Yes, slightly odd to see SMMD above The Slip in billing. Is this lineup order any indication of current bands' popularities?
NMS kicks ass...I'd go just to see them!
I'm not such a huge fan of Avett Brothers, but I've only seen them once or twice. They were extremely loudly mixed, so maybe that was the issue. The songs really didn't grab me...not like most other bands I like.
I'm a little surprised also to see Ozomatli over Femi Kuti, but I'm sure the local draw has a lot to do with this ordering (like most other festies).
March Forth is a ton of fun...caught them in Davis Sq. last Halloween and it was hilarious! They must have 20 or 30 people in their crew...I think everyone was acrobatic in some way (total circus band...get the crowd involved, too).
Stringdusters...yes! Andy Hall is one of the best dobro players on the planet.
Johnny V and a Robert Walters as a duo should be really cool...too bad no Duo duo...which are two of my faves, too (tu, to, tewe? ;-}).
Telepath were interesting at Bear Creek, but I'd much prefer New Deal or Lotus. However, I think some of these bands not on this lineup will be at Nateva, which I'm sort of leaning towards since it's on the East Coast and is in its infancy (nice to see a festival grow from scratch). Tough call...I want to hit both...too bad they're on the same weekend.
I wish all the festie owners would talk to each other and stagger the major ones better. I guess it's not that easy...or they'd just do it. Getting a place for a whole weekend is a trick and a half...getting everyone there is the monumental feat. Festival collision happened a bit more in the last few years...definitely seemed some bumped another off (like Hampton Phish vs Langerado is case in point). I hope this isn't as much a factor since east/west coasts are far enough apart (are they?).
Anyhow, I also can only do 1 or 2 per month...if I'm lucky. I'd love to do a festival every weekend, but it's not easy to travel that much and it's a bit pricey the farther you go (and certain weekends like holidays you can pay double for everything, which means cutting another weekend somewhere else to compensate). I could do early July and mid to late (Bisco being high on my maybe list)...and August there's a couple I like. Close festies are actually the way to go because it's easy to spend 5x the ticket cost on travel and lodging (unless camping inclu. it, which is a deal).
I'd like to get into more specifically why I think some bands deserve higher or lower billing, but I defer to the local scene to determine that best (bands that bring in from a nearby town should always get some kind of priority). Anyhow...lineups can change...but interesting to see what the promoters are thinking. I agree in general with the order.
Wouldn't it be cool to let the fans pick the lineup????
-Phrazz