Pickathon Indie Roots Music Festival Portland, Oregon

2007 Pickathon CD now up on itunes, CD Baby......

Pickathon HQ

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 that special someone. We will of course be picking it up, and making next years Festival better (one way or another) than all previous years....that's how we do it here, always evolving, and looking at ways to enhance and make better.

Also, just have to send this out there... We very much appreciate all the great feedback that folks have sent in over the past two months....close to 13 pages of accolades and good suggestions to help make Pickathon that much better. We will start there for next years pre-planning.

And, just so we can all get off on the right foot for this week ahead - here is a fantastic Dale Watson set from the Mountain View Stage in 2007... oh, now that is 'Texas Country' right there.
Enjoy!..

Who Stopped the Music?

Pickathon

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, and if you saw this set, you will know why we would want to bring this band back.
Chatham County Line - Galaxy Barn - 8/2/08

2007 Pickathon CD now available, 2009 Dates,...and several other exciting announcements.

Pickathon

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 we did with the 2008 Pickers Package Ticket (which also included a t-shirt, poster, and Festival CD).

It appears that our first batch of 2009 Tickets will be up for grabs in Late Nov - Early Dec. And as the tradition goes, these tickets will be offered exclusively to our Email List Subscribers first, and likely until gone.
So, please sign up on the list 'upper right hand corner', enter email, click JOIN! and we are all set. Once a month email notice of shows, Festival News, Ticket and Merch specials galore.

There is a great deal in store for 2009, and things are really starting to hum over at Pickathon HQ.

And....finally, some fresh media. Here is Shinyribs 2008 Pickathon Set on the Fir Meadows Stage, thanks to the Peacock Radio Crew. Enjoy these next 28 minutes.

2008 Pickathon: Feedback, Round 2.

Pickathon

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.

In general, this is what we would be interested in knowing:

1. Who did you like? Anything/Anyone remarkable? Stages?

2. Who would you like to see in 2009?

3. Returning from previous Pickathon festivals?

4. Squaredance? Workshops?

5. Sound in the venues, on the stages? outdoor? indoor?

6. Kids Activities?

7. Do you listen to Peacock Radio while on-site?

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.

couple other things.....

Be sure to browse through the Tim Labarge photos from the this years Pickathon that have been put up recently...you can that by scrolling through on our homepage.

Also, here is 2008 video from our pals Portland Community Media.
Martha Scanlan - Set Me Up High

Check back often for more videos from 2006, 2007, and 2008 Pickathons!

2008 Pickathon: Feedback, Round 1.

Pickathon

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, Venues/Stages, Sound, Pendarvis Farm (Festival Grounds), Vendors, Staff/Volunteers...and?

1. Any thoughts on Camping? (good areas?, room for improvement?)
2. What do you think about our Parking? (please keep in mind that this will be the area that feels the growth the most in the coming years, and also we are providing FREE shuttles from Portland - in hopes of limiting the overall 'car impact')
3. How about the EcoShuttle? (memories of your ride? ways to help improve this? things that went well with the shuttle?)
4. Anything notable about the Stages and Venues we had this year? (outdoor stages, woods stage, galaxy barn, workshop barn..)
5. What about the Sound at those stages? (good or bad?....room for improvement? ideas for improvement?)
6. The Festival Grounds? (Pendarvis Farm.... Our Shade, backdrops, decor?, the Lights at night? The Honey Buckets (was there enough, were they clean?), Drinking Water, Hand Washing, Showers?, anything else?
7. What about our Vendors this year? (Anyone to applause? Anyone to question? Praises, complaints.....?)
8. Our Staff....our Volunteers? (anyone standout...good or bad? did you notice our 'safety team', thoughts or ideas on staffing/volunteers?)
9. Anything else related to the 'Festival' that stuck out in your mind?

O.K. .. up next we will discuss the Talent, MC's, Kids Activities, our Website, Ticketing, Merchandise....and anything else we can think of that is worth asking about.
enjoy...and please let us know.
Here are a few more pics via Mark Going

2008 Pickathon Bad Livers Set for all to hear!!

Pickathon

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)

And here are some shots via Mark Going:

A year to remember...and now we decompress.

Pickathon

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 track....heading full steam ahead into 2009. What's next? Aside from the 11th annual Pickathon, we will also have several shows throughout the year in the Portland area - so stay connected, we'll continue to bring it home.
For the rest of this week I will post several survey type questions that we would like to get your feedback on - this is where we make our adjustments to better serve our people. A few topics off hand would be the following: Camping, Transportation, Music/Lineup, Festival Atmosphere, Staff (friendliness/usefulness), Vendors, anything else? We want to get everyone covered, and acknowledge everyone who deserves a pat on the back. As the festival grows, we will all experience changes - and with these changes we are working hard to keep the spirit of Pickathon alive, and keeping the Festival a unique element is our #1 goal. We believe in a lot of things that help make this special, and it's the people (staff, volunteers, musicians, attendees) that keep this specialness in check.
So.... stay tuned by keeping up to date with the website.
We thank everyone that was at Pendarvis Farm this past week, it would not have happened without you and we are very much grateful things have gone so well so far. It is humbling the overly positive response we have received.
Thanks again!...and already looking towards another amazing year in 2009.
- 2008 Pickathon Staff.

p.s. Keep a watchful eye for photos and videos!!...they're out there, and we'll do our best to bring them over to our .com for all to enjoy.

An Ariel View of the Pickathon Site. Music by Loch Lomond.

Pickathon from the Air from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

Danny Barnes and the reunited Bad Livers at Pickathon 2008

Danny Barnes and Bad Livers Live at Pickathon from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

Loch Lomond live in the Galaxy Barn

Loch Lomond live in the Galaxy Barn, Pickathon 2008 from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

Wayne Hancock Live in the Galaxy Barn at Pickathon 2008

Wayne Hancock live at Pickathon 2008 from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

Pickathon 2008 - Photo Gallery 1

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.
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Check out photos here!

Hackensaw Boys in the Galaxy Barn

A Pickathon 2008 Video Sampler

Pickathon 2008 - A Video Sampler from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

A five minute sampler of sets from Langhorne Slim, Johnny Connolly, Crooked Still, Hackensaw Boys and Sean Hayes at Pickathon 2008.

Q&A With Loch Lomond

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)

Out-of-Towners Rock the Galaxy Barn

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 items. Surrounding me were dozens of bouncing, twirling, bopping people. With half the crowd energized on their feet, it was impossible to squint through and catch a glimpse of the band, so I had to get up and dance along. Like I said yesterday, festivals are about choices...(read more)

Pickathon 2008 Day 2

Pickathon 2008 - Day 2 from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

The weather became our friend, the rain stopped and the sun came out...here's a video of a chat with Big Mike from Kentucky, Langhorne Slim and then live footage of Langhorne on the main stage. Pickathon's 10th anniversary rolls along. Jolie Holland closed the night and there's video of her set to follow. Here's the video channell rss feed.

Pickathon 2008 Day 1

Pickathon 2008 - Day 1 from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

It's the Pickathon Roots Music Festival's 10th anniversary and things are just kicking off. The first band hit the stage at 4PM but I have no idea who as I'm backstage trying to upload this video. Anyway, we have an interview with Zale Schoenborn the festival's founder followed by a chat with Mark, the site's architect and engineer, who is responsible for the awesome canopies that help shade the audience from the sun. We wrap it up with the fabled and infamous Malibu Mike........ Check back for live video footage of performances tonight by Jolie Holland and Langhorne Slim.

You can also subscribe to the video channel feed here.

Pickathon is Now Underway

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 Pickathonmdash;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 me here for the next three days, so that I can report back on the new music I’ve discovered, and all the old reliable favorites who will surely blow my mind once (and twice and, as it were, probably three times) again...(read more)

Last Call for Will Call... + Pickathon info Galore!!

Pickathon

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 camping) will be needed. Car Camping and RV Parking are both sold out....sorry!

Gates open at Noon on Friday, 9am on Saturday and Sunday.
Weather is looking like sunny and 80...ahhh, 80.
Please - No dogs, Fires or Outside Alcohol.
Here are easy - Directions , and the Pendarvis Farm Address: Pendarvis Farm 16581 SE Hagen Rd. Happy Valley, OR 97086
Catch our FREE shuttle a la Ecoshuttle from the Portland Gateway Max.
There will be a wide world of Vendors: Food, Drink and Craft.
Check out the Weekend Schedule.
Look over the Pendarvis Farm Map.

We will try and keep everyone informed. Looking to be a great weekend!

Here's a snap of what been happening he last 24 hours.

Postcards from Pickathon

Pickathon

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. We�ll slap stamps on them and send them out with Monday's mail�
Ahh, the memories... don't miss this years party, Tickets are going fast, and can still be purchased on-line...
Here's a peek at two of the cards.

4 Day Countdown until Will Call Tickets end!!...

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, just so everyone is fully aware of the Parking requirements, here is a run-down of that info:
All vehicles MUST purchase a vehicle pass, if parking a car at Pickathon.
Weekend Tickets include Camping (Tent Camping), and will need to be paired up with a Weekend Parking Pass. Or, if you choose not to camp - then you can purchase Day Parking Passes.
Day Tickets are to be paired with Day Parking passes (Fri, Sat, or Sun) - there is NO camping allowed with Day Tickets.
Car Camping and RV Parking are both Sold Out.

Stay Tuned this week as we will unfold all the coveted information that you will need to know in order to make this a spectacular weekend for all....all week long we will be live and letting everyone know how things are here at the Farm.
Join Us!

New Pickathon CD Playlist + 3 opportunities for earning free tickets

Pickathon

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 the following please email us at info@pickathon.com.

1. Towing a Solar Generator trailer (8000lbs) from Corvallis to Portland on Mon(July 28th) or Tues(July 29th) and retuning it on the following Monday (Aug.2nd).

2. Supplying a gator or small pickup to shuttle miscellaneous materials onsite for the setup (Sat July 25th) through teardown (Tues July 5th). The gator/pickup would not leave the farm and would only be used when absolutely needed to carry materials.

3. Calling all Massage Therapists. We still want a couple more massage therapists to do some combination of volunteering and opportunities to make money as a vendor.

Again, if you are interested in pusuing any of these ideas please email us at info@pickathon.com.

New Pickathon Map is HERE!

Check it out, plan your weekend, see what is new and what we can all look forward to... new beer gardens, Pickathon Cafe, trails, camping.....oh my, it does not get any better. Getting oh so very close to the big weekend and my 10 day forecast looks like a perfect weather weekend of sunny and 80...
One other quick reminder, get your Tickets!.....beat the rush at the gate, and guarantee that sweet spot up in the woods. It's gonna be awesome..., really - your kids will thank you for many years to come.

Here it is folks! The new, improved and fully updated 2008 Pickathon Site Map.

Galaxy Barn decision 2008....plus Video a la our good friends at PCM.

We appreciate all who weighed in on our open forum in making a decision about the late-night Galaxy Barn, and the proposed age restrictions (or lack of). It was tough to make this choice alone, so with the help of many who pleaded their case, we are now prepared to properly bring this process to an end. The votes have been tallied, and opinions have been weighed.
For 2008 we are going with the following:
The Galaxy Barn will be 21+ from 9:30pm to 2:30am.
We apologize to anyone who may feel this change has alienated, or limited their overall experience. It is tough trying to make everyone as happy as can be, and with the overwhelming response, it was clear that we needed to keep this 'adult time' environment sacred. It is important to keep in mind that although 21+ during these hours, we will still not be allowed to bring our beers in the barn due to the current OLCC bylaws. But, on the brighter side - we will have that NEW Barn-Side Beer Garden, and the NEW Pickathon Cafe open all day, and all night.
Please also remember that we have extended in every other direction in hopes of providing a fun, full, and unforgettable weekend with the other 5 stages, including the other late-night venue 'the Heartsong Cabaret'. There is plenty to go around, for everyone. Thanks to all who helped with this decision, we fully intend on keeping this unique spark alive for many years to come.

Hmm, well for some icing we bring to you one of the highlights from out 2007 festival, filmed and produced by the amazing folks at Portland Community Media, who graciously donate volunteers, equipment, facilities, and copious amounts of time in order to pull off all this outstanding footage. Cheers to you!
Langhorne Slim - Electric Love Letter (we know it says 'let it flow'..which is wrong)

NEW Galaxy Barn rules...Part II (Damage Control)

Alright, well it seems like damage control is in order here after the onslaught of responses we received with the proposed Galaxy Barn changes....so, in order to work this out we are looking at the following ideas and guidelines.

1st - So, the real reason for having moved the beer garden out of the barn is this: It is the Law, and we were forced into this change. IF we would have chosen to keep the beer inside the barn, then the capacity would have been lowered to a very small number, and we would have also needed to install sprinklers to meet that type of code. As you can imagine, this is just not possible - so the decision was made to move beer outside. This move is in all of ours best interest, and is not the real problem, just the cause.

2nd - Lets look at this idea of 'all-ages'. As we want the barn to be a special place for adults too, it is absolutely necessary that we pull this off in the right way.
So - here are choices to be made.
:: Do we make the barn All-Ages?
:: Do we make the barn 18+ after 8pm?
:: Do we keep the barn 21+ after 8pm, but also keeping in mind that we cannot allow alcohol inside because of the above mentioned laws (olcc)?

We are open to ideas and input, and want everyone happy and on board with the final decision.

I did speak too soon in the previous post, so please folks....settle down and try to keep some of those lightning bolts at bay, we intend no harm, nor do we want to be compared to 'the gorge', or any other 'restrictive NW event'.
Pickathon prides itself on its unique way of doing things, and will continue to work with that in mind.

So, voice your opinion below, or send us an email.
We will take all ideas into consideration, and make the right decision in the end.

It also needs to be pointed out that with this outside beer garden there will still be ample listening and viewing avenues for folks to enjoy both their beer, and the bands. All the doors and windows will be open, as well as the garage door - which looks right at the side of the stage. Please, please, please take this into consideration. We DO want the best possible experience for everyone....
O.K.?

NEW Galaxy Barn rules...and the NEW Pickathon Cafe!

Do we have news for you!
So a new spin on the Late-Night fun in the World Famous Galaxy Barn - these shows will now be all-ages! That's right, we have thought this through a great deal and all feel that clearing the beer out of the barn will be a good thing overall. To help ease this situation we have moved the 21+ Beer Garden to the outside (bar and all), which will now act as our second full-time beer garden (open all-day as well). This area will be situated in typical beer-garden fashion, and have ample viewing and listening opportunities once the action hits the stage - it's really the best of both worlds! It will keep the inside clear of booze, but also allow this outside area for fresh air, fresh food, and beer. To some this news may be bittersweet, but fear not - the experience is only being enhanced, and we all expect this new way of Late-Night Barning to be the best yet. A win-win if you will.

On top of the Galaxy Barn changes we are also adding in the first ever Pickathon Cafe - which will operate in the same area, adjacent to this new beer garden. Hosted by al Forno Ferruzza, we will have this baby rolling bright and early, dishing out fresh baked goods, coffee, breads, home made pies, Sicilian pastries, sandwhiches, pizzas, and on and on... We are *very* excited for this as it will allow an area for parents to sit, relax, snack and keep an eye on the kiddos (eye-shot to toddler camp, circus cascadia, kids squaredance, and even the workshop barn). And, it gives folks a nice relaxing area near the Barn to sit, eat and enjoy a beer... all while grooving to their new favorite band.
More to come on both of these hot new zones, but since we are rolling through the details, this seemed like just the thing you would want to hear about.

And....remember, Thursday July 17 is the *last* day to order tickets online and receive in the mail, all tickets ordered after the 17th will be added to our will-call list. Think about it, order a ticket tomorrow - and receive an actual ticket in the mail, order a ticket on Friday - and you have to check you name off a list at the gate. Both are equally effective, only one comes with a cool little keep-sake.
oh yeah!

Will Call Tickets Begin this Thursday!

As we sail along towards the open waters we would like to call August, it is now a good time to take note of a significant ticket change that is coming up in just a few short days.
Thursday July 17th will be the final day to purchase tickets on-line and still receive a physical ticket in the mail. What does this mean? Well, if you like having an actual ticket, and not just your name on a list at the gate - then it is best to order before Thursday, to assure that you will receive. The tickets look great, smell great, and have a nice feel when in your hand....and that alone is reason enough to acquire before August 1st. Order now, receive your tickets in the mail, and there will be no need to go to the gate for check-in - just drive on up, get your wristband and head towards the camp of your choice.
If you cannot order prior to Thursday? Your tickets (name) will be held at Will Call at our front gate, where you will need to check-in, pick-up your tickets (wristband), etc..etc.....
We will continue to sell tickets on-line until the evening of July 31st, so all tickets purchased between July 17-31 will be Will Call. All others....well, you get your tickets in the mail.....or you pay a little extra, and get your tickets at the gate. Either way - it will work out.
Hmmm, it's Monday - and I say we pay homage to the 90's:

the everybodyfields (new full band) - Today (Smashing Pumpkins)

Pickathon IS a Family Friendly Event!

Above all else, Pickathon is about family. We strive to include and appreciate our future generations, and have always been committed to this idea since the beginning. For anyone who has attended, they would know this. Every year we commit to bringing a wide variety of children and family themed events and ideas: Circus Cascadia, Capt. Bogg and Salty, Toddler Camp, Workshops, Classes, early morning yoga, and even family-friendly camping, these are only a few examples of how we keep the 'family theme' in mind.
You see, we also have kiddos (Silas, Naomi, Hazel, Cole, and Miles), and proving a safe and vibrant atmosphere and experience for them is at the top of our list. We have built the idea of Pickathon to include anyone and everyone, and it is our strongest desire to be seen in this way - locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. And I know as I have looked out in the crowd over the past decade, we are not alone, and the number of children in attendance has increased 10 fold. This can only mean one thing - Pickathon is safe, fun, creative, clean and encouraging.
Our events have always been a safe and fun experience for all, and not once have we ever had any type of situation that would lead folks to believe otherwise.
I welcome anyone to swing by, email or even ask a friend who has attended in the past. You will find the same answer, come to the same conclusion....Pickathon IS about the Family and the nurturing of growth with creativity, and within (once again) a SAFE environment.
What I would like to ask, to anyone who reads this and can connect - please either leave a comment or send us an email on how you view Pickathon:
Family Friendly?
Safe Environment?
Anything else?
Your feedback matters more now than ever, and we truly appreciate each and every one of you.
See you in August!

2008 Merchandise..and the 2007 Pickathon CD

For the first time ever.. we have an idea of what our 2008 merchandise will look like in advance. This year we have partnered with our friends Red Canary, who have helped create our most ambitious variety yet. We will have your standard mix of mens and womens t-shirts in a variety of colors, Hoodies, kids t-shirts, womens cap-sleeve shirts, and even Totes. On top of all this, Red Canary is offering up a mix of custom made items: two-headed sheep pillows, bandannas, vintage western shirts (with modified yokes), and puffy sleeve t's (womens). And... we will have a limited run of custom 2008 Pickathon show posters, designed and printed by Fur Turtle Show Prints. Well...there you go, our largest variety to date...so be sure to get them while they last!
Up next we have our Annual Pickathon CD...
This year we are offering a double CD, which highlights our 2007 festival. This is our 8th in the series of Pickathon CD's, so if you don't know about the CD's - be sure to check them out on either CD Baby or Itunes. Soon enough (really, we do mean soon enough), we will have all Pickathon merchandise on our very own webstore on the 'ol www. Until then....you can always get them all at the Festival!
Here is the track listing for our 2007 CD:
Side 1
Dale Watson - Truckin' Man
Crooked Jades - Pretty Little Widow
Chatham County Line - Nowhere to Sleep
Caleb Klauder - It's All Your Fault
Alela Diane - My Brambles
The Gourds - Cracklins
Hacienda Brothers - Turn To Grey
Danny Barnes - TSA
Drunken Prayer - I'm Gonna Lay Down in Front of my Lord
Handsome Family - Weightless Again
Flat Mtn. Girls - Dubuque
Sassparilla - Better Man
Erin Mckeown - You Were Right About Everything
Langhorne Slim - Electric Love Letter

Side 2
Po Girl - Old Mountain Line
Gregory and the Hawk - Bad Habit
Horse Feathers - Falling Through the Roof
Hunger Mt. Boys - Country in Country
Ian Thomas - Slow Riding Blues
Jackstraw - St. Elanor
Martha Scanlan - West Was Burning
The Breakmen - Town Changes
Trampled By Turtles - Nowhere to Hide
Little Country Giants - Bed of You
The Two Man Gentlemen Band - William Howard Taft
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - Boom Chank
The Weary Boys - Coalinga

Be the first to get this CD, and all other 2008 Pickathon Merchandise at this years big 10th Annual celebration!!

Full Pickathon Schedule is Here!

Maybe I forgot to mention..(over this incredibly long weekend we all call the '4th'), but hey - here it is, our 2008 Schedule...and that's pretty much as complete as it gets. All the stages, workshops, and kids activities...so much to go around! We are excited how things have turned out, and hope that you too will see the beauty in this mix. Check it out HERE.
Also, we are working on the 'final formatted version', that we can print out and carry along from stage to stage to know all the ins and outs. There's lots going on, more than ever in fact....and as things progress we will certainly let you know. Well, it's a long week of recovery...so expect more info to surface before the weekend.
enjoy!

Food!...and more Food!

Since we just noticed a little Pickathon preview in todays Oregonian, it seemed like good sense to list our current crew of Food Vendors.
This is a list of Food only at this point, and soon we will also be posting all of our Beverage and Craft vendors too..
Be sure to bring your appetite....
Returning from years past we have farm favorites Gaining Ground Farm who will bring us the most amazing mix of local farm fresh veggies, pastas, salads, and breakfast delights. Thai Noon will set up shop once again in their Solar Powered Thai Express, and the good folks over at Canby Asparagus Farm will return with their delightful mix of fresh veggies and Mexican favorites.
New to the mix we are pleased to welcome Portland's own Sicilian Dynamo al Forno Ferruzza, who has generated an incredible following, and has recently won several awards for their amazing pizzas, calzones, pitas...and I believe anything else these folks put their hands on. For those hungry for meat we welcome with open arms Leroys BBQ, who will give us a good taste of down home flavor. And last, but definitely not least we are very glad to have Zuppa Soups join us, rounding things out with their mix of curries, soups, sandwhiches and fresh salads...all from local produce.
So, there you go, leave those coolers and camp stoves at home and pull up a chair at one or all of our delicious foodies, they will certainly be pleased to help battle any hunger or craving that comes their way.
Up next, we got your drinks....beer, wine, coffee, chai, ginger and root beers.... no thirst will go unquenched, no stomach left empty.
Oh, and if you read the article in the Oregonian, please do not be misled, we have FREE BIO-FUELED SHUTTLES to and from Pendarvis Farm, all weekend long, provided by our friends at EcoShuttle, and for more info please check out our Transportation Page, it will get you there..and back again.
Cheers!

Hotel Info...and the Galaxy Barn Schedule!

Since on the topic of camping (we have lots of available tent camping in the woods - which comes free with your weekend ticket!) and sleeping this week... I figure worth the ink to re-post the info on our 2008 Partner Hotel, for those that want to be close, and not wanting to sleep on the ground. Here is that info...and making those reservations asap is advised as they are also very close to full..follow the link for rates, shuttles, and location..

Oh!...in case you wondered (drumroll please!), here is what our fabled Galaxy Barn schedule is shaping up to be. As there are a couple 'things' left to take care of for the Barn, we cannot 'officially' call this schedule 'official'...but, I would say we could all count on it as these 'things' are being taken care of as we speak...so the Barn can be ready to rock us all day, and all night...
:Friday:
5:00-6:00pm - Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers
6:30-7:30pm - Melissa Ferrick
8:00-9:00pm - Trampled By Turtles
9:30-10:30pm - Sean Hayes
11:00-12:15am - Jolie Holland
12:45-2:00am - Red Stick Ramblers
:Saturday:
Galaxy Barn
12:30-1:30pm - Johnny Connolly
2:00-3:00pm - Martha Scanlan
3:30-4:30pm - Tarbox Ramblers
5:00-6:00pm - Crooked Still
6:30-7:30pm - Bombadil
8:00-9:00pm - Chatham County Line
9:30-10:30pm - the everybodyfields
11:00-12:15am - Hackensaw Boys
12:45-2:00am - Langhorne Slim
:Sunday:
12:30-1:30pm - Cross-Eyed Rosie
2:00-3:00pm - Justin Townes Earle
3:30-4:30pm - Paleface
5:00-6:00pm - Loch Lomond
6:30-7:30pm - Kelly Joe Phelps
8:00-9:00pm - Sassparilla
9:30-10:30pm - Cave Singers
11:00-12:15am - Wayne Hancock
12:45-2:00am - The Gourds

So, there you have it...now, do you have them?

Additional thoughts on Camping..

So the Car-Camping is gone, which we understand can be a bummer for folks who love the convenience of proximity and comfort that comes with car-side camping. What I would like to do today is shine light on the beauty, comfort, and convenience of our stellar Tent Camping...which is ALL in the woods, and close enough for any transport of gear and supplies. We have worked tirelessly on improving and expanding these areas, and really hoping that it will bring smiles and sweet dreams to all. Depending on your arrival, the location of 'choice' wooded camping can be as close as a stones throw, and within 100 yards of the Mountain View Stage. Or... you could opt to go a little deeper in the woods and enjoy Nature at her finest and revel in the solitude that can be had with a simple 10 minute trek into the forest. We have family camp areas, party camp areas...and all other types of camping in between. You can even camp right next to the Woods Stage, which last year proved to be one of our most popular destinations for community campers. All trails will be lit this year with our LED strands of lights - covering over 2 miles of trails, and providing one amazing late-night walk-about.
So, in short - all camping at Pendarvis Farm is worthy of a blue ribbon, and we hope to see all you happy campers full of glee day in and day out. The Woods are calling....and they have great things to say.
So camp on!
Here is a link to our 2007 Site Map - which has been updated to include more camping and overall higher quality of sites available...stay tuned, as soon our 2008 Map will hit the Press.

Car Camping is SOLD OUT!

We all saw this one coming... and today, June 23, 2008 we are officially sold-out of our Car Camping passes. That's o.k. though, there is still loads of great camping all throughout the forest right there at Pendarvis Farm. Camping in the woods is a great time, and all sites are nestled away to help shield those early morning sunrises, helping everyone catch-up on those much needed early hours of slumber. Well, there's your Monday morning update - nothing too exciting, but a definite sign of the times....these tickets are going, going...
There we have it - and now for a little fun, the Gourds are an absolute favorite of ours, and certainly they will bring the party to a close on Sunday night. Here is a gem of a video from their Bolsa De Agua days.. the fun here? ... sing along and instead of "El Paso"...say "Pendarvis"...
The Gourds - El Paso

Tickets for 2008.

In the past we have had Pickathon Tickets at local outlets (KBOO and Music Millennium) - which we understand was great for folks not wanting to order tickets via the internet..
Well, this year we are unable to offer those physical outlets due to the need for keeping an up-to-date, accurate count on our current stock that is available. As we have sold-out of our ever-so-popular RV passes, and now being so close on our Car Camping passes (only 5 left this morning), we have made the decision to keep all tickets on-line. Also, being that this may be the first year of having a very small number of tickets available at the gate, we feel it necessary to push the idea of on-line sales to anyone who wants to consider making it out to the big 10th Annual (that's a decade folks!).
So, please consider our friendly and fashionable on-line sales - our fees are incredibly low (only $2.59 an order to cover shipping and processing), which I would argue is the slimmest ticket surcharge known to man....
If...on-line tickets are an impossible concept for you, for whatever the reason - please email and we can discuss ways to help work it out.
Thanks!...and we've only got 42 more days to wait.
In the meantime...enjoy the beauty of Chatham County Line, who without a doubt are one of the freshest bands to surface in the otherwise usual world of bluegrass music.
Chatham County Line - Chip of a Star

Hey! How about the Woods Stage?

Once again, and now the day after yesterday I return to the screen.... Today with another stage schedule to post, this time around we visit the forest for the Solar Powered Woods Stage:
:August 1:
4:30-5:30pm - Pokey Lafarge
6:00-7:00pm - the everybodyfields
7:30-8:30pm - Bombadil
:August 2:
12:00-1:00pm - Darol Anger Scott Law
1:30-2:30pm - Samantha Crain
3:00-4:00pm - Sean Hayes
4:30-5:30pm - Langhorne Slim
6:00-7:00pm - Tarbox Ramblers
7:30-8:30pm - Justin Townes Earle
:August 3:
12:00-1:00pm - Jessica Lea Mayfield
1:30-2:30pm - Paleface
3:00-4:00pm - Oz. St. Fossils
4:30-5:30pm - Ian Thomas
6:00-7:00pm - Laura Gibson
7:30-8:30pm - Martha Scanlan

The Woods Stage is nestled deep in the heart of our camper village, and is one of the best places to cool off in the shade, see your favorite band, and marvel at the mighty doug firs that tower overhead. Ahh, it's really that beautiful...

On a side note - tickets are selling super fast, and we now have less than 10 car camping passes remaining as I type. So far we are on track for a sold-out show, so get those tickets...and don't miss out. Stay tuned, more schedules, workshops, and kids activities to be posted soon.

Mtn. View and Fir Meadows Stage schedules....

We are close to our final Weekend Schedules, which will include the following stages: Mtn. View, Fir Meadows, Woods Stage, Heartsong Cabaret, Galaxy Barn, and finally the Gallery Barn. Today we take a look at the Mtn. View and Fir Meadows stages, which are our 'main outdoor stages'. Here we go folks, getting close... (* = Mtn. View Stage, = Fir Meadows Stage)
:August 1st:
4:00-5:00pm - Bombadil*
5:00-5:30pm - Ian Thomas
5:30-6:30pm - Chatham County Line*
6:30-7:00pm - Tom Heinl
7:00-8:00pm - Langhorne Slim*
8:00-8:30pm - Sassparilla
8:30-9:45pm - Jolie Holland*
10:00-11:30pm - 2008 Squaredance w/ Stuart Brothers + Guests*

:August 2nd:
10:00-11:00am - Darol Anger Scott Law*
11:00-11:30am - Cross-Eyed Rosie
11:30-12:30pm - Tarbox Ramblers*
12:30-1:00pm - Pokey Lafarge
1:00-2:00pm - Crooked Still*
2:00-2:30pm - Old Believers
2:30-3:30pm - Hackensaw Boys*
3:30-4:00pm - Johnny Connolly
4:00-5:00pm - Melissa Ferrick*
5:00-5:30pm - Paleface
5:30-6:30pm - Trampled by Turtles*
6:30-7:00pm - Jessica Lea Mayfield
7:00-8:00pm - Wayne Hancock*
8:00-8:30pm - Samantha Crain
8:30-9:30pm - Red Stick Ramblers*
9:30-10:00pm - Sean Hayes
10:00-11:15pm - Bad Livers*

:August 3rd:
10:00-11:00am - Captain Bogg and Salty*
11:00-11:30am - Sassparilla
11:30-12:30pm - Loch Lomond*
12:30-1:00pm - Oz. St. Fossils
1:00-2:00pm - Martha Scanlan*
2:00-2:30pm - Laura Gibson
2:30-3:30pm - Kelly Joe Phelps*
3:30-4:00pm - Old Believers
4:00-5:00pm - Justin Townes Earle*
5:00-5:30pm - Shinyribs
5:30-6:30pm - Cave Singers*
6:30-7:00pm - Jessica Lea Mayfield
7:00-8:00pm - the everybodyfields*
8:00-8:30pm - Woody Pines
8:30-10:00pm - The Gourds*
whew...o.k., so much more to come - but possibly this can tie you over for a few days. Full multi-stage schedule, workshops, and kids activities will be posted next...to include an incredible mix of late-night shows...who do YOU think will be in the Barn?
Oh, and be sure to check out all these folks on our Lineup page.
enjoy!

That's what daddy wants.

A day late on Daddy-day, here we go with the King of Juke-Joint Swing. Listening to the 'Train' really brings back the ghosts of yon, and these folks will have the place swingin' with that lost sound of those early country days. Wayne will be around Saturday and Sunday, so there will be plenty (even a late-night Barn set). So happy Fathers Day, and enjoy this week... And if you really want to know what daddy wants, maybe get him a ticket or two?

It is hard to believe we are getting within a month and half from Pickathon 2008. We are really looking forward to putting the best weekend of music we have ever assembled.

Now sit back and relax and check out...

Wayne Hancock - That's what daddy wants.

Schedules and Volunteers..what's the deal here?

O.K., O.K. - So we know that we are currently overdue with the 2008 Schedule, and we apologize to all that have been waiting for this news... Currently we are waiting on the final approval from the top, and once we know where we stand...which should be soon, we will be able to post all stages, all days, and all times without question. You see, it's not just up to us on the hours - that type of dictation comes from behind closed doors. Things look great so far, so there is no concern...just the need for a little patience. Soon my friends, we will all be able to make our plans on the who and when. And I promise, this years schedule is going to totally rock.

Well, that being said - I now move on to Volunteers. There are so many more volunteers applying this year than ever before, and our needs are pretty close to fulfilled as I type. But! You will all hear very soon as to what the future holds, and we hope that no matter what the verdict (volunteering or not), you will still be joining us. It's a good time, really.

O.K. - so that's the gist, once again we apologize for the wait, and hopefully decisions will be made soon so we can move forward with our planning, you can move forward with your planning, and together we can bring the 'Happy' to Happy Valley.

In the meantime, relax and enjoy a little Langhorne.
Langhorne Slim - Rebel Side of Heaven

Tickets are going, RV's are gone, Car Camping is next...

RV passes for the 2008 Pickathon are officially sold-out! Car Camping Passes are also very close to sold-out..
And, alongside the parking passes we also have a very small number of Pickers Package weekend tickets remaining (which includes early Thursday entry, T-Shirt, CD, and Poster), as well as the limited numbers of Pre-Gate Tickets still hanging around.
Overall we have seen a huge increase in tickets leaving the warehouse recently, and with our overall limited capacity (and increased popularity) we are certain that things will come down to the wire coming up this next month. What's the wire?.. Well, in this case it is our overall availability of tickets for the 10th Annual Pickathon, which really looks like a sold-out show in the making.

Advise at this time would be this: We are now in June, less than two months to the big weekend. If not already, and still considering - it is strongly suggested that you purchase tickets, while still available....like, now!

Here is Ticket Link.

Things are shaping up, the schedule is close to complete...and still we march on with all other aspects to help make the weekend a real gem.
Join us! Tell your Friends! Bring your Family! ...just wait and see what's in store.

The wheels on the bus go round and round....

...and right to Pickathon... for free, with ease, and while being good stewards of the earth.
EcoShuttle, a Portland based "100% Biodiesel", Eco-Friendly transportation company is proud to announce it's partnership with Pickathon for this years festival. We will have shuttles - all weekend, for anyone attending Pickathon - to and from the Portland Gateway Max (this will be our one-stop shop). Hours and other details at this point are being ironed out, but here is a little on the inside of what I do know:
The Shuttle is free and friendly.
The Shuttle can accommodate 25 folks at a time, and will be able to handle campers and their gear.
The hours are loosely worked around the Mt. View Stage times (10:00am to Midnight).
I've heard it's so friendly that the van does not even kill bugs when driving down the highway...imagine that!
It's super easy to make advance reservations through email.
(ecoshuttle[at]pickathon.com)

And while at it, I suppose the basic point would be this:
We are providing our folks (YOU) with a great alternative to driving, and the crew over at EcoShuttle couldn't be happier. If everyone that reads this could help spread the word, we can all help make a change, save a few gallons of gas, and help keep our fair city that much cleaner. You see, it's not just the oil, it's also the environment, and all of our precious resources that we utilize on a daily basis...which money cannot buy, nor replace. Air and water my friends, and they are both way better when clean and abundant. So, please, please, please use the bus. We would love to accommodate everyone! Make sense?
Learn more about EcoShuttle!
And keep your eyes on our Transportation Page for all remaining details.

Freaks, Jugs, and Reels....

Another week goes by and that much closer to the big #10. This fine first Monday of June we bring a few more additions to the lineup, aptly titled: Freaks, Jugs, and Reels.
I first will unfold the mystery of two of these groups through their three degrees of separation from longtime Northwest Favorites, the Kitchen Syncopators... O.K., now do not get confused, the Syncopators will not join us and in fact they do not even exist anymore (sigh). But, from that crew we are pleased to welcome both Woody Pines (a founding member of the Syncopators), and the Oz. St. Fossils (washboard dynamo Bob Scarecrow's new group.). There we have the Jugs and the Freaks.
Next up we have Irish full-blood Johnny Connolly and his mighty push-button accordion, with band Bridgetown, Johnny is seismic with his rhythm, tempo and drive. A great show for the woods, the barn, and all points in between......and there we have the reels.
Getting these folks in the mix is underway and now, as it has been said before, NOW the finishing touches can be applied to the almighty schedule..oh, so many stages, so many bands, so many hours....how will it unfold?...check back later this week, and we should have the answer.
Woody Pines - Candyman
Woody Pines @ Stuart's Opera House 4.18.08

Hackensaw Boys say...

Keep it Simple!
Words to live by, love by, spread around, and act out. Simply put idea of life in a big wide world that needs to look towards the coming years. Ringing true in every aspect, in every walk of life. Just keep it simple, o.k.?

Hackensaw Boys music is anything but simple, but the words ring true to everyday life. First timers to our annual party and we couldn't be more excited, the raucous party they will bring to the Barn will add a great deal of fuel to an already smoldering hot fire. Ahh..just thinking about it makes me sweat. Enjoy your day, do something that can help make a difference, and be sure to say thank you.
Oh, and if you needed the reminder - Tickets are selling super fast and could wind up on the endangered list if we are not careful....car camping and RV passes are close to extinct. Make your choice, while a choice can be made.
Hackensaw Boys - Keep it Simple

So much to say about the smells of summer...

Well, coming off a 12 day weekend things are seeming a little foreign in this strange land. What has gone on this past week of May? A great deal really, in lands both near and far. The festival season has started, the air smells like hotdogs, and already we stare strait ahead at the month of June.

What's coming up? Glad you asked! Heading west we have Bombadil, a lively bunch by way of the Carolinas. Not only will we be seeing them at Pickathon for the first time, but also they make this pilgrimage for the Great Northwest Music Tour. Boy, have we ever sent these McMenamins folks a nice bunch of artists over the past year, for example the Avett Brothers, Langhorne Slim, the everybodyfields and now Bombadil. The tour is a fun time which allows you to see several nooks and crannies throughout Oregon and Washington. Hotels are nice, food is alright, and the beer is worth writing home about. And then there is this Bombadil group we speak of, kinda like a musical circus of the Americas. A rollicking live show, a certain degree of chaos, and at times leaning more towards a train-wreck than a concert. But we love it!..and certain you will too. Behold this Bombadil, and check them out at one or many of the upcoming McMenamins shows..they're free.
Bombadil - Julian of Norwhich

Day Tickets now on Sale!

Yes indeed, both Daily Tickets and Parking Passes are now available over at our Ticket Page. So maybe you cannot make it out the entire weekend? Maybe you just want to catch the Bad Livers reunion show on Saturday Night? ... Look no further, here's your chance to get that ticket and join the fun.
As many of us know we have sold-out of our Early-Bird weekend tickets, and are now moving on with our Pre-Gates...which are still a great deal for all the mayhem and magic one could manage in a single weekend. Oh, and I can now also state that our schedule for 2008 will be available June 1!

Well, aside from that not too much else is new here on the ranch. Our 2008 Merchandise is taking shape, and we are hoping for a June debut and chance for pre-orders. Also it should be noted (and advised), if you are planning on a Hotel stay while at Pickathon you should be thinking about those reservations as our host-hotel will likely fill in the coming month. Remember that this is a great "car-free" way to travel as Best Western is offering a shuttle service from Airport to Hotel and Hotel to Pendarvis Farm...all weekend, for free.

Early-Birds Tickets end May 15...this Thursday!

Everybody's favorite, the Early-Bird.
A great ticket at a great price....but not for long. This Thursday, May 15 we are officially heading in the direction of the "Pre-Gate" weekend Tickets - which weigh in at a slim $110. Now don't get discouraged, it is only $15 that you save when purchasing before then, and even at $110 the deal is still perfectly clear. Alongside the "Pre-Gates" we are also putting up the "Day-Tickets" for all of our Day-Trippers out there. Busy week of tickets and schedules ahead, and ideally we have all three days and all 6 stages planned out before the end of May. And!...if you want a REALLY GOOD DEAL, purchase a Pickers Package - arrive early, get a t-shirt, a c.d., and a poster! So much to be said about the tickets, and we appreciate everyone so far that will be joining us...it is definitely going to be a big year.

O.K., so enough about tickets - lets watch a video.
Here we have the Cave Singers, a nice trio from Seattle, WA. Throughout the Northwest and all over the indie map we have been hearing a lot about these fellas. Debut record on Matador, and having a big year so far. We are excited to have them, and look forward to the snake dance. See for yourself.
The Cave Singers - Dancing on Our Graves

New music for the Weekend!

Hard at work in the laboratory taking things apart and reassembling in no particular order. Today, this fine Friday we are offering to the masses a new mix of tunes to help bring the Good Times. A happy group of tunes that will help shake the blues and liven things for you and yours. Good for the house, the garden, the shop, the lab, and even work. Hear us out, and have good times!

click on the mix...Pickathon Good Times Mix!

10 good reasons, and that's not all.

Already Wednesday, still feeling like Monday. That's the story for this first week of May. The spring-time buzz has emerged, and the days just seem different for some reason. Ya know, year after year this cycle of the seasons is a true marvel.
Today I give you a list of 10 great things to look forward to at the 10th Annual Pickathon:

1. The first Bad Livers show in over 8 years.
2. Late Night Galaxy Barn mayham, the Friday Night Squaredance, the Late-Night Cabaret, Workshops in the Gallery Barn, lazy afternoons at the Woods Stage, and all the remaining hours spent under floating fabrics in the sky, listening to the day go by.
3. Our super friendly gang of volunteers and staff.
4. The secret of Oregon sunshine.
5. The smell of veggie oil exhaust and the elegance of fresh and clean Honey Buckets.
6. The Pendarvis Family, their Farm, their horses, and Freckles the dog.
7. The Beer Garden.
8. The Captain Bogg and Salty show....kids!
9. Oregon woods camping and hiking.
10.And...just look at that lineup!

These are only a few of the favorites that I have rolling around in the memory bank. Seriously though, it's a good time. Please do keep an eye out for progressing details in the worlds of schedules, sustainability, vendors, and everything else that is working itself out behind the scenes. .....heck, we may even give away a ticket or two.

oh, and sorry - no video or photos today, just regular old text..
o.k., until next time.

This Eagle will Soar...

Hey! Langhorne Slim has a new record, and we have a new video!

On top of that we are helping out with his upcoming Portland, OR CD release:

5/17 - Langhorne Slim @ the Doug Fir Lounge ... Click here for Tickets.

This show will sell out with ease, so i strongly suggest getting tickets early...and take a date, this band lives and breathes modern day romance. And what better way to say i love you?

Hey! Happy CD Release Slim....we will see you at the fir, sir.

New Record, New Video...

Langhorne Slim - I Will - 2007 Pickathon

Tickets, too.

Howdy folks! I have two major pieces of Ticket information to dish out.

First, dealing with folks who HAVE purchased tickets:
- Your orders have all been processed, and are in the mail on May 6. Sorry about the wait (as we initially said late April), but rest assured they are en route, and eager to meet you. So...enjoy!

Second, for folks who HAVE NOT purchased tickets:
- We are very close to being SOLD-OUT of our Early-Bird tickets, Car-Camping and RV passes. May 15 will be the official date that the "Early-Birds turn into "Pre-Gates", making the weekend price $110. Also, we will begin our Day Ticket sales at that time too. So...you know what you must do, and to save....you should do it quick. (everyone else did, and look how happy they are).

O.K. - here is your daily dose, and a reminder of what Pickathon is all about:
The Gourds - Lower 48

Feels like the Spring.

Two of our favorites from 2007 make the return trip to Portland in August.
Both these folks have us equally excited, and many memorable moments come to mind from their 2007 Pickathon debut. Trampled by Turtles in the Galaxy Barn putting everyone in a frenzy, Ian Thomas in the woods singing with the trees and serenading a good day gone by. I was hoping to have video of last year of these two, but alas I have fallen victim to multi-media and will have to post at a later time. Instead, you get Ian and his guitar. Enjoy the day, spring has never sounded sweeter.
Ian Thomas - Blue Blue Yodel #15

Squaredance

One of the longest standing traditions here at Pickathon, the Fabulous Friday Night Squaredance! Really the anchor for Friday night, and in the first few years it was the only show that Friday had to offer. Being that Portland was in the running for the "old-time revival" capital of the world we felt it suiting to highlight the dance and players from the local scene. Ten years later we have seen it all, and now the crowds promenade in unison with over 400 at a time. Local caller (and guru) Bill Martin has been the voice, and the band has rotated from Foghorn to Government Issue Orchestra to the Tallboys, in no particular order.
Well 2008 is really something special, and 10 years only comes once.....so this year we are working towards the ultimate squaredance blowout. For the first time we are having the core of the band comprised of players not from Portland - Trevor and Travis Stuart will lead, and joining them will be Martha Scanlan plus several other "friends". You will likely recognize the Stuart Brothers from the past two years with Martha as her band and on their own with old-time workshops in the Gallery Barn. This will be unforgettable, and promising to be the hottest old-time shakedown this side of the continental divide.
Here's a taste, and to picture it at the dance just imagine 3-4x the speed, plus a few other players on stage.
Martha Scanlan - Get Right Church (Pickathon 2007)

We will miss you Chris Gaffney.

We are saddened this day as the news has began to surface about the tragic loss of Hacienda Brothers lead soulman Chris Gaffney. Although nothing official has been released, we are to the understanding that yesterday morning Chris lost his battle with liver cancer, and as you might remember we posted just a short month ago about this battle Chris was facing. He was surrounded by family and was not in pain. Our hearts cry out for this loss as we have held the Hacienda close to the soul of Pickathon since their debut in 2005. Our condolences go out to the band, his family, and all the friends and fans. I am encouraging everyone to reach out and show support, send a note to the band, to the family, or even post on their myspace. This is still at the point where it's unimaginable, and we are wishing all the best to everyone who is affected by this loss.
One last song from a dear, dear friend. We will miss you Chris Gaffney.
Hacienda Brothers - Cowboys to Girls (2007 Pickathon)

This weeks roundup.

Once again finding myself sorting through another week. Last time around, which was over a week ago there was an attempt at some sort of consistency, a visual rhythm for all who check up on us from day to day. Well, one week and one day later I find yet another attempt at this daily dose.
It was a busy week, most of which for me was spent out on the highways of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado - they call this family time. It was dry, windy, and only yesterday did we see temps in the 80's, which today is most visible on my little red-faced child. This is not the point of this here post, just a segue for all things upcoming.
We had a heck of a time with the Avett Brothers this past week during our sold-out show @ the Crystal Ballroom, all 1500 of you crammed into the legendary room and made for a memorable evening. Plus, we got a sneak peek of rising star Jessica Lea Mayfield, which we are pleased to have at Pickathon for the first time this year. Coming up we have a full week of all things environment, heading into our favorite holiday - Earth Day. Personally, I feel it being most important to look at ourselves and make changes within our daily routine. Maybe driving less, using less plastic, reusing the plastic we do use, planting a few trees, switching over to an organic diet...whatever it may be I feel it's most important to focus in on the smaller scale and look out from there. Encompassing the "think locally, act globally" idea. Embrace it, and tell your friends. For Pickathon, we are working hard on all things solar for 2008, and you can expect a bigger and better woods stage (which in 2007 was Sun-Powered), more demonstration, more education, and overall more utilization, which eventually we are confident can lead to a all solar event.
And what about tickets? Our Early-Bird Tickets are very close to being gone (fewer than 30 remain), and I can now say that May 1st will be the final day that they will be available. From there the price of the weekend ticket will be $110, which we call "Pre-Gate". Also, on that May 1st date we will begin to sell day tickets and daily parking passes. Of course if you are still on the fence, consider this a gentle nudge, as it will not be the same without you. There are still a few remaining lineup additions, which I am hoping to post later this week. And we are beginning to debut videos from the 2007 festival. This one here, which is from the "King of Country" is a recent favorite. Although Dale and band will not be with us for 2008, we can expect to see him again in the coming years, and look for him on the 2007 Pickathon CD which will be available at this years event.
O.K. I said it all, be kind to the environment, buy your tickets, join the email list (next newsletter will go out next week), and please....tell your friends. oh, and here's the country.
Dale Watson - Whiskey or God

Monday, Monday.

Like a fresh cup of coffee in the early morning hours, a nice cup of joe to help gather oneself in the wake of another working week.

I love Mondays, and hoping with a bit of consistency - you can too.

We have a big week ahead, mostly revolving around the upcoming Avett Brothers show at the Crystal Ballroom on Thursday (4/10).

There are still tickets available...but not too many, so if you are planning on it and have not already, get your tickets and join us.

It will be a totally awesome time. And here is yet another reminder of why.

The Avett Brothers - "Paranoia in Bb Major"

*Much of this was filmed at 2007 Pickathon!*

Lineup update.

We are still adding artists as the schedule continues to unfold, anticipating that in late-May we will have both the final schedule and Day Tickets available.
For this installment we are pleased to introduce two Pickathon first-timers. From Shawnee, OK - Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers. We will see Samantha and band just after the release of their upcoming Ramseur Records debut "THE CONFISCATION". ...and we all know that Ramseur has been bringing us the bacon for a few years now (the Avett Brothers, the everybodyfields, Bombadil) ..and now Mrs. Crain.
and...
Loch Lomond, no stranger to folks in the Northwest, are bringing their unique mix of symphonic-tinged chamber-folk... a large band, led by Ritchie Young. Their latest on Hush Records is a great listen, and seeing them live is an experience of another time and place. Also, we should give the nod to Hush for its great taste and consistent quality... Portland loves its chamber-pop.

Here are videos of both bands, and you know how we just love the videos.

Loch Lomond - Song in 3/4

Samantha Crain - ?

Pickathon Indie Roots Music Festival Portland, Oregon

2007 Pickathon CD now up on itunes, CD Baby......

Who Stopped the Music?

2007 Pickathon CD now available, 2009 Dates,...and several other exciting announcements.

2008 Pickathon: Feedback, Round 2.

2008 Pickathon: Feedback, Round 1.

2008 Pickathon Bad Livers Set for all to hear!!

A year to remember...and now we decompress.

An Ariel View of the Pickathon Site. Music by Loch Lomond.

Danny Barnes and the reunited Bad Livers at Pickathon 2008

Loch Lomond live in the Galaxy Barn

Wayne Hancock Live in the Galaxy Barn at Pickathon 2008

Pickathon 2008 - Photo Gallery 1

A Pickathon 2008 Video Sampler

Q&A With Loch Lomond

Out-of-Towners Rock the Galaxy Barn

Pickathon 2008 Day 2

Pickathon 2008 Day 1

Pickathon is Now Underway

Last Call for Will Call... + Pickathon info Galore!!

Postcards from Pickathon

4 Day Countdown until Will Call Tickets end!!...

New Pickathon CD Playlist + 3 opportunities for earning free tickets

New Pickathon Map is HERE!

Galaxy Barn decision 2008....plus Video a la our good friends at PCM.

NEW Galaxy Barn rules...Part II (Damage Control)

NEW Galaxy Barn rules...and the NEW Pickathon Cafe!

Will Call Tickets Begin this Thursday!

Pickathon IS a Family Friendly Event!

More Videos..check 'em out!

2008 Merchandise..and the 2007 Pickathon CD

Full Pickathon Schedule is Here!

Food!...and more Food!

Hotel Info...and the Galaxy Barn Schedule!

Additional thoughts on Camping..

Car Camping is SOLD OUT!

Tickets for 2008.

Hey! How about the Woods Stage?

Mtn. View and Fir Meadows Stage schedules....

That's what daddy wants.

Schedules and Volunteers..what's the deal here?

Tickets are going, RV's are gone, Car Camping is next...

The wheels on the bus go round and round....

Freaks, Jugs, and Reels....

Hackensaw Boys say...

So much to say about the smells of summer...

Day Tickets now on Sale!

Early-Birds Tickets end May 15...this Thursday!

New music for the Weekend!

10 good reasons, and that's not all.

This Eagle will Soar...

Tickets, too.

Feels like the Spring.

Squaredance

We will miss you Chris Gaffney.

This weeks roundup.

Monday, Monday.

Lineup update.