7 Reasons for Rothbury's Return

1.Lax Security
There was an amazing amount of illegal activity during this festival weekend, but I don’t think even a quarter of it was cited by the authorities. I’m not a party pooper at all. I’m just saying that if people are able to openly consume and sell drugs without being punished, why wouldn’t you want to come to a place that allows you to do so for four days straight?

2.Good music
Four days worth of music is a lot to book, but for the first festival, I think the acts were solidly picked. There was a good mix of genres that were all well accepted by the massive audience. It’s amazing to be at a festival where you can watch Sam Beam from Iron and Wine, then head over to check out Snoop Dogg, then stick around to catch 311.

3.Good People
This is probably due to the first two reasons, but the audience that the acts draws are typically non-violent individuals. Security’s main function, in essence, is to identify the few troublemakers and make sure that they are not going to cause a problem. After four days of walking around in a mass of 50,000 people, there wasn’t one of them in a bad mood.

4.Good location
Double JJ Ranch is in the middle of nowhere. Which is good (unless you are in need of a Wal-Mart to develop photos). The festival site is in a forest and the campsites are all on empty fields. There’s the Wildcat Lake just inside the grounds, and Lake Michigan 20 minutes away. When John Mayer can break out of his hallucinations and realize how great the festival is…that says a lot.

5.Good weather
This last weekend was certainly a fluke, with all four days sunny and 75. But western Michigan is a good location for a summer concert with temperatures not likely to get about 85 degrees, and also provide a cool breeze at night. There is just enough sun to get you tan, but not enough to make you too sweaty.

6.Good prices
Though $250 may seem like a lot of money to pay for a concert, when you consider that you are paying for a campsite and four days worth of music…it’s a great deal. I was less than 50 feet away from John Mayer and Dave Matthews, and that alone would have cost me more than what I paid for the whole weekend. It’s a great option for a July 4th weekend getaway.

7.Contract
Of course, all this talk is irrelevant to why Rothbury will return next year. Double JJ Ranch and Madison House are contracted for at least one more year of Rothbury. So make plans now to attend next year, especially if you want to sleep in a cabin and get backstage.

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Rothbury: Day 1

It's officially Friday in the quiet village of Rothbury, Michigan. The night sky is clear, and the stars are shining brightly. The atmosphere is peaceful with the sounds of a babbling brook, sleepy bugs, and...Disco Biscuits?

Lots of good music today! And the best part is...I've never heard of any of these bands. Check them out, and I'm sure you'll find something you enjoy.


Greensky Bluegrass is not your traditional hoe-down gig. Though they front the stage with a stand-up bass, mandolin, and slide guitar, the audience expects nothing but good tunes and rock and roll...and they aren't left wanting. The only downside to this group...they're from Kalamazoo.


Underground Orchestra, from Los Angeles, had the whole crowd grooving. With the electronic melodies backed by a powerful bass line and the additional percussion, their blend of sounds went unmatched today.


Perpetual Groove may look like a bunch of old guys from Georgia (which they are), but their name is not misleading. It's a funk/rock fusion that Miles Davis would be proud of...in the 70's.

Zappa Plays Zappa was truly the most eclectic act of the afternoon. As I came closer to their stage, I could have sworn I heard dueling jazz xylophones...though I could have been experiencing a second-hand hallucinogen. These guys brought it, and the crowd definitely couldn't get enough.

Finally, Disco Biscuits truly could not have been appreciated more as the first band to play in the dark at Rothbury. They drew the biggest crowd of the day (basically because you could hear their music all the way in my tent: which is way far away) and they were roaring well into Friday morning. They had a nice mix of disco, obviously, funk and jazz. They even slowed down for a ballad. Great show!

Now I have been taking pictures and documenting other happenings here at Rothbury, but unfortunately the closest photo development store is 20 minutes away and, well, it's 12:30 in the morning. I'll repost this tomorrow with pictures of the bands.


The "everyday shenanigans" post will have to wait until tomorrow. But you really don't know what to expect until you see these pictures.










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They have me surrounded

Okay, so I made it across the hand to Rothbury!

I definitely should have thought about what time I left today. I am so far away from the entrance that I can barely stand it. I feel like I'm at fat camp.

Anyway, I'm not allowed to have a digital camera. So I stopped by K-mart and bought a couple disposables. This is something else I should have thought about.

I've already gone through half a camera after walking around the camp site for about an hour. There are some characters here and I feel out of place with hair that isn't on my shoulders...or that has been washed lately.

Other than that, my tent is pitched in a corn field...which is surprisingly comfortable. And I don't think I will see a shower head for the next four days.

So much for making a friend.

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