Hookahville Confirms Lineup for Spring Festival

Article Contributed by press | Published on Friday, March 25, 2005

Hookahville, the Ohio festival institution celebrating its 11th year as a production, has confirmed the lineup for the Spring event Friday and Saturday, May 28-29 at Frontier Ranch Music Center in Kirkersville, Ohio.  Hosted by the Columbus, Ohio group, ekoostik hookah and their two nights of headlining shows, the two-day music and camping event features the talents of veterans of the improvisational music world, as well as some of the top younger talent the scene has to offer.

This year's lineup crosses genre boundaries blending talents of roots music to the diverse new school funk sounds. Saturday begins with the 'newgrass' of the Sam Bush Band, switches gears for Particle's 'space porn funk', takes a left turn at reggae with the seminal group The Wailers. Once the sun sets on Hookahville the lighting talents of Chris Kuroda, formerly the lighting director for Phish, will light up the stage each night.

Sunday afternoon's music begins with the 'high and lonesome' sound of Dr. Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys and takes a turn at the Big Easy for the driving, swamp funk of New Orleans' Galactic. Soul and steel meet at the crossroads when pedal steel virtuoso Robert Randolph and the Family Band take over for a mid-afternoon slot. Festival hosts ekoostik hookah close out each night.

Frontier Ranch's Historic Bluegrass Stage, which in its heyday had featured the old time sounds of Bill Monroe, Del McCoury, Earl Scruggs, and other bluegrass greats, will feature late night music both nights following the main stage performances. Drew Emmitt Band (of Leftover Salmon) will be jamming late night on both Saturday and Sunday nights. Multi-instrumentalist Brandon Creasman will act as late night emcee and strummer. Friday night Early Bird camping will feature music by Mike Perkins (of the Shantee).

Tickets for Hookahville are available now for $70 in advance (through April 30), $80 through Ticketmaster (May 1 - 28), and $90 at the gate. Sunday only tickets are available at the gate only for $55.  Early bird camping is available beginning Friday at 4 p.m. for an additional $25 fee, with paid festival admission.

Hookahville has designated camping areas for the handicapped, families and those with children; children 10 and under are admitted free, and the festival is an all ages event.  Camping is included in the price of admission, with primitive camping services available, bathrooms, medical staff, water are provided. Vendors are set up offering various cuisines as well as a wide variety of merchandise.

For more information on Hookahville, its history, photos, venue information, directions, and links to purchase tickets visit: http://www.hookahville.com.

Main Stage: Saturday May 28
12 PM-1:30 PM: Sam Bush Band
2 PM-3:30 PM: Particle
4 PM-6 PM: The Wailers
7 PM-11 PM: ekoostik hookah

Main Stage: Sunday May 29
12 PM-1:30 PM: Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys
2 PM-3:30 PM: Galactic
4 PM-6 PM: Robert Randolph & the Family Band
7 PM-11 PM: ekoostik hookah