MK Rodenbough: Songwriting From the Heart

August 8, 2019 by Krysten Heberly Leave a Comment

When it comes to singer-songwriter acts at Shakori Hills, one act not to miss will be MK Rodenbough, a recent graduate from UNC Chapel Hill. Rodenbough is a self-described Americana artist, who passionately tells her story through the strumming of a six-string, and a voice that feels completely honest, in a way that cuts to the soul.

Listening to MK Rodenbough’ soft, yet powerful, songs is like meeting a new friend and the feeling known them your whole life. Perhaps this is because all of her lyrics come from real events that have happened in her life, mostly during her time at UNC Chapel Hill. From the pits of heartbreak, to finally finding the self-confidence you’ve been looking for, Rodenbough really knows how to capture the more sensitive sides of life in a way that feels relatable and down to Earth.

Rodenbough told me, “I don’t write songs that are about a character, about someone else, I don’t really ever do a lot of storytelling in my music, which I would love to do more of. But when I sit down with a guitar, it is kind of therapeutic. It’s like, how am I feeling? How can I express that with the instrument that I have in front of me?”

Expressing herself through her guitar is what Rodenbough has become known for throughout the local music scene. With performances tightly scheduled between her two jobs, Rodenbough is like many musicians fresh out of college – trying to build a music career with a little bit of time, and a whole lot of heart. This also means working on her debut album, which she is hoping to release either this year, or next year, depending on what time allows.

She continued, “I’m in the process of recording some new material with some new musician pals and a new producer, and trying to find the direction I want to go in after college. Not necessarily a full 180. It’s kind of a cool experience because it feels a lot more intimate, and feels like you’re just with friends instead of a high pressure scenario.”

For the album itself, you can expect some Southern inspired Americana music, and some “sad-girl folk” music. Many of the songs will likely be focused on her experiences as a recent graduate, and all of the emotions that life brings during such a chaotic time. However, Rodenbough also had an opportunity to record her debut album somewhere that was as inspiring as it was beautiful.

“We went to a lake house in February, and recorded a couple of songs. It was just for a couple of days, but it was so serene and a great atmosphere for being creative and putting something together. It literally had a private view onto the lake. So while we were tracking, we were able to look at the lake and it was just really beautiful and inspiring. It was awesome,” she said.

Many of Rodenbough’s debut songs will be played this year at Shakori Hills. You can expect a smaller, more intimate performance from Rodenbough and two of her friends, including Justin Ellis from Happy Abandon on bass, and Daniel Faust on drums.

From the trio, she said we can expect, “A mix of high energy, as well as very mellow songs. This year [I’ve] stripped down the live performance to just me, a bass player, and drums. That’s been really great to make that feel bigger and feel full, even though we don’t have that second guitarist or a keys player or whatever it is. So yeah, people can expect to see me playing some really sad songs with some of my friends.”

Make sure to come check out MK Rodenbough at Shakori Hills this fall; the daily schedule will be coming out soon!

In the meantime, you can follow her page on Facebook, and listen to several of her songs on Soundcloud.

TerraBANG: A Band that Lives Up to the Name

August 1, 2019 by Krysten Heberly Leave a Comment

When it comes to groovy-funky-soul jams, it’s pretty hard to go wrong. With the smooth rhythms that keep the beat of your heart, to sultry lyrics that break us out of the prisons of our own design, a good R&B band is part of the recipe for a happy life (imho).

One of these rare bands happen to be right in our backyard, residing in the tall pines and cool breezes of Boone, North Carolina. Their name is TerraBANG, and they’re here to bring the vibe.

I met with Sergio Grossi who plays keys and contributes vocals to the band and he explained the band’s ethos, “What we’re trying to do is bring people together, to make people happy. We want to express ourselves to the fullest capability, and express the emotions we feel. People say that they like the album, like the songs, and different songs resonate with different people. We just want to create an experience for people when they hear our music. I want to make them happy, but I also want to make them cry.”

As far as their mission of bringing the feelings to your everyday R&B playlist, they are a massive success. TerraBANG dropped their first album, Seed, in 2018, which was an explosive first move onto the scene. With eleven songs that travel through the trials and tribulations of love and life, the songs are uncategorized by any big-named genres. One of the biggest reasons for the genre-defying sound is because of the varying musical interests of everyone in the band.

Grossi continued, “I would say that we have a bunch of different inspirations, and we take a little bit from everything. I feel like my solo music doesn’t really fall into just one category. I just released this album called Love Chronicles, which is like a hip hop album. I’m rapping on every song, but it’s not a great album to release on a hip hop or rap blog, because it’s unlike anything out there. TerraBANG is just like that, it’s unlike anything else out there.”

TerraBANG is comprised of a metal drummer, a couple of jazz musicians, an indie rocker, and a pop-driven vocalist who all know their way pretty well around just about any instrument you can put in front of them. Most of the members of the band were music majors at Appalachian State, and are putting those years of studying to good use.

Grossi said, “Everyone [has] high musical intelligence. So Hinton is pitch perfect, and Brady has relative pitch, and they all play about a thousand different instruments. They all play bass, trumpet, violin, mandolin, guitar, if you go on their Instagrams you’ll see them playing a bunch of different instruments. I would probably say that Aaron has relative pitch too, because he can transpose into any key at any time. If I wanted to sing a tune, he could just play it on his saxophone. Anything that he thinks of.”

As far as the upcoming fall Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival, this is the group’s first venture down to Pittsboro for the event. After about two years performing together, TerraBANG has the kind of stage-presence that makes them impossible to miss. They plan to bring a couple of covers to get the crowd singing along, throw in a few of their own tunes from the 2018 album, and might even play a few from their upcoming release, due in September.

“They can expect us to blow their minds. For me it’s like every gig is a new chance to work as being a performer, and actually giving someone not just plenty of music, but getting them involved and to clap their hands and sing along, ” explained Grossi.

Make sure to come pay TerraBANG a visit this fall at Shakori Hills October 3 – 6, and watch out on their Facebook page for details on their upcoming new release.

You can stream Seed on their bandcamp page.

Check out their tune “Ambition & Affection” on YouTube:

The Tan & Sober Gentlemen: They Are None of the Three

July 26, 2019 by Krysten Heberly Leave a Comment

When it comes to Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival staples, perhaps there is no act that quite embodies the zest for life and enjoyment of their craft quite like the Tan & Sober Gentlemen. Now on their fourth performance with us, the band consistently promises a set that is designed for the audience to really get involved. Yet, they also never take themselves too seriously, as evident by the story of their namesake.

Ben Noblit, bass player for the band, explained, “One of the very first shows that we played was up at this Irish pub in Raleigh, it was called Tir na Nog. We weren’t really a band yet, it was just a bunch of people playing music, and she (pub owner Annie Britton-Nice) introduced us as that because we weren’t any of the three. It went over really well so they invited us back, and before we knew it we were stuck with the name.”

The name ‘Tan & Sober Gentlemen’ has become nearly as iconic of a name as the sound that the band creates. Plus, as Noblit said, “it comes up first on Google.”

The Tan & Sober Gentlemen are a 7-piece coalition that fuse together the folk influences of North Carolina and the old familiar sounds of the Scottish Highlands, with the energy and fire of a punk-rock band. This combination is lovingly deemed “Celtic-punk-grass,” a name which feels as unique and spunky as the band members themselves. Yet, all three elements come earnestly from a lifelong love of each form of music, and a dedication to the genres that formed who they are today.

Noblit continued, “We all grew up playing North Carolina traditional music. We’re all Scottish and Irish to one degree or another. And all of that music, bluegrass, old-time music, country music, that all comes from Scotland and Ireland originally, and some from Africa also. And we wanted to kind of explore the Celtic roots of our kind of music, bring it back home a bit. We also like to play fast and drink liquor and have a good time.”

Having a “good time” has become what the band is truly known for. With their fast-paced tunes and a general enthusiasm for the music that they create, The Tan & Sober Gentlemen have gained a reputation as a kind of party band. Their focus is on creating an atmosphere where a crowd feels comfortable letting loose, and can experience this kind of music as it was meant to be experienced – through dancing.

“This kind of music, like old time fiddle music, it used to be dance music. Those boys were cutting loose as hard as they knew how. It’s party music…I would rather play to a place where people are up-close-and-personal with you, and are willing to interact with you and give you back your energy, and not put you on a pedestal. I want everyone being involved,” said Noblit.

Currently, the Tan & Sober Gentlemen are bringing their unique sound to the homeland of Celtic music. They will be touring through Scotland and Ireland, with stops in Cork, Dublin, Wexford, and Waterford. In Waterford, they will be playing at the Summer in the City Festival, which is a fairly big deal for the North Carolina-based band.

As for Shakori Hills, Noblit said, “Expect absolutely nothing different. It’s gonna be exactly the same as everything else we do. It’s gonna be the drum playing the same beat, and lot’s of fiddles and banjos…I’m very happy and blessed to be where we’re at, and I hope people come out.”

Look out for the Tan & Sober Gentlemen this fall, and make sure to check out their website at tanandsober.com.

Caique Vidal and Batuque: Bringing the Beats of Brazil to Shakori Hills

July 5, 2019 by Krysten Heberly Leave a Comment

The hot sun has just set, and a full moon has taken to the sky, as Caique Vidal and Batuque take the stage. Under the electric yellow lights of the dance tent, your heartbeat is quickening to match the beat of the drum. Whether you’ve just taken your first samba lesson, or you’ve been dancing for years, you feel at home busting a move out on the dance floor. It’s moments like these that are what Caique Vidal and Batuque specialize in.

Caique Vidal, the Brazilian-born frontman, leads a ten piece band based in Durham, NC named Batuque (pronounced Ba-too-KEE). Caique brings the sounds of samba to life with the kind of passion that only comes with a life-long love of learning to play music. Vidal is the chief songwriter and, as such, the band’s songs focus heavily on the traditional Afro-Brazilian influences that drew him to music in the first place.

Caique brings the sounds of samba to life with the kind of passion that only comes with a life-long love of learning to play music. Yet, his beginnings were humble, having discovered percussion when he was brought along to his mother’s dance class.

“I kept annoying the drummer, asking him to play his drums. And he was like, you know what? Just take this cowbell, go to the corner, just stay there in the corner. He thought that I had rhythm, and he was like ‘yo, your kid is actually good!”

Vidal’s love of Afro-Brazilian music only blossomed from there. After seeing several children playing the Djembe, he began to branch out into learning more and more instruments. This passion led him to join Olodum Mirin, which was a traveling band focusing on the social, racial, economical. During his time as a percussionist in the group, Olodum Mirin was featured in Michael Jackson’s They Don’t Care About Us.

“I was one of the 300 people to play behind Michael Jackson. Of course, you cannot spot me even in slow motion, but it was a blessing to be a part of that group, to get that training… I was there with the process of making the beat for percussion, to the original track that Michael Jackson has, I was there and it was such a great experience.”

From there, Vidal became a dancer with a premiere Brazilian Afro-Brazilian group called Balé Folclórico da Bahia. As part of their ensemble, he ended up traveling the world, which became an invaluable opportunity to share his culture with a world that was eager to learn. Yet, with long hours of rehearsal and many weeks spent on tour, it was also a crash course in being a professional artist, which Vidal took to kindly.

After his time with Balé Folclórico da Bahia, Caique Vidal came to North Carolina, and immediately became interested in the local music scene. He attended many local performances to learn more about how the music scene worked in the region. It wasn’t long before he began teaching his own classes in Durham about Afro-Brazilian music and culture, which he still does today. It was through his teaching that he met the members of Batuque.

“Through those lessons, I started learning about all of the positions for music and performing, and when I say that it’s a big family, it is true… Members of the band will say, ‘Hey I have this friend who likes the band and he plays this, he plays that, he would like to come to one of the rehearsals.’ Most of the time, these people do not stay. I started the band with five people, and now we have doubled and that is how I met the folks that I have today… The people who stay just really appreciate the music and have a respect and I have mutual respect for them as well.”

Caique Vidal and Batuque have really made a name for themselves in Durham and however inadvertently, gotten involved in civic issues. The group began hosting open-air rehearsals in Durham Central Park, a move which became controversial after several noise complaints were filed by residents in neighboring apartments. After several months of complaints, the Durham City Council decided to move the city’s noise ordinance to 9 PM to allow Vidal, and any other artist, to use the space for practice and performance.

As far as Caique Vidal’s music, he draws significantly from his life and his culture for inspiration. For their song T.Y.S.M. (Thank You So Much), the song combined the energy of the group’s shows with a thank you to Vidal’s ancestors, who paved the way for artists like him to create traditional music.

“A lot of people were killed and pursued to make sure we can practice today, so that we could know Samba, so we could speak a little bit of the Agumba and play the African rhythms that we play today. Without these people in the past, we would not be able to exist today.”

Songs like T.Y.S.M. and the rest of Caique Vidal and Batuque’s first album will be played at the fall festival, as well as three new songs from the group’s next album. Vidal is also hoping to make this year’s performance bigger and better than ever, to create a night that the audience will not forget. One of those surprises may include a 20-30 piece percussion ensemble called Oxembe, but the logistics of that are still being worked out.

Caique Vidal and Batuque will visit Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival for the second time this fall. The band’s spring 2018 performance in the Dance Tent was very well received and festival organizers know Shakori fans appreciate local and World Music so it only made sense to bring them back.

Vidal said the experience of Shakori Hills is, “not just a music festival, it’s a place we go to share music with people, and people really get into it. It’s a carefree [place] where the main mission is to have fun. It’s really fun to me, I love it, I’m actually really happy to come back.”

Caique Vidal and Batuque’s music is available on all major streaming sites, and you can practice your samba at their live rehearsals every Monday night from 6:30-8:30 PM in Durham Central Park. Learn more about the band at www.caiquevidal.com.

Cas Haley: A New Kind of Grassroots

June 25, 2019 by Krysten Heberly Leave a Comment

In 2007, Cas Haley made a name for himself as a reggae artist by coming in second place on America’s Got Talent. Fame and fortune had, seemingly, been hand delivered to the Texas-based singer-songwriter on a platter. Yet, with all of the glamour of a big-name record deal came a huge amount of pressure to conform to a specific image. For Haley, that left very little room for exploring the more personal aspects of identity, especially as an artist.

When it comes to musicians self-identifying as, “grassroots,” they often mean that they are starting out in the music industry, or establishing a local base of fans. For Cas Haley however, his grassroots identity refers to a more homegrown sound, and a slower, more mindful pace. This identity comes after nearly thirteen years in the industry, and it’s a title that he wears with pride.

“I hadn’t really realized who I was as an individual or a person. It was a very vulnerable situation to be put into where companies have millions of dollars invested in you, and they’re going to portray you in a certain way and they’re going to write songs for you, when [music] had always been such a personal thing for me and sort of self-therapy.”

In the years since his big break, Haley’s music has returned to that self-therapy that had initially made music so important for him. While many of Haley’s songs do incorporate the island-style reggae tunes that he became famous for, many more of his songs draw on the blues-country influences of his childhood. With every record, Haley’s music becomes more personal, and better showcases him as an individual, and as an artist.

With his latest album, Lessons and Blessings, Haley brings a more personal and evocative view into his life, and into his music. The album was written over the past year after his wife, Cassy, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. Yet, their family remained optimistic, only growing closer together through her treatment. It was during this time that Cas and Cassy were able to create an album that was truly special for them.

“Over half of the album, me and my wife wrote together. A lot of it was centered around the things that came up through dealing with her cancer, dealing with this whole thing. Me and my wife have been together for 20 years, and we never were creative together in writing songs or anything. It was a really new and interesting relationship, y’know what I mean? 20 years and we’ve never done this, it’s so exciting and so fun. I think it’s the best tunes I’ve gotten to be a part of.”

The album was released on June 21, and was recorded entirely on the Haley family farm, allowing the whole family to be a part of the process. His family has also been accompanying him on tour, making his entourage one of the more supportive in show business.“We know the kinds of places we wanna go, and so our approach has become more mindful rather than just shooting from the hip and playing every rock club we can.”

This fall, their tour schedule will be bringing the family down to Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival for a weekend of grassroots fun in the sun. Though Haley is a newcomer to the festival, he will definitely be an act to remember. As for his performance, Haley says that he and his band will, “try to keep it as real as we possibly can, so we’ll bring our hearts to the table, it’s what we do every time and it’s what we’ll do at Shakori Hills.”

Before seeing him in October check out his YouTube channel to get to know Cas and his family better. Also make sure to check out his website and stream Cas Haley’s latest album, Lessons and Blessings on all major online outlets.

Sound Advice

May 2, 2019 by David Dean 2 Comments

Guest Blog submitted by Ray Goodrich, Marketing Director Foothills Brewing

Our Five Senses are largely how we perceive the world around us. Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, and Touch. Everything you know, everything you feel, everything that’s ever happened to you . . . has been aided, abetted or initiated by those senses. And the beautiful thing is, there’s a relationship between all of them. Smell helps taste, hearing helps sight, touch helps . . . well, all of them. And if one stops working? The others will take over and become stronger as a result. The Senses weave together a corporeal tapestry that allows us to immerse ourselves in the known universe.

I bring this up because . . . well, I’m convinced that good beer makes good music sound better. And good music makes good beer taste better.

Now, hear me out. (ha!) Not just any beer, mind you. And not just any music. Well, almost any music. But in particular, live music.

Let’s say you’re at a show (like Shakori Hills). You can be there enjoying the music (sound). You can see the band and the crowd (sight). Smell and touch are in play too (though decorum prohibits me from elaborating).

What’s missing? Taste! Sure, there are probably great food options available at your show. But who wants to rock out while juggling a Philly cheesesteak? Each has their place – just not, in my opinion, to be enjoyed together.

No, what every truly transcendent music experience calls for is an equally superior craft beer. One that stimulates you with the cold touch of the cup, the aromatic whiff of the hops, and the heady sight of white foam atop golden liquid – and ultimately, with the superior taste that this particular situation demands. A taste that, under these circumstances, only a cold craft beer can provide.

When (not if) you come to Shakori Hills this year, please feel free to put this theory to the test. You may find yourself transferring the good vibe you’re feeling from the music to that cold Hoppyum in your hand – and vice versa.

Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival Spring 2019

May 2, 2019 by David Dean

Guest Blog: Volunteer for the Tickets, Stay for the Magic

March 18, 2019 by David Dean 2 Comments

Written by Guest Blogger: Taari Coleman, longtime Shakori Hills GrassRoots Volunteer

The first time you volunteer for the festival it will likely be for the ticket. And no one faults you for that, it’s the same reason most of us did.

You’ll sign up to do set up, or work in the kid’s tent, or in one of the food booths and as you scroll through the application you’ll be casually thrown by how many ways you can offer your time, how many ways you can make a difference.

Because it’s your first time, when you arrive at the Festival Grounds, you might be a bit nervous. And no one faults you for that either. Most are nervous when faced with meeting new people and potentially embarking on a new task. But the nerves quickly fade as you realize that everyone around you is exactly where they want to be, and very happy to be there.

And then you’re put to work. You’re painting faces, scooping ice cream, directing drivers to parking spaces, checking wristbands, or riding around with the trash and recycling crew. And everyone is excited to see you, even if they’ve just met you a half hour ago. Maybe you weren’t aware that the spirit of Shakori exists not only in each individual person, but in the very ground itself, in the effort put in to make this thing happen and make it good, in the way people smile and cheer as they pull slowly up the gravel driveway, but you know that now, because you helped pull it off and you feel it the way you can feel the beginnings of rain on your skin.

So the first time you volunteer it’ll probably be for the ticket; but the second time you volunteer for the festival, it’ll be because you know that the magic is real and you want to be a part of that.

Click here to volunteer.

Your Happy Place – Camping at Shakori Hills GrassRoots

March 7, 2019 by David Dean 3 Comments

Camping at Shakori Hills GrassRoots Music & Dance doesn’t just provide lodging during the Festival; it completes your Shakori Hills GrassRoots Experience. Tents are nestled in the woods where the environment is shady and cool. Thousands of campers shout, “Happy Shakori!” to each other as they wander the trails. Passing theme camps and impromptu jam sessions as they make their way towards the sounds floating from the stages.

If tents aren’t adequate shelter in your book, RVs are welcome. If the late-night hangs aren’t up your alley, set up in our Family/Quiet Camping Area. No matter the camping experience you desire, you will find your happy place here at Shakori Hills GrassRoots.

If you want to extend your stay here and have a more extensive selection of spots to call home, early camping is encouraged. Find out more about early camping and anything else you would want to know about camping in the details below. See you at The Festival!

BUY CAMPING PASSES HERE

CAMPING GUIDELINES

Most importantly be respectful of your neighbors and the land! Please clean up your campsites and take home with you what you brought, we appreciate it. We offer trash and recycling bags at the ticket booth for sorting your trash.

Please keep the following guidelines in mind so everyone can enjoy their festival experience:

-Vehicle and RV camping area is limited, please park closely and considerately.
-Vehicle/RV and tent camping in designated areas only. There are marked nature preserve areas, please respect this and do not camp here or have fires here.
-Vehicle/RV campers must display vehicle camping pass on the upper driver’s side windshield. On an RV/camper without windshield: on the door of the RV/camper. The sticker must be on a vehicle that is camping, if you want to come in and out with a vehicle, you are towing the camper, etc. with you need to purchase a 4-day parking pass and park in the lot near the festival entrance.
-Regretfully, we must enforce towing in the marked NO PARKING zones. -Vehicles parked in no parking zones will be towed by a professional towing service to a parking area on-site.
-For safety, comfort and the environment please no driving around the festival grounds. If you are using a vehicle camping pass and need to leave the festival grounds, we request that you do so between 8 a.m. and noon.
-No driving in campsites after dark! If you arrive after dark and wish to vehicle camp, you must camp in the vehicle camping section of the main parking lot.
Motorized Vehicles are not allowed, if you have special mobility needs, please contact us in advance.
-Bicycles must have lights after dark.
-Camp Rangers are available to help you — look for people wearing Camp Ranger t-shirts.
-Outdoor hot-water showers are available

-ALCOHOL POLICY: We have a No Public Display of Alcohol Policy — meaning you must keep your alcoholic beverage in a cup – bottles and cans are no longer permitted in the stage and festival areas. We will ask you to conceal your alcoholic beverage if displayed.

-No radios, amplified music, generators or idling vehicles will be allowed.
-No outside firewood, please. It brings in bugs and tree diseases that our trees are not used to. We have firewood available for purchase on site.
-Sorry, NO DOGS! Service dogs will be permitted if they are for the service of the human they are with. Please check service animals in at the Ticket Booth upon arrival. See below in “Nearby Lodging” for pet boarding.
-Public intoxication and drug abuse are not acceptable, and we reserve the right to (and will) intervene if we believe anyone is acting inappropriate and/or disrespectful.
-Please take only memories, leave only footprints.

TENT CAMPING

Tent camping on-site is based on price per tent (no matter how many nights). Tent camping is $25 in advance and $30 at the gate. Each tent camping pass is good for a 10×10 tent/canopy/tarp or smaller, anything larger will need two passes. Tent campers note: Early tent camping (before Thursday) is an additional $10.

All camping is on a first come, first serve basis. Roping to save space is not welcome!

Shuttle: Tent campers without vehicle camping passes cannot drive a vehicle into the campsite, but there is a shuttle that runs from the parking lot to the tent camping areas.

Please read further vehicle camping guidelines below.

RV & VEHICLE CAMPING (for 4-Day ticket holders)

Vehicle and RV Camping is for 4-day ticket buyers only. After Thursday, we can’t guarantee that there will be room for vehicles in the campgrounds.
A Vehicle Camping Pass (car or camper under 25 feet *not including tow vehicle*) is $84 in advance and $94 at the gate and includes space for a)one vehicle and b)one big tent/canopy (larger than 10×10) or two small tents. You can receive up to two tent camping passes with your Vehicle Pass. Tents larger than 10×10 will require two passes. For the vehicle/camper to enter the camping area (to drive past the ticket booth) a Camping Pass has to be adhered on the vehicle: on the upper driver’s side windshield; or on an RV/camper without windshield: on the door of the RV/camper.

An RV Camping Pass (camper + tow vehicle or RV/camper 25 feet or over) is $125 in advance and $135 at the gate and includes space for a)one camper + tow vehicle or large camper and b)one big tent/canopy (larger than 10×10) or two small tents. You can receive up to two tent camping passes with your Vehicle Pass. Tents larger than 10×10 will require two passes. For the vehicle/camper to enter the camping area (to drive past the ticket booth) a Camping Pass has to be adhered on the vehicle: on the upper driver’s side windshield; or on an RV/camper without windshield: on the door of the RV/camper.

Wednesday Vehicle and RV camping are an additional $10, you must check in when you arrive.

If you have a Camper (under 25 feet) + Tow Vehicle and don’t wish to pay the RV price, you are welcome to tow your camper to the campgrounds, unhook, and then park the tow vehicle in our main parking lot; otherwise, you must pay the RV price.

Large vehicle owners also note that RVs and buses 35 feet and over will be limited to the front camping area adjacent to the main parking lot.

Vehicle camping sticker needs to be displayed on each vehicle that is camping. If you are camping with a vehicle and a camper, each vehicle/camper must have a sticker. If you want to park the vehicle that is towing the camper in the parking lot, you can purchase a 4-day parking pass for it.

Sorry, there are no hook-ups and generators are not allowed!

FAMILY/QUIET CAMPING AREA

If you have children with you or enjoy quiet at the festival, you may want to consider camping in the family/quiet camping area. We have two of those on site, and they both contain tent and vehicle camping. Ask the parking crew where this is upon arrival.

EARLY CAMPING/SET-UP

We allow people to begin camping or set up camp starting the Saturday before the festival. There is a $10 early set-up fee. Early Vehicle or RV Camping is $10 per day.
If you plan to set up early or camp early, please pay your fee and pick up your camping passes upon entry to the grounds. Do not set up without receiving a camping pass! You may set up as much as you want, but you cannot rope off extra space to be used later.

CAMPFIRES

Please see the ticket booth for this year’s campfire notice. If the weather has been arid, we will not allow fires.

Shakori is Family

February 17, 2019 by David Dean 2 Comments

The Shakori Hills family lost one of our most beloved members on Saturday, February 16.

James Olin Oden has been a festival regular for the past ten years. He first came as a fan and quickly got involved as a performer and even as a staff member for a short time.

His uniquely uplifting musical sound, a blend of his Irish and American roots, wisdom of all manner of subjects, and love of the GrassRoots family will be missed dearly.

Details of a memorial being planned for the Spring 2019 festival will be announced once they have been finalized.

In the meantime, we felt James’ words and music were the best way to honor the man. Below, enjoy a piece he wrote for the Spring 2018 program followed by some clips we thought helped capture his spirit.

slán leat, James

Shakori is Family

Originally printed in the Spring 2018 Festival Program.

written by James Olin Oden

When I first came to Shakori 10 years ago, I really had no idea what I was getting into. I knew that I was going to a music festival and there would be campfires, with lots of musicians, music lovers and artists all over the grounds. Well, in between all the fun and camaraderie, what I found was family.

We’re a peculiar family to be sure. Made of all kinds of different camps, many with names like Camp Sparkle, No Hope (and Know Hope), Rivendale, Frabjous, and Wayward Way to just name a few. There’s no rule that this should be; it just happens in a Grassroots kind of way. Each camp has its own peculiarities and proclivities, and we intermingle quite a bit, cross pollinating ideas and moments of utter silliness. Also, the camp decorations are something to behold. In Fall one of my favorites is the Festivarians site, where they have I think a 100 or so jack-o-lanterns hung in a grove.

The fires at each camp have always been a very central thing. We gather round and conversations flow freely as does music. Sometimes in the wee hours of the morning we just sit and stare and breathe together. Not that we can’t do a Shakori without fire (we just did; it was hard, but we did it, together!), but they have always proven to be a central part of the event. Amongst the fires, rocks and trees of Shakori we live freely enjoying one another’s self-expression and our corporate expression as a group. We learn hard lessons about living with each other and allowing each other to breathe freely within the group. This is not to say there are no boundaries, we just work really hard to uphold the real boundaries and allow freedom wherever we possibly can. Because of this, we have all grown as one big Shakori family.

Every family has a vision, and at Shakori you see the music and dance flowing from the camps like many vibrant streams down to the stages forming a great river of music and dance. We gather at the stages forming a unity of both musicians and dancers flowing as one big pool of united humanity. It’s really amazing to observe. There are, also, workshops covering all kinds of things musical and cultural. Even these ultimately stem from the camps. Over the years I’ve seen many a person young and immature in their art (whether it be music, dance or those other media (-;) become strong leaders and find their way to stages and workshops. It’s a beautiful thing seeing your family grow.

None of this could happen without the staff, and they are a beautiful and integral part of this family we call Shakori. There is the board of directors that set the vision, the staff that handle the operations and booking, the rangers that look out for everyone’s safety, and the security that is there to ensure everyone has a good time. They all work in unison to make sure the festival keeps going. Add to that all the volunteers that put in so much hard work to make this thing come together (tents don’t raise themselves). It really is much like someone preparing a beautiful feast for all their friends. Great hospitality requires a great amount of work, and they do all this work selflessly for one big happy Shakori family.

So please do enjoy your time here. The land and the people of Shakori greet you with open arms.

Welcome to the family!

James Olin Oden Videos

James performs “Friend of the Devil” and “Uncle John’s Band” with his longtime playing partner Joey Arcuri on the Meadow Stage at the Fall 2013 festival.

Here James performs “Dance Right Out of My Grave”, a song he wrote about a performance by Driftwood, another Shakori Hills GrassRoots regular. This clip is from the DooDad Farm, our Greensboro friends down the road.

James would narrate a video of his arrival at Shakori Hills GrassRoots every year. His Spring 2016 video has the added bonus of his album “Deeper Dance” as the soundtrack and a glimpse into his horticulture knowledge.

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Your Happy Place – Camping at Shakori Hills GrassRoots

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Shakori is Family

slán leat, James

Shakori is Family

James Olin Oden Videos

James performs “Friend of the Devil” and “Uncle John’s Band” with his longtime playing partner Joey Arcuri on the Meadow Stage at the Fall 2013 festival.

Here James performs “Dance Right Out of My Grave”, a song he wrote about a performance by Driftwood, another Shakori Hills GrassRoots regular. This clip is from the DooDad Farm, our Greensboro friends down the road.

James would narrate a video of his arrival at Shakori Hills GrassRoots every year. His Spring 2016 video has the added bonus of his album “Deeper Dance” as the soundtrack and a glimpse into his horticulture knowledge.

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Click here to volunteer.

CAMPING GUIDELINES

TENT CAMPING

RV & VEHICLE CAMPING (for 4-Day ticket holders)

FAMILY/QUIET CAMPING AREA

EARLY CAMPING/SET-UP

CAMPFIRES

slán leat, James

Shakori is Family

James Olin Oden Videos

James performs “Friend of the Devil” and “Uncle John’s Band” with his longtime playing partner Joey Arcuri on the Meadow Stage at the Fall 2013 festival.

Here James performs “Dance Right Out of My Grave”, a song he wrote about a performance by Driftwood, another Shakori Hills GrassRoots regular. This clip is from the DooDad Farm, our Greensboro friends down the road.

James would narrate a video of his arrival at Shakori Hills GrassRoots every year. His Spring 2016 video has the added bonus of his album “Deeper Dance” as the soundtrack and a glimpse into his horticulture knowledge.

Contact

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