The annual Hot August Festival once again will feature great bands in the perfect outdoor setting of Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville.
Oregon Ridge Park will once again be hosting the Baltimore area’s annual Hot August Festival. The lineup this year as usual will feature nationally known musical acts of the hippie jam-band festival circuit and genre, Nashville’s Old Crow Medicine Show are the headliner, while 10 other bands are also set to play August 19. Oregon Ridge is a great place to see a show as the park at one time was used for downhill skiing, and now as a musical venue, it provides an ideal setting for fans to view the stages from the ski slope. The one-day event will feature an eclectic mix of American roots music which includes Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, Jam and Funk as well as food, beer and wine, games, crafts and other fun activities. When: August 19 | 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Where: Oregon Ridge Park Hot August Festival is a mini weekend jam festival, the venue is much like venues used for weekend campout hippie jam fests only smaller. The festival has become a favorite yearly event of many who have attended in its 25-year history. Hot August Festival provides the same type of experience as weekend jam band festivals and campouts, but without the hassle of packing food, clothes and other items and having to drive long distances to relax and enjoy good music in a peaceful setting. This year the event will feature three stages, and gates open at 11 a.m.
Electric Love Machine will kick things off at the main stage, while on Squaring the Circle and Memphis Gold will start things off on the Zeiss and Back to the Farm stages. Of the more well-known bands in the lineup are the Boston funk band Lettuce, who are regulars at Jam festivals and events. Their latest album, released in 2015, reached number one on the U.S. Jazz albums chart.
Second to last on the main stage will be the Grammy nominated Infamous Stringdusters whose latest studio effort was released in January of this year and debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The Infamous Stringdusters will fill the air with their all acoustic Bluegrass sound and long improvisational and instrumental sets. They are certain to have the crowd good and ready for the event’s main musical headliners.
When Old Crow Medicine Show takes the stage at 8 p.m., the music at the other two stages will have concluded. Old Crow Medicine Show has been called an alternative country, folk and old-time band, their sound and songs are distinct yet also not too old fashioned.
Blues fans will be certain to enjoy the New Orleans band John Mooney and Bluesiana on the Back to Farm stage at 5:30 p.m., while at 6:30 p.m., on the Zeiss stage, the nine-piece Brooklyn “powerhouse funk” band Turkuaz will perform.
Turkuaz is a modern funk band which blends classic funk with Soul, R&B and Pop sounds. Their live shows include choreographed dancing and colorful dress coupled with a playful sound that together provide a dance party atmosphere.
The remaining bands in the lineup will play a variety of music ranging from electronic fusion (Electric Love Machine) to Funk to classic and modern Blues and Roots.
Early bird tickets have already sold out. However, pre-order tickets are going for $66, while tickets on the day of will be $79. VIP packages are available as well, and kids 12 and under are free! General admission does not include parking, parking passes are $20 per vehicle. If you would rather not pay for parking or simply would prefer not to drive, Hot August is providing a free shuttle from the Timonium Fairgrounds Light Rail stop from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. The last shuttle returning from the festival will be at 11 p.m. after the last band has finished playing.
Shuttle, tickets and other info can be found on the festival website. Traditionally there also is an “afterjam” that takes place at The Greene Turtle around 10 p.m., where there will be food and drink specials.
Will you be attending the Hot August Festival? Let us know in the comments below! We'll see you there!
