Nelsonville Art and Music Festival carries on local tradition
By Dana Stewart, Copy Editor
May 12, 2008 | 3 p.m.
The Nelsonville Music Fest, the Hockhocking Festival, and Hocking College join forces this May to bring together the best of the music and art worlds for the three-day Nelsonville Art and Music Festival.
The fourth annual festival takes over the Robbins Crossing historical village May 16-18 with more than 20 bands ranging from national headlining acts alt-country outfit The Avett Brothers and PA folksters Akron/Family, to regional favorites Southeast Engine, Silo Circuit and Casual Future. In addition, the event highlights workshops from the likes of Tommy Ramone, as well as art vendors, camping, kids' activities and great local food.
For the first time in nine years, the Hockhocking festival was not planning to continue in 2008. The Nelsonville Music Fest, put together in recent years by Stuart’s Opera House, will carry on the Hockhocking tradition this year.
“The Hockhocking Festival started predominantly as a folk music festival,” said Brian Koscho, an AmeriCorps VISTA for Stuart’s Opera House. “We’re making it a bit bigger, but the Hockhocking always took place at Robbins Crossing. The first Nelsonville [Music] Festival took place in the public square with five bands. It’s this great way of carrying on the Hockhocking but adding our own to make something new.”
The festival is expanding in the number of musical acts, as well as projected participants. While the Hockhocking festival usually took place in May with about 1,000 to 1,500 people, this year the directors are hoping for about 2,000 to 2,500 attendees. The date change plays a significant role in the turnout, considering the Nelsonville Music Festival typically occurred in the less student-populated month of July.
“This year we’re really trying to diversify, so Friday night with Akron/Family and O’Death…it’s more designed for a younger audience,” Koscho said. “But then The Avett Brothers are great because across the board, they’ve always done great at the [Stuart's] Opera House and at Casa Nueva. There’s also bluegrass, Cajun and jazz, so there’s a little bit of everything rather than just folk stuff.”
Tickets for the event went on sale in February with special early bird prices that have increased incrementally. Volunteer shifts are nearly filled, but free passes are provided to those who sign up to work at least six hours at the event. Anyone planning to go has no need to worry about a sell-out situation, thanks to the large space at Robbins Crossing.
“It’s not there’s not going to be a lot of people, but the space can hold up to 75,000 people,” Koscho said. “We’re hoping to keep growing. The best-case scenario is that years down the road this festival could turn into a big deal. I think it already is a big deal, especially regionally, but we think it really has the potential to turn into a 75,000-person festival.”
While the large audience and camping may sound like the next Bonnaroo, the Nelsonville Art and Music Festival has a unique feel to it that combines national and regional senses of community in a way that is special to Southeast Ohio.
“None of us at Stuart’s are originally from the area, but we’ve all come here and completely fallen in love,” Koscho said. “So for us, it’s a labor of love to give people [the festival] and show people the kind of amazing stuff that’s happening here.”
In addition to music set up on two stages throughout the weekend, attendees can peruse a wide range of samples from Southeast Ohio’s culture.
“We’re expecting about 25 to 30 art vendors, all of them are from Ohio, most from Southeast Ohio,” Koscho said. “These are individual artists and craftsmen doing every kind of selling, from jewelry to tie dye-- anything you can think of. It’s not even about selling something. It’s about going to see art that’s close-up.”
Other special events include a community mural project put together by local artists, as well as a workshop with Tommy Ramone on Saturday.
“[Tommy Ramone’s] bluegrass duo is playing, and he’s going to give a talk and answer questions about his time in The Ramones and the transition to being a bluegrass musician and how they’re similar,” Koscho noted.
Festival attendees can also expect a wide range of tasty treats for carnivores and vegetarians from Ali Baba’s, Adam’s Ribs and even breakfast, coffee and espresso from Brew Du Soleil.
Tim Peacock, executive director of Stuart’s Opera House and former co-coordinator of the Hockhocking Festival, also notes that the annual event is a prime example of Athens County at its very best.
“Athens County has such a cool underground, art-related community…and we’re all isolated,” Peacock said. “[The festival] is another thing that brings folks together and makes us less isolated. It’s like when you go to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and everybody knows everybody. It’s a social gathering as much as it is going to buy vegetables.”
The festival's most memorable moments are a mix of what goes on after the stages are cleared and the vendors are closed, as well as the obvious display of live musical acts and art.
“Late nights sitting around campfires, people playing music and drinking their favorite beverages-- those are the kind of things that make me want to come back, which I think are contagious to other people," Peacock said.
---
The Nelsonville Art and Music Festival Web site provides a plethora of information about ticket sales, a full schedule and line-up roster, as well as campground details, directions and how to get involved as a volunteer.