summer fun / By Bob Doran

Summer Festival Guide 2007

(May 24, 2007) Online story updated from published version.

Summer may not arrive officially until June 21, but here in Humboldt the season begins Memorial Day weekend, when the noon whistle on the Arcata Plaza marks the launch of the Kinetic Race. It’s the first in a series of big events where thousands gather for communion and fun in the sun, most of them revolving around music of one sort or another. For the most part, those in attendance don’t think much about the machinations behind the scenes. We know there are people who take care of the many details that go into putting on a giant party, but most of us don’t pay much attention to the organizations that apply for the permits, book the bands, oversee the booths, build the stages, arrange for parking, security, porta-potties, clean-up and so on.

GALLERY >

That’s changed a bit since last summer. Perhaps because of some cosmic misalignment, three major Humboldt County events went through cataclysmic upheavals in the course of the year. You’ll read elsewhere in this week’s Journal about the strange tale of the Kinetic Race. A change in management at last year’s North Country Fair brought serious problems (See “Unfair! Not the same old North Country Fair,” Sept. 26, 2006), but things seems to be back on track there with the “Same Old People” regaining control.

The sad story of how a SoHum music fest dedicated to unity tore that community asunder is far too convoluted to explain in great detail here. The short version: A dispute over proceeds from the multi-million dollar Reggae on the River (see “Clash over Reggae,” Nov. 16, 2006) led to a protracted legal battle in which the nonprofit Mateel Community Center sued longtime event producer People Productions and Tom Dimmick, whose ranch was home to last year’s Reggae. And they sued back. In January the Mateel announced that it was hiring a San Francisco-based company 2B1 Multimedia to produce Reggae on the River in place of People Productions. In February P.P. and Dimmick announced that they were putting on their own replacement festival, Reggae Rising, same time, same place. With a flame war raging on the popular local blog, SoHum Parlance , skirmishes erupted at the Humboldt County Courthouse as the dueling parties took their case before a judge and the Planning Commission.

Last week 2B1 announced that Reggae on the River 2007 is canceled. Those holding tickets online are advised to seek refunds. While the two sides seemed close on money issues, the name of the event proved a deal breaker. The Mateel board remains adamant that the Dimmick/PP event must not be called Reggae Rising. A compromise offered by lawyers for PP/Dimmick to bill the fest as “Mateel Community Center and Reggae Rising present Reggae on the River” was rejected by the Mateel, sighting the potential “degradation of the trademark.” And there it stands. It would seem that Reggae Rising has prevailed — for now. But is the war over? Not according to the latest press release from the Mateel Board, which says in part, “The dispute over Reggae on the River® is not over as consideration of the merits of the Mateel’s position have yet to be adjudicated. It has only begun.”

Organic Planet.

This year’s Third Annual Organic Planet Festival will take place on Sunday, Aug. 26, at Halvorsen Park in Eureka from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The current musical lineup includes funky blues/rock/soul by the Tommy Castro Band, whose new album recently went to no. 2 on the Billboard Blues charts, and socially-conscious hip hop by Wisdom and the Wisdom Creations Band. Additionally, featured keynote speakers will include internationally renowned “Love Canal” activist (and dioxin expert) Lois Gibbs, winner of the prestigious Goldman Prize, and Global Warming activist and Green Campus organizer at Harvard (and Miss Rhode Island 2006!) Allison Rogers. More exciting lineup announcements coming soon.

1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT PAGE >SHARE