love the talent in the Punch Brothers but I am not a fan of watching their set.
The GarrettGrass Gospel Extravaganza was the best gospel set that we have heard,
The Stairwell Sisters are such a fun group, Adrienne Young Band, well Adrienne is just so sweet and so very talented, JD Crowe & The New South was a treat, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band were fun, the Carolina Chocolate Drops stole the show adn I am certain that we would all love to see them again! And the Sam Bush Bluegrass Band was outrageous! Loved the ending for sure!
All in all there was a lot more instrumentation this year and I liked this.
We were floating down the river during Brokedown Palace and I was thinking that this is just the best place on the planet to be!

I too found that there seemed to be a lack of organization with the vehicle lineup this year and in addition there was a miscommunication with the festival vehicle parking. A friend was #5 in line and was told to park by the road at the back of the festival in a VW pop-up van while several other VW pop-up vans were allowed close to the entrance. This friend has a bad ankle and would have benefited from camping closer, it was very frustrating for her and more so when she saw the number of others that came in after her that were able to park closer.

My second concern is the campground porta potties, I would like to see them serviced more, especially during academy and then more often during the festival. They were pretty nasty a lot of the time.

The third concern was the line waiting after the show for the lottery numbers. I know that the Planet can hand out the numbers at any time after midnight, but isn't the numbering system designed to keep us off of the highway at night? On Friday night we were lined up on the highway until 3:37 a.m. and it seemed like it would have been better to just have had us spend the whole night in line instead of having so many folks hanging out waiting for numbers. The crowd was uneasy waiting so long, so many enjoy sharing picks in the campground. Above all it just seems to be a safety concern.... I know that this will be in a thread and I do not mean to start anything, but it did concern me waiting on a highway so late at night.

[Dean]

At its best, Planet Bluegrass creates moments like these.

Django's Daughters

[reikipam]

Some kudos need to go out to Planet Bluegrass right here.
1- Prices for 3 days of music are reasonable
2- It's great that they are doing their thing for sustainability.  I like that you paid $6 for a beer glass and could reuse at a discount
3- For the most part it is an organized event (aside from the numbers)
4- People are really laid back and fun
5- Music is varied enough (although I did have my issues with some acts).  I hope that it stays the path and doesn't end up like Telluride.  It's nice to have a true BLUEGRASS event
6- It's a wonderful space to listen to music
7- For someone who didn't line up for numbers, I got a nice space all three days.  Had shade most of the time, and it's wonderful to be able to move around and share tarps if the need arises
8- Loved the free filtered water.  Wish other outdoor events would do this.


I didn't camp, although next year I would like to.     I parked at Bohn Park, but it was too far to walk with all of my stuff.  The shuttle buses are too small, and I didn't like that the first one didn't start till 8am.    I ended up paying to park at the ATV rental across from the festival.  It was significantly more than parking at the Festival lot, but for convenience, it was worth it.

So, aside from the issues, my first experience was wonderful, loved it.    I do have tickets to Folks Fest and I'll see how that goes.   I went last year for only one day, but am going for all 3 days this year.

Thanks for great summer music.

 

 Listening to: Peter Rowan

[apollo]

Some kudos need to go out to Planet Bluegrass right here.

And let's hear for the stage crew as well. Great sound, great ability to turn acts over, I didn't see one goof up the entire weekend. It's not easy to make it look it so effortless. 



 Listening to: Blue Diamond Mine- Kathy Mattea

[Hooch]

Well, I'll briefly repeat a lot of what's been said already:

Carolina Chocolate Drops - Yay!

Punch Brothers - Eh.  Wrong venue for that type of music.

Sam Bush - Always great.

Edgar Meyer - The dude works that bass like no one I've ever seen.

Donnell Leahy - He made that fiddle his bitch!

Bacon - I love it!

Weather - Freekin' Hot!

Maple the Dog upstaging Sam Bush - Priceless!

Overall Festival Experience - Excellent.  Very little to really moan about.  I would like to reiterate the comment about the porta-pots needing more servicing.  I would also highly recommend that Planet Bluegrass reduce the amount of vehicle passes in the on-site camping area.  I know it's convenient and many people do need one, but more people don't need one.  It's too much like a parking lot and people are taking up more than their share of space.

Thanks to all the Planet folks for their hard work organizing a great festival!