Just a couple of more thoughts I wanted to share...

[Jimi5A1]

Hey crazy kids out there!

Tell me you cats are feeling the excitement blown in the wind. Having a blast here in Baltimore, MD, (Orioles actually had decent pitching tonight for a change), just sitting here jamming to some music on my last real free night before the big trek out west.

Anyways?.

1. How many people do you kids think are local that are coming to the festival? There seems to be a decent amount of postings from cats either in Lawrence or within a few hours drive. Also for that matter, how many single day tickets do you think they sold? I just can?t imagine just going to something like this for one day, but hey that?s just me.

2. How many cats do you kids think are going to show up early on Thursday? I mean it seems to have a pretty good line up for an opening night. Probably won?t make it for Arthur Dodge (most likely either still in line or just getting settled in by that point since we do have a lengthy drive), I am digging what I hear from Big Metal Rooster, just downloaded some Benevento/Russo Duo, in fact check out their version of Zeppelin?s Four Sticks at http://www.organanddrums.com, and of course we are excited about Ekoostik Hookah and Sound Tribe Sector 9 (god I love saying that name), but are you guys planning to show up or just a few of us?

3. I don?t know about you guys out in the Midwest, but the last two days it has been in the 90?s and the humidity has pushed it up a little more, so how bad is the humidity out there? I went backpacking in Colorado and New Mexico back in the summer of ?95 and there wasn?t much humidity in the Rocky Mnts, but how about Kansas?

4. Kind of an off the wall question, but I am assuming most of you on here are veterans of the Midwest festival music scene, so how are the ?recreational activities? out there? Should I bring my own ?activities? or will it be no problem finding some out there?

That?s pretty much it I guess. Until next time

[Jimi5A1]

Just out back smoking a cigarette and one more question poped in my head.

I assume you guys have fireflies out there? I mean you probably do, they are a bugs after all and if you were to add up the number of bugs on the planet there would be a hell of a lot more of them then us, but I didn't know, we have cicadas and you don't.

[umphreak]

hey jimi

1. I think a lot of locals are going to be making it... the people here know good music. Most people I know are making the short trip. Most I know have the 3 day passes (and we can't wait for sts9!)

2. No clue, but most the locals, and sts9/ekoostik hookah/big metal rooster fans will be sure and make it thursday. At summer camp the other week, more than 50% of people showed up the night before. Not saying wakarusa will be like that, but I would think a good amount of people will be there (at least late night)

3. today was rainy and cool all day.. but rest assured it will most likely be in the 90's with high humidity making you sweat like a mofo.. but kansas weather is crazy, and ya never know if it could be overcast and 80 with no humidity, or no clouds and 90 with 100% humidity \"If you dont like the weather in kansas, wait a day\"

4. lawrence has a great scene by itself, and add to the fact a festival with many many many out of towners... I dont think you will have any problem, but it would be a long drive if you gotta wait till you get to wakarusa, yaknowwhatimean

and yeah, there are fireflies out here, just saw some the other night when i went outside

have a good and safe trip!

That's funny. The saying in Maryland is \"If you dont like the weather is Maryland, wait 10 minutes!\"

[randall747]

Yo Ho Ho!

1. We (my wife and I) live in the KC area and think that there will be a good amount of locals going. Lot's of Jayhawkers I'm sure... Although I love all of the fest goers, I still have to say - GO MIZZOU!!!

2. We will be getting there around 4 or 5pm Thursday (have to work Thursday and Monday )

3. Be prepared for heat, humidity, and perhaps rain. Very unpredictable weather here but generally hot and humid summers and long cold winters. I remember my first Greatful Dead show in Kansas (1991) it was about 107 and humid! But, they opened with a smokin Jack Straw and everything was perfect. Sun so hot - the clouds so low - the eagles fill the sky. Man I miss Jerry.

4. There should be plenty of activities to find but it never hurts to bring some just in case.

Travel safe and slow and enjoy!

Peace!

Randall

[NCTRNL]

Oh it'll be hot...don't you worry.

[Coco Robicheaux]

The Kansas City Star had a front page story on Wakarusa in their Preview (Arts and Entertainment) section today (link--free registration required-- http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/ ) and one of the organizers said they expected between 10 & 15,000 people at the festival which\"exceeded our expectations.\" While the reporter was short on the music it was worth a read because it ended with a quote from the organizers that they plan on this being a yearly festival ... \"We'll be back\" with the possibility of SCI or the Dead headlining next year---Here's hoping for some String Cheese!!! See everyone Thursday morning in upgraded, Coco.

[NCTRNL]

Wakarusa tries out festival waters

By SAM SESSA The Kansas City Star


At first the Wakarusa festival seemed better suited for 2005.

When the talk of holding a jam-band festival of this size in Kansas circulated last summer, promoters didn't know if it would be possible to organize in a year. After all, it had never been done before.

Dominoes started falling in November when the economy was on the upswing, and by late January about 25 bands had signed on to the roster ? the green light for Wakarusa 2004.

The festival's sheer mass is staggering. It encompasses four days, three stages, 75 bands and almost 100 sets of music on a stage flanked by two JumboTron display screens. Nonmusical activities at the Clinton Lake camping site include hiking, mountain bike trails, Frisbee golf, canoeing, boating, swimming and fishing. A shuttle service will ferry people to and from Lawrence.

Brett Mosiman, one of the four festival directors, estimates a turnout of 10,000 to 15,000 people ? far past early expectations.

?When we launched this thing in March, it just hit a nerve,? Mosiman said. ?It's really amazing the feedback we've got from message boards and Internet chat rooms and e-mail. It's really amazing the outpouring of support for what we've undertaken.?

But why Kansas?

The festival circuit's crowd is used to touring in support of its bands and will cross the country for an extended weekend outdoors. Besides, there's no nearby competition.

?We could draw an eight-hour radius on a map and not come across any significant camping festivals,? Mosiman said.

Wakarusa also boasts no corporate ties that would raise ticket prices and charge fees for parking and beer. Parking is free, and those of age will be able to score draft beers for less than $4.

This year, no top-tier touring jam bands such as Phish, the Dead or the String Cheese Incident were booked because promoters are still testing the waters and didn't want to get overwhelmed, Mosiman said. If there is a second Wakarusa, there may be a major headliner.

?We'll have to see,? Mosiman said. ?We'll be talking to fans and stuff, checking out the numbers, and it's definitely a possibility that we'll do that.?

The campgrounds can hold the large volume of people that would accompany a massive headliner, and, provided this year goes well, there probably will be a Wakarusa 2005, Mosiman said.

?We do anticipate that it's an annual thing,? he said. ?We'll be back.?

[CPJSJohnny]

It will most likely be humid but may not be terribly hot at least not according to the weather. It has been really humid all week though. The extended forcast is actaully pretty nice mid 80s and no solid rain forcast just some scattered showers.

We do have bugs (arachnids, i.e ticks and chiggers) though. The tick count has been VERY high all spring, we have had a wet spring so the mosquitos will probably be pretty hungry right before dark. The worst thing will probably be chiggers, you can't see them and won't realize they are a problem until it is too late, they won't really hurt you and as far as I know don't carry any terrible diseases but are a royal pain to deal with. They really like tight moist places like your sock and jocks if you get my drift, a little repellent around your shoes and sock will more than likely take care of the problem.

We do not have periodical cicada's this year, the cicada's that we do have will not be out very heavily until late July or early August.
Peace, Johnny B

I get goose bumps saying Sound Tribe Sector Nine. Cannot freaking wait. I'm in it for the long haul, Thur-Sun. Summer Camp had plenty, I mean plenty of \"activities\", but there should be about three times the people at Waka also. Never hurts to have to much.

Just bought a 5 gal. Igloo jug. (like the ones at sporting events), and am going to fill it with some \"punch\", and it will have plenty of punch.

I will be welcoming people to stop by and sample the goods. What flavors of punch does everyone like? Cherry, grape, lemonade, lemon-lime, strawberry, tropical, orange, etc...........

Sound Tribe Sector Nine! Wheeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww