“HARRY’S HOE DOWN” LAUNCHES FESTIVAL SEASON IN STARKS, JUNE 19-21
Festival Brings a New Twist to a 19 Year Tradition at Harry Brown’s Farm

STARKS, ME -- For nineteen years Harry Brown has hosted festivals on his land celebrating in his belief in “the right of free people to assemble freely.” In less then two weeks, at Harry’s Hoe Down, that vision will find new life as the hill comes to life with vibrant and diverse music, giant puppets, circus performers, fire twirlers, and dancers.
Jonathan Leavitt of Cow Pasture Productions explains:

“Harry and his fami
ly felt it was time to make a fresh start with a group that shared their vision for the land, shared a commitment to ending marijuana prohibition, and for using the festivals as a place for people of all ages to enjoy liberated space while fully engaging their minds, bodies, hearts,=2
0and consciousness.”



The musical line-up reaches beyond the usual fare of jam bands and reggae to include artists such as:



· CB-3, live Afro Dub that blends modern and ancient sounds, fronted by internationally known Zimbabwean musician Chris Berry on vocals, mbira and percussion joined by members of the Internationally known Brazilian Girls and by Bino, a South African prodigy who made his own guitar from an oil can at the age of 4 and began performing at the age of 12 when he was discovered by South African guitar legend Louis Mhlanga.



· The Brew, an innovative quartet that has developed a large and devoted following with their infectious grooves rooted in
classic rock and seasoned with prog, jazz, reggae, world beat, indie, funk and orchestral pop influences.



· Hot Day at the Zoo, rising stars in the roots music revival, a 4-piece string band that delivers foot-stomping down home jams guaranteed to get everyone dancing.



· Inanna, Sisters in Rhythm, a percussion and vocal ensemble that explores the heritage and rhythms of West Af
rica, through original arrangements and compositions invoking ancient traditions of the drum.



· Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion, who blend jazz, rock and roul, soul, reggae, samba, and Afro-Cuban influences with powerful vocals, keyboards, percussion, and horns.



· Re-Up, flowing between hard hitting hip hop, soulful melodies, and booty-shaking grooves.



·
; The Scallywags, a roving band of pirates bringing songs and stories of ghost ships and revolutionaries in a mad blend of eighteenth century sea chanteys and twenty-first century chaos magic.



Other musical acts include Roots Nation Reggae, the Stoned Mountain Boyz, Bajaly Suso, Lamine Toure and Group Saloum, Raising the Sun, Unit 7, State Your Mind, Jordan Kaulbach, Lazloo, and many more TBA



But the festivals will feature more than just music. Other performances will include:



· Trash Into Art, a community collective founded by multi-media performance artist Rijah Newll that uses giant puppets in energetic street theater pieces that promote environmental awareness.



· One World Puppetry, bringing mystical creatures to life to enchant people of all ages.



· RESISTDANCE, a dance troupe whose original performances help us connect with our history, our hopes, our collective responsibility, our pain, our joy,
and challenges us to create something different in a world that stands on the brink.



· STARMA Circus, a troupe of clowns, jugglers, and acrobats bringing circus arts to the stage and b
eyond.



· The Old Time Pagan Revival where ritual meets theater in an ecstatic celebration of the sacredness of the Earth and the divine within everyone.



· Yoga, arts and crafts, puppet making, and other activities to engage and expand kids’ imaginations all taking place in Seussland.



· The brilliant and bizarre poetry and performance ar
t of the event’s inimitable and indescribable Master of Ceremonies, Da Butcha.



· Late Night in Seussland, light shows and otherworldly music to send you into waking dreams after the day’s performances are done hosted by PimpGod performing as DJ SlikPapaRuff, with Dj Siga, V1rus, DJ Maine Event, Uncommon Courtesy, DJ SpinSyck, Joni the Rapper

Plus...light stick poi, fire poi, creative dancers and much more.





The festival kicks off a season of events that include the Be Here Now Festival from August 14-16, and Harry’s Harvest Ball, October 2-4, all in the same spirit, each with its own unique flavor. They are being produced by the same group of organizers that gathered 80,000 signatures in a successful campaign to place an initiative on the ballot in Maine this No
vember that would provide qualified patients with safe and reliable access to medical marijuana.



“With the help of Harry Brown and his family and our talented line up of performers, we are creating something entirely new,” Leavitt says, “People will be entertained and have a great time, and they will also have their imaginations stretched. We hope everyone will walk away with a new sense of what’s really possible.”



For more information, please visit us at Untitled Document and Maine Marijuana Policy Initiative - Home or call 207-333-6985.