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issue 38 working_Layout 1 12/7/2013 1:49 PM Page 15
those people wanted to also
bring their friends along to join in
the fun.”
Each year the event continued to grow and the open mic
concept evolved into a full-blown
concert, while other folks also
began setting up modest vending booths. Now, this one-day
“family party” had evolved into a
weekend-long music and camping adventure and by 2008,
Ziontific was booking bands
such as The Alchemystics and
some 250 folks were coming for
the fun!
“Two years later we were drawing over 350 people and the
camping area was overflowing,”
Shannon said. “Luckily our
neighbor had no problem with
people setting up on his land…
but reflecting back on the history
of the reunion now, we certainly
realized we were on to something good if we could keep the
‘family vibe’ intact as we continued to grow.”
In 2011 the party was
moved to another friend’s location, the Tweed River Tubing
property on the Tweed River in
Stockbridge, VT. This was also
the year when they took the
plunge; opening the gates to the
public! “That first ‘open to the
public’ event went off without a
hitch and we knew then, that we
had done it right and after the
event, some of the attendees
dubbed themselves the ‘Ziontific
Family’… and now describe the
festival as a reunion,” Shannon
added. “Our attendees every
single year have brought such
an uplifting spirit, we couldn't ask
for a more inspirational crowd.”
The Ziontific Summer Solstice
Music Festival is unique in that it
predominantly offers local and
regional reggae and hip-hop
acts, however they also incorporate select rock, funk and jam
bands as well. “We wanted to
open a door for the many (reggae and hip-hop) talented acts
throughout the Northeast that
sometimes get overlooked by
some festivals because they
may be a little different…or not a
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