Four Quick Things: Lockn’ Music Festival
–Written by Kevin Madert
As a kid, I always dreaded Labor Day. It meant summer was over and school was imminent – a one-two knockout punch. As I got older and began to accept the inevitability of all things in life, my dread diminished to a dull dislike. This would most likely have persisted for many years to come if it weren’t for a man named Dave Frey. Frey is the cofounder of Lockn’ Music Festival – a four-day, first class rock music experience at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia that took place for the first time early last September. Showing no signs of a sophomore slump, round two is slated for this weekend (the 4-7 of September) with headlining performances from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Allman Brothers, Phil Lesh & Friends, Umphrey’s Mcgee, and more. There’s far too much to highlight here, but read on to learn a little more about Lockn’ – the festival so good it has me excited for the end of the summer.
Insane Collaborations (Scheduled and Spontaneous)
As a self-described “interlocking music festival,” even a quick glance at the Lockn’ lineup yields a multitude of unique pairings and joint efforts. The funk-meets-jam String Cheese & The Gang set on Thursday night promises to be one of the band’s most interesting “incidents” to date, and the group of talented performers that forms Bill Kreutzmann’s Locknstep Allstars is mind-boggling. Perhaps even more exciting are the jams the festival won’t be announcing, and if last year is any indicator – Trey Anastasio spontaneously joining Furthur for an entire set comes to mind – the surprises in store this year are sure to be plentiful.
Local Love
Lockn’s commitment to supporting the commerce and culture of the surrounding area is once again on display. Rockn’ to Lockn’, the festival’s version of a battle of the bands, will see two Virginia-based bands – Erin and the Wildfire and People’s Blues of Richmond – play opening slots on the main stage. If you’re just as interested in food as music (and let’s be honest, food choices can make or break a festival experience), you needn’t worry; the plethora of options includes great local fare like the Blue Ridge Pizza Company and The Grapevine Restaurant. And craft beer lovers can rejoice over the Brewer’s Village, which will feature a wide array of selections from local breweries as well as some from further-off locations.
Late Nights, Early Mornings
The fun continues well after the main stage shuts down, with twice the offerings compared to last year’s less heralded late-night sets. The Triangle stage returns, this time around situated a short walk from most camping areas. Joining it is the new for 2014 Shakedown Stage, nestled just outside the venue and adjacent to the main vendor row. If a Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi acoustic set (my personal can’t-miss) doesn’t sound up your alley, or if you’re just not a nocturnal creature, fear not! You’ll have the opportunity to rise early and catch sets from the incorrigible Keller Williams three days in a row, beginning each morning at 11:00 am on the Triangle Stage.
Second-Year Improvements
The first Lockn’, while a hell of a good time, wasn’t without its hiccups. Over the last twelve months, Frey and co. did what many festivals inexplicably won’t: listened to their attendees’ constructive feedback and made several welcome changes. A quick look at the map (see below) shows a number of campsite changes. Organizers purchased a farm adjacent to the Oak Ridge property to ensure all campsites are no more than a half mile from the venue – a huge improvement from the mile-plus walks many campers had to tackle last year. Forest camping (almost an afterthought in 2013) has also been expanded. Perhaps the most patron-conscious decision made is the addition of a number of permanent water-refill stations. In my mind, these decisions are more than crowd-pleasers; they show Frey and the rest of the Lockn’ crew are serious about the long-term potential of their festival and its home at Oak Ridge Farm.
If you’re making last minute plans to attend Lockn’, tickets can be purchased here. All other relevant information can be found on the festival’s official site.