Summer rolled in, blessed us like a long-awaited family reunion with temperatures above 60 degrees, cursed us with tan lines and humidified hair big enough to hold secrets, and made us realize we will never have quite enough money to live that Tumblr summer we’ve been dreaming of all year. While we may have had grand expectations of what we wished summer could be, it always seemed to leave something to be desired. For some people, it’s more trips to the beach, more days to spend with friends, or longer nights by the bonfire. But for me, it’s for Grassroots to last forever. I wish Grassroots were a year-long affair, instead of a four-day one, and I’ll probably never stop hoping for a lifestyle of eternal festival-going, but I know that some of its magic must lie in the wait, the lead-up, and the anticipation.
As years pass, Grassroots just seems to keep getting better. I’m not sure whether the festival itself is improving, its organizers having learned a few things about running it in the past 25 years, or if I have just learned to appreciate it more over the nine years I have gone there. It may be a mix of both, but as I’ve gotten older, rather than playing in the mud and running through the grass throwing water balloons (although I still enjoy a little of both), I’ve started to gain a real appreciation for the wide array of bands and music at the festival.
With four stages, from the small and intimate Cabaret to the boot stompin’, floor pounding Dance Tent, to the jam-packed all-night Infield and the classic Grandstand, there is never a shortage of things to see at Grassroots, no matter the time of day. From the early morning band competition, which gives the winner a slot at next year’s festival (this year’s winner was the Busted Subaru—a Sim Redmond cover band with a twist—who performed beloved Sim songs as metal rock anthems), to funky, upbeat dance music that keeps the party going late into the night, the music selections at Grassroots attract every age group.
The music is only half the fun—with the new and old friends you encounter and the endless selection of food, there is rarely a dull moment. If you do find yourself lacking some excitement, just look a little further and you’re sure to find it. Grassroots provides a break from the mundane and monotonous, which makes it such a joyful, meaningful time for so many.
Every year, a new lineup is offered to veterans and newcomers of the festival, bringing out festival classics like Donna the Buffalo and Ithaca’s favorites including The Blind Spots and Gunpoets. It also offers favorites from the festival’s counterparts in Miami and North Carolina Shakori Hills like the up-and-coming bands Telekinetic Walrus and Lanzallamas, both of which have quickly gained themselves a following in the Finger Lakes.
Telekinetic Walrus first performed at the festival in Trumansburg last year, making lasting impressions on many. On the first night of the festival they truly made themselves recognized when they hypnotized the crowd with their rap fusion that they describe as “experimental psychedelic hip hop, funky electronic bass and weirdness” which can easily be summed up as “out of this world.” Another band, A Tribe Called Red, left the Infield crowd raving, introducing what they have dubbed an “electric pow wow”: simultaneously honoring Native American culture while branching into the thriving electronic scene.
On the other hand, favorites like Rockwood Ferry and Driftwood emphasized the power a fiddle has to get a crowd moving, and stayed grounded in the festival’s folk roots. Sim Redmond, whose zydeco island vibes seem to put time at a standstill, is always a festival must-have as the crowd sways to lovely lyrics and a drum beat that keeps fans coming back. Hailing from New Orleans, this year’s must-see was Trombone Shorty. Although he was undoubtedly quite a talented trombonist, he seemed to be on the repetitive side—worth stopping by, but once you had heard one song you had basically heard them all. With a music selection as diverse as the festival’s attendants, it’s no wonder that every year more and more people are drawn to the fairgrounds, coming to hear old standbys and leaving with new obsessions.
Whether it’s the music, the people, or the general abundance of happiness, dancing and laughter—once you come to Grassroots, it’s easy to find a reason to keep coming back. The festival will leave you with some of the best memories of your year. It’ll have you counting down the next 361 days until you can march onto the Trumansburg fairgrounds, clad in attire you could only get away with at Grassroots, claim the perfect campsite, and scope out the easiest route to the creek to take a mid-weekend bath. Each year, you’ll kick-off the festivities yet again, and as it’s been called before, you will begin to think of Grassroots as Christmas in July.