SMILEFEST 2006!
FEATURING:MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, SAM BUSH, KELLER WILLIAMS, YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, LARRY KEEL, HOT BUTTERED RUM, SEEPEOPLES, DUBCONSCIOUS, PNUMA TRIO AND MORE TBA!
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LIMITED early bird tickets available for only $70 ($35 less than the gate price)! Available now at www.Smilefest.com
Smilefest, one of the southeast's most respected eclectic music and camping festivals, is slated for June 2-4, 2006, at the Gorges Music Park, in Lake Toxaway, NC. While more than thirty acts, representing the worlds of Bluegrass, Folk, Alt-Country, Jambands, World Music, Funk and Jazz, will appear at the twelfth annual event, initial headliners include Keller Williams, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Sam Bush.
In addition to a full bill of world-class musicians appearing on three stages, Smilefest 2006 will also include a robust Kids' Universe, diverse culinary offerings, a wide array of high-quality vendor merchandise, scenic waterfall exploration, beautiful hiking and biking trails, and free rustic camping. This year will also see the return of Smilefest's Festi-VOL Village, an interactive exhibit area where attendees will be introduced to worthy non-profit groups they can serve in their own communities once they return home.
Long known for going above and beyond to meticulously cater to the needs of artists and patrons alike, Smilefest's organizers have entered into a long-term partnership with Gorges Music Park to fully develop the site into a premier camping and performance venue. According to Event Director Bob Robertson, "For twelve years now, we've always listened to our crowd and tried our best to provide the features, activities and creature comforts they find lacking at other festival sites. To me, that's what really sets us apart, treating our attendees like family. So we're absolu
While the physical move to GMP provides significantly more room for festival activities, Robertson points out that Smilefest's attractively intimate size will not quickly change. "Honestly, we'd more than likely be able to fit a ton of extra folks in this year, but we're not going to. Our people are used to our roomy camping areas and the ability to get close to their favorite artists. And that's the way we're going to keep it for them," he says.
To encourage earlier ticket purchases, and to promote the support of live music outside its festival gates, Smilefest has again partnered with several premier North Carolina entertainment venues to re-launch its highly successful "Free Admission Night" series. Through this program, attendees of selected pre-festival club appearances by Smilefest acts, who choose to purchase a full-weekend ticket on-site, will receive an immediate refund of that night's cover charge.
A limited number of deeply discounted Early Bird tickets, priced at only $70 ($35 less than the gate price), are available on the Smilefest website, www.smilefest.com, while supplies last. But as soon as that small block is sold, prices will jump, so patrons are encouraged to move quickly to take advantage of the savings. Visitors to the website can also find information related to performers, remote ticket outlets, "Free Admission Night" scheduling and camping (tent, vehicle and RV).
ARTIST LINEUP:
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Keller Williams
Sam Bush
Everyone Orchestra
Yonder Mountain String Band
Larry Keel
Herring/Rodgers/Sipe
New Monsoon
Lotus
Hot Buttered Rum
Dubconscious
Biscuit Burners
Barefoot Manner
SeepeopleS
Curtis Burch
Ralph Roddenbery
Darol Anger's Republic of Strings
The Pnuma Trio
Infradig
Green Lemon
Scarecrow Collection
Jeff Coffin's Mu'tet
Big Blue
David Via & Corn Tornado
Steep Canyon Rangers
Town Mountain
Furnace Mountain
Bill Evans - Soulgrass
Afromotive
Chuch
The Avett Brothers
Cyril Lance Band
Irongrass
Strut
Hit and Run
Donna Hopkins
Packway Handle Band
Dromedary Quartet
Sugar & Spice
After Dark