summer fun / By Bob Doran

Summer Festival Guide 2008

(May 29, 2008)  Warm breezes are just around the corner and with the change in weather comes hot fun in the summertime and a collection of annual outdoor music events, some of the local ones decades old.

When last year’s festival guide came out, we were reporting on a battle over Humboldt County’s biggest music fest, Reggae on the River. At the time, Southern Humboldt’s Mateel Community Center was locked in battle with the festival’s former producer and had just announced the cancellation of the event once known locally as just plain Reggae. Reggae Rising, a similar reggae festival run by the old producer, People Productions, ended up taking its place.

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The waves from the associated legal fight are still rocking the SoHum community. Civility fell by the wayside as civil suits and countersuits ensued. At this point, a year later, the suits are still in court and legal bills are mounting. Nothing has been resolved.

Meanwhile People Productions is moving forward with the 2nd Annual Reggae Rising and, last week, the Mateel announced the revival of Reggae on the River, “like a phoenix rising from the ashes,” as they put it in their p.r., borrowing a metaphor. Their “transitional” stripped-down one-day affair is “offered in a keep-the-name-alive-forever spirit,” at a new location, downriver at the Benbow Lake State Recreation Area. As you’ll see from the list below, Benbow will be one of the happening spots this summer.

The Guide:

The 32nd Annual Summer Arts and Music Festival. The Mateel’s yearly summer love fest kicks off the festive season this weekend. Musically speaking, it’s bigger than ever with even more imported bands than last year and a plethora of local acts of all sorts. Check the Calendar section for more details. May 31 and June 1, Benbow Lake Recreation Area south of Garberville. www.mateel.org 923-3368

Sum Funk. The following weekend, the Mateel presents an all-day funk fest jam-packed with legends including George ClintonwithParliament Funkadelic, Fishbone, The Coup and The Meters Experience featuring Leo Nocentelli. June 7, Benbow Lake State Recreation Area. www.mateel.org

The 31st Annual Redwood Run. They call it the “ultimate biker party.” Classic rock and custom motorcycles combine for a weekend along the river near the Humboldt/Mendocino border. This time out the music line-up includes The Marshall Tucker Band, Ten Years After, Delbert McClinton, Ratt, Creedence Clearwater Revisited (sorry, without John Fogerty) and locals Jimi Jeff and the Gypsy Band and Spudgun. June 13-15, Riverview Ranch, Piercy. www.redwoodrun.com 247-3424

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