Blues Traveler, Todd Snider, Widespread Panic part of Wakarusa lineup

story and band reviews by Peter Lewis
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The Wakarusa music festival first called Mulberry Mountain home in 2009. By all accounts the first year was a success. There were an estimated 11,000 people in attendance, seeing over 90 performances by musical acts at Wakarusa.

Brett Mosiman, the director of Wakarusa, certainly expects more positives for the 2010 installation of Wakarusa.

Mosiman recently indicated that they are expecting attendance to top out at over 15,000 this year. As counties throughout the country deal with the lingering effects of a national recession, the presence of Wakarusa has certainly helped out Franklin County. Mosiman cited a county report that showed county revenues up significantly over the previous year. Using this evidence as a baseline, he posited that the presence of Wakarusa increased county revenues by roughly 25% over the previous year’s figures. Mosiman said the expectation was for a "bigger and bigger impact as time goes on."

As evidence toward future growth, Mosiman related a high level of comments on the Wakarusa website seeking advice for things to do and places to visit in the area before and after the event.

"People realized it’s a beautiful part of the country that is, in a sense, largely undiscovered,” he said.

It is this natural beauty that helps keep Wakarusa anchored in Arkansas. With quality camping facilities and a plethora of outdoor activities, Ozark National Forest seems a perfect fit for the largely outdoorsy demographic attracted to Wakarusa.

While Mosiman was coy about a specific date, he did say there was a permanent lease in place that anchors Wakarusa to the area for the "foreseeable future."

Wakarusa is first and foremost a festival for the lovers of groove. The lineup is littered with jam bands and funked out fellas. Even though it is a bit top heavy in that regard, there is plenty of talent in a wide range of genres.

Following is a list of all bands performing, with a brief description of each act. (You can also link here for the 2010 Wakarusa artist lineup.)

ALO: This California band is signed to Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records label.  They are pretty much straight ahead groove music, so expect some bass heavy jams.

Backyard Tire Fire: I didn’t know there was a Bloomington, Ill., but apparently there is and this band is from there. Perhaps even more surprising than their location is their music.  It’s damned catchy roots based indie rock (particularly the title track from their latest album, Good To Be).

Band of Heathens: This Austin group is a gathering of previously solo, singer-songwriters.  Their sound is an organic, alt-country that finds its roots in such troubadours as Ray Wylie Hubbard and Rodney Crowell.

Bassnectar: Bassnectar is a sort of modern incarnation of jazz bebop. That is, a free form musical experiment that seeks to cross boundaries and open the door to possibility. The link throughout this electronic experimentation is usually a heavy tempo with thick bass and/or percussion.

Ben Miller Band: A Joplin, Mo.-based band that plays an intriguing blend of seemingly disparate American musical traditions like bluegrass, zydeco, blues, and rockabilly.

Big Gigantic: Saxophonist-cum-DJ, Dominic Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken compliments more traditional techno by layering live music elements on top.

Big Smith: Most everyone in this area is previously familiar with Big Smith. Their performance at Waka this year will revolve entirely around gospel based bluegrass tunes.

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears: If James Brown had a torch to pass, it was passed to Black Joe Lewis. You won’t find anyone working the stage harder. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears posses  a vitality rarely witnessed in modern music. Their gritty, sweat-drenched R&B funk is a trip back to the juke joint and is not to be missed.

The Black Keys: While Black Joe might be carrying on the tradition of James Brown, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys is carrying the torch of north Mississippi bluesman, Junior Kimbrough. His thick, driving lead guitar is redolent with Kimbrough’s influence. The Black Keys play a straight ahead, driving electric blues that is looser and dirtier than the more recognizable Delta and Chicago styles.

Blues Traveler: One thing is certain, you won’t find better harmonica work at Wakarusa than John Popper, the leader of Blues Traveler. After years on the fringes of mainstream music, Blues Traveler scored big in 1994, vaulting them into the public consciousness for good. Expect to hear a set heavy in blues rock with intricate musical segues between songs.

Bluetech: Down-tempo ambient music.

BoomBox: This duo out of Muscle Shoals, Ala., eschews the more traditional elements of their hometown music scene for an electronic-infused rock sound. It’s dance music.

Bootleg: Florida band that plays a fair amount of Marley and Sublime covers. What originals they play will be in that same vein.

The Bridge: Baltimore-based rock band that is rooted in the blues. Soulful vocals.

Cash’d Out: Johnny Cash tribute band that claims to be the next best thing to the Man in Black himself. Hard to argue with them. Great chance for a singalong.

The Constellations: The group is out of Atlanta and the band is a reflection of the city itself. They refer to their sound as a “psychedelic soul-rock explosion.” I can’t really add anything beyond that they sound great. New album drops in late June and, since I’m feeling all prognostic, should be huge.

Deadman Flats: They call it “Redneckery,” and you are more than welcome to just think of it as some breakneck bluegrass.

Dirtfoot: If I had to sum them up in a word, I’d use “crazed,” but meant in a good way. Make sense? Yeah, probably not. High octane punk influenced bluegrass that boogies.

Dubtribe Sound System: This is a reunion show for Sunshine and Moonbeam Jones, former punk rockers from San Francisco that found inspiration in the inclusiveness of electronic dance music. Should be a high energy show.

Dumpstaphunk: For all intents and purposes, Dumpstaphunk is Ivan Neville, son of the legendary Aaron Neville. Dumpstaphunk draws on the tradition of New Orleans, of acts like The Meters and creates a modern, funky interpretation of those vast influences.

Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa: This one is pretty straight forward. Frank Zappa’s son, Dweezil, has immersed himself in his father’s mind-bending rock music. This unique tribute band is the result.

The Disco Biscuits: This Philadelphia group is rock based outfit that seeks to bend the parameters of the music by expanding into electronica, creating trance inducing tunes — part psychedelic, part rock, but pure mind bending fun.

Earl Greyhound: Rock trio out of NYC. Noisy, transcendental stuff that has garnered a lot of positive press since forming in the early part of the decade.

Ekoostik Hookah: More traditional jam band rooted in the traditions of bluegrass, rock and acid jazz.

EOTO: This act is comprised of two members of The String Cheese Incident and features completely improvised electronic performances. EOTO records, mixes and remixes their music live in the moment.  No show is ever like the previous.

Fishbone: There is a heavy tradition of ska and reggae based acts in So-Cal, Fishbone is one of the ultimate precursors. Formed in 1979, they’ve been laying down ska based alt-rock ever since.

Fort Knox Five: International funk music that features frequent remixing.

Future Rock: Electronic rock with a big sound and large light show orchestrations that attempts to attack the audience on multiple sensory levels.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad: Reggae, Reggae, Reggae.

Great American Taxi: The conceit is simple whereas the task itself is large: Great American Taxi promises to take you on a ride through the (rural) traditions of American music.

Hayes Carll: Texas born and educated at Hendrix College, Hayes Carll has carved out a niche for himself in the Americana world with finely crafted country tunes in the vein of Bobby Bare, ranging from hysterical satire (She Left Me For Jesus) to the tears in your beer (Willing to Love Again) to the Edenic possibilities found in that perfect match (Drunken Poet’s Dream).

The Heavy Pets: Pretty cut and dry rock based jam band. Hails from Fort Lauderdale.

Hoots & Hellmouth: The folk oriented sounds of America. H&H is based out of Philly and make some of the most lovingly layered roots music around.

Indofin: Austin based Ska-Punk-Reggae outfit. This show is for anyone that loves Sublime.

James Zabiela: One of the more prolific DJs active today, James Zabiela is generally classified as “tech house” music, which is to say that the music leans more heavy on traditional soul and r&b and features minimal techno elements.

Jay Nash: Soulful folkster from upstate New York. Heavily influenced by 70s singer-songwriter types.

JJ Grey & MOFRO: This act from Jacksonville, Fla., combines the myriad elements of southern music, from soulful r&b and powerful funk to gritty blues and rock. Think a more funk and R&B centered, eastward incarnation of an act like The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

John Butler Trio: Australian roots based jam band. New album came out this past month and features some more blues oriented tunes. Expect the set list to feature songs from this most recent album.

Kinetix: Perhaps the most pop-oriented rock outfit at Waka. Slight tinges of reggae/ska influences.

Kraak & Smaak: This is an electronic funk band out of The Netherlands (the name apparently means “Crunch & Taste”). They claim to be the third most important export from Holland behind Heineken and Van Gogh. I’ve never been much for Heineken, so I’m willing to consider them as second behind Van Gogh. Anyway you slice, their electronic noise is funky and infectious.

Last Waltz Ensemble: This one should be self-explanatory (if you don’t understand, you need to buy or rent The Last Waltz immediately). Group plays the music of Bob Dylan and The Band. Need another singalong? Check this show out.

Lotus: Instrumental jam band out of Indiana that utilizes complex light arrangements during their live performances. Expect a heavy focus on electronic funk.

LYNX & Janover: The self-dubbed term is “electroacoustic.” It’s trippy, low-key techno.

The Machine performs Pink Floyd: This one is pretty cut and dry. The Machine is one of the oldest Pink Floyd tribute bands around. If you like Floyd, you should check out this act.

Mark Farina: Another DJ set to play the late, late, late shows at Waka, Farina’s music features elements of Chicago house and is largely much more downbeat and akin to traditional ambient.

Matthew Mayfield: Birmingham, Ala.-based singer-songwriter who is heavily influenced by Eddie Vedder.

MiM0SA: Takes classic hip-hop beats and infuses them with his own downtempo techno stylings.

Mishka: While it might be a bit broad, this is what I would call island music, that is music based around the traditions of the Caribbean. Most specifically, Mishka is soulful acoustic based reggae music.

The Mother Hips: After creating music for just over a decade, this psych-pop group took a hiatus.  This past fall featured a return with the release of Pacific Dust.  Expect some powerful rock music with sweetly lacquered vocals.

Mountain Sprout: Eureka Springs based bluegrass band with witty lyrics (see their Dry Counties track on MySpace).  Show should be pretty high energy.

Oakhurst: Inexplicably grooving bluegrass based outfit out of Denver.

Ott: Perhaps more well known as a record producer, Ott has also garnered some great acclaim as a DJ for his trippy dub tracks.  If it’s not too hard to imagine, think ambient reggae.

Passafire: I feel like I might be repeating myself: Reggae influenced prog-rock band out of Savannah, Georgia.

Pete Francis: Singer-songwriter. New album comes out in May and will feature more amplified instruments. Expect a light rocking set that reflects that.

Pimps of Joytime: Multi-ethnic band based in Brooklyn.  Play culture crossing music that is rooted in soul but expands outward across genres.

Radiohiro and MC Zulu: Perhaps no group at Waka will illustrate the legacy of British Imperialism quite like this duo.  The prior utilizes Indian and Bollywood music in his breakbeat techno, while the latter brings Caribbean dancehall to the mix.  Expect some exciting cultural mashups.

Railroad Earth: Though they may not consider themselves one, Railroad Earth is a jam band, but in a slightly different vein than some of the others here. They’re more akin to the Americana sound associated with The Basement Tapes than more traditional bluegrass.

Rebelution: Another California band slightly reminiscent of Sublime. Unlike some of the others, this Santa Barbara based outfit is essentially straight-up reggae. Expect laid back tunes and an easy going vibe.

Resident Anti-Hero: Politically aware, guerrilla hip-hop. Good music geared towards subversive types.

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band: This is really only a trio, but despite the misnomer, the Big Damn Band has a big damn sound.  They do make the most out of their washboard, drums, and guitar, creating a unique, high energy sound rooted in bluegrass, but undaunted by other musical influences.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band: Robert Randolph is a virtuoso on the pedal steel guitar.  With the help of his band, Randolph creates soulful funk laden tunes that are guaranteed to create some smiles in the audience.  Expect your hips to operate with a mind of their own though, the tunes will be highly danceable.

7 Walkers: 7 Walkers is a collaboration between visionary slide guitarist, Papa Mali and legendary Grateful Dead drummer, Bill Kreutzmann.  They are a certainly a unique rock band, but expect a fair amount of Dead covers.

Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce: New York folkstress turned southerner by way of New Orleans and now Oxford, Mississippi.  Her sound has evolved to reflect these moves so expect a blues-laden light rock set.

Simplified: Rock band playing rock tunes. That simple.  

Slightly Stoopid: This So-Cal outfit is DIY personified. With their own label in place, they have built success from the ground up with a DUB-Rock sound that is reminiscent of their Cali brethren, Sublime. Need a fix for reggae tinged rock? Slightly Stoopid will scratch that itch.

Somasphere:  Quartet based out of Omaha play instrumental electronic rock music that’s built to make your hips shake.

Spacemen: A sort of Daft Punk for the UFO fanatic crowd, Spacemen dress up in alien garb, faces covered, and lay down some hypnotic techno.  Expect some craziness.

Speakeasy: Springfield, Mo., is slightly under recognized as a musical hotspot. Speakeasy is one of a handful of acts that are helping to change that perspective. Expect a set of grooving prog-rock tunes.

Split Lip Rayfield: The term “high energy” may be bandied around quite a bit about a number of acts, but Split Lip Rayfield is truly high energy. They are like Bill Monroe on (God save me) acid, driving and striving at volumes and speeds otherwise unheard of.

Spoonfed Tribe: Psychedelic prog-rock band out of the DFW area.

State Radio: More alternative rock than traditional jam band, State Radio is also known for their charitable societal activism. There’s definitely an element of “punk” infused into the music, but expect some jam sessions as well.

Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers: Yet another Waka act that draws a straight line of influence from The Band. Expect some laid back Americana rock in that vein.

STS9: This Atlanta group seeks to make your ass shake with what has been dubbed as instrumental electronic rock. They bend and fuse genres, recently playing acoustic set shows to great acclaim. This headliner is sure to draw crowds looking to let loose.

Sub Swara: Cross-cultural and highly experiential electronica with fairly heavy doses of dub.

Sunshine Jones: Live DJ out of San Francisco. Music is largely house oriented and quite enjoyable.

Supervillians: These fellas are from the Sunshine state and are another of the talented ska/reggae based punk’ish music at Waka this year.

Tea Leaf Green: This San Francisco band is yet another torch-bearer for the Dead, that is an Americana tinged rock band known for engrossing live shows and an active fanbase.

That 1 Guy: Definitely one of the most interesting acts at Waka, That 1 Guy plays on an instrument of his own creation. What comes out is anyone’s guess, but expect it to be mind-bending and awesome.

Tipper: British DJ that will feature heavy use of break beats, and will probably also have some very, very, heavy bass tones from time to time.

Todd Snider: Snider is an American singer-songwriter out of Portland, Ore., who now resides in east Nashville. His sound is an amalgamation of influences, from traditional folk to more alternative country, that amounts to something greater than its sum parts. From the wry and witty to the heartfelt, Snider’s songs pack a punch no matter the subject matter.

Tortured Soul: The conceit is simple, in a time of mainly electronic dance music, Tortured Soul holds onto the believe that dance music can be performed live. Brooklyn based, this group is heavy on the old school soul and r&b sounds.

Trampled by Turtles: Acoustic based quintet out of northern Minnesota, their sound is heavily rooted in bluegrass traditions, but frequently ventures off into the lands of other “grasses.”

Truckstop Honeymoon: Lawrence, Kan.-based acoustic duo that plays tunes rooted in bluegrass and ragtime.

Truth & Salvage Co.: North Carolina band that plays catchy roots based rock and roll.  Debut album drops just prior to Waka.

Two Fresh: Consists of brothers (twins) and a drummer, Two Fresh plays jazz influenced hip-hop reminiscent of De La Soul or Tribe.

The Uglysuit: The Ugly Suit is out of Oklahoma City and are arguably the only “shoe gaze” band at Wakarusa. Expect a somewhat ethereal, low-fi folky rock sound.

Umphrey’s McGee: More prog-rock than jam band, Umphrey’s McGee fuses the two unique traditions into a singular sound. Their live performances are legendary for their on-stage improvisations, skills that they have been honing together for almost 15 years.

Wes Kirkpatrick: This one is pretty cut and dry, Wes is a singer-songwriter out of Chicago. Set should be oriented in that way, may feature some light rocking.

Widespread Panic: No currently touring band is as avidly beloved as WSP. Their southern-rock vibes are reminiscent of The Allman Brothers, while their intensive touring carries on the torch of such jam bands as the Grateful Dead and Phish. Expect an intricate and intense set of winding funk-tinged rock.

Wookiefoot: The name itself may give you an idea, but this Minnesota outfit brings the party. The music is rooted in reggae, but above all else is truly psychedelic.

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band: If the name doesn’t indicate it, this Asheville, N.C.-based band seeks to bring the party. And the party arrives in big brassy arrangements that often defy genre, but are ultimately rooted in the New Orleans scene.