The leaves are changing; it’s getting dark earlier and what better way to spend an evening or a weekend for that matter listening to really good music.
Hangtown Music Festival
Oct. 20-23 | El Dorado County Fairgrounds | Placerville
The sixth annual Hangtown Music Festival is keeping the festival season alive. Get your boots on and head to Placerville from Oct. 20 to 23 for a crazy, eclectic lineup of artists. The schedule offers some special gems — everything from bluegrass to funk to jam bands. Host band Railroad Earth is a mainstay at Hangtown. While Gipsy Moon and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades are on deck to perform their upbeat alt-bluegrass tunes. They were fabulous at WinterWonderGrass. The Brothers Comatose and Dead Winter Carpenters are no strangers to Tahoe and always get the crowd up and dancing. There will also be some outrageous funky sounds served up by the Pimps of Joytime, Tauk and Gene Evaro Jr., who makes his debut at Hangtown. He rocked the Guitarfish Festival.
Ryan Kronenberg is the founder and producer of the Hangtown event. He spends seven months of the year preparing for it.
“We start with a wish list of bands. It all depends on who is available. We put a lot of energy behind the festival,” he says. “We purposely offer a wide range of talent during the festival. We load the lineup to pique people’s interest.”
New this year, Hangtown teams up with its main beer sponsor, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, to offer the Hangtown Hop.
“They’ll bring lots of new flavors they’ve never released before,” says Kronenberg.
[blockquote3]
“For me the idea of the festival is rooted in the intention to
bring people together in a loving moment, to enjoy the moment.
I only facilitate a space for people to step into the magic.
Music is a powerful meditation; it draws you in to be in the moment.”
– Ryan Kronenberg
[/blockquote3]
The Hop is from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Kyle Hollingsworth from String Cheese Incident will perform on Saturday and Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers perform on Sunday during the Hangtown Hop. Kronenberg says the Hangtown Hop will definitely be an experience.
In addition, Sierra Nevada brews a special batch of beer each year specifically for the festival. Sunday morning join Hangtown for Bluegrass and Bloody Mary Brunch, featuring a build-your-own Bloody Mary while listening to some fine bluegrass tunes.
Hangtown is a family event. The KidZone is a safe and magical place where kids and parents alike can participate in fun and creative activities that enhance their festival experience and connect them with other families. This year, Hangtown offers the Big Fun Circus, featuring the Avatars of Joy, stilt walkers, jugglers, hula-hoopers and the Bubble Girls blowing their giant bubbles. There are plenty of arts and crafts, games, storytelling and other engaging activities designed for children.
According to Kronenberg, there will be many interesting goings on, “Medeski Martin and Wood are celebrating their 25th anniversary at Hangtown. The East Coast funk band will arrive after three nights of sold-out shows in New York City to perform. Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe is doing a Prince tribute. They’ve been touring the country and this will be one of the last times they offer the tribute. Angelo Moore from Fishbone will accompany Denson. Also on the schedule are the Incidental Animals featuring members from ALO. String Cheese Incident and Jen Hartswick of Trey Anastasio Band will perform.”
Nakho and Medicine for the People bring their message of love and peace and late-night shows feature the Infamous String Dusters, Boombox and Steve Kimock & Friends and more.
Costumes are encouraged and there is a theme for each night of the festival. Thursday’s theme is Chromatopia: pick a solid color and dress head to toe to turn Hangtown into a rainbow. Friday’s costume theme is Hydrofunky. Whether you dress up from the deep or ride the tide, Hangtown calls forth all creatures and voyagers of water. Saturday’s theme is Zoobadooba, dress up and shake your tail with two legs, four legs, feathers or scales. Sunday’s theme is HellaStella. Look to the sky to devise your disguise on the last night of Hangtown.
Why does Kronenberg do this? He explains, “For me the idea of the festival is rooted in the intention to bring people together in a loving moment, to enjoy the moment. I only facilitate a space for people to step into the magic. Music is a powerful meditation; it draws you in to be in the moment.”
For more information, visit hangtownfestival.com.
