Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the fabulous LOOK PARK in Florence, MA, starting at High NOON, we limbo'd on down! Logistic and potential weather issues (mud etc.) dictated moving this event from Look Park's legendary Pines Theater to their gorgeous Garden House & Patio.
Almost miraculously against all raw and wet local forecasts, however, Mother Nature smiled upon us and brought us "partly cloudy" conditions and warm, fuzzy temperatures. THANKS MOMMA!
No doubt, LimboJim couldn't and probably wouldn't have put this event on without the undying encouragement and organizational participation of the Alchemystics' visionary keyboardist 'Scoops' - thank you JAY!
Special thanks also go to Look Park directors Jody, Jill & Ray for availing such a classy facility for our use. The park rangers were kind and helpful, and the Garden House and River Shark crews served us with genuine smiles.
Hearty thanks for the tremendous talent and zeal put forth by the amazing collection of musical performers!
8:30 The Alchemystics
7:00 Shokazoba Afrobeat Battilion
5:30 CelloBop (Gideon Freudmann)
3:45 Otherwise
2:30 Rudy Brown
1:30 Rachel Zamstein
You can sample some of these performers' fine tunes by clicking on their MySpace links below.
The ingenious poster art was created by handofdave.com, sound & lights were amply & ably provided by the highly professional Otherwise crew. In the adjacent Garden House Lounge, DJ B-Precise was spinning righteous on the 1s an 2s - thanks y'all!
Our 20+ volunteers kept everything orderly - special thanks to Robbie, Steven and Aaron, all of whom really came through to make this such a special event! Can I say thanks yet again?
We had a cozy performance tent & stage from the good folks at Northampton Rental Co. on the patio and a lounge to chill, eat & drink in the Garden House. Yummy River Shark Cafe food and a FULL cash BAR was available, with $4 Berkshire Brews and some fine yet affordable wine, too!
To recoup a small portion of the cost of throwing this event, we asked for voluntary "donations" of just $10/adult or $50/carload - kids under 12 were not expected to contribute. Performers were compensated with advance "carload passes" to offer their fanbase. An estimated 300+ folks came throughout the day; we collected just under $1500 at the parking lot.
This was a bit less than LimboJim spent in cash to make LimboFest happen. Luckily he owns an effective local advertising business that allowed for covering the remaining, considerably higher event costs (site fee, tent rental etc.) with good old-fashioned barter.
Last but not least, the mysterious late night DnB, house, jungle afterparty was held at the Green House in N.Amherst. Evolve: Life In The Group (DnB, downtempo, jungle, MA), Otherwise & special guests rocked those who carried the energy onward & upward!
HISTORY of LimboFest
LimboFest first took place on May 1, 2004 at Tinker Hill Farm, a 12 acre property on the north foot of the Holyoke Range in Hadley, MA leased by LimboJim. Bathtub Mary headlined and were broken up by the cops at 11:15pm. From 3pm until then, however, LimboFest had great weather for all, a Maypole ceremony for the kidz, and stellar performances by Slightly Cheaper, Stickman Boomerang and CelloBop.
LimboFest 2005, held on April 30 also at Tinker Hill Farm, once again featured CelloBop, with the mighty Alchemystics wrapping up at 11pm sharp to avoid another police visit. In between, World Beat Ensemble and Catfish Jam rocked the 30x60' party tent with walls & heat ('twas a cold, wet day but with sunny spirits and propane heat we were all smiles). Cosmic Casbah provided the late night chillzone.
JimBo moved from Tinker Hill Farm in 2005, so for lack an appropriate hosting space, LimboFest did not transpire 2006-2007, but apparently its spirit never died.
