Pickathon is the Indie-Roots Music event of the Year. More than 35 bands on 5 stages. Camping, Hiking and Sustainability amongst Oregon's Doug Firs on an 80 acre wonderland just 20 minutes from Portland, OR.
As we continue to muddle our way through the onslaught of "Best of 2008" lists it is now explicitly clear - 2008 will be a hard act to follow. For many, said lists are a way to confirm their importance in the greater music community, their big chance to voice a difference of opinion (or not), and most commonly - a confirmation of insular tastes. Of course there were several records that everyone had on their fav's list (pointing to that insular idea) - and if you looked around, you will know a good majority of those that would come to mind. Portland, and it's ever expanding 'local' community of recognized musicians received many-a-nod once it came to the Top 10. This pleases me, and one can only imagine that this hotbed of culture ... + More
Howdy Folks!
Well, as we officially head into the first weekend of December, we must now re-align our Tickets and Launch dates for 2009. As it stands now, we are still waiting on a couple elements that we would very much like to firm up prior to any announcements and ticket sales.
Right now we are working on the following:
1. 100% secure venue.
2. Lineup at least 75% confirmed.
In the end it is the best way to go for keeping everyone fully informed and 100% satisfied for our 11th Annual shindig.
We can assure that the lineup will be fantastic, and a cut above any other Pickathon thus far.. expect several new surprises, and some favorites of years past. We are wading through a sea of talent this winter, ... + More
Well, we worked through the ether and got yet another fantastic Pickathon compilation up for Digital and CD sales.
This was our first year as a double CD (as we have mentioned before), so it's super special to us...and hopefully to you too.
What you can do is click over to our Merch Page and browse through all the Pickathon CD's, the rest (if wanting to purchase) is fairly self-explained.
Possibly you are looking for gifts for folks for the upcoming Holiday time of year? .. fits well in a stocking.
Also, rest assured - we will have an early batch of 2009 Pickathon tickets up for grabs prior to the Holiday rush (likely before Dec. 3), so they too can be had for a gift for ... + More
Uncertain why, but ALL of our artist playlists have vanished from the website this past week... While we scratch our heads and get things back up and running, we thought all should know - that we know, and things should be back up any day now. As all the retooling takes place for our 2009 website, we will be busy for the next two months working the kinks, preparing for the next launch, likely around December-January.
Since we have lost the music, I will keep on with mining our sets from the archive and posting here in the updates. Up next is a gem of a gem, North Carolina hot shots Chatham County Line, from the Galaxy Barn in 2008. If able to listen to the entire set, you will easily understand why this band is one of our favorites, ... + More
Pickathon now has its latest festival mix available for purchase through CD Baby, this is only for the actual, in the flesh CD - all digital Downloads will be available in approximately two weeks time, which at that point we will announce again, and put over on our Merch Page.
Here is the link to the 2007 Pickathon CD on CD Baby..
We are currently working on our 2008 CD, which will be available at our 2009 Festival.
And when will that be? Well, we are now looking at July 31-August 2, 2009 for the 11tt Annual.
We will again be offering the early Thursday Entry option like ... + More
The wheels are turning with all types of great feedback so far.. We appreciate that folks are willing to stop what they are doing and contribute their thoughts to the larger group, helping us understand the broader point of view. It really does help with making a better event, as we are not all able to be everywhere at once.
So... lets talk about the music. The meat and bones of Pickathon.
As many have likely gathered, we are trying to refine a larger collective of styles, which we dub 'Pickathon'. There are just hordes of musicians/bands that we will continue to pull in over the course of the next few years. And several that will always have the open door. And I think that is pretty damn exciting.
Wanting to make sure we get these thoughts while they are fresh, here is the first batch of questions to help generate feedback.
We work super hard to make everyone happy, and try to keep the festival as a community event, where everyone can be involved. With that in mind, there are always things to change, as well as things that are so good they need not alter from one year to the next.
You can either email us at feedback(@)pickathon.com (remove the () around the @), or simply post below....we take it all to heart, so please try to make it well rounded. There you have it, please let us know what you think.
Today we concentrate on the 'Festival' itself...including the following topics:
Camping, Parking, EcoShuttle, ... + More
Having just reentered the atmosphere after an 8 year hiatus spent in the asteroid belt, Pickathon welcomed with open arms the esteemed Bad Livers. A lot of folks wondered what this would be like, how the show would go, and what they would end up playing. Having witnessed this spectacle, I can attest - it was a set of hits, and Danny, Mark, Bob..and even Darol Anger (towards the end) laid it all on the line.
And... thanks to Taper Mark and his class-act crew at Peacock Radio, we got this puppy all wrapped up in 1's and 0's...and now available for full, unrestricted use. Listen, trade, and let us know what you think!
Bad Livers - 2008 Pickathon (things really heat up towards the end of the set)
Ahhh.... We are just now getting the tent out of the bag, and finishing up all the laundry from the past two weeks. I think that I can speak for many when I ask.."What happened last week?" I really cannot recall what I did, some type of post-Pickathon time-warp. Recovery, getting over a head cold, and the final clean up over at the farm (thanks Elwood, Farm Friends, Pendarvis Family)! What we now must do is sort through, and make sense of this years big 10 year celebration. All year we worked towards a single weekend, and now that it has come and gone we are able to take a step back and look at all that occurred.
By far the best yet, and judging from all the positive press and feedback - we are certain things are on the right ... + More
I have started a Pickathon 2008 photo page, feel free to download any of the pictures but please credit me and Pampelmoose. There are instructions on the page. Enjoy! More coming soon along with more video.
......................................................................................................
......................................................................................................
......................................................................................................
It’s a little early to call a “best set of the day” yet, but Loch Lomond is a serious contender. Without the scrutinous blare of amplifiers, the band called the crowd forward to listen closely. They lit into songs about friends who look like eggs, bears who stare at their porcelain spoon collections, and other such oddities. Employing six-part harmony, all manner of stringed instruments, piano, percussion, tiny cymbals and the rhythmic rip of paper, Loch Lomond is one resourceful source of haunting compositions. Think Andrew Bird times nine. I got a hold of lead singer/guitarist/band leader Ritchie Young afterwards for a quick chat about the band, their music, and what’s going on these days in Portland music...(read ... + More
I’m still recovering from yesterday (I woke at 5am to catch the train to Portland, and was up til sometime after 1am watching bands in the barn). So, when Crooked Still took the main stage this afternoon, it seemed like a perfect, relaxing, lulling moment to lie down on the dried grass and fall asleep. I’m over the fact that horse shit is everywhere; this is a farm, after all, and I already dropped my flip-flopped foot into a heaping pile last night on one of several trips back and forth between stages. When I woke from my brief nap this afternoon, it was in response to the syncopated banjo-rocking and tapping from the Hackensaw Boys’ “charismo”—a washboard-type contraption fashioned mostly from tin cans and other metal ... + More
On a farm in rural Oregon, barely an hour outside of Portland, a few thousand people (not an official number, just my non-mathematical estimation) have gathered to celebrate ten years of Pickathon—one of the region’s best all-encompassing roots music festivals. As the emcee announced between bands earlier, “We like to call it roots music. You can give that any definition you want.” In this case, the “roots music” to which they refer incorporates elements of contemporary and traditional folk music, bluegrass, old timey fiddle tunes, blues, jazz, country and rock and roll.
Ever interested in bringing the best of Northwest music to your loving eyes, so that you don’t have to search too hard, Sound has sent ... + More
There it is folks, another day down with the sun. So far it has been an epic week out at the farm and we now round the final corner. I have one very important thing to say: Tomorrow is your last chance to dance and get your tickets in advance at the Pre-Gate price ($110). Day Tickets at the gate will be Fri.-$75, Sat.-$85, Sun.-$75. Weekend Tickets at the gate will be $125.
Here is a bit of general information on Camping and Parking:
Tent Camping comes with the purchase of a Weekend Ticket.
Each Vehicle at Pickathon will require a Parking Pass, either Day Lot Parking (for folks not camping), or Weekend Parking (for folks ... + More
We can email, blog and text all we want, but who doesn't like to open the mailbox and find an old-fashioned postcard with real writing on it?
A couple of weeks ago it dawned on photographer . Tim Labarge that it might be fun for folks to jot their thoughts down and send them off on a postcard right there at Pendarvis Farm. So he sifted through photographs from the past two years and put together four different cards. You can send one to the parents, or to your old roommate. Maybe the kids can fire one off to grandma and grandpa? You might even send one to yourself so you can pin it up at the office. Just write down your words and drop the card in the mail slot there on the table. Well ... + More
It is now a very busy time here on the farm, building a small village from start to finish and loving this outstanding Oregon Sunshine!
Today marks the beginning of the 4 day countdown, which will end on Thursday July 31 at Midnight. Will Call Tickets will be available on-line until Thursday night...This means that Tickets at that point (Friday Morning) will be at the gate, and will be at the Gate Price - Weekend Tickets will be $125, Friday will be $75, Saturday will be $85, and Sunday will be $75.
So... get Tickets now, assure your spot at this years biggest 10 year celebration in the State of Oregon...and come have a blast!
Also, ... + More
A new playlist is available that previews the upcoming 2007 Pickathon double CD. The playlist includes only the artists that are also appearing at the 2008 festival (the final CD will feature 26 tracks in total).
We also are looking for a couple last minute things which we would happily trade weekend tickets for. If you can help with any of ... + More
