Mountain Jam moves to Bethel Woods: Willie Nelson, Gov't Mule, Avett Brothers
John W. Barry, Poughkeepsie Journal
After 14 years at Hunter Mountain, the Mountain Jam music festival is moving to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, on the Woodstock site in Sullivan County.
The gathering will be held June 13-16 on the property that hosted the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in August 1969.
Willie Nelson & Family, Gov’t Mule, The Avett Brothers, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and Marco Benevento are among more than 40 acts scheduled to perform on three stages as Mountain Jam nods to its jamband roots.
Mountain Jam was originally launched in 2005 as a one-day celebration of Radio Woodstock’s 25th anniversary.
Bethel Woods, said Mountain Jam founder Gary Chetkof, “is like going to the Taj Mahal of sites. It’s all about being on an amazing piece of land. What could be more amazing than Bethel Woods and the home of the Woodstock festival... It was really just a matter of going to the promised land.”
The Hudson Valley will be well represented at Mountain Jam, with Gov’t Mule keyboard player and Ulster County resident Danny Louis; Ulster County resident Amy Helm; and the Big Takeover, which formed at the State University of New York at New Paltz and features Town of Poughkeepsie resident Neenee Rushie as lead singer.
Tickets for the 15th edition of Mountain Jam go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at
http://www.mountainjam.com
Car-side camping and glamping will be available. Mountain Jam this year is partnering with concert promoter Live Nation, after working with Townsquare Media from 2013-2018.
The Mountain Jam announcement on Wednesday comes as music lovers gear up for a full slate of festivals in 2019. There are two Woodstock 50th anniversary concerts set for August, one at Bethel Woods; and the Clearwater, Taste of Country and Tail Winds festivals set for June. The annual KFest event, which for the last two years has been held at Bethel after moving from Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, is also expected to return for another year in 2019.
Asked about the competition, Chetkof said, “I think that Mountain Jam, obviously, has staying power and continues to evolve. I think moving to Bethel Woods is part of that evolution.”
Mountain Jam is a collaboration between Chetkof’s Chet-5 Festivals company; Radio Woodstock (100.1 FM/WDST), which he owns; and Gov’t Mule guitarist Warren Haynes. Haynes co-presented the first 12 Mountain Jam festivals.
Chetkof looks back fondly on Hunter Mountain as a venue for Mountain Jam. He said the move to Bethel Woods was prompted by his new partnership with Live Nation. Bethel Woods works often with Live Nation, one of the nation's largest concert promoters, for its own concerts.
Speaking of Mountain Jam’s departure from Hunter Mountain, Chetkof said, “It’s actually very emotional for me.”
Asked why Mountain Jam is no longer working with Townsquare Media, which owns a cluster of radio stations in Dutchess County, Chetkof declined comment. He also said Chet-5 Festivals is no longer working wtih Townsquare on the Taste of Country Music Festival, which returns to Hunter Mountain in June.
The Mountain Jam announcement on Wednesday comes as music lovers gear up for a full slate of festivals in 2019:
The Clearwater festival will be held June 15-16 in Westchester County.
The inaugural Tail Winds Music Fest will be held June 29 at Hudson Valley Regional Airport in Wappingers Falls.
Bethel Woods Aug. 16-18 will host the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival.
Lang on the same weekend will host Woodstock 50 in Watkins Glen, Schuyler County.
The 2019 edition of Mountain Jam marks a return to the festival’s origin. After hosting such acts as Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band and Tom Petty, Mountain Jam took a different direction in 2018 with bands that included Jack Johnson and Alt-J.
“I thought the music was amazing,” Chetkof said. “...We just didn’t have the right balance. We went a little too younger and a little too hipper than we should have. We learned a lot.”
...Chetkof looks back fondly on Hunter Mountain as a venue for Mountain Jam. He said the move to Bethel Woods was prompted by his new partnership with Live Nation. Bethel Woods works often with Live Nation, one of the nation's largest concert promoters, for its own concerts.
Speaking of Mountain Jam’s departure from Hunter Mountain, Chetkof said, “It’s actually very emotional for me.”
Asked why Mountain Jam is no longer working with Townsquare Media, which owns a cluster of radio stations in Dutchess County, Chetkof declined comment. ...
It's all corporate economics... look for higher ticket prices, higher fees, and all the other things we have come to expect from anything Live Nation touches.
...Chetkof looks back fondly on Hunter Mountain as a venue for Mountain Jam. He said the move to Bethel Woods was prompted by his new partnership with Live Nation. Bethel Woods works often with Live Nation, one of the nation's largest concert promoters, for its own concerts.
Speaking of Mountain Jam’s departure from Hunter Mountain, Chetkof said, “It’s actually very emotional for me.”
Asked why Mountain Jam is no longer working with Townsquare Media, which owns a cluster of radio stations in Dutchess County, Chetkof declined comment. ...
It's all corporate economics... look for higher ticket prices, higher fees, and all the other things we have come to expect from anything Live Nation touches.
Well they had already ruined this festival and last year attendance was pitiful.
It's all corporate economics... look for higher ticket prices, higher fees, and all the other things we have come to expect from anything Live Nation touches.
Well they had already ruined this festival and last year attendance was pitiful.
Hey, at least they are rebuilding and there is hope. Live Nation managed to kill Wanee completely. And Wanee was pure magic.
In my opinion Mountain Jam began its slow death right after Warren became less involved as a co promoter/producer or whatever he was and Mule no longer played two nights...For me it just wasn't the same....
For instance, prices for food, beverages, parking, even some of the hotels/motels kind of got out of whack. They removed the river side free parking and charged crazy fees for car parking in a place that was great to tailgate and hang between sets for many years previous.
As I reflect back, this seemed to begin the year they added Thursday night to the otherwise perfect (again, in my opinion) schedule. It seems they needed to squeeze every bit of revenue out of concert goers to make the Thursday night economically feasible.
There was just something magical about those years when everything began Friday afternoon and ended late Sunday. Stay in a hotel, drive a car and park it down by the river on Friday afternoon packed to the gills with fully stocked coolers, extra clothes, tunes, whatever, and basically leave it there all weekend....It made for a great base camp so to speak....Walk to the hotel each night knowing your base camp was safe and secure and repeat the next early afternoon. Logistically and musically Mountain Jam for the first 8-9 years was great....I miss it. 🙁
[Edited on 2/6/2019 by Chain]
Latest lineup looks great, looks like they purged a lot of the excessive pop acts.
Warren's schedule is free in early April, just when Suwanee Music Park announced a new "jam" fest to replace Wanee. Maybe he will surprise us and save that fest too. One can hope...
Yes a nice job with the lineup and I love seeing Warren Haynes presents back at the top like it was. Don't know that I'll go but sure is at least a consideration again.
In my opinion Mountain Jam began its slow death right after Warren became less involved as a co promoter/producer or whatever he was and Mule no longer played two nights...For me it just wasn't the same....
For instance, prices for food, beverages, parking, even some of the hotels/motels kind of got out of whack. They removed the river side free parking and charged crazy fees for car parking in a place that was great to tailgate and hang between sets for many years previous.
As I reflect back, this seemed to begin the year they added Thursday night to the otherwise perfect (again, in my opinion) schedule. It seems they needed to squeeze every bit of revenue out of concert goers to make the Thursday night economically feasible.
There was just something magical about those years when everything began Friday afternoon and ended late Sunday. Stay in a hotel, drive a car and park it down by the river on Friday afternoon packed to the gills with fully stocked coolers, extra clothes, tunes, whatever, and basically leave it there all weekend....It made for a great base camp so to speak....Walk to the hotel each night knowing your base camp was safe and secure and repeat the next early afternoon. Logistically and musically Mountain Jam for the first 8-9 years was great....I miss it. 🙁
[Edited on 2/6/2019 by Chain]
I agree and concur with everything Chain says above. I stopped going after the 8th year. The first four or five were the best but prices for everything went through the roof. They found their honey pot and sucked everyone dry for that weekend every year after the first few years. Then Warren's name was removed from the festival and Gov't Mule stopped doing two two set headline nights and that was it for me. Mountain Jam for me was those two two set Gov't Mule shows in that setting. Anything else I liked I considered gravy on top. Couldn't justify that expense anymore and started doing small summer road trips to see summer Gov't Mule shows in the northeast without the gouged prices for everything involved. No regrets whatsoever. I might though do Bethel Woods for the night Gov't Mule play their two set show at the so called new Mountain Jam. Just going to wait to see the schedule and single day prices.
[Edited on 2/12/2019 by sixty8]
In my opinion Mountain Jam began its slow death right after Warren became less involved as a co promoter/producer or whatever he was and Mule no longer played two nights...For me it just wasn't the same....
For instance, prices for food, beverages, parking, even some of the hotels/motels kind of got out of whack. They removed the river side free parking and charged crazy fees for car parking in a place that was great to tailgate and hang between sets for many years previous.
As I reflect back, this seemed to begin the year they added Thursday night to the otherwise perfect (again, in my opinion) schedule. It seems they needed to squeeze every bit of revenue out of concert goers to make the Thursday night economically feasible.
There was just something magical about those years when everything began Friday afternoon and ended late Sunday. Stay in a hotel, drive a car and park it down by the river on Friday afternoon packed to the gills with fully stocked coolers, extra clothes, tunes, whatever, and basically leave it there all weekend....It made for a great base camp so to speak....Walk to the hotel each night knowing your base camp was safe and secure and repeat the next early afternoon. Logistically and musically Mountain Jam for the first 8-9 years was great....I miss it. 🙁
[Edited on 2/6/2019 by Chain]
I agree and concur with everything Chain says above. I stopped going after the 8th year. The first four or five were the best but prices for everything went through the roof. They found their honey pot and sucked everyone dry for that weekend every year after the first few years. Then Warren's name was removed from the festival and Gov't Mule stopped doing two two set headline nights and that was it for me. Mountain Jam for me was those two two set Gov't Mule shows in that setting. Anything else I liked I considered gravy on top. Couldn't justify that expense anymore and started doing small summer road trips to see summer Gov't Mule shows in the northeast without the gouged prices for everything involved. No regrets whatsoever. I might though do Bethel Woods for the night Gov't Mule play their two set show at the so called new Mountain Jam. Just going to wait to see the schedule and single day prices.
[Edited on 2/12/2019 by sixty8]
Mule is playing 2 nights with 1 set not a 2 set evening.
In my opinion Mountain Jam began its slow death right after Warren became less involved as a co promoter/producer or whatever he was and Mule no longer played two nights...For me it just wasn't the same....
For instance, prices for food, beverages, parking, even some of the hotels/motels kind of got out of whack. They removed the river side free parking and charged crazy fees for car parking in a place that was great to tailgate and hang between sets for many years previous.
As I reflect back, this seemed to begin the year they added Thursday night to the otherwise perfect (again, in my opinion) schedule. It seems they needed to squeeze every bit of revenue out of concert goers to make the Thursday night economically feasible.
There was just something magical about those years when everything began Friday afternoon and ended late Sunday. Stay in a hotel, drive a car and park it down by the river on Friday afternoon packed to the gills with fully stocked coolers, extra clothes, tunes, whatever, and basically leave it there all weekend....It made for a great base camp so to speak....Walk to the hotel each night knowing your base camp was safe and secure and repeat the next early afternoon. Logistically and musically Mountain Jam for the first 8-9 years was great....I miss it. 🙁
[Edited on 2/6/2019 by Chain]
I agree and concur with everything Chain says above. I stopped going after the 8th year. The first four or five were the best but prices for everything went through the roof. They found their honey pot and sucked everyone dry for that weekend every year after the first few years. Then Warren's name was removed from the festival and Gov't Mule stopped doing two two set headline nights and that was it for me. Mountain Jam for me was those two two set Gov't Mule shows in that setting. Anything else I liked I considered gravy on top. Couldn't justify that expense anymore and started doing small summer road trips to see summer Gov't Mule shows in the northeast without the gouged prices for everything involved. No regrets whatsoever. I might though do Bethel Woods for the night Gov't Mule play their two set show at the so called new Mountain Jam. Just going to wait to see the schedule and single day prices.
[Edited on 2/12/2019 by sixty8]
Mule is playing 2 nights with 1 set not a 2 set evening.
Well then, that makes my decision very easy and I can plan on doing a couple road trips elsewhere to see my Mule.
In my opinion Mountain Jam began its slow death right after Warren became less involved as a co promoter/producer or whatever he was and Mule no longer played two nights...For me it just wasn't the same....
For instance, prices for food, beverages, parking, even some of the hotels/motels kind of got out of whack. They removed the river side free parking and charged crazy fees for car parking in a place that was great to tailgate and hang between sets for many years previous.
As I reflect back, this seemed to begin the year they added Thursday night to the otherwise perfect (again, in my opinion) schedule. It seems they needed to squeeze every bit of revenue out of concert goers to make the Thursday night economically feasible.
There was just something magical about those years when everything began Friday afternoon and ended late Sunday. Stay in a hotel, drive a car and park it down by the river on Friday afternoon packed to the gills with fully stocked coolers, extra clothes, tunes, whatever, and basically leave it there all weekend....It made for a great base camp so to speak....Walk to the hotel each night knowing your base camp was safe and secure and repeat the next early afternoon. Logistically and musically Mountain Jam for the first 8-9 years was great....I miss it. 🙁
[Edited on 2/6/2019 by Chain]
I agree and concur with everything Chain says above. I stopped going after the 8th year. The first four or five were the best but prices for everything went through the roof. They found their honey pot and sucked everyone dry for that weekend every year after the first few years. Then Warren's name was removed from the festival and Gov't Mule stopped doing two two set headline nights and that was it for me. Mountain Jam for me was those two two set Gov't Mule shows in that setting. Anything else I liked I considered gravy on top. Couldn't justify that expense anymore and started doing small summer road trips to see summer Gov't Mule shows in the northeast without the gouged prices for everything involved. No regrets whatsoever. I might though do Bethel Woods for the night Gov't Mule play their two set show at the so called new Mountain Jam. Just going to wait to see the schedule and single day prices.
[Edited on 2/12/2019 by sixty8]
Mule is playing 2 nights with 1 set not a 2 set evening.
Really? Not sure I dig this arrangement....Are they even headlining or just playing early evening before the "headliner?" If so, I assume it's a shorter than usual set....In my opinion for Mountain Jam Mule at least needs one 3 hour show as the headliner. Otherwise, it's just child's play.. 😛 
Seriously though, I have heard some rumblings among a few of the crew that would always attend Mt. Jam with me back in the day. It would seem there's some interest in attending from some of my fellow "Muleheads" from up here in the North Country of upstate, NY.....
One question for anyone who's been to this venue. Is it safe to assume Bethel isn't nearly as majestic and magical and mountainous as Hunter Mountain? After all, there's something amazing and special about sitting on the hillside at Hunter and just staring at the mountains all around you as the music moves you. Especially on a sunny, warm June Saturday afternoon....
In my opinion Mountain Jam began its slow death right after Warren became less involved as a co promoter/producer or whatever he was and Mule no longer played two nights...For me it just wasn't the same....
For instance, prices for food, beverages, parking, even some of the hotels/motels kind of got out of whack. They removed the river side free parking and charged crazy fees for car parking in a place that was great to tailgate and hang between sets for many years previous.
As I reflect back, this seemed to begin the year they added Thursday night to the otherwise perfect (again, in my opinion) schedule. It seems they needed to squeeze every bit of revenue out of concert goers to make the Thursday night economically feasible.
There was just something magical about those years when everything began Friday afternoon and ended late Sunday. Stay in a hotel, drive a car and park it down by the river on Friday afternoon packed to the gills with fully stocked coolers, extra clothes, tunes, whatever, and basically leave it there all weekend....It made for a great base camp so to speak....Walk to the hotel each night knowing your base camp was safe and secure and repeat the next early afternoon. Logistically and musically Mountain Jam for the first 8-9 years was great....I miss it. 🙁
[Edited on 2/6/2019 by Chain]
I agree and concur with everything Chain says above. I stopped going after the 8th year. The first four or five were the best but prices for everything went through the roof. They found their honey pot and sucked everyone dry for that weekend every year after the first few years. Then Warren's name was removed from the festival and Gov't Mule stopped doing two two set headline nights and that was it for me. Mountain Jam for me was those two two set Gov't Mule shows in that setting. Anything else I liked I considered gravy on top. Couldn't justify that expense anymore and started doing small summer road trips to see summer Gov't Mule shows in the northeast without the gouged prices for everything involved. No regrets whatsoever. I might though do Bethel Woods for the night Gov't Mule play their two set show at the so called new Mountain Jam. Just going to wait to see the schedule and single day prices.
[Edited on 2/12/2019 by sixty8]
Mule is playing 2 nights with 1 set not a 2 set evening.
Really? Not sure I dig this arrangement....Are they even headlining or just playing early evening before the "headliner?" If so, I assume it's a shorter than usual set....In my opinion for Mountain Jam Mule at least needs one 3 hour show as the headliner. Otherwise, it's just child's play.. 😛
Seriously though, I have heard some rumblings among a few of the crew that would always attend Mt. Jam with me back in the day. It would seem there's some interest in attending from some of my fellow "Muleheads" from up here in the North Country of upstate, NY.....
One question for anyone who's been to this venue. Is it safe to assume Bethel isn't nearly as majestic and magical and mountainous as Hunter Mountain? After all, there's something amazing and special about sitting on the hillside at Hunter and just staring at the mountains all around you as the music moves you. Especially on a sunny, warm June Saturday afternoon....
Chain, it is not the same that way. The area surrounding the concert venue is absolutely beautiful and as green and manicured as possible but once you get to the actual concert venue it is no different than your standard shed with a covering and seats with a sloped lawn behind it. Very long walk from where you park to the concert venue with a museum and vendors in between. Not sure where they will have a second stage at this venue but it won't be right next to the other stage like at Hunter Mountain. I too loved the stages at the base of the mountain and that both stages were side by side and the music was just continuous. They will probably have overlapping bands playing at the same time as most festivals do meaning the stages aren't close together and sometimes you have to choose between bands you like if they are both playing at the same time.
[Edited on 2/13/2019 by sixty8]
In my opinion Mountain Jam began its slow death right after Warren became less involved as a co promoter/producer or whatever he was and Mule no longer played two nights...For me it just wasn't the same....
For instance, prices for food, beverages, parking, even some of the hotels/motels kind of got out of whack. They removed the river side free parking and charged crazy fees for car parking in a place that was great to tailgate and hang between sets for many years previous.
As I reflect back, this seemed to begin the year they added Thursday night to the otherwise perfect (again, in my opinion) schedule. It seems they needed to squeeze every bit of revenue out of concert goers to make the Thursday night economically feasible.
There was just something magical about those years when everything began Friday afternoon and ended late Sunday. Stay in a hotel, drive a car and park it down by the river on Friday afternoon packed to the gills with fully stocked coolers, extra clothes, tunes, whatever, and basically leave it there all weekend....It made for a great base camp so to speak....Walk to the hotel each night knowing your base camp was safe and secure and repeat the next early afternoon. Logistically and musically Mountain Jam for the first 8-9 years was great....I miss it. 🙁
[Edited on 2/6/2019 by Chain]
I agree and concur with everything Chain says above. I stopped going after the 8th year. The first four or five were the best but prices for everything went through the roof. They found their honey pot and sucked everyone dry for that weekend every year after the first few years. Then Warren's name was removed from the festival and Gov't Mule stopped doing two two set headline nights and that was it for me. Mountain Jam for me was those two two set Gov't Mule shows in that setting. Anything else I liked I considered gravy on top. Couldn't justify that expense anymore and started doing small summer road trips to see summer Gov't Mule shows in the northeast without the gouged prices for everything involved. No regrets whatsoever. I might though do Bethel Woods for the night Gov't Mule play their two set show at the so called new Mountain Jam. Just going to wait to see the schedule and single day prices.
[Edited on 2/12/2019 by sixty8]
Mule is playing 2 nights with 1 set not a 2 set evening.
Really? Not sure I dig this arrangement....Are they even headlining or just playing early evening before the "headliner?" If so, I assume it's a shorter than usual set....In my opinion for Mountain Jam Mule at least needs one 3 hour show as the headliner. Otherwise, it's just child's play.. 😛
Seriously though, I have heard some rumblings among a few of the crew that would always attend Mt. Jam with me back in the day. It would seem there's some interest in attending from some of my fellow "Muleheads" from up here in the North Country of upstate, NY.....
One question for anyone who's been to this venue. Is it safe to assume Bethel isn't nearly as majestic and magical and mountainous as Hunter Mountain? After all, there's something amazing and special about sitting on the hillside at Hunter and just staring at the mountains all around you as the music moves you. Especially on a sunny, warm June Saturday afternoon....
Chain, it is not the same that way. The area surrounding the concert venue is absolutely beautiful and as green and manicured as possible but once you get to the actual concert venue it is no different than your standard shed with a covering and seats with a sloped lawn behind it. Very long walk from where you park to the concert venue with a museum and vendors in between. Not sure where they will have a second stage at this venue but it won't be right next to the other stage like at Hunter Mountain. I too loved the stages at the base of the mountain and that both stages were side by side and the music was just continuous. They will probably have overlapping bands playing at the same time as most festivals do meaning the stages aren't close together and sometimes you have to choose between bands you like if they are both playing at the same time.
[Edited on 2/13/2019 by sixty8]
Thanks for the info, Sixty....Looking at the pics on the Bethel link, it would appear that it's very flat and manicured as you say. It sort of reminds me somewhat of SPAC in Saratoga Springs but without all the trees.
Too bad as Mountain Jam should have mountains....Too bad they couldn't have just sh@t canned Live Nation, brought back Warren as co-producer and went back to a three day event and held it in Hunter, NY with primarily jam bands....
