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Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5540
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 1:13 pm: | 
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Has anyone ever been? We're getting tickets for the festival this year (June 3..kids under 12 free) with Richard Thompson, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Fountains of Wayne among others. Its in Elmer, NJ which is down near Vineland, around 2+ hours away. Has anyone ever been there for the festival before? How crowded? Any general info or suggestions are appreciated...thanks! |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2682
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 1:19 pm: |
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Yep, though it has been about 7 years. We're John Prine fans, and he was playing.
I liked it way better than the Philly Folk Festival, for reasons of setting, access and similar. There were a lot of food options (some Caribbean, dogs/burgers, pizza, other stuff) and the predictable tents/tables with crafts, collectibles and what not. It was easy to have you kid or kids there, keep an eye on them and entertain them. Seems to me there were some kid oriented activities and peformances. Setting accommodated a crowd much better than did PFF.
We lived in N DE so commuted, but I seem to remember some people camping near by. Generally, a laid back, pleasant atmospher with no scarey elements at all. If you're travelling that far, I'd look into camping or a nearby motel. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2683
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 1:24 pm: |
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http://www.appelfarm.org/festival/welcome/index.html
Looks good! Much more kids stuff than I recall. |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 1220
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:16 am: |
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Hank,
I've been there a couple of times. It's a great festival. Relaxed, plenty of open space outdoors. There are 2 stages set up. Some folks set up camp close to the stage where their favorite performer's going to play, I prefer to be an outlyer in the back, so that I can easily move from stage to stage. They usually have great talent. Don't skip the no-name bands. They usually turn out to be my favorites. I saw Martin Sexton there. I never even heard of the guy, but once you hear him you can't help but be blown away. Another year I couldn't get any friends to make the trip down there. So, I went by myself. had a great time.
Like Cynicalgirl said plenty of good food options, great family environment. Bring a beach blanket. Really a great way to start the summer. |
Jay
Citizen
Username: Jaymon
Post Number: 1150
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:21 am: |
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ROAD TRIP! |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 2150
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:49 am: |
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Hey - this looks great! should we get a SO/MA van?
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Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5544
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
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Joe and Cyn,
Thanks for the info...I didnt mention the "other" performers because I am extremely interested in the ones I listed (have espoused the wonders of Richard Thompson for years and have seen him 7 times...I have always wanted to see Toad the Wet Sprocket and my kids -- and I -- want to see Fountains of Wayne), but Janis Ian, the Klezmatics, Duncan Sheik as well as the lesser knowns like James Hunter, who I have been hearing some of lately, will make it an even better day of music. The kids programming stuff is a bonus.
Its also the same weekend as the Crawfish Festival, which is a two day event...some folks can be ambitious and drop some serious gas money and hit both events Im sure, Saturday in Elmer and Sunday at Waterloo. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4347
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 10:58 am: |
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Hank, give us details! We'll go! |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5546
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 11:07 am: |
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VIG,
check out the link in one of the above posts...Appel Farm is about two hours from here near Vineland, down along the outskirts of the Pine Barrens Id imagine. Since 1989 I think, theyve been having this music and arts festival and there is a cultural program throughout the year there focused on music and arts programming. Its a one day event, rain or shine, kids 12 and under are free, two stages, and some really good music from my perspective at least. From the feedback from some of the folks who posted, it sounds like it will be well-attended, but not ridiculously packed. The ticket prices for adults are $28 or $29 a person I think, $36 at the gate day of the festival...but the link has all the info. |
Jay
Citizen
Username: Jaymon
Post Number: 1151
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 11:47 am: |
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Pipi - I am all over the van idea! Can you organize? Maybe VIG will help you out.
If we end up in separate vehicles, maybe we can split the gas costs.
This can be like a MOL field trip...... |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 2152
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 1:20 pm: |
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wellll.....I just mentioned it to Notehead and he says it's very far ...Hank says 2 hours, but Notehead said 3. He's been down there twice and doesn't seem that interested in going, even though he's a fan of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Duncan Sheik and (what he's heard so far) James Hunter.
I think we're out
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Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5547
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 1:27 pm: |
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Pippi,
I am not one to create family discord, but a Google map search of Maplewood to Elmer, NJ said 2 hours 9 minutes yesterday..a Yahoo map and direction search said 1 hour 47 minutes just now. Is he a slow driver? |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 2153
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 1:56 pm: |
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nope, pretty speedy in fact...
hmmmm |
Yossarian
Citizen
Username: Yossarian
Post Number: 356
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 2:55 pm: |
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For those of you who've mentioned an interest in seeing Toad, the band is also playing in Sayerville the night after the South Jersey festival show. Instead of a 40 minute festival set (which Toad excells at, BTW) you'll get a full show in a much smaller venue. Just something to keep in mind. Also, Toad frontman and braintrust Glen Phillips will be playing the Canal Room in NYC on May 12. Glen's shows are a thing of beauty. If I had to pick among all of the upcoming shows, the Canal Room show would be my first choice, hands down. In fact, I'll be at the Sayerville and Canal Room shows.
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Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2689
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 6:36 pm: |
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I would guess that much depends on traffic, time of day, day of week regarding travel south in NJ. When our friends or relatives come up here from DE, the whole bridge business, and anything heading to the beaches and Atlantic City, can create some highly variable conditions for estimating travel time! |
Spry
Citizen
Username: Spry
Post Number: 200
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 2:34 pm: |
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Hank: thanks SO much for posting this thread! I just bought three adult tickets, will also take my music-lovin' six year olds. Sounds like a wonderful festival! I'm going to send e-mails to South Orange/Maplewood friends now, encouraging them to attend. Two hours isn't far, and the last set ends early, about 8:30 p.m.
As a slight thread drift, isn't Richard Thompson at a strange juncture in his career? I saw him at NJPAC, with Joan Baez, in February (I think ... awhile back) and the audience was pretty uninterested in his set. I know he had done two shows at Town Hall the nights before, for his NYC area fans, but was still shocked at the lack of enthusiasm for such a fantastic guitarist, singer, composer.
My sisters both went to Appel Farm's sleep over camp, and had a wonderful experience (this was back in the 1970s.) I was dismayed to see how expensive the summer sessions now are ($4,500 per month, with "scholarships available.") I am intrigued that what started as a counter-cultural, arts camp now is able to command those prices, and also serve as a major folk/folk rock music presenter. Appel Farm's line up is much more contemporary than its cultural grandfather, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, which I think is still going strong.
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Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5551
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 4:11 pm: |
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Spry,
I didnt get tickets for the NJPAC show because I didnt want to see Joan Baez (or really, hear Joan Baze). I thought it was a peculiar pairing actually. I think RT has a sizable cult following but I dont see him picking up many new fans..maybe its the nature of his music or the nature of how and where it is played or marketed. Its too bad...he is at times a most witty and even cutting lyricist and he is one of the last of the guitar heroes and he has a great sense of musical history in how he writes and plays (and that's not even talking about his 1000 Years of Popular Music repertoire where he can even cover Britney and make it sound good). The 500-1000 sized audience seems to be where Ive seen him mostly over the years (maybe a show or two smaller and larger than that)...too bad he hasnt caught on bigger this time around, but at least it seems other musicians admire his work. |
Spry
Citizen
Username: Spry
Post Number: 206
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 11:41 am: |
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For those who have attended in past years: if we don't arrive until about 3 p.m., will parking be difficult, or very far away? (June 3rd is my son's final t-ball game of the season.) |
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