The Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is a 4-day foot-stomping party in the heart of the Midwest. Born in 2004, Wakarusa burst onto the scene with a diverse and eclectic lineup featuring over 70 artists. The 2004 bill perked the interest of both devout and casual music fans alike. Fans that made the trip to Wakarusa left with unforgettable stories of the music and the beautiful surroundings of Clinton Lake and the Lawrence area. In 2005, Wakarusa returned and quickly established itself as a premiere, grassroots event in the nationwide outdoor music scene. Attracting folks from all 50 U.S. states and 5 countries, the 2005 event featured over 80 artists, 5 stages and over 4 days of non-stop music and entertainment. The following year saw even more musical diversity with the Flaming Lips headlining and many other alternative acts added to the lineup. Despite all this success, Wakarusa continued to embody a fan-based approach to designing a festival in 2006 and 2007. This year promises to be no different as Wakarusa 2008 takes shape.
Artists for this year include:
* The Flaming Lips
* Emmylou Harris
* Ben Folds
* STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
* CAKE
* Zappa Plays Zappa
* Mickey Hart Band featuring Steve Kimock & George Porter Jr.
* Keller Williams
* Leftover Salmon
* David Grisman Quintet
* Blackalicious
* Ozomatli
* Buckethead
* Built To Spill
* Bettye LaVette
* Ozric Tentacles
* Lotus
* Galactic
* The Everyone Orchestra
* Old 97's
* Alejandro Escovedo
* Yard Dogs Road Show
* Porter Batiste Stoltz
* Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
* Tea Leaf Green
* The Avett Brothers
* Split Lip Rayfield
* Dr. Dog
* State Radio
* Brett Dennen
* Arrested Development
* Del The Funkyhomosapien
* New Monsoon
* Hot Buttered Rum
* Panjea featuring Chris Berry and Michael Kang
* EOTO feat Michael Travis & Jason Hann of SCI
* Donna the Buffalo
* Delta Nove
* Mates of State
* Tilly and the Wall
* Apollo Sunshine
* Pete Francis (of Dispatch)
* Papa Mali
* DVJ Mike Relm
* Limbeck
* Steel Train
* C-Mon & Kypski
* Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
* Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise
* The Dynamites feat Charles Walker
* That 1 Guy
* Ryan Bingham
* The Gourds
* Uncle Monk
* Truckstop Honeymoon
* Dirtfoot
* Backdoor Slam
* Cornmeal
* Oakhurst
* WhiteWater Ramble
* Future Rock
* South Austin Jug Band
* The Heavy Pets
* Bang Camaro
* Brent Berry Band
* American Babies
* Hoots & Hellmouth
* Blue Turtle Seduction
* Turbine
* Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
* Chicago Afrobeat Project
* Family Groove Company
* Madahoochi
* Big Smith
* 4th of July
* Stardeath and White Dwarfs
* Bump
* The Macpodz
* Jennie Arnau
* Wisebird
* Billy the Squirrel
* Cosmopolitics
* Mr. Baber's Neighbors: The Solar String Band
* HipHopotamus
* Archetype
* Chinese Fingertrap
* Grimy Styles
* Shady Lane String Band
* Savoy
* Remedy
* Rich Berry
* Prism
* SLM
* Creating a Newsense
* The Station
* Poor Miner's Union
* Head for the Hills
* Deadman Flats
* Hunab
* Fatty Lumpkin
* WoolEye
* Tech Tonic
* Jah Roots
* Cooper's Orbit
* East Ash Street Band
* Robots vs. Dinosaurs
* Grazgrove
* Somasphere
* Home
* Galapagos
* Mr. Blotto
* That Damn Sasquatch
* Potcheen Folk Band
* Dewayn Brothers
* Calamity Cubes
* Garrett Nordstrom Situation
* Redux
* Alan Vasquez
* Sam & the Stylees
* Public Property
* 77 Jefferson
* Nama Rupa
* Mountain of Venus
Also cut and paste the text below into your Myspace editor to put a Wakarusa banner on your page! Show your Waka love and help spread the word about one of the coolest festivals this summer.