In the words of the much-missed Levon Helm’s legendary ensemble, The Band, king harvest has surely come. Presented by Levon Helm Studios, the third annual Dirt Farmer Festival will return to Arrowood Farms in Accord on May 21, and tickets are now on sale.
The initial lineup of the Dirt Farmer Festival includes the Midnight Ramble Band and Friends, Mavis Staples and her duo, and Amy Helm. Many more acts will be announced in the coming weeks. Presales of tickets for the outdoor event, which will take place rain or shine in Arrowood’s open-air pavilion, began late last week.
Named for the Arkansas-born musician’s Grammy Award-winning 2007 album, Dirt Farmer, the family-friendly festival transposes to a larger, outdoor venue the same blend of intimate warmth and jubilant, high-quality music for which Woodstock’s Midnight Ramble is so beloved—a combination that was itself inspired by the traveling medicine shows and raucous rent parties of Helm’s youth.
Tickets are $95-$185, and the show is open to all ages. Carpooling to the festival is greatly encouraged, as on-site parking ($10 per car) will be limited. The gates will open on May 21 at noon and the music will run until 9:30pm. Empty reusable water bottles are recommended for refilling water. Bringing low-backed chairs is encouraged. VIP tickets include VIP hangout area access; exclusive viewing in front of the main stage; access to the indoor flushable bathroom; complimentary hors d’oeuvres; and beer specials.