When I first saw this announced I thought “hey, Passim got some killer acts this year for Campfire, jeez”. Then I realized that the brand new Campfire Festival was something totally different and totally awesome happening down in Pennsylvania.

With a focus on “adult summer camp with awesome music” I think that this weekend could be something extremely special going forward. Taking the best parts of the things that I personally love about the Newport Folk Festival, the family and community atmosphere and many of the same acts and adding in a flavor of being off in the woods at camp. It’s nostalgia meets the music that you want to hear and a whole lot of other goodness sprinkled in.

It is also great to see so many locally tied, independent acts on the bill at the festival. Folks like Dan Blakeslee, Ron Gallo, Dietrich Strause, Joe Fletcher, Christopher Paul Stelling, and The Brothers McCann just to name a few. Hell, they even got friggin KEYTAR BEAR to play it. I mean, wow. That’s pretty spectacular.

It really seems like the folks behind this festival have their hearts and minds in the right place in bringing great organic music to an audience who wants it. I really, really hope that this doesn’t get away from them as they inevitably grow after their inaugural year. It would be a shame to see something that seems to be so wonderful turn into a Bonnaroo or one of the larger festivals where that community and family aspect are lost. Time will tell, but I think we can expect great things from this very welcome addition to the summer festival roster.

http://www.campfirefestival.com/