Why ROTHBURY Tastes So Sweet

© Michael Weintrob

Rothbury Fest

As far as the festival circuit goes, there are clear divisions between popular, progressive and slightly underground this year. Forget that lame backyard Independence Day BBQ, save your patriotic pride for ROTHBURY 2009. The festival – which launched with epic proportions last summer – has once again scheduled four days of pure syrupy jam, like the kind grandma used to mix up for your corn muffins when you were a tyke. Mainstreamers and Indie kids alike will find their middle ground at ROTHBURY, the most anticipated up-and-coming fest slated this season.

Free spirits, grab your tents; newbies, we’re sure you’ll invest in a bunch of unnecessary sanitizing supplies when making your way [up, down or across] to The Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan for a music and arts adventure with the camping crowd in mind. Save the date (and more than one paycheck) if you're planning on making the long, strange trip up to Rothbury for the fest. It's Thursday, July 2 through Sunday, July 5.

What makes ROTHBURY stand out among the rest? Exclusive appearances, of course! The Dead prepares for their only summer/festival session appearance announced, promising an unforgettable July 4th celebration with a Saturday night set, most likely topped with a batch of killer fireworks. In addition, beloved The String Cheese Incident comes together for their only 2009 show, finally stirring up those melodies we’ve been waiting so patiently to hear.

But The Dead and The String Cheese Incident are just the bare beginning. This year, ROTHBURY will bring more than 60 artists, bands and DJs. The lineup includes Bob Dylan and His Band, Willie Nelson & Family, The Black Crowes, The Disco Biscuits, STS9 (two shows), Matisyahu, Ralph Stanley, Broken Social Scene, Ani DiFranco, Guster, Les Claypool, Girl Talk, King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, 2020 Soundsystem, Lipp Service (Elliott Lipp and Pnuma), Brett Dennen, Flogging Molly, Gov’t Mule, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Cold War Kids and dozens more.

In addition to a phenomenal lineup, fest goers should look forward to the integration of art, modern thought, and technology. ROTHBURY’s ‘The Think Tank’ will explore the emergence of “New Green Economy,” with a continuous panel of roundtable sessions between leading scientists, scholars, writers, progressive political and corporate leaders, artists, attendees and more.

Can’t hang for the full four days? There’s no shame in a quick holiday getaway with  2-Day Sat & Sun Tickets starting at $149.50, which includes on-site camping and parking. If you’re down and ROTHBURY bound, the Weekend Ticket is priced at $249.50, or ballers can invest in VIP treatment for $490 with the Maplewoods Good Life VIP pass. Yea, it’s about that time to bust out the good ol’ lemonade stand…starting this weekend.