For me, the festival season is begging.
Coachella recently sold out. Tickets to local summer festivals like XpoNnenial, The MMRBQ and The Roots Picnic are on sale (and likely to sell out soon). Bonnaroo is far away (like Coachella) and again likely to sell out by the time I’m done writing this. I get it- the idea of a road trip out west or buying tickets now for a concert this summer are both valid ways to get your mind off the cold, the snow and the ice (I’m actually typing with one hand because I’m too cold to get my other hand out of my hoodie). But if your love of music (and good beer) is just to over powering to resist, then keep in mind that King of Prussia is not that far away.
Not the mall! That’s probably one of the worse places to be when trying to escape the cold. Ugh! That parking lot- you’ll still freeze just walking to the mall! No, I’m talking about the Valley Forge Convention Center. It’s home of the Midwinter Scottish and Irish fest brought to us for over twenty years by East of the Hebrides Entertainment. It’s happening this upcoming weekend and for the last eleven years, it’s the only place I’ll consider going on the long Presidents’ Day Weekend.
If you’ve read That Mag/Origivation for the past few years, you probably already heard me praising this festival and the bands involved. Whether you saw one of bands from this year’s line up before (a lot play throughout the year in the Philly area and some are local) or you just need something new to try, I encourage you to go hang out at this festival for a day. Or the weekend. Discover new music. Check out the free whiskey tastings, dancing, workshops, lectures, etc. Meet up with friends and make new friends. If you stay at the hotel you’ll get to try out the new casino, too. But, good luck getting a room at this point.
The line up this year includes regulars like Albannach, Brother, Hadrian’s Wall, Searson, The Screaming Orphans, Seven Nations; local bands like Barleyjuice, Jamison, Killen Clark; and new comers like Cantrip. I’m well aware I missed a bunch, so just take a look at the flyer below.
Tickets are $15 for Friday’s kick-off show, $30 for Saturday and $20 for Sunday. I’ll be working Stage Two all day on Sunday, so please listen to the bands over there and be sure to say hi. I’d love to hear your feedback.
To me, this is my family reunion. People I see once a year or just at shows come from all over the country to spend the weekend at this festival. It’s my home away from home for three days in February. I’ve been all over this country and out of the country, I have a few vacation plans in the works- but this is the one event I look forward to every year. I do not miss it for anything (well, except a wedding on the Saturday of the fest this year that is very close by). Since 2003, I’ve checked into my hotel room on a Friday, walked through the halls to the convention center, wandered hotel rooms to hang at various after parties and I don’t leave the building until Monday morning. It’s an experience I can’t explain to anyone who hasn’t been there.
(click the pic- it get’s bigger and comes with a schedule!)
