Festivus For The Rest Of Us: Here's To New Beginnings

posted in: Features

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, one thing steadily creeps to the forefront of every OurStager’s mind: Music festivals! The days of swaying to the music in the summer breeze with fans who come together from all corners of the country (even the planet) to embrace the universal language that is music aren’t too far away. So stay tuned over the coming summer months to read the latest in festival gossip, tour announcements and just plain cool fest happenings.

As this is the inaugural post for “Festivus For The Rest Of Us,” it only seemed natural to slam you with something just as fresh. There are hundreds of festivals that have gone on around the country for years, but every now and then a new one starts up with such a buzz, perhaps  because it fills a much needed gap (RIP Rothbury), that we can’t help but pay attention. Ladies and gentlemen, we’re proud to bring you Nateva.

According to Nateva’s official site, the multi stage outdoor camping festival is featuring authentic jam bands as well as country, folk, reggae, classic rock and indie artists. Held in Portland, Maine at the 100 acre Oxford Fairgrounds, the festival will make its debut this summer on July 2“4.

Nateva originally announced just one act at the beginning of the year: The Flaming Lips. A solid headliner, and definitely a group hitting the festival circuit hard this summer, taking the stage at events like Bonnaroo, Beale Street, Green Man and Forecastle. But would it be enough to drive ticket sales and garner interest from other bands?

Apparently so, as Nateva recently announced a heavy-hitting lineup for a festival’s freshman year, the likes of which include Further, moe., Derek Trucks, STS9, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Lotus, Moonalice and John Brown’s Body. These additions have given the baby fest some sturdier legs to stand on, and have driven sales to the point where there’s only 5 RV With Hook Up passes left.

Price points are about average for a 3 day camping festival like this, with advanced purchase discounts. Though it does seem that you could spend the extra 50 bucks and just hightail it to Tennessee for ‘Roo. But then again you wouldn’t be supporting the little guy!

The now-expired Rothbury fest probably left a lot of fans reeling about their jam-packed, jam-band fourth of July plans. With the death of Up North Festival as well, it seems Nateva couldn’t have come at a better time.

Check out the zany Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips below in his now infamous giant plastic bubble. Here comes some trivia for you, the technical term for a “giant plastic bubble” is zorb. Want your own? Head over to www.zorb.com.