preview / By Bob Doran

Celebrations

Summer Music Festival Guide 2010

(May 20, 2010)  If you strolled through downtown Arcata over the weekend, you may have heard the sound of music in the air, caught a whiff of barbeque, or a glimpse of a bright tent with artwork laid out for the passerby. Organizers called it the “first annual” Humboldt Arts Festival. Any copy editor will tell you that’s in improper use of the word “annual.” This particular festival, should it return next May, will earn the term by becoming yearly.

Our annual guide to the summer music festivals of Humboldt and points nearby includes some just taking flight — last year’s Mad River Summerfest in now legitimately “the Second Annual” — but most are established events, some have been around for decades. When you’ve been around that long, you move past simply putting on a little party — your celebration of music, art or whatever does not merely get bigger, it become part of the fabric of your community.

Earthdance Founder Chris Dekker plays with his band Medicine Drum at Reggae Rising 2009. PHOTO BY BOB DORAN

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Of course that doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work and in most cases work done by volunteers. Before we get to our list of summer happenings, let’s lift a glass and sing a song celebrating those who make the festivals happen - you know who you are. Thanks in advance for the party! I know we’re going to have a good time. “There’s a party going on right here, a celebration to last throughout the years…”

The Guide:

The 34th Annual Summer Arts and Music Festival. The Mateel’s massive party is as impressive as ever with more music than you can keep up with, dozens of bands and dance troupes on four stages, plus art, craft and food booths galore, fine arts, a kid’s zone. Saturday headliners include Heavyweight Dub Champion, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, Wisdom, the hot salsa band Rumbaché, Yogoman Burning Band and Scott Huckabay. Sunday they have Melvin Seals and JGB, Crooked Still, Moonalice, Tempest and, from Hawaii, The Alliez. June 6 and 7, Benbow Lake Recreation Area south of Garberville. www.mateel.org 923-3368

The 33rd Annual Redwood Run. The big Kiwanis biker bash is one of the only R-rated festivals — you must be 21 to attend.As usual the music is in the blues and hard rock vein including bluesmen Elvin Bishop, Matt Schofield and Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Floridian rockers Blackfoot. Last year’s all-girl Aerosmith cover band was a hit so this time they have Priss, an all-girl Kiss cover band and Mötley’s Crëw, a female Mötley Crüe tribute.June 11-13, Riverview Ranch, Piercy. www.redwoodrun.net 839-2319.

The 2nd Annual Mad River Summerfest. This free festival on the Mad River from the folks who brought us Winterfest includes a homebrew contest, disc golf, a skate ramp, a rock wall, arts and crafts booths, a petting zoo and straw maze for the kids. And, of course, mucho music, all local: The Bucky Walters, WoMama, Kulica, Trifecta, Full Moon Fever and No Good Redwood Ramblers. Did we mention it’s all free? Proceeds from beer, food, etc. go to Friends of the Annie and Mary Rails-to-Trails. Saturday, July 10, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mad River in Pump Station No. 1 on West End Rd. outside of Arcata. eruptionproductionz.com.

The 26th Annual Reggae on the River. The Mateel’s one-drop bash survived SoHum’s Reggae War and now has expanded to two days of reggae and world music on the river at Benbow. This year’s lineup ranges from roots to contemporary reggae with some awesome worldbeat. Among the artists, Sly and Robbie aka The Rhythm Twins, Don Carlos, Sugar Minott, Pablo Moses, Sister Carol, Quinto Sol, Tchiya Amet, NYC Fela followers Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and Angolan AfroCuban ambassador Ricardo Lemvo with his band Makina Loca. There’s camping close by but not onsite — reserve early. July 17 and 18, at Benbow Lake State Recreation Area. www.mateel.org. 923-3368.

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