“No hassles or bad attitudes is the way we like things here,” motto of Ekoostik Hookah’s renowned Hookahville, has never been a problem among the free spirits that travel to the music festival biannually.
They would like to keep it that way.
Ekoostik Hookah is excited to bring five more talented acts to Buckeye Lake Music Center in Thornville, Ohio this Memorial Day weekend for the 17th biannual musical camp out like no other, Hookahville Spring 2002. The event will also be held over Labor Day weekend.
It started back in the spring of 1994 when Columbus’ ekoostik hookah keyboardist-vocalist Dave Katz and manager Jeff Spencer had a “little camp-out party” that turned out to host more than 800 people.
“They just wanted to play outside in the woods,” said Johnny Polansky, percussionist and four-year member of Ekoostik Hookah.
After the parties began to grow into three-day festivals, Katz decided he did not want to mess up his backyard anymore and the band sought out venues for their “little parties.”
The festival’s laid-back atmosphere and the jazz/funk/soul/bluegrass band participants continue to draw bigger and better talent each festival. They continually outgrow their venues with more than 10,000 regulars a year.
This year’s lineup includes Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Medeski Martin and Wood, Umphrey’s McGee and Railroad Earth and Ekoostik Hookah.
The improvisational blends of the musically-charged sextet have led the band to successfully sell more than 80,000 copies of their six albums without any major label. Their newest album, “Seahorse,” is available in stores.
“We can’t stop making music,” Polansky said. “We plan on having the follow-up to ‘Seahorse’ coming out this fall.”
A two-set show will be performed each night by Ekoostik Hookah, whichpromises to play music from every CD and keep the show visually and audibly stimulating.
The gates open at 8 a.m. on Friday as jam band Railroad Earth kicks things off.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones will follow with their innovative banjo sounds and jazzy bluegrass compositions. Revolutionary banjo headman, Bela Fleck, brings his celebrated talents which have produced 17 Grammy nominations and five Grammy wins. He has extended his sound over the years from classical to jazz to bluegrass and rock.
Saturday brings fast-growing Umphrey’s McGee to the stage first. The Chicago originals play a wide range of music for their devout fan following. The band has a dynamic sound, ranging from bluegrass to jazz to rap and rock.
The experimental sounds of Medeski, Martin and Wood are next in the festivities. Their combination of instrumental “hip-hop trance-funk” has grown musically every year. Their complex sounds can be heard on their latest Blue Note album, “Uninvisible.”
Bruce Hornsby rounds out the diverse line-up with his mainstream American tones. His work has continuously expanded musically over the last few decades and is celebrating his eighth album release, “Big Swing Face.”
Ekoostik Hookah strives to play a diverse set each night.
“At our shows you’ll hear stuff from the earliest inception of the band up to our release,” Polansky said. “There’s something new every time for fans.”
Similar to the hectic schedule and cult fan base of respected jam-band icons, such as Phish and the Grateful Dead, this psychedelic group has been touring constantly, and its fan clubs keep getting bigger.
“We’re trying to keep it diverse,” Katz said in a statement. “We’re hoping to open people’s eyes to different kinds of music all the time.”
These hard-working fellows perform nearly four shows a week and never seem to tire. The band has traveled from west to east coast and everywhere in between to play for its energetic, devoted fans.
“We’re always smiling because we love what we do,” said Polansky. “There’s no better energy than what a crowd gives me at our shows, and I wake up everyday happy to do my job.”
Organizers of this home-grown festival asks that guests do not bring any dogs, fireworks, alcohol or drugs to their peaceful, oversized camp out. Independent vendors will offer food and merchandise. Camping is encouraged by all, but for the “quiet campers” such as families and children, a separate campsite is available.
Attendants will have a chance to give back to the community by bringing canned goods that will benefit the Ohio Food Bank and a chance to win prizes for large donations.
Polansky invites all bikers to their annual “Bugs in Your Teeth” motorcycle ride from German Village to Buckeye Lake. Polansky and drummer Eric Lanese will leave around 1 p.m. on Friday to kick off the Hookahville festivities.
Rain or shine Hookahville’s ever-changing organic jamming will commence on Friday at Buckeye Lake. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 888-TIXX-100. More information can be found at www.hookahville.com.
