Dewey beach hosts a number of music festivals each year: Popfest, Chick fest, Elvis fest to name a few. The last of the beach's annual festivals, the Dewey Beach Musicfest will take place at the end of September and last until October 2nd.
It's just a short drive from Philly and known for its beaches, bars and restaurants. Lots of the conference is of little or no charge for the public. All nighttime shows are free.
DBMC certainly isn't the largest music conference on the east coast, but it's acquired much approval, great reviews and participants who return year after year. The immense talent and great location also play a huge part in the success of the conference.
Registration ended on August 29th, but as a musician it's good to prepare for next year now and keep an eye out for 2011 sign ups. The DBMC offers three nights of showcases and two days of demo sessions, mentoring sessions, tradeshows, industry meet and greets, and plenty of other opportunities to work at enhancing your music career. The meet and greets give singers and songwriters the chance to hear the opinions of industry professionals and their thoughts on issues in the music business. The mentoring and demo sessions offer one-on-one advice about your band's music and the career path you wish to take. Of course, it's not all just work. There'll be exclusive events such as industry cruises on the bay and VIP parties at various beach clubs, too. Be sure to check out the website to see schedules and speaker information, as it will all be posted closer to the date of the conference.
Hopefully by the time you get a hold of this article, you'll be able to see a full list of this year's performers. Festival officials were still going through the over 800 submissions in mid August. They confirm bands from far away first. A few of the confirmed artists are Sleeper Star (Dallas Tx), Progress in Color (Glenpool, Ok), Flying Machines (NYC), Colourslide (Gainesville, FL), Ducky Duke & The Vintage (Harrisburg, PA), Sinclarity (York, PA), Kingsfoil (York PA), Ike (Phila PA), Born Empty (Nashville), Fools for Rowan (Nashville), City Riots (Austrailia), Atlanta Morey (London, England), Ruby Tigers (Austrailia), Helen Austin (British Columbia, Canada), The Arkanes (Liverpool, UK).
If you're interested in checking out new music or want to take a peek at what you and your band could be part of next year, head down to the conference this fall. Dewey Beach has a casual vibe and can certainly be considered a great beach vacation. All performance venues are within walking distance of the conference area. No need to take cabs (save the money for drinks). Visit www.deweybeachmusicfest.com for hotel and beach house listings, info on the conference and a look at past festivals.
Some Performers Include: Bob Dylan, The Decemberists, Hole, Weezer, Mary J. Blige
Located at: Seattle Center in Seattle, WA
More than Music: Comedy, dance and performances, film, shopping, spectacles, theatre, visual arts, words and ideas are all categories on the website's extensive checklist to the festival. Carnival midway and thrill shows seem like something worth checking out.
Local Stops: The festival is located between the Queen Anne and Belltown neighborhoods of Seattle - both are filled with hundreds of shops, cafes, record stores and more. There's plenty to explore.
Why We Recommend it: This festival is in it's 40th year, which is pretty impressive. Bob Dylan is also worth the trip. And there are free water stations throughout the fest- really, it's a bit of a hike all the way to the west coast but it's also ridiculous to spend about $5 on bottled water at festivals like this. We feel it evens out.
Some Performers Include: Train, Spoon, OK Go, The Bravery, The Zombies, Suzanne Vega
Located at: Oak Ridge Park, Clark, NJ
More than Music: Rock on Walkathon and 5K rock 'n run, BMX bike riders from Hell on Wheels, a county fair with games and rides, a kids area, Phantasmagorial- a sideshow cavalcade of the odd.
Local Stops: Nearby Watchung Reservation is a large county park with over 2,000 acres of woodlands and trails. Trailside Nature and Science Center is nearby, as well as The Arthur Kill- one of the world's busiest waterways.
Why We Recommend it: It's free and there is so much to do. Camp out in the nearby parks and spend the day checking out big bands, freak shows, and some drinks. There's something for everyone and it's a great local festival to end the summer.
Some Performers Include: The Resistors (a Beatles tribute band), Jazz Me Band, Big Cam and the Lifters
Located at: Gateway Gettysburg Complex, Gettysburg, PA
More than Music: WINE!
Local Stops: Weekend getaway packages are available on the website. Some of the packages include tickets to a nearby crab festival and local restaurants. There's also a list of campsites available and plenty to learn in Gettysburg - perfect for history buffs. The battlefields (and ghosts) are worth checking out when you need a break from the wine.
Why We Recommend it: Just a short drive. Why spend all day in the car when you can be outside enjoying the warm weather while it lasts? Fall's just around the corner. The music isn't the main part of this festival, but its cover bands playing a mix of rock, jazz and oldies. Good enough to drink to. At the very least, don't you owe your parents a birthday or anniversary present? Early Christmas perhaps?
Some Performers Include: The Drive By Truckers, Del Mccoury Band, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder...the performer list is insanely long.
Located at: State Street in Historic Bristol, VA/TN (State Street separates thetwo states, so get a picture with your legs on either side of the yellow line and say you were in two states at once).
More than Music: Chili cook off, road race/walk, kids area.
Local Stops: Downtown Bristol is a historic area. Lots of antiques, artwork, and eclectic shops. Bristol is also considered the birthplace of country music.
Why We Recommend it: Well, it is far compared to most of the festivals in this month's list. But it's definitely road trip worthy and this is the 10th anniversary. Having just been in both Tennessee and Virginia, culture is way different from the Philly area. Maybe it will be good to get away from the city for a few days. Camping is available nearby, too.
Some Performers Include: Enter the Haggis, Glengarry Bhoys, Blackwater, Burning Bridget Cleary, Bua, Barleyjuice
Located at: Under the Fahy bridge in Bethlehem, PA
More than Music: Pipe band and fiddle competitions, haggis eating contest, caber toss
Local Stops: Located in Christmas city, lots of historic sites in downtown Bethlehem. It's the perfect place for photographers. Main Street and surrounding areas have lots of little shops and galleries. The Banana Factory, located nearby, always has student exhibits on display (and it's right across the street from the most convenient hotel for the festival). Ask locals where to find the secret and swanky speakeasy bar.
Why We Recommend it: It's a free festival that's not far away. There's plenty to do in the surrounding Lehigh Valley and not much planning is required to make this a day or weekend trip.
