Let’s reminisce about music festivals for a moment. Tickets are expensive, the commute is long, parking is a nightmarish festival in itself, at the entrance you feel like a criminal subjected to a thorough bag check and/or entire body scan, the queues are daunting and the bill is so packed that bands are lucky if they get to play a half-hour set.
Now, let’s talk about Pickathon. Because of its thoughtfully guided approach, it is supremely unique amongst music festivals. Tickets for this magical affair are reasonably priced for a three-day, 44 band camp-out, it’s twenty miles from Portland, the parking is impressively organized and the lot is not a forgotten sea of metal and rubber; it is paved with dry grass -- not dirt that melts into mud after a light rain and a few thousand footprints. In fact, one of the best things about Pickathon is the parking lot. Tailgates and trunks become miniature stages with attendees picking away at guitars and banjos, chanting old folk tunes with friends while passers-by head down the road to set up camp in the woods just beyond them.
Pickathon is not country-fair-esque dirt-cloud, nor is it a blow-your-face-off rock concert; it just melds the best and fundamental elements of the two, with a compass set toward local and organic, recycling, and community instead of corporate sponsorship. And there is an unmistakable emphasis on trust. No security guards pat you down upon entrance, musicians walk the grounds and watch the other bands just like everyone else, bicycle riding to the festival is encouraged, and as of this year, no disposable beverage containers will be sold.
At previous Pickathons, bands would have to unplug from the PA system after midnight, but they’d continue playing so long as an audience was present. In 2008, Pokey LaFarge and Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers played on a tiny stage in the middle of a field to an audience of about twenty ‘til 2 a.m. And after the scheduled shows are officially over, campers gather around fires and sing Pink Floyd and Hank Williams until morning.
This year marks the 12th anniversary of Pickathon, its first being a modest gathering of local bands, kids, and friends of founder, Zale Schoenborn. The festival now takes place at Pendarvis Farm – a perfect setting where old and second growth forests hug the grounds and are available for hiking, camping, and hidden music stages. The Mountain View and Starlight stages sit at the central point of an open field, and are used for acts that attract larger audiences. The Galaxy, a rustic barn used for more intimate shows, is adjacent and acres of open space is scattered throughout.
“You can have the most incredible music in the world, and if you don’t create an inspiring atmosphere, it doesn’t matter,” says Schoenborn. “We create Pickathon so that it’s an experience that goes far beyond the sum of the parts. Every detail is part of that, from the magical, lit walkways leading back to the camping areas, to the multiple stages that provide a different vibe depending on your mood. We make sure there are more than enough bathrooms, plenty of free water, amazing food, abundant camping, few barriers between the artists and fans, and a serious attempt to eliminate the general festival hassles. When you combine that with the best mix of artists imaginable, all those little things often add up to make Pickathon the favorite weekend of the year for many of the bands and audience alike.”
This year the lineup includes backwoods heartthrob Bonnie “Prince” Billy and the Cairo Gang, Dr. Dog, Heartless Bastards, Billie Joe Shaver, Langhorne Slim, Black Prairie, Cotton Jones, T Model Ford, Foghorn Stringband, and Breathe Owl Breathe.
Pickathon deftly brings together two unique facets of American culture; modern indie rock and traditional roots music – the most basic form of American music shared with a burgeoning division of youth culture.
Pickathon has always been run by conscientious stewards of the land with a leave-no-trace approach. This year they take sustainability a step further by powering the Galaxy Barn with its own rooftop solar panel and prohibiting sales of single-use water bottles and cups. Pickathon’s recycling team is made up of about 45 volunteers who spend most of the festival rounding up everything that can be recycled or composted. New Seasons Market and Pickathon are also teaming together this year to be the first large-scale event in Clackamas County to compost all waste produced by the food vendors. According to the press release, “This year the [volunteer run] recycling team will also collect the gray water from all the wash stations, sinks and showers, running it through a filtration system then using it around the venue for dust control.”
This year there’s even a solar powered hot/cold water truck, which means my only complaint about Pickathon has been remedied! Campers: bring your own coffee press or tea for AM libations.The morning rush at the coffee carts is something to be seen, not experienced. And no need to bring your own booze; Widmer Brothers is hosting two beer gardens this year. Don’t like camping? It’s ok – there are showers! Hot ones! Now, no excuses. Go forth and get tickets: www.pickathon.com