Up North Festival 2008
Up North Festival Official Link
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Review by Jon Berk
Photos by Kerry Barbato
Arriving late night, driving almost blindly to the GPS, I wondered if coming all
the way up to this little Maine festival was a mistake. I usually end up at much
larger festivals, but the lineup of musicians seemed just a little too good to
pass up. The Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds used for this festival has been home to
the Ossipee Agricultural fair over 30 years strong. This time, though, for the
Up North Festival, our enthusiastic Production crew transformed the entire
fairgrounds into a concert attendee's playground. The grounds are small but the
layout was nice for a first year music festival. Camping was strewn about under
a nice canopy of pine trees and there was plenty of room for the 3000 plus
people attending this year. Don't forget to bring a camping pad or air mattress,
though, and some tarps for the wet Maine weather.
There were two stages set up for this magic to unfold. The main stage was
awesome, a nice and large professional setup with an exceptional Meyer sound
system. I have been to a lot of festivals in my days and to find such a PRO
setup deep out in the remote wooded area of this part of the east coast was very
surprising. Top of the line, so to speak. It provided crystal clear thumping
music the entire weekend for the enjoyment of all. The sound was clear all the
way back to the Vendors in the back of the main field. The other stage was sort
of a converted livestock barn with a high roof and open walls. It allowed for
better than usual sound in a late night or second stage type environment.
Minimally decorated with streaming flags, it had a nice rustic feel to it with
some room to spare for getting down to the music. Both stage sound engineers
seemed to do a fine job, and loud, clean, clear sound was the theme for the
weekend.
I like to walk around a lot at festivals and this one was no exception. Meeting
local people chatting and experiencing the vibe of a venue and its patrons is an
important part of the festival experience for me. I must say almost all the
people I interacted with from Maine or the Boston area were quite friendly. They
do like to get a bit loose though and a sort of weekend warrior vibe transmitted
all over the fairgrounds. All in all, a pretty well behaved bunch that seemed to
really be enjoying a chance to experience the great musical lineup that had made
its way into this remote are of New England. There were a few vendors here too,
showcasing their artistic and creative talents. There were two vending areas: a
shakedown outer lot area and the main concert bowl area. You could find imported
exotic clothes and hand made ones all throughout the festival. There was hand
blown glass of all sorts, including a great gong type Pyrex bowl that was a
wonderful addition to the hustle bustle of the shakedown area.
Quite a few food vendors were on hand to make sure the hungry patrons would not
have to be entirely self sufficient this weekend. There was vegetarian, vegan
and international type cuisine available, and of course the local favorites of
the New Englanders, from a great lobster roll to the famous 2 dollar shrimp
kabobs. The only issue I saw with the food vending was that 3 or 4 of them all
offered a similar breakfast burrito which made for a little less profit for all
of them, and in my opinion it is nicer to allow more diversity so all profit
better in the end. Overall, though, most people could eat without having to cart
all their own food if they so chose.
Musically we were in for a treat the entire weekend. The name acts that made
their way here were amazing. I am a longtime lover of Soul Live and was sort of
surprised to find them all the way up here in this little known part of Maine.
They played a great show quite full of energy that leaked over to the late night
Lettuce set later that evening. I must say that the Lettuce set was one of the
hottest rockin' jam dance parties I have been to in a long while and it was just
off the hook. So much fun I was grinning ear to ear. The Wailers played the main
stage too that night and it was a crowd bouncing good time. Original member
Family Man on bass tore up the grooves and provided the backbone for a great fun
colorful musical experience. Also a great set they had clean loud tones for all
reggae patrons to enjoy the entire evening. The music was top notch the whole
weekend with Umphreys McGee playing a long and trancey show the second night.
The highlight for me during the Umphreys set was a tug of war with a 6 foot
inflatable lobster and huge grins and laughs while we stomped and tore the
plastic lobster apart. It had been hitting us in the head after bouncing around
the tops of the crowd so many times that people went nuts to grab it and take it
down. A playful mosh pit that was so much fun. Railroad Earth played an
energetic jam filled afternoon set the following day and Tim Carbone led them
down the fun musical pathway for all the patrons to enjoy that lazy afternoon. A
nice turn out actually for the time slot they were given, the main field was
pretty full all the way to the soundboard.
The Ratdog set the next evening was spacey and jam filled. Bob Weir and
Mark
Karan's playing was amidst a backdrop of threatening torrential downpour but the
magic of the music kept us right in the eye of the storm and our dancing glee
was spared the slaughter of the dark opposer. Again the sound was full and
blooming and smiles and grooves filled the whole field. Old and new fans mingled
and danced within the field and all seemed to really enjoy themselves.
Many other smaller local area bands played their hearts out this weekend and
overall I have to conclude that all the musicians seemed to really enjoy
themselves performing for the New Englanders. Basically a good time for all.
Overall it was a great weekend with minimal hassle and great music and friends.
Next year I am sure we will see better music, more bathrooms, additions of
showers for the campers and more diversity in food choices as The UP NORTH
FESTIVAL makes its way onto the Festival Circuit for 2009. Thank you for a real
good time, guys. See you next year.
Friday August 8th, 2008
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Everyone Orchestra
08/08/08 (Fri)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
Julie van Amerongen
This show has an average rating of 4.75 out of 4 votes.
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Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
08/08/08 (Fri)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 5.00 out of 1 votes.
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Jimkata
08/08/08 (Fri)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 4.00 out of 1 votes.
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Lettuce
08/08/08 (Fri)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 4.60 out of 5 votes.
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Soulive
08/08/08 (Fri)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
Charley Bass
This show has an average rating of 5.00 out of 1 votes.
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The Wailers
08/08/08 (Fri)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 5.00 out of 5 votes.
Saturday August 9th, 2008
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Eddy Dyer
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show hasn't received any votes yet.
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Incus
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 1.75 out of 4 votes.
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John Brown's Body
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
Peter Carlson
This show has an average rating of 5.00 out of 2 votes.
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Peter Prince & The Johnny Trama Unit
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show hasn't received any votes yet.
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Red Generator
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show hasn't received any votes yet.
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RJD2
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 5.00 out of 1 votes.
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Ryan Montbleau
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 4.00 out of 2 votes.
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Spiritual Rez
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 4.00 out of 1 votes.
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The Breakfast
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
Bob Honch
Lineup:
The Breakfast: Tim Palmieri
Adrian Tramontano
Chris DeAngelis
This show hasn't received any votes yet.
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The Breakfast
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Music Festival - Hiram,
ME,
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Set 1: Wake Up In A Coma > Honey Butter, Infrequently Asked Questions, Synergy > Over Exposure > Synergy
Lineup:
Tim Palmieri - guitar & vocals
Adrian Tramontano - drums & vocals
Chris DeAngelis - bass & vocals
Matt Oestricher - keyboards & vocals
This show hasn't received any votes yet.
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The Indobox
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 4.33 out of 3 votes.
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The Indobox
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 4.50 out of 2 votes.
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Umphrey's McGee
08/09/08 (Sat)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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Set 1: Partyin' Peeps, Sociable Jimmy, 2nd Self, Rocker (part II), Utopian Fir > Hurt Bird Bath, The Bottom Half, Der Bluten Kat, E: Nothing Too Fancy > In the Flesh > Another Brick in the Wall > Nothing Too Fancy
This show has an average rating of 4.83 out of 6 votes.
Sunday August 10th, 2008
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American Babies
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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Set 1: Everything Will Be All Right, Baby Don't Cry, Jolene, Restless Heart, Swimming At Night, Rocker, Desperate Times, Invite Your Friends
Source:
Brian Robbins
This show has an average rating of 4.50 out of 2 votes.
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Assembly of Dust
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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Set 1: Love Junkie, Lost and Amazed, Rachel, Whistle Clock, Paul Henry, Tavern Walker, Zero to the Skin, Sometimes, Songs We Sing
Source:
Ross Worby
This show has an average rating of 4.00 out of 1 votes.
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Future Rock
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
-
No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 5.00 out of 1 votes.
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Lazy Lightning
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 1.00 out of 1 votes.
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Railroad Earth
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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Set 1: New Lee Highway Blues > Fiddlee, Like a Buddha, 'Neath the Stars, The Forecast, I am a Mess, Bird in a House, Little Rabbit
Source:
Robert Scalcione, Brian Robbins
This show has an average rating of 4.89 out of 9 votes.
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Ratdog
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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Set 1: jam, Feel Like a Stranger, New Minglewood Blues, Mission in the Rain, Casey Jones, Dark Star, Big Railroad Blues, You Win Again, Lazy River Road, Dark Star (jam) > The Other One > Lady with a Fan > Terrapin > solos, Standing on the Moon > Dark Star (jam) > Samson and Delilah, E: Good Lovin
Source:
Hal Wigoda
This show has an average rating of 4.86 out of 7 votes.
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Sam Kininger Band
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 5.00 out of 1 votes.
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The Brew
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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Set 1: Faces, Hunter's Moon, Machine, Who's The Boss?, I do Believe, Chance Reaching
This show has an average rating of 5.00 out of 1 votes.
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The Trainwreks
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Main Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show has an average rating of 4.00 out of 1 votes.
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You Can Be a Wesley
08/10/08 (Sun)
Up North Festival @ Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds (Up Stage) - Hiram,
ME
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No setlist available. Please send this setlist to
This show hasn't received any votes yet.
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