In its 5th year, LOCKN’ Festival will take place this weekend (August 24-27) at the newly named Infinity Downs Farms at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Arrington, Virginia. The festival will begin Thursday afternoon with the annual Welcoming Ceremony, followed by 4 days of legendary performances from some of the most recognizable names in jam and rock. Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Widespread Panic, The Avett Brothers, The String Cheese Incident, Jim James, moe., Umphrey’s McGee, and The Revivalists will all be taking LOCKN’s single rotating stage this year, just to name a few.
From top to bottom this year’s lineup is stacked with incredible talent. We’re taking a look at 10 artists you should absolutely be adding to your personal LOCKN’ schedules.
Performing 40th Anniversary of Terrapin Station
ROCKN’ TO LOCKN’
Now in its fourth year, Rockn’ To LOCKN’ gives local Virginia bands an opportunity to compete for coveted performance slots at the LOCKN’ Festival held August 24-27 in Arrington, Virginia. Check out this year’s three finalists:
Kendall Street Company, Thursday Performance
Kendall Street Company’s music is influenced by a variety of musicians and styles, the group has been described as “psychedelic,” “alternative,” “jammy,” “rock,” “indie,” and “ska.” It is not uncommon for guest performers to join the group on stage for extended jams.
Sun-dried Opossum, Friday Performance
SDO has been a staple on the local and regional scene since the 90s. Originally formed in 1992, the current line-up has been together since 1997. Since the beginning SDO has performed their brand of original guitar driven rock-n-roll. With three studio records and over 1000 live shows under their belt, SDO is a seasoned music machine. SDO is live, SDO is rock. Alex Arbaugh & Steve Sutton both on guitar and vocals, Torrey Patterson on drums, Eric Clinedinst on bass and Mike “Frick” Martin on percussion.
Mighty Joshua, Saturday Performance
Independent Reggae Artist Mighty Joshua engages audiences by opening minds and activating bodies through song. Conscious lyrics flow freely to create distinctive refrains that pulse with pride against rhythms rooted in percussion. His soulful exploration in the evolution of sound creates an expression of reggae for the modern day. Mighty Joshua plays in a multitude of arrangements including high energy live performances with support of his back-up band the Zion #5 and as an acoustic configuration known as Roots Covenant. From mountain top festivals, to intimate club gigs, he invites listeners of all ages to experience the spirit of reggae.
It all started when a much younger Jackie dove into her parents’ record collection, grabbed that trippy Magical Mystery Tour album, and played “Strawberry Fields” over and over again until it was engrained into her soul. She grew up on the dreams and stories of Simon and Garfunkel, “Bleeker Street” being one of her favorites, the seduction of The Doors, Van Morrison, because “Brown Eyed Girl” is definitely her song, and the likes of Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Jimi Hendrix…you get the picture. It may not show on the outside, but Jackie has a hippie heart, and that reflects in her musical tastes today. While some of her favorites may or may not be jam bands, her taste in music feeds into many genres. From alternative, Brit, and indie rock - OK, maybe all rock - to pop, to rap, to electronic, she loves it all. As a northerner, she thought she would never understand country until she found herself on a Georgia farm in cowboy boots watching Luke Bryan shake it for her- yeah, she got that. She is a chronic wanderluster, she doesn't believe in guilty pleasures, enjoys a great Moscow Mule, and is an absolute music festival fanatic- you’ll find her wherever the music takes her.