Dear Farmfest community - past, present and future:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 

 SLEDDING PARTY - FEBRUARY 7

GIT ER READY - JUNE 26-28

SUMMIT - JULY 17-19

FARMFEST 2009 - AUGUST 13-16

MOST ASKED QUESTION: PETS?    ANSWER: NO PETS PLEASE

 

SLEDDING PARTY - 5th annual FUNdraiser

Please note the date change. FEB 7th is the date to remember!

Noon - when the cows come home. Donations

If you have not been to the sledding party, you simply must try to make it this year. It is a blast! The Feedbag Cafe` will be cookin up chili, hot dogs, hot chocolate and goodies. Enjoy the 30 foot high bonfire in the silo circle and be ready for loads of laughter and family fun. Bring your sleds, snow boards, cross cournty skis, snow shoes, snow mobiles and tubes etc.  Winter camping if you dare OR join the pajama party in the farm house. (bring community food for breakfast if you plan on staying) 

GIT ER READY -  Prepare the place for Farmfest

Camp, bring food to share and tools to use. This is the only weekend we schedule for getting the place ready. Many hands makes light work, so bring friends. 

SUMMIT - 5th annual

Healing arts, vendors, evening concerts, morning yoga, great workshops and more. It's small, but sweet. $25 weekend  12 and under free. No pets please

FARMFEST - 12th annual

Farmfest 08 was simply magicial!  Loyal Farmfesters came and brought friends and spread the word....there were MANY first timers.  The weather was perfect and so was the vibe.  The change in dates from the 2nd weekend to the 3rd weekend in August was a good mooooove. 

A HUGE thank you goes out to all the Volunteers! Kudos to the following coordinators:  Daisy Blue at the main gate   John Tubbs building the dance pavilion     Joe Houle in parking    Linda Houle with volunteers    Houghton Lake Lenette with kids area    Carol Briley in the Feed Bag Cafe`   Robin Thill in the Pig Pen    Postal John at Main Stage    Ed Lefson and Ira MacDonald at 2nd Stage    Bob Hamil in First Aid and Sound Assistance    Gonzo as Emcee and Sound Assistance    Kirby for Open Mic, emcee and fire circle jam    Ron Fowler as emcee, ghost stories and parkin lot pickers       Joe MacNeil and courtesy crew    Jody Lee on Trash and recycle    Johnny Dimples and Jess all around great help throughout the summer    Theresa Wolf on fire tending    BRANDON, recycle and trash -  the rock of the Festival doing everything before, during and after....amazing guy!    AND BARTON who does everything from electrical hook ups and building project and mechanic work and supplier of tools AND footing the bill needs when there is no money yet from the gate.  A very good man!    Of course there were countless others not mentioned by name here, who also deserve a great big 'atta boy or girl' for all the time and effort it takes to make a great festival great.    Thank you ALL!

Even tho we did not hit our goal, donations were generous and we were able to pay ALL the bills AND give some of the main stage musicians gasoline mooola for their trip home.  If we had met our goal we would have been able to give them $500 each....next year we'll get there!

SO...the line up for Farmfest 2009 will be booked on a first come basis. Sponsored bands come first, so think about sponsoring your favorite band. All bands submitted will be reviewed and final selection will be based on sponsorship, music style, and spirit of band members. We ask that all bands camp on site for the entire weekend unless they have other bookings and that they play one set on main stage and one set anywhere else they choose. (Dance pavilion, kids area, 2nd stage, drum kiva, fire circle in the woods, silo fire circle, feedbag cafe` etc.)   Deadline for submission is December 1st, 2008.

Send your demo packet to "Farmfest / Stacy Jo   1865 Roby Road   Johannesburg, MI  49751  

There will be no tickets. Farmfest 09 will be by suggested donation again. PLEASE DONATE EARLY BY SNAIL MAIL IF YOU CAN. Make checks payable to 'Farmfest'       1865 Roby Road  Johannesburg, MI 49751 A gate pass will be mailed which you can present to the gate staff when you arrive. It will be up to us to create another magical Farmfest...donations of time, food, talent and mooooola are very important to make this work.  Give from the heart and watch another year unfold into the wonderfilled event we have grown to love.

Vendors are welcome. We will tighten this area up bit in 09.  There were many complaints about the vendor who chose to vend on the pathway to the forest. So...in 09 we ask that all craft and art vendors choose a location in Vendor Village in the pines or near the entrance to the pines.  Food vendors are asked to contact Stacy Jo at 989-786-3273 for reservations. There is room for six and we don't want to duplicate products.

Volunteers are needed. Please email us from the contact page and let us know you are interested.  

Sponsor a Porta Potty. This was a fun addition to the festival. For a mere $70 you too can place your message and/or artwork on a potty.  The porta potties will arrive on Thursday, and there is always one on site all summer.

 

Farmfest 09 - Mooooving into the Future!

Come Early  -  Stay Late  -   Bring friends.

Hugs to all

Stacy Jo

 

August 13 - 16, 2009

(As Farmfest 2009 artists are selected, they will be listed here along with links to their websites.) 

It is our belief at Farmfest that "community", our connection with the land, and the music makers are the elements that make the Farmfest magic. 

Here is the tenative line up.

PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A SPONSOR

(We would REALLY love to pay these great artists and Farmfest supporters what they are worth this year! With your help we can do that. That's what Farmfest is all about folks...keeping the music alive! Help if you can.)

The Main Stage Schedule

FRIDAY

5:00 PM Ringing of the Farm Bell 

6:20 Medicine Crow

7:40 Blue Water Ramblers

9:00 Rootstand

SATURDAY

10:00  Open Mic hosted by our long time buddy KIRBY

11:20 Brant Leonard

12:40 HotRodAlward & Friends

2:00  Loose Strings

3:20 Jo Serrapere and the Willie Dunns

4:40 Jen Sigert

6:00 Madcat & Kane -

7:20 Seth and Daisy May - Sponsored by Joe MacNeil

8:40 Orpheum Bell - Sponsored by Sanjay Singhal

 

SUNDAY

11:20 The Parkin Lot Pickers w/ Ron Fowler

12:40 Richard 'Dogman' Peterson

2:00 Steve Diebel

3:20 Jake Allen - Sponsored by John Tubbs

6:00 Chris Dorman

7:20 Drew Nelson

8:40 Closing hosted by Earthworks Women

Watch for additions and changes as we announce the  2009 music makers!  Check out their links and find out where they are playing next.  Support Farmfest artists whenever you can.

Seth and Daisy May The sweethearts of folk! Farmfest simply isn't Farmfest without Seth and Daisy May. Period!

Kirby, From Harbor Spring, Kirby has been with Farmfest since it's beginning. He hosts our open mic segment on Saturday and jams out at the Fire circle on Saturday night. Big fun.

Ron Fowler, Also a Farmfest Tradition, our story teller extrodinare spooks us and our children at the Ghost story time on Saturday night.

The Blue Water Ramblers,  Farmfest opening act each year are our beloved Blue Water Ramblers.  Banjo Jim is our Yule log host at 9:00 at the fire circle. If you have never witnessed this annual ritual, this is your year! (very special stuff) Welcome back BWR!

Orpheum Bell...From Lansing and new to the Farmfest stage. Orpheum Bell will mezmorize you with their unique sound and will get you on your feet dancin`! Accordion, banjo, guitar, fiddle, clarinet  saw, autoharp and double bass. Friday night is going to be VERY special this year.

Loose Strings...Local home spun good ole boys from Gaylord. First time to Farmfests main stage. You'll be tappin your toes and smilin from ear to ear.

Medicine Crow..Now here's a guy who is no stranger to Michigan Folk festivals. His down home style and insightful lyrics will warm your soul and give you strength to walk your talk!

Annie & Rod Capps...'Folk Therapy" is the byline this amazing duo claims, which is exactly what we receive when they play. We are very excited to welcome to them to the Farmfest stage this year! Ya Hoo

  Jake Allen...Jake comes to us from Grayling. This young talented young man and friends will blow you away. He has been traveling this year learning...growing...expanding...we can't wait to see how he transforms that into his amazing song writing and unique sound.

Richard "Dogman" Peterson & the Alconites - Raspy drivin guitar slingin deep thinkin dude.  The Alconites rock.

Farmfest was born in 1998.  2009 will be our 12th Festival.  It is hosted by Stacy Jo who owns the farm.  The mission of Farmfest is to support the performing arts while blending nature and music.    Net proceeds are shared with the artists.

EPCS Websites DSL

Joe MacNeil

The Montmorency Tribune

Sanjay R. Singhal Professional Design Services, PC