The final additions and tweaks have been made to the JamCruise schedule, which means we’re getting into the home stretch. Jamuary is right around the corner!
One of the best things about the cruise is the interaction with the musicians on the boat, and getting to chill with them in close quarters. Whether it’s the opportunity to sing your favorite karaoke song with members of Umphrey’s McGee backing you, or playing Bingo with Jon Fishman or Trombone Shorty calling out the numbers, the schedulers always do a great job of coming up with fun activities for the cruisers and getting the musicians involved. READ MORE
facebook.com/Lastortugasfestival
Las Tortugas has added a few artists to the bill for this year’s festival; Yonder Mountain String Band has been added to the headlining slot and Nathan Moore, Blue Turtle Seduction and New Fangled Wasteland were added to help support. This year’s lineup looks pretty fun for the California fans, especially the crew of folks that head their way up to High Sierra every year. Lots of artist crossover and idyllic setting will make for an awesome weekend.
One of our favorite things about Las Tortugas – Dance of the Dead V is keeping the surprises coming. We are beyond pleased to announce the addition of the newgrass crew, Yonder Mountain String Band. YMSB will perform on Halloween itself. Early bird ticketing has been extended until to September 10 to give fans of all the recent additions to the lineup – Yonder, Nathan Moore, Blue Turtle Seduction, New Fangled Wasteland – a chance to get discounted tickets. Onsite camping at Evergreen Lodge is still available as well. Tickets are now $175 until September 10th. Also, kids 10 and under are FREE! BUY TICKETS.Onsite camping is still available and can be secured by calling the Lodge at 209-379-2606.
Read on for the full lineup. READ MORE
I’ve been excitedly following the updates from Nathan Moore’s spontaneous tour through Northern California, dubbed the Hippy Fiasco Tour. What started with two iPhones and a lack of proper cell phone reception has turned into a High Sierra family reunion of sorts, with the crew getting treated to custom t-shirts, beer from Lagunitas Brewery, and a wonderfully welcome vibe from the fans in the area that are making sure that Nathan is staying busy and hopefully recouping some costs from his festival jaunt out here in the first place. When I first heard of this I immediately thought best to help out wherever possible, and the first thing that came to mind was that I really want to pack the Connecticut Yankee tonight when the tour rolls back through San Francisco. READ MORE
It’s not surprise that social media has really changed the way many artists can make a living these days. Take for instance the case of Nathan Moore, the solo artist and frontman for Surprise Me Mr. Davis — the man has been able to organize a Bay Area “tour” in the matter of 36 hours after he flew out to California to play the Mystic Garden Party…
From JamBase…
When he flew in to perform at an established festival in California this past weekend and discovered most of the main artists had pulled out for fear of not being paid, he did what Nathan Moore does best – he jumped in with both feet. “I think they need me,” he told his manager when discussing the options. So, he went, knowing that like most artists struggling to make ends meet on tour he risked losing money yet again. The festival meltdown illustrates the impact of hard times on festivals, musicians and fans alike, and Moore’s attitude shows he takes his role as everybody’s troubadour to heart.
I love the spontanaiety of it all and it’s cool to see Nathan has some friends up here in the Bay Area to help him stay busy this week and recoup some of his plane ticket and transportation costs coming out West. I’ll be at the Yankee on Friday night barring any unforeseen changes in that plan.
Hippy Fiasco Rides Again: A Spontaneous Nathan Moore Tour
Tuesday, July 27: The Downlo, Chico CA, 7:00-? $7
Wednesday, July 28: 8240 Bodega Hwy. Sebastapol CA (park on the left) 7:00 $10
Thursday, July 29: McNears, 21 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma CA 8:00 free plus DoughNation
Friday, July 30: Connecticut Yankee, San Francisco CA, 10:00 $10
Saturday, July 31: private affair
Sunday, August 1: A semi private party at the compound in Oakland, call hot line for details, Doors 4:00, Music 6:00, $10 Donation.
Monday, August 2: TBA, working on it- Santa Cruz CA beach party? Tea and crumpets in San Jose? Anyone? Call the hotline!
Photo by Andy Gadiel
My High Sierra High is dwindling. I have taken multiple showers, the dirt is almost completely off my feet and my sleep schedule is almost back to normal. Friends keep asking me about how my festival experience was, what bands I saw and what ridiculous costumes I wore. There was so much magic that happened in those few days up in Quincy, and yet I can’t stop thinking about Surprise Me Mr. Davis’s set at the infamous Camp Harry.
Now, I think at this point, I should let the reader know, that I am half way through the Po Bronson book, What Should I Do With My Life, and I have been thinking a lot about my own purpose in life. My hippie friends tell me it is part of my Saturn Return, my therapist tells me its a quarter life crisis, and my parents tell me not to do anything rash. Whatever it is, it all seemed to come together while I was huddled in a circle around Camp Harry at 1:30 in the morning, freezing cold, rocking a leopard snuggie that I borrowed from my friend Neal, exhausted…and yet I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
READ MORE
surprisememrdavis.com
I can’t wait for High Sierra time to roll around so I can see The Slip, Marco Benevento and Nathan Moore all cobble themselves together in a band that you’ve already heard of known as Surprise Me Mr. Davis. They’re focusing on the West Coast ahead of and behind the festival, so I’ll have a chance to see them more than a few times that week.
June 24 | Tractor Tavern | Seattle, WA (w/ Marco Benevento Trio)
June 25 | Doug Fir Lounge | Portland, OR (w/ Marco Benevento Trio)
June 26 | Axe & Fiddle | Cottage Grove, OR (w/ Marco Benevento Trio)
July 1 | High Sierra | Quincy, CA
July 3 | High Sierra | Quincy, CA
July 6 | Cafe Du Nord | San Francisco, CA
July 7 | Moe’s Alley | Santa Cruz, CA
August 19 | Fox Theater | Boulder, CO
August 20 | Three 20 South | Breckenridge, CO
August 21 | Newhoma Music Festival | Florissant, CO
No offense to the promoters behind this year’s Las Tortugas Music Festival, but they clearly did not do their homework and decide to hold off this year given that they’ll be in direct competition with the Phish Halloween celebration dubbed Festival 8. It’s a good lineup and all, even if it’s about a 90% overlap of all the artists that just played High Sierra, but I just don’t see their festival selling enough tickets this year to justify the cost. That said, I do know one or two folks that still don’t care for Phish and may consider something like this instead, but to any of those folks my response is simple.
REALLY?
Wait…………….REALLY?
Are you sure?
SERIOUSLY?
Okay, well carry on then. Lineup after the jump. READ MORE
