April 25, 2006
The ATH at Smilefest
Here's the official press release from the Smilefest folks. Several local folks slated to appear (see end of post):
DATES AND LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR SMILEFEST 2006
June 2-4 @ The Gorges Music Park, Lake Toxaway, NC. Early bird tickets available now - priced at only $70 ($35 less than the gate price) available now at www.smilefest.com.
Smilefest, one of the Southeast's most respected eclectic music and camping festivals, is slated for June 2-4, 2006, at the Gorges Music Park, in Lake Toxaway, NC. While more than 30 acts, representing the worlds of Bluegrass, Folk, Alt-Country, Jambands, World Music, Funk and Jazz, will appear at the 12th annual event, initial headliners include Keller Williams, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Sam Bush. ...
In addition to a full bill of world-class musicians, appearing on three stages, Smilefest 2006 will also include a robust Kids' Universe, diverse culinary offerings, a wide array of high-quality vendor merchandise, scenic waterfall exploration, beautiful hiking and biking trails, and free rustic camping. This year will also see the return of Smilefest's Festi-VOL Village, an interactive exhibit area where attendees will be introduced to worthy non-profit groups they can serve in their own communities once they return home.
Long known for going above and beyond to meticulously cater to the needs of artists and patrons alike, Smilefest's organizers have entered into a long-term partnership with Gorges Music Park to fully develop the site into a premier camping and performance venue. According to Event Director Bob Robertson, "For twelve years now, we've always listened to our crowd and tried our best to provide the features, activities and creature comforts they find lacking at other festival sites. To me, that's what really sets us apart, treating our attendees like family. So we're absolutely thrilled to team with the forward-thinking owners at GMP to work from the ground up to eventually build in all the amenities our folks deserve."
While the physical move to GMP provides significantly more room for festival activities, Robertson points out that Smilefest's attractively intimate size will not quickly change. "Honestly, we'd more than likely be able to fit a ton of extra folks in this year, but we're not going to. Our people are used to our roomy camping areas and the ability to get close to their favorite artists. And that's the way we're going to keep it for them," he says.
To encourage earlier ticket purchases, and to promote the support of live music outside its festival gates, Smilefest has again partnered with several premier North Carolina entertainment venues to re-launch its highly successful "Free Admission Night" series. Through this program, attendees of selected pre-festival club appearances by Smilefest acts, who choose to purchase a full-weekend ticket on-site, will receive an immediate refund of that night's cover charge.
A limited number of deeply discounted Early Bird tickets, priced at only $70 ($35 less than the gate price), are available on the Smilefest website, www.smilefest.com, while supplies last. But as soon as that small block is sold, prices will jump, so patronsare encouraged to move quickly to take advantage of the savings. Visitors to the website can also find information related to performers, remote ticket outlets, "Free Admission Night" scheduling and camping (tent, vehicle and RV).
Smilefest Artists from Athens:
Dubconscious
Dubconscious takes the universally loved sound of reggae and blends it into a progressive, unique style that bends the knees, tickles the ear and broaden the listener's idea of modern music. Few current reggae acts bring such a wide spectrum of music lovers. Dubconscious has many influences including King Tubby, Lee Perry, Burning Spear, The Abyssinians, Ernest Ranglin, Augustus Pablo, The Gladiators, and The Upsetters to name a few.
Dubconscious is striving to be a part
of reggae music's evolution, while leaving their own mark on the genre.
Ralph Roddenbery
Ralph Roddenbery has floated somewhere just below the radar of the Atlanta music scene for the past few years. Only the most aggressive Georgians, those constantly "searching for the sound," have been aware of Ralph's magnetic stage presence, but festival-goers from Florida to the Carolinas are now enjoying this troubadour's stylings. Ralph's live sets maintain a hauntingly touching vibe, even when addressing more difficult or painful topics. Through songs that focus on friendship, love, life, trust, honesty, and hopefulness and how we shouldn't take these vital intangibles for granted.
Packway Handle Band
Originating in Athens, Georgia in 2001, the Packway Handle Band is a solid and innovative bluegrass quintet. The band.s appeal lies rooted in tight three- and four-part vocal harmonies, extensive and progressive original material, off-the-wall covers, and energetic performance dynamics around two tightly spaced condenser mics. Fans of the band include bluegrass traditionalists and those who say they usually don't like bluegrass.
Dromedary Quartet
This exploratory Athens unit dynamically weaves its way in and out of traditional ethnic string band textures (including Appalachian, Andean, Turkish, Flamenco, Fado, Klezmer) with all the fluidity and spontaneity of jazz. Adding bass and drum to the original Dromedary duo, Dromedary Quartet.s performances are globetrotting, daring and imaginative. As Creative Loafing (ATL) wrote, "Their compositional craft approaches flawlessness. Dromedary brings togetherpre-existing traditions to create something unique - a world music style that's unapologetically American."