Gifting sprouts has become popular with festival attendees recently. The little green shoots are exchanged as a token symbolizing hope for a new friendship. The sprout is a new beginning, but it needs good ground, sun, and water to flourish. Festivals too are like the sprout. They need the right balance of an excellent location and vendors providing the foundation, sunny, warm entertainers, and the flow of patrons. Jamboozled 2024 was a first-time festival held at the Country Ranch in Mendota, Illinois, this September.
The pre-party started Thursday with Josh Robson performing his one-man act on the Jam stage inside the main building. Josh uses looping tracks, playing many instruments, accompanying himself. Due to technical difficulties, the young performer ended up providing entertainment in the main building for most of the afternoon. His endless energy and broad talent provided an exceptional start to the day.
Next up, Tortuga took to the Groove stage. The Groove was an interesting affair. A rodeo ring complete with bullpens and grandstands now had vendors and sound equipment. Normally the small wooden structure built over the ring’s entrance holds Mariachi bands. Now it plays host to bluegrass and jam bands. Tortuga literally "rocked" as the wind picked up, but the music got our spirits going.
Following Tortuga on the Groove stage was the surprise hit of day one, The Simsons. The four-man act featured Neil Denault (guitar), Dakota Donaldson (bass), Jake Klossing (drums), and the amazing Regie Bannerman on tenor sax. Musicians throughout the venue made their way to listen as the group poured out soulful bluesy jazz. Someone in the crowd yelled out "Sheets of Sound." Regie smiled at the comparison to Coltrane, then unleashed another torrent to drive the point home.
Ear Dose closed out night one on the Jam Stage in high form. The band got the house on its feet, grooving to the funky tunes we have come to expect from the group. As the night wore on and the band closed out the main stage, musicians took out acoustic instruments and jammed into the wee hours.
Day two started off with hand drumming on the main stage. Serene and calming, it was a wonderful way to rejuvenate with a cup of coffee. Keeping in the same laid-back mode for the morning, Bam Jand took over and got us grooving right up to Beaver Weedbreath, another one-man band.
Out on the Groove stage, Sturg and Friends shook up the rodeo ring as the heat of the day was cooled by the rising wind. The late bands started to show up, getting ready to take the stages for a big evening of music.
The venue sound engineer had never dealt with professional bands, or any rock bands, so sound quality had been a little hit-and-miss on the main stage. (The bands themselves ran the Groove Stage sound.) Additionally, miscommunication had left the event without the normal support staff; stage management, gate staff, parking attendants, and security were all missing. This is where our community showed its brilliant character. Many band members stepped up to help with the sound system, the standout being Sam Kinnies of Corn Fish, who spent his weekend at the main stage working with each band to get the sound perfect. Bands themselves ran the Groove Stage, but for the large Main Stage, Elix Smith of Earth Radio and Broken Robots stepped up to help get the bands on and off the stage. The unpaid volunteers covered the gate, parked the cars, and even cleaned the grounds and bathrooms to keep the event on course. And as any true music lover would understand, there was no need for security.
As the sun went down, the big stars hit the stages. At the Groove stage, Lost Pyramids brought us a psychedelic treat. The band is known for groovy interpretive tunes and always makes music that is happy. Downers Grove continued the happiness, setting up the closer on the Groove stage, Funkinetics.
If you have never seen Funkinetics, you have been missing out! Tight grooves, soulful riffs, and tight ensemble playing make for an enjoyable concert wherever they play. Their fan base sparkled in the cool night air as the band jammed their hearts out. Seeing such a top-notch band squeeze into a 10x10 box left me amazed. The gentle giant bass player Martin Gallegos filled the left side, while Steve Gyure’s drum set occupied the rear of the platform. This left little space for guitarist Kevin Dolle and John Fister to put on their normally physical show. Yet the band of professionals rocked it like they were on the main stage at Lollapalooza.
I bounced between stages, trying to get as many acts covered as possible, and cut through the event's third stage, the Basement. Here techno thumped and lights swirled as patrons danced the night away. The crowd seemed to enjoy the scene, and it gave me insight into the genre. Each time I passed the place was hopping and people were having fun, just what the event wanted for them.
On the main stage, the night's entertainment was living large. The night sets began with Daft Phish, a truly accomplished Phish cover band. The sound was spot on, and the place got the jump-start the night needed. Following up came Rock & Rye and EGI. Solid sets from bands that never fail to bring a smile to your face, and the perfect setup to the night's main attraction, the Joe Marcinek band.
Joe Marcinek does not know how to put on a bad show. I have never seen him without his trademark smile and happy demeanor, and his band has the same attitude. The band took the stage and gave one of the best shows I have seen them play. The highlight for me was hearing Ola Timothy sing "Hey Joe." Wow, the depth of talent this band has is not to be underestimated.
Playing with Joe and most of the other bands this weekend was a never-ending bundle of energy known as Kowan Turner. This young man was constantly running from stage to stage and sitting in or just plain out gigging with as many bands as he could. His drumming skills are par excellence, and he never showed any sign of fatigue (oh to be young again). I was able to slow him down long enough for a picture and asked how he was. "Busy," he answered me with a big smile and a little laugh.
The night ended with Earth Radio. It was my first time seeing Earth Radio, and I was extremely impressed. The band started the set with a didgeridoo, letting me know I was in for a treat. Their sound is blissful and moody all at once, drawing the listener into the sound. Difficult to categorize, their music speaks for itself. Once the set was over, the band set off for a makeshift stage set up under a canopy outside where they played into the night.
Unfortunately, the event suffered a severe setback that had no remedy. Due to lack of communication and the remote location, no food vendors came to the event and no local vendors could be obtained. Many planned their weekend around vended food, so when none was available, fans and bands chose to leave early. Some bands cancelled before playing. This left voids at the stages with fewer acts around, and fewer fans for the bands to entertain.
Saturday brought another glorious morning as the sun rose over the cornfields. The weather had turned to early fall, and at the Groove stage, fans were treated to Flabbrgastor, Whuzy, and Arnica Montana, all solid performances. Inside at the Jam stage, Eminence Ensemble and Fluffy were big hits with their fans.
As the sun began to set, Broken Robots took to the outside stage and put on an inspired set despite the dropping temperature and rising wind. Knowing they would be the last act on the outside stage, they played an extra-long set. I was overjoyed.
Inside, Baron Von Future, a futuristic performance act, began what would end up being the last act on the main stage. The band uses lights, sound, and projected imagery to create a total immersive experience. They allowed a young lady and her hoop up on stage. I was late to the show and believed she was part of the act, proving they are very organic. I had reached the end of my energy, so I went to catch a quick nap. My wife was enjoying Baron Von Future, so I asked her to wake me when they finished so I could see the last act. When she woke me, it was to say the Baron was the last act. After I left, the crowd thinned to just her, but Baron Von Future continued to play, finishing out their show. Again, I was reminded of the professionalism I witnessed at the event.
If the musicians are represented by the sun, then the festival was bright and shiny, full of wonderful people who showed me they could weather any storm. The fans did what the best fans do: came out to support their favorite bands and find new bands to follow. They truly set the event awash in good vibrations and happy thoughts, but if the ground is barren, it can quickly absorb all the good. The venue has a long way to go if any events are to ever happen there again. With just a little help from the volunteers and production staff, it shaped up well, but the general evidence of neglect and an attitude of indifference made it impossible for this event to succeed.
Who knows what a little sprout may grow into? Year one, we are always hopeful and tolerant, hoping for the best. For those of us lucky enough to witness this event, what we really got was a display of the true resilience of our musical family. This sprout may have landed on a rocky foundation, but the musicians and fans really made it special. With care and a little work, it could easily grow.
