Where do you find road-warrior jam bands, electronica newcomers, gangsta rap godfathers, Americana bands, soul crooners, alternative hip-hop acts, country groups, Latin rock, DJs, reggae and gonzo bluegrass all in one long phantasmagoric weekend of musical mash-ups?
Mulberry Mountain near Ozark in Franklin County, of course. That’s the location of the 10th annual Wakarusa Music Festival, which kicks off at noon Thursday and runs almost nonstop until the wee hours of Monday.
This marks the fifth year Wakasrusa has rocked Mulberry Mountain. The festival, which gets its name from the Wakarusa River in Kansas, began life in 2004 at the Clinton State Park near Lawrence, Kan., before moving to the scenic environs of Arkansas.
This year’s lineup is a genre-spanning mix spread across five stages that should please just about anyone interested in a festival of this sort.
Festival promoters did not respond to requests for an interview, but here are just a few of the highlights scheduled.
Beloved jam-band maestros Widespread Panic hit the Budweiser Main Stage at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.The Athens, Ga.-based group has been around since 1988 and its latest album, Dirty Side Down, was released in 2010.
Speaking of Georgia rock bands, The Black Crowes are also set to appear. The ’90s hit-makers will appear Thursday at 9:30 p.m. on the Budweiser Main Stage, sandwiched between Yonder Mountain String Band and instrumental darlings STS9, the latter of whom are also from Georgia. All we need now is the Allman Brothers and an R.E.M. reunion and Georgia could have its own stage at Wakarusa.
Alternative hip-hop trailblazer and Gorillaz member Del The Funky Homosapien brings his creative and crafty flow to an 8 p.m. set Saturday at the TTechnaflora Outpost Tent. Also scheduled to appear on that stage Saturday are “aristocrunk” joke meisters Lord T & Eloise of Memphis, Lyrics Born, SunSquabiand Daft Punk tribute band Earphunk, among others.
Opposite Del on the Budweiser stage is wild ’n’ crazy gypsy rock conglomerate Gogol Bordello, whose new album Pure Vida Conspiracy will be released July 9. With a truly manic stage show, frontman Eugene Hutz leads his diverse eight-piece crew through songs that dip in and out of gypsy folk, rock, Brazilian beats, street music and a little bit of everything in between.
Snoop Lion, who you may remember as Snoop Dogg, Snoop Doggy Dogg, The Doggfather or Calvin Broadus, hits the Budweiser Stage at 9 p.m. Sunday. The laid-back and lanky rapper, actor, reality show star and youth-league football coach, has reportedly found Rastafarianism and Jah, and is on tour behind the reggae infused Reincarnated, which includes appearances by Drake, Akon, Busta Rhymes and Miley Cyrus … really! …among others.
Disco-pop duo Icona Pop are bringing the dance grooves all the way from Sweden. The pair, Aino Jawoand Caroline Hjelt, are sure to perform their sassy dancefloor anthem “I Love It,” which is all about dumping boyfriends and crashing cars and not caring one single bit, during their 6 p.m. Sunday set at the Revival Tent. Break out the glitter and start dancing.
Sleep? What sleep? The jams keep rockin’ until the break of dawn at Wakarusa, with bands playing on the Grassroots California Satellite Stage until well after 6 a.m. through most of the festival. Among those appearing in the pre-dawn hours Fridayare electronic artists Abakus, Wick-it The Instigator and Andreilien (Heyoka).
A strong lineup takes the Revival Tent Stage on Friday, with Son Volt at 6:45 p.m., Mutemath at 8:30 and Ozomatli, a Los Angeles band that blends Latin rock, hip-hop, dance hall, samba, R&B, raga and even New Orleans second line brass into one bigball of rollicking fun.
Besides all the music, there will be a costume contest, daily yoga at the Satellite Stage, Hoop and Flow hula hooping, roaming performance troupes with daily themes, disc golf, world music workshops (learn to play the didgeridoo!), a Ferris wheel, a water slide ($5 per ride, $20 for a bracelet), arts and crafts stands and 24-hour food vendors.
And while Wakarusa is happy to have you, leave the pets at home.
General admission tickets include an event pass and a camping pass and access to all concerts, scheduled activities, campgrounds and parking lot, according to information at wakarusa.com. Up to five people may ride in a vehicle and split the cost of a camping pass, but each person in the vehicle must have an event pass.
Camping is encouraged at Wakarusa, but roughing it is not a necessity as hotel packages in Ozark are available. Check wakarusa.com for details and availability.
10th annual
Wakarusa Music Festival Thursday-Sunday, Mulberry Mountain, Ozark Featuring: More than 130 bands including Widespread Panic, Dispatch, Snoop Lion, The Black Crowes, Gogol Bordello, Son Volt, Yonder Mountain String Band Admission: $59 Sunday only, $119 two days, $149 three days, $199 full event wakarusa.com (785) 749-3434
Style, Pages 19 on 05/28/2013