Lockn’ Festival 2017 Preview

Every year, Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia welcomes the Lockn’ Festival, one of the top jam fests in the country. And it returns, Thursday-to-Sunday, August 24th-27th....
Lockn'

Lockn' Festival 2017 Preview

Every year, Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia welcomes the Lockn’ Festival, one of the top jam fests in the country. And it returns, Thursday-to-Sunday, August 24th-27th:

 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24th

Main Stage

The String Cheese Incident, 11:00 PM

Colorado’s String Cheese Incident (QRO photos at a festival) had been one of the jam bands hardest working the road circuit, combining bluegrass and a whole host of other sounds. But after the 2007 departure of guitarist Bill Nershi following that summer’s tour, the band went into hiatus as they worked on their various solo projects. Only a couple of years later the group reunited for sporadic shows and touring (QRO photos). Now they come back to Virginia behind this year’s Believe.

The String Cheese Incident (QRO photos at a festival) have played every year of Lockn’ save last year (QRO photos at Lockn’ ‘15QRO photos at Lockn’ ’14) – and for ’17, they play two sets on Friday (see below).



Umphrey’s McGee, 10:00 PM

The String Cheese Incident


Umphrey's McGee


The String Cheese Incident, 9:00 PM



Umphrey’s McGee, 8:00 PM

The ‘progressive improvisation’ of Umphrey’s McGee (QRO photos at a festival) combines the live ways of such hippie legends as Phish and The Dead, with often-changing set lists, heavy live jam sessions, fanatic fans recording. Their more progressive-inspired music makes them a festival mainstay (QRO photos at a festival), including Lockn’ now four years in a row (QRO photos at Lockn’ ’16QRO photos at Lockn’ 15QRO photos at Lockn’ ’14), and twice on the Friday Main Stage (see above).
The String Cheese Incident


Umphrey's McGee

Also:

Kendall Street Company, 7:30 PM

Long Strange Trip, 3:00 PM

Kendall Street Company

Relix Stage

The Disco Biscuits, 12:00 AM

Coming up on the jam end of the electronica spectrum is The Disco Biscuits (QRO photos at a festival), who use electronic instrumentation and elements for jams (dubbed ‘trance fusion’ or ‘livetronica’). A mainstay of the festival circuit (including their own ‘Camp Bisco’ – QRO ‘13 recap), maybe they’ll introduce the hippies to electronica, and the ravers to jams.

Disco Biscuits

Terrapin Station Porch

DJ Jerrybrother, 1:05 AM



Nicole Atkins Band, 1:00 AM

While the hipsters may come from Brooklyn, Nicole Atkins (QRO interview) hails from Neptune City, New Jersey (QRO photos at a festival in New Jersey), which gave title to her first full-length (QRO review). After she split with her boyfriend & her major label, Atkins (QRO live review) landed on her feet in 2011 with Mondo Amore (QRO review). In 2014 she (QRO spotlight on) had a successful PledgeMusic campaign for Slow Phaser (QRO review), and Atkins (QRO live review) – who has since moved to much more Southern Nashville – did it again this year with Goodnight Rhonda Lee (QRO review).

Nicole Atkins

 

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25th

Main Stage

Phil Lesh, 11:00 PM

After the demise of Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead, the various members have done a lot else, but perhaps the most consistent has been Phil Lesh as ‘Phil Lesh & Friends’. The founding and only bassist of the many-membered Dead, of course Phil Lesh returns to Lockn’ for a fourth year in a row (QRO photos at Lockn’ ’16QRO photos at Lockn’ ‘15 QRO photos at Lockn’ ’14) twice on Friday (see below), closing out the first night with special guests including The Dead’s Bob Weir, The Terrapin Family Band, and Nicki Bluhm (QRO photos at a festival).
Phil Lesh
Gov’t Mule, 9:00 PM

Many festival jam bands draw their lineage back to sixties hippie bands like The Grateful Dead, but few as directly as Gov’t Mule (QRO photos). Originally begun as a side-project to the reformed Allman Brothers Band in the early nineties, Gov’t Mule right at the cusp of breaking out on their own in 2000 when bassist Allen Woody died. But guitarist Warren Haynes and drummer Matt Abts recovered to become a festival mainstay, featuring a rotating cast of guest members and being guest members, like Haynes’ work in The Dead. They (QRO photos outdoors) come to back to Lockn’ for a third time (QRO photos at Lockn’ ‘15) behind this year’s Revolution Come…Revolution Go – with special guest Ann Wilson of Heart.
Gov’t Mule
Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band, 7:00 PM

Before his headline set (see above), Phil Lesh (QRO photos at Lockn’ ’16) does an earlier set with The Terrapin Family Band.
Phil Lesh
Brandi Carlile, 6:00 PM

Singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile (QRO interview) has emerged alongside a whole new generation of socially minded melodic songstresses (QRO photos), and in 2015 she (QRO spotlight on) put out her latest (QRO photos outdoors), The Firewatcher’s Daughter. She comes to Lockn’ after having to cancel last year due to health issues.
Brandi Carlile
Jim James, 5:00 PM

The main man behind alt-country stars My Morning Jacket (QRO album review), who played Lockn’ last year (QRO photos of My Morning Jacket at Lockn’ ’16) and a member of the Monsters of Folk (QRO album review), Jim James stepped out solo in 2013 with Regions of Light and Sound of God (QRO review), which is just as good as your high expectations. Last year came Eternally Even, so Jeff Tweedy of headliner Wilco (QRO photos at Lockn’ ’14) better watch out – there’s a new king of alt-country (QRO live review)!
Jim James
Blackberry Smoke, 4:00 PM

The Suthron rock of Atlanta’s Blackberry Smoke (QRO photos) comes to Lockn’.

Blackberry Smoke

Relix Stage

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, 12:00 AM

Furthur drummer Joe Russo teams up with Marco Benevento, Ween’s Dave Dreiwitz, and more for a second year in a row at Lockn’ (QRO photos at Lockn’ ’16) to play the music of The Grateful Dead as Joe Russo’s Almost Dead twice (see below).
Joe Russo
Antibalas, 3:00 PM

Fusing the afrobeat sounds of percussion, trumpets, and clavinet, Antibalas the Afrobeat Orchestra (QRO photos outdoors) are known for their funkified confections.
Antibalas
Sinkane, 1:55 PM

Sudanese born Ahmed Gallab, a.k.a. Sinkane (QRO photos), has been getting bigger & bigger, such as running the Atomic Bomb! Band (QRO photos at a festival) playing the music of Nigerian electro-funk legend William Onyeabor, releasing 2014’s Mean Love and this year’s Live & Livin’ It.
SInkane
Also:

TAUK, 12:50 PM

Marcus King Band, 11:45 AM

Sun-Dried Opossum, 11:00 AM

TAUK

Terrapin Station Porch

DJ Jerrybrother, 1:05 AM

Midnight North, 1:00 AM

Danny Louis, 10:00 AM
Midnight North

 

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26th

Main Stage

Widespread Panic, 10:00 PM

After Jerry Garcia’s death, The Grateful Dead could no longer be the greatest road-warrior jam band out there (despite pseudo-reforming as just ‘The Dead’ – QRO photos). That status was taken up by Phish (QRO photos), but then they went into their cycles of break-ups & getting-back-togethers. Neither is currently working the road like the band you could most point to as their successor, Widespread Panic, who play their umpteenth festival at Lockn’ (which they’ve played every year, save last – QRO photos at Lockn ’15 QRO photos at Lockn’ 14).
Widespread Panic
John Fogerty, 8:30 PM

Lockn’ welcomes back America rock legend John Fogerty (QRO photos). He came to fame leading the seminal Vietnam War era protest rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, before having his own lengthy and successful solo career.
John Fogerty
John Butler Trio, 7:00 PM

California-born, Australian-bred roots man John Butler got his start busking in the streets down under. Now, over a decade-and-a-half later, he’s the face of the chart topping, multi-platinum selling Trio that took his name (QRO live review), and comes to Lockn’ (QRO photos).
John Butler Trio
Greensky Bluegrass, 5:30 PM

From Kalamazoo-zoo-zoo comes the progressive Greensky Bluegrass (QRO photos at a festival) – and yes, they play bluegrass (this ain’t File Under: Easy Listening…).
Greensky Bluegrass
Keller Williams, 4:00 PM

For every Lockn’ Festival, there has been “one-man jam-band” Keller Williams (QRO photos at Lockn’ ‘16QRO photos at Lockn’ ’15), who is a regular at many other festivals (QRO photos at a festival). And he also does his morning Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel on Sunday (see below).

Keller Williams

Relix Stage

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, 12:00 AM

Furthur drummer Joe Russo teams up with Marco Benevento, Ween’s Dave Dreiwitz, and more for a second year in a row at Lockn’ (QRO photos at Lockn’ ’16) to play the music of The Grateful Dead as Joe Russo’s Almost Dead twice (see above).
Joe Russo
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, 3:00 PM

Catch the Baltimore funk of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (QRO photos), road warriors who do something like 200 shows a year.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
The Suffers, 1:55 PM

On the Atlantic Seaboard, catch the Gulf Coast Soul of The Suffers (QRO photos), who come to Lockn’ behind last year’s self-titled debut full-length – and an appearance on The Daily Show.
The Suffers
Hiss Golden Messenger, 12:50 PM

Hiss Golden Messenger (QRO photos at a festival) has had a few lineup changes – it’s now a full group (QRO photos at a festival) led by M.C. Taylor and Scott Hirsch with a rotating band featuring members of Bon Iver, Megafaun and Mountain Man. The lush sound and introspective lyrics never feel overwrought and it’s in a live setting where the band really shines (QRO photos at a festival).
Hiss Golden Messenger
Also:

Los Colognes, 11:45 AM

Mighty Joshua, 11:00 AM

Los Colognes

Terrapin Station Porch

DJ Jerrybrother, 1:05 AM

Dirty Dozen Brass Band, 1:00 AMQRO photos

Holy Bowling, 10:00 AM
Dirty Dozen Brass Band

 

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27th

Main Stage

The Avett Brothers with Bob Weir, 9:30 PM

One of the bigger – and better – hits of today’s new Americana (QRO photos at a festival), The Avett Brothers (QRO photos at a festival) won a wide audience with 2009’s fine country of I and Love and You (QRO review), including playing on The Grammys with Bob Dylan, and followed that up in 2012 with The Carpenter (QRO review). Last year’s True Sadness (QRO review) did sort of show a limit to their ability, but their country is a perfect fit for Lockn’ (QRO photos at a festival), as they play with Grateful Dead legend Bob Weir (QRO photos at a festival).
The Avett Brothers
phil.moe, 8:00 PM

Phil Lesh & friends (QRO photos at Lockn’ ’16) team up with modern day jam legends moe. (QRO photos at a festival) as “phil.moe”.
moe.
The Revivalists, 7:00 PM

New Orleans seven-piece Americana rock band The Revivalists (QRO photos at a festival) were last year named one of Rolling Stone’s “10 Bands You Need To Know.” They return to Lockn’ for a second year (QRO photos at Lockn’ ’14).
The Revivalists
Margo Price, 6:00 PM

The Fader called Margo Price (QRO photos at a festival) “country’s next star.” There’s not a better place to find that out than at Lockn’, which she comes to after last year’s debut on Third Man Records, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter.
Margo Price
JJ Grey & Mofro, 5:00 PM

A mix of nearly every strain of American music, JJ Grey & Mofro take blues, rock, soul, funk, and much more into a jam festival favorite.
JJ Grey & Mofro
Also:

The Record Company, 4:00 PMQRO photos at a festival

The Record Company

Relix Stage

Moonalice with Jorma Kaukonen, 3:00 PM

Independent rock artists Moonalice return to Lockn’ (QRO photos at Lockn’ ‘15) – and play with fellow returnee Jorma Kaukonen (QRO photos of Jorma & Jack at Lockn’ ’15), who is best known for his work in Jefferson Airplane.
Moonalice
Also:

Eric Krasno Band, 12:50 PM

Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos, 12:10 PM

Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel, 10:30 AMQRO photos at Lockn’ ‘16

Keller Williams

Terrapin Station Porch

DJ Jerrybrother, 11:30 PM

Dirty Dozen Brass Band, 1:55 PMQRO photos

Melvin Seals, 10:00 AMQRO photos at Lockn’ ‘15
Melvin Seals

 

 

For festival website, go here: http://www.locknfestival.com/

Categories
Features

Album of the Week