Rothbury the right way

Tue, Jun 30, 2009

Dylan's got a woman in Jackson, he just ain't gonna say her name.

You've got a friend at Rothbury 2009, but you can say his name all you want.

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It's time once again to drop the suit and don the tie-dye, to leave life behind for The Dead, to embrace string cheese as the food group it deserves to be.

For those who hear their inner-hippie beckoning to take a trip north (and beyond) this weekend, a few essential tips can help make a potential disaster of a vacation turn into the experience of a lifetime. Certain ingredients separate this camping odyssey apart from concerts and turn it into a four-day lifestyle; and it goes without saying that bringing these will make life indefinitely easier.

Foremost: Bring a reliable vehicle. While the car/truck/love bus will be parked throughout the festival, not all cars can handle the hours of idle traffic encountered Thursday morning during move-in. Last year, it took a four-hour crawl to travel 23 miles to the grounds. My party's car overheated four times during the trek, including once at the security check. Make sure that transportation is reliable and comfortable.

Sunscreen, peanut butter, water and any other essential camping supplies should be purchased in bulk. The Rothbury festival always offers something to do, and it's easy to be exposed to sunlight for 12-13 hours every day of the event. While there is a general store on site, many products (including sunscreen) were sold out by the end of the first day last year. The store was not restocked.

Also overstock the car with blankets. Daily temperatures in Rothbury should be plenty warm, but the nighttime becomes unbearably cold in a tent. Half of my nights last year went sleepless because of shivering and cold sweats. In addition to the cold, blankets will help provide a cushion on the floor of the tent. A sleeping bag is simply not enough protection from the cut-down hay fields campers sleep on.

Lastly: Bring a large jug. There are water stations all over the festival grounds that offer free water to anyone with an empty jug. Save the effort of bringing a dozen small bottles into the festival and just use one big container.

With a comfortable tent and cozy bed, all the magic of Rothbury will be much more accessible to anyone attending.

This magic starts with glow sticks. During the late-night hours — sometimes extending to 4 a.m. — an electronic wave dominates the Rothbury grounds; and fans of techno, electronic jam and house music rejoice in massive rave parties. These raves are accented by thousands of glow sticks, which take many forms. Most are thrown in the air to the beat of the music, creating a neon-firework spectacle. Some are glued to dancing bodies. Whatever the use, glow sticks will unquestionably dominate the late-night scene again and hippies just aren't as cool without them. Bring as many as possible and join in on the fun.

Don't try and plan your magic, either. Spontaneity is certainly in the air during the festival, and it's almost impossible to stick to a fixed schedule when navigating in and out of the different concert venues. Be cool, take time to breathe in the air, and smell the — well, whatever you can substitute for roses.

Being cool is an imperative part of making the festival all that it should be. Packing 30,000 hippies into the area gives a slightly claustrophobic vibe at the camp site; and as I said in last year's lessons, it's important to love thy neighbor. The best way to ruin a night is to fight with the tents around you. No matter what happens when neighboring tents argue and bicker, everybody (including innocent bystanders) loses. Thankfully, this didn't seem to be a problem last year — but maintain a sense of respect for everyone.

On the same token, be aware of what's going on around you. Those brownies your neighbor is offering might not be just brownies. This goes the same for banana bread, Rice Crispies treats, caramel corn and any other treat offered by someone with glazed eyes.

Anyone even half-considering making late plans to join the Rothbury Army and buy tickets at the gate absolutely should dive in. This experience — despite what officials will tell you — won't be around forever, so embrace the effort now while it's still here. It's more than a Bob Dylan concert; it's a new life for four days.

Take a walk in the forest at night. Find a secret stage. Meet someone from Nebraska. Discover what kind of music Femi Kuti and the Positive Force (or any other random band) plays. Enjoy the mystique. Fly with the Black Crowes.

Have fun.