Lockn’ Festival 2016 Preview

Lockn' Festival 2016 Preview

In 2013, Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia welcomed the first Lockn’ Festival, and it’s still going strong, four days at the end of August, Thursday to Sunday, 25th to 28th:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25th

Ween, 10:00 PM Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo form Ween (QRO live review), which had been one of the more enduring and out there acts out there, with a wide-ranging fan base more typical of jam bands. They had a jam band-like longevity – twenty-eight years until Freeman had to call it quits in 2012. But you push th’ little Ween without making them come up, as they’ve reunited this year for a handful of shows, including two nights at Lockn’ (QRO photos at a festival).

Umphrey’s McGee, 8:30 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 three years in a row (QRO photos at Lockn’ 15 – QRO photos at Lockn’ ’14).

Vulfpeck, 7:30 PM The minimalistic, raw funk of Vulfpeck plays two nights at Lockn’ ’16.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – Blue Ridge Bowl, 1:00 AM Furthur drummer Joe Russo teams up with Marco Benevento, Ween’s Dave Dreiwitz (who’s also playing Lockn’ with Ween – see above & below), and more to play the music of The Grateful Dead as Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.

EOTO – The Woods, 12:00 AM Electronics go live with Boulder, Colorado’s EOTO (QRO photos at a festival). The duo of Jason Hann and Michael Travis perform without a script or loops.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26th

Phish, 8:30 PM While The Grateful Dead have variously reunited after the death of frontman Jerry Garcia, the crown of number one jam band in the world has been passed to Vermont’s Phish (QRO photos), who reclaimed it after they reunited themselves in 2009, following a five-year hiatus. That reunion included a new studio album, Joy, but the real discography is in their countless live recordings (something else they share with the original Dead). The neo-hippie fanbase can turn the rest of the world off, but you don’t need to know all the details of Gamehendge, or be nicely toasted, to enjoy Phish (QRO photos). And considering they can throw three-day events all on their own (QRO photos), they can certainly headline two nights at Lockn’.

Ween, 6:00 PM Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo form Ween (QRO live review), which had been one of the more enduring and out there acts out there, with a wide-ranging fan base more typical of jam bands. They had a jam band-like longevity – twenty-eight years until Freeman had to call it quits in 2012. But you push th’ little Ween without making them come up, as they’ve reunited this year for a handful of shows, including two nights at Lockn’ (QRO photos at a festival).

Peter Wolf, 4:45 PM What do you know Peter Wolf best from? Lead vocalist for the J. Geils Band? His solo career with writing partner Will Jennings? Being married to Faye Dunaway in the seventies? Whatever it is, it’s an impressive legacy.

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, 3:30 PM The ‘Screaming Eagle of Soul’, Charles Bradley is one of the many great soul singers to emerge from Brooklyn’s DapTone Records, which also brought the world Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (QRO live review) and Budos Band (QRO album review), but Bradley more than stands on his own, from festivals (QRO photos at a festival) to hotels (QRO photos at a hotel) to topping the bill at the one-and-only Apollo Theater (QRO photos)!

White Denim, 2:30 PM Out of Austin’s psychedelic rock scene comes White Denim (QRO live review at home in Austin), but they’re more accessible than most psych-rock (QRO live review), if also correspondingly less inspired (QRO photos at a festival). They come to Lockn’ behind this year’s Stiff (QRO review).

Vulfpeck, 1:30 PM The minimalistic, raw funk of Vulfpeck plays two nights at Lockn’ ’16. Also: Turkuaz, 12:30 PM Moogatu, 12:00 PM

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – Blue Ridge Bowl, 1:00 AM Furthur drummer Joe Russo teams up with Marco Benevento, Ween’s Dave Dreiwitz (who’s also playing Lockn’ with Ween – see above), and more to play the music of The Grateful Dead as Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Also: Circles Around the Sun – The Woods, 12:00 AM DJ Logic – The Woods, 2:00 AM Donna the Buffalo – Blue Ridge Bowl, 11:00 AM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27th

My Morning Jacket, 10:20 PM The current alt-country wave has lifted the boats of bands that had already been doing it for a long time, such Wilco (QRO live review) and My Morning Jacket (QRO live review). The Louisville outfit, fronted by singer/guitarist Jim James, doesn’t have to just play it sweet, but also keep the rock. They reached the bigger time with 2008’s Evil Urges (QRO review) and 2011’s Circuital (QRO review), but are still growing – even had a whole episode of American Dad about/with them (okay, not Family Guy, but still…). Having already hit the big time (QRO photos outdoors), they can definitely handle headlining Lockn’ (QRO photos headlining a festival), which they come to after last year’s release of their latest, The Waterfall.

Tedeschi Trucks Band, 8:20 PM Husband-and-wife duo Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi front the Tedeschi Trucks Band (QRO photos), a rare male-female duo where the woman gets first billing. The Grammy Award-winning blues-rock outfit have played Lockn’ every year it’s been around (QRO photos at Lockn’ 15 – QRO photos at Lockn’ 14).

Phil Lesh & Friends, 6:40 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 third year in a row (QRO photos at Lockn’ 15 – QRO photos at Lockn’ ’14) for two nights.

Brandi Carlile, 5:40 PM Singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile (QRO interview) has emerged alongside a whole new generation of socially minded melodic songstresses (QRO photos), and last year she (QRO spotlight on) put out her latest (QRO photos outdoors), The Firewatcher’s Daughter.

Hard Working Americans, 4:10 PM Lockn’ welcomes rock ‘n’ roll supergroup Hard Working Americans (QRO photos), which includes Todd Snider, Dave Schools from Widespread Panic (QRO photos at Lockn’ 15), Neal Casal of Chris Robinson Brotherhood (see below) and more.

Galactic, 2:40 PM Hailing from New Orleans, Galactic (QRO photos at a festival) is a five-man funk band. They combine traditional jazz with brass-heavy funk that’s much like the city’s signature sound. Thrown into the mix are their cutting edge, ‘new school’ horns and the regional hip-hop known as New Orleans Bounce. Galactic (QRO photos at a festival) succeeds in producing a sound that’s entirely new while still paying homage to the style that made the Big Easy famous. Since their latest album YA-KA-MAY was released, the band’s been touring across the country, including being scheduled to play Lockn’ last year, before storms cancelled their day. They come now to Lockn’ with Lee Oskar.

Twiddle, 1:30 PM Incorporating a wide range of genres for impressive live performances is Vermont’s Twiddle, who play Lockn’ twice.

Moon Taxi, 12:30 PM MOON TAXI (QRO photos at a festival) cross the dashed lines between indie, jam, progressive, and rock. Also: DJ Williams Projekt, 12:00 PM

Lettuce – Blue Ridge Bowl, 1:00 AM Get funky with Boston’s many-membered Lettuce (QRO photos at a festival), who play Lockn’ for the second time in three years.

Also: Khruangbin – The Woods, 12:30 AM Khruangbin – The Woods, 1:30 AM Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass – Blue Ridge Bowl, 11:30 AM – QRO photos at Lockn’ 15

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28th

Phish, 8:30 PM While The Grateful Dead have variously reunited after the death of frontman Jerry Garcia, the crown of number one jam band in the world has been passed to Vermont’s Phish (QRO photos), who reclaimed it after they reunited themselves in 2009, following a five-year hiatus. That reunion included a new studio album, Joy, but the real discography is in their countless live recordings (something else they share with the original Dead). The neo-hippie fanbase can turn the rest of the world off, but you don’t need to know all the details of Gamehendge, or be nicely toasted, to enjoy Phish (QRO photos). And considering they can throw three-day events all on their own (QRO photos), they can certainly headline two nights at Lockn’.

Gary Clark Jr., 6:15 PM Austin’s Gary Clark Jr. (QRO photos at a festival in Austin) is the latest artist to be said to be ‘bringing blues back’ – when did it ever leave? And if it did, it’s surely come back many times since then (just look at Jack White…) – but Clark (QRO live review) is certainly keeping it going, like on Austin City Limits (QRO live review on ACL).

Phil Lesh & Friends, 4:45 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 third year in a row (QRO photos at Lockn’ 15 – QRO photos at Lockn’ ’14) for two nights.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 3:00 PM In 1996 Chris Robinson broke through in a major way fronting The Black Crowes (QRO photos at a festival) with debut Shake Your Money Maker. They easily slotted into being a southern jam band everyone could love. His band took a break in 2002 as Robinson went solo with a few different backing bands, but The Crowes returned three years later. That same year the band went on another hiatus, and Robinson formed another solo project band, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood (QRO photos), who now come to Lockn’ for a third year in a row.

The Wailers, 2:00 PM Bob Marley formed The Wailers and brought reggae to the world – and, as Michael said on Lost, “Who don’t like Bob Marley?” The Wailers have kept going strong (QRO live review) long after Marley’s death, so pass the dutchee to the left-hand side, mon…

Twiddle, 1:00 PM Incorporating a wide range of genres for impressive live performances is Vermont’s Twiddle, who play Lockn’ twice. Also: Doobie Decibel System, 12:30 PM The Dharma Initiative, 12:00 PM

Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel – Blue Ridge Bowl, 10:30 AM – QRO photos at Lockn’ 15