4/25/2008 McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Westworld Polo Grounds, Scottsdale, AZ


 13 years ago today...

April 25, 2008 - Scottsdale, AZ

Jam bands were center stage on the opening day of the McDowell Mountain Music Festival at the Westworld Polo Grounds.
This was the fifth MMMF, now an anticipated event on the spring calendar. The Friday slate was headlined by Gov't Mule, Robert Randolph & the Family Band and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. Saturday featured John Butler Trio, Blues Traveler, The Wailers and JJ Grey & Mofro.
We had attended this festival since its inception, and decided that we were ready to try camping next to the festival grounds with other attendees staying for the weekend. We're not really campers, but we borrowed a tent from a friend, pitched in on communal F&B and settled in for a weekend of music and merriment.
Of course torrential wind and rain hit the area as the last notes were played Saturday night. I know how Dorothy felt in Wizard of Oz as it felt like our tent could be airlifted to a neighboring state. A morning survey of the area saw mass destruction of complete campsites, concession areas, trash cans and potta-potties. Our tent frame had exploded and we searched the grounds for pieces and parts of the damaged tent. This night reminded us that our idea of camping is a Holiday Inn rather than Marriott.
A highlight of the weekend was meeting Grace Potter who we heard for the first time at this same festival a year prior. Grace has gone pop and glam, but back then she was a barefoot hippy singer on the jam band circuit. She signed her new CD "This is Somewhere" for us and posed for a pic.



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