ELM – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com The Best of Baltimore Since 1907 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 00:16:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png ELM – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com 32 32 First-Ever Merryland Music Fest Comes to Columbia in July https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/first-ever-merryland-music-fest-comes-to-columbia-in-july/ Wed, 22 Jun 2016 14:08:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=31062 Continued]]> When promoter Tim Walther set out to plan his first All Good Music Festival in 1997, you could count the number of multi-day, camping festivals on one hand. This year, he had an intern research it, and he came back with a list of more than 800 in the U.S. alone.

“The festival scene is really oversaturated at this point,” Walther said. “Our fans have been following us for 20 years and it was a great run. But we feel like that time has come and gone. Folks have grown up, gotten married, had kids, and can’t exactly get away and camp all weekend. We want to make an event that’s as open to everyone as possible .”

Thus, Merryland Music Fest was born. The two-day concert, taking place July 9 and 10 at Merriweather Post Pavilion, is the newest incarnation of All Good with live music, craft vendors, and local food and drinks. The festival’s headliners include Grace Potter, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, The String Cheese Incident, Stephen Marley, Lotus, Langhorne Slim, Shakey Graves, Greensky Bluegrass, and Yonder Mountain String Band.

“Merryland opens up the opportunity to all walks of life,” Walther said. “Because of its location, it’s a much easier commute. Families are interested in going, and same with people in their 20s. Beyond that, having it in a pavilion setting with Merriweather’s connections has allowed us to expand the types of acts we’re getting.”

Walther explained that, before every festival he plans, he comes up with a dream “top 10 list” of artists, and usually he is lucky to just get one. This time around, he was able to get several. On top of that, he is excited to showcase local talent like Baltimore-based bands Cris Jacobs, ELM, and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

“What my company has done is work with bands on the club level and then give them a spotlight on the festival level,” Walther said. “Watching that whole growth pattern is the most exciting part.”

For a band like ELM, whose members have grown up admiring the headliners playing Merryland, this festival is a game-changer.

“It’s definitely a huge honor for us to even be considered on this lineup,” said ELM keyboardist and vocalist Jon Brady. “It’s only 17 bands, so being on there with nationally touring acts will help us get exposure and network.”

Additionally, Merryland will feature local craft vendors and tables for nonprofits throughout the festival. Flying Dog Brewery is producing an exclusive beer for the weekend—the Merryland ISA (India-style Session Ale).

“People come up to me all the time and tell me about an experience at an All Good festival that changed their life,” Walther said. “This will have that same community spirit—a chance to forget about all of the troubles in the world and be present with best friends, strangers, and music.”

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]]> Hot August Music Festival Boasts Stellar Lineup https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/hot-august-music-festival-boasts-stellar-lineup/ Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:30:00 +0000 http://server2.local/BIT-SPRING/baltimoremagazine.com/html/?post_type=article&p=8127

Brad Selko has been deciding Hot August Music Festival‘s lineup for the past 22 years.

“It’s not easy,” says the 64-year-old Baltimore native, who founded the festival. “I study everything and listen to everything, talk to family and friends both young and old.”

This year’s festival—August 16 at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville—features bluegrass-folk band Old Crow Medicine Show, Americana band Nickel Creek, and indie rockers Dr. Dog. There will also be local acts like electronica quartet ELM, soul band Bosley, rock trio Jordan August Band and blues rockers The Solicitors.

The one-day event focuses primarily on bluegrass and country music, genres that Selko holds near and dear. That being said, he doesn’t shy away from bringing in different genres to diversify the musical offerings, inviting bands such as Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Gov’t Mule, and Trombone Shorty to play in past years.

“People like [Nickel Creek and Dr. Dog] down here,” says Selko. “I think they’re great rock and roll bands. I don’t choose straight down the line of bluegrass and country—I like to go left and right a bit.”

That kind of go-with-the-flow attitude has defined Hot August Music Festival since the days it was held in Selko’s barn. But the festival still remains largely intimate and revolves around what Selko prefers as a music fan, first and foremost.

“One thing that I don’t like about festivals are the short sets,” says Selko. “At festivals with hour-long sets and shorter, sometimes the bands take 15-minutes just to warm up. I make sure that Old Crow is the last band and that they have a full two-hour set.”

His fan-first philosophy also spills over into the other areas of the festival, as well.

“I hate lines,” he says. “That’s why I’ve hired extra beer staff, got more bathrooms, and brought in more food vendors. You’ve gotta keep people happy.”

This year, concession options include organic falafel wraps, pit beef, and beer offerings like Natty Boh and Magic Hat.

And, although the festival has grown in size and brings in bigger, more nationally recognized acts, one thing that hasn’t changed is Selko’s pre-show ritual.

“Every year, my sister or my wife picks me up a box of Berger Cookies,” he says. “It’s the only thing I can eat during the festival. I even turned [blues musician] Susan Tedeschi and [Gov’t Mule drummer] Matt Abts onto them. And, the funny thing is, I never want to eat them any other time of the year.”

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