All-Inclusive Vacation Music Festivals..

Regrettably, the best one I ever attended had it's last run ever - last summer.

Uncle John's Rendezvous (previously known as "Dead on the Creek") was an incredible experience with 4 days of mostly Grateful Dead oriented acts.  Last year Stu Allen played 3 of the 4 days in different configurations,  including with Achilles Wheel.   (I played bluegrass with an old band of mine which was fun and served as a slight musical diversion.)

But the  value of this event came in many other forms:
The setting was in a gorgeous, semi-remote, creekside valley, in the mountains east of Willits, CA (Mendocino).
There were 4 locally sourced,  hand-prepared, delicious organic meals a day including incredible veg and things like prime rib, lamb, pork loin and dozens of incredible sides.   An always open bar with amazing local wines and NorCal Ales and Beers and a full service, all you could consume, "Dank," bar with piles of buds, oils, wax, shatter and a multitude of devices for consumption.   Backstage there were bowls filled with doobies which pleased me to no end....

There was also a swimming hole wired for sound and fantastic camping....

I went to a dozen festies in '17 and this was the winner for an all inclusive experience!
I'm especially grateful that I got paid to be there - but the cost was not cheap to attend.

I'd give a cursory nod to several other great fests I went to - but they aren't "all inclusive," 
High Sierra Music Fest last year was way off the hook - incredible fest with 120 bands and massive wow factor.
Oregon Country Fair - is only all inclusive if you are lucky enough to have a gig, job, booth or role with the family, but it's a life affecting festival.
There's also a great Norcal Fest called the Redwood Ramble which is some serious fun in Mendocino County and is the ideal festival size at about 500 people.

Ive done Vibes and Peach numerous years VIP, Had a blast at both. When NRPS and MElvin would do the NYE shows in PA I'd do those as well VIP Doing a CID PHISH package for NYE all nights hotel included. Funny thing, the tickets I got for the NYE package are the exact seats and section Ive sat in previous years at Phish MSG. So idk how VIP that really is...

Dead On The Creek was great Fun the one year I attended.  Small and very laid-back.  Great food,  excellent selection of Wine & Beer.  Price was high,  but worth it if you like to eat & drink.  Camping & parking was included,  unlike so many that charge extra fees.

I think Scarlet might be thinking about the tropical resort breed of Festival in Jamaica or Mexico.  Never have been to any of those.

Then there's the JamCruise,  which I suppose is the granddaddy of all the vacation Festivals.  Lots of friends went multiple years and had a great time,  but obviously you would have to be someone who enjoys cruise ships in the first place.

DelFest is in late May in Cumberland,  Maryland.  I'll definitely go again this year,  had a great time last year.

I like the thought of going to Negril or Costa Rica for 4-5 days,  seeing some good bands,  and soaking up the sunburn & surf.

But having looked at some of these events over the last few years,  I balk at the price.  However,  I went to Maui one year for DNB tour.  That was reasonable enough,  renting VRBO or AirBnB places and cooking our own meals,  mostly.

I see all-inclusive deals on Groupon for tropical all-inclusive resorts at bargain prices.  60-100 per night (no jambands though).  Now,  if you got the right lineup of bands,  I could justify the $$ but I'm not sure what lineup that might be.  DeadCo sold out 4 nights / 3 shows in Riviera Maya (Febuary) but I haven't yet developed that much fondness for them.

Stu...this is a pretty simple request. Just stop.

>>>>renting VRBO or AirBnB places and cooking our own meals

The inability to camp, book your own budget accommodations, and making your own food is what keeps me from going to those things.   One of the great things about traveling in Mexico or Central America is you can often get away with living off $50 a day or less.   I like seeing shows and like to travel abroad, but the over the top costs for these events usually keeps those two activities separate.   

Woodstock...

except for  food, housing and brown acid

Strings and Sol in Cancun is going on this weekend. Usually the beginning of December. Bluegrass. I think Schnee's involved in it.

Heard it's great, but the drug war in Mexico may be affecting the outlying area. 

The fest is all inclusive food and drinks and the vibe is great. Many repeat festivarians.

Someone is doing one similar in Vegas this April (Bender Jamboree), except you're not on a beach in Cancun but in the midst of the glitz pit that is called Las Vegas. 

We’ve been to Strings & Sol twice... Good fest, and so inclusive and safe that one needs to make an effort to experience the true culture. You hop on their shuttle or catch a bus for the 30 min ride from the airport. Always happy to discuss pre/post travel itinerary around that fest!  ...and yes, it’s awesome to see Schnee at the registration desk ! 

I've always wanted to do the Cayamo cruise. This year they have John Prine, Richard Thompson,  Buddy Miller, Hayes Carl and a boatload of other great acts. Leaves from New Orleans,  hits Cozumel and Belize. 

www.cayamo.com

waiting for a great Puerto Rico rock fest...or Bermuda...but, ive been there...never been to PR, and really wanna go......

soon...;)

Puerto Rico? 

Rumor is that a David Byrne/St. Vincent co-curated island getaway festival is on tap for next year. 

Peach was amazing !!!




We had the best time and ran into SO many cool folks, I met and danced with Nancy's sister ( forget her name...she knew of me, but i not of her )  it is beautiful there as well :) 


Pending Line up, maybe again this year !! 





But i am holding out for my Dream to go to Nashville and see Panic....Bob promised to take me before my health gets too bad ...:)

ya, delivery boy, its an island...surrounded by water...big water...

Can they handle a few thousand chads coming to party and exploit? 

yes, the island is fire coded for 1,459 ppl , all named Chad, i blv, to be in one place, at same time. im sure they are appreciative of your concern, though, ...as we all are.

we will all meet at the new Cheesecake Factory down there, currently exploiting them w there very own sugar.

If I don't skim over Jambone's posts, I oscillate between a real hard cringe and actually nausea, depending on the length of the post. "True story."

yeah did them pueurto ricans clean up our fucking resorts yet so we can consume large amounts of alcohol and other substances while gyrating to jam bands?

^Lol.

even Jrad hit up Costa Rica. Great place for younger white folks with money to get down. Cheap travel.