10th Annual Wakarusa Music Festival--May 30th - June 2nd, 2013--Mulberry Mountain--Ozark, AR

“I survived Wakarusa 2013.” If this was written on a t-shirt, I would buy it. The 10th annual Wakarusa was one to be remembered. Severe weather with wind, rain, threats of tornados and hail dampened the outdoor music festival in Mulberry Mountain.

There is a lot of negative feedback on Wakarusa's Facebook and Twitter about how festival staff didn't plan enough to help campers, but as Outkast put it, "You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather." I thought that the staff and workers were friendly and mostly helpful, especially workers at the General Stores. My only complaint is that when we tried to check in, we were told the system was down and had to wait in a field for several hours. My friends and I sat up our tents an hour or so after sunrise, but I heard that thousands of people were hours behind us. Tents blew down, shows were canceled, cars were stuck in the mud, and there was even a water shortage. The weather was cold and wet and a lot of people weren't prepared. The people who trekked through the mud to get to the music, danced and had an awesome time. When rays of sunshine randomly burst from the skies, people cheered through the mountains.

The first show I made it to was Yonder Mountain String Band on the Budweiser Main Stage. I love their mountain, hillbilly sound. They are hosting their own festival at this same location in the fall called the Harvest Fest on October 17 - 19. After catching half of their set, I headed to the Grassroots California Satellite Stage, which was my favorite of the five Wakarusa stages, nestled in the woods. Unlike the Main Stage, this was almost a mud-free zone. There was actually a huge human-sized "bird's nest" to relax in. I caught some trap music and heavy bass with Run DMT, followed by Bauuer. The rain didn't stop the dancing crowd from "going hard." At 10:45, I moved to the Revival Tent for BoomBox, a duo originating from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Apparently, they don't like to be labeled as anything but rock, but to me, they are the perfect mix of jam and electronic.

On Friday night I came out of my tent for Umphrey's McGee on the Main Stage. This was a costume night, so it was great seeing everyone dressed up. There were a lot of "hoopers," too, with light-up rings. After the show and walking around for a bit, we were all told to get into our cars because severe weather was heading our way again. The next morning, a guy told me that he stayed at the main festival area. He said that girls were crying saying that they were all going to die and that tents were flying up in the air.

On Saturday I woke up ready to party. One of my favorite acts I’ve seen play in Mobile, AL is Shovels & Rope. I made sure to be front and center for their show on the George Majestic's Backwoods Stage. The sun started to shine. The two members, Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, are true songwriters with deep Southern roots and music full of energy and soul. Hearst belted out "Birmingham" and their top Billboard hit, "O' Be Joyful."

Saturday night I saw "Daft Phunk," a funk band originating from New Orleans, called Earphunk that performed an entire Daft Punk set. Since Daft Punk rarely plays show anymore, this was the next closest thing for me. The lights were amazing under the Technaflora Outpost Tent, and it was one huge dance party. Khris Royal, from the California reggae band, Rebelution, joined in on his saxophone for "Television Rules the Nation" and "Around the World." The new "Get Lucky" was definitely a favorite cover of mine. Afterward, I just so happened to walk by a Red Bull vehicle with Cherub, an electro-pop duo from Nashville, doing a secret show. They ended with "Doses and Mimosas," an awesome, sing-a-long dance track. I recognized these talented guys from a show last year at Alabama Music Box in Mobile.

On Sunday morning, my friends and I decided to pack up and head home. I was sad to miss Snoop Lion and Amon Tobin, but had a long drive ahead of me. Although the sun came out, there was no stopping the massive mud. I regret not seeing more music and not bringing my rain boots.

Several people have said to me, "So you are definitely not going back next year, huh?" and they are wrong. Wakarusa is a great festival for music and nature lovers. I would love to return next year. "Work it harder, make it better, do it faster, makes us stronger."

 

Written & Photos by: Kristen McKinney

Edited by: Rosemary A.W. Roberts