An incredibly thorough and diversified artist lineup is now complete for the 2014 edition of Gathering of the Vibes. This increasingly popular music and arts festival, held once again within the friendly confines of Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT features nationally recognized headliners such as John Fogerty, Widespread Panic, moe. and Umphrey’s McGee for starters. The lineup also includes what promises to be an amazing nod to its Grateful Dead inspired roots with a collaboration of The Disco Biscuits and drum legends Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, the group’s first ever public performance.
Vibes certainly doesn’t limit itself to jam based acts either as the bill also includes names like Dispatch, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ziggy Marley and Maceo Parker. And like last year, the festival will also feature “roaming” acts that traverse the festival grounds all weekend long for spontaneous jams in Primate Fiasco and Funky Dawgz Brass Band.
With music beginning early Thursday afternoon, Northeast icons Ryan Montbleau and Strangefolk each deliver sets to usher in the evening schedule on the Main Stage. The secondary stage for the festival, the Green Vibes Stage, also features performances from up and coming act White Denim as well as the already proven Rusted Root. Dopapod gets the late night assignment for Thursday and Stanley Jordan is also tabbed as the ‘artist at large’ for today, liable to sit in with any of the aforementioned acts at any time which is great for anyone who appreciates guitar virtuosos.
Friday’s highlights includes Keller Williams getting his Grateful Grass band together again for a set of Dead covers with a makeup including Jeff Austin on mandolin and bassist Reed Mathis. Later in the day, drummer extraordinaire Joe Russo gets his turn to pay homage to the legends of jam with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Slightly Stoopid also makes an appearance with a set on the Main Stage before giving way to the legendary John Fogerty. For any Talking Heads fans, a real interesting tribute of sorts will be paid in the form of Lotus: Talking Heads Deconstructed with a late evening set that has the potential to be epic. Other groups working the late shift on Friday include Deep Banana Blackout and EOTO.
There’s no let up on Saturday, as the afternoon features known acts like Kung Fu and Leftover Salmon which will be joined by Bill Payne of Little Feat. Dumpstaphunk also makes an appearance tonight on the Green Vibes Stage and the Main Stage features an amazingly solid 1-2 punch of Umphrey’s McGee and Widespread Panic before giving way to the aforementioned Disco Biscuits and Grateful Dead debut collaboration. Digital Tape Machine and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe complete Saturday’s almost overwhelmingly full schedule.
Sunday is typically a more relaxed atmosphere at GOTV as the festival nears the finish line. The afternoon includes sets from local act McLovins and the legendary Maceo Parker. Today’s lineup has a verifiable Upstate New York block as well as jam icons Donna the Buffalo will entertain everyone with a set on the Green Vibes Stage before moe. does the same on the Main Stage. Those needing a reggae fix can get it with a performance from Ziggy Marley that follows before Dispatch closes things out and wraps up what promises to be an amazing four days of music.
Tickets for Gathering of the Vibes are still available and can be purchased at www.gatheringofthevibes.com with a number of varieties available. Weekend camping passes can be purchased for $235 and there are also Friday, Saturday and Sunday only tickets available as well. There are no weekend only tickets but there are VIP options as well. What can’t be given a price, though, is a weekend that’s bound to be magical one fueled by a complete musical lineup and the near tangible, friendly communal vibe that’s present from start to finish every year.
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