The second annual Grateful Gathering is just around the corner. The all afternoon/evening music and arts festival is back by popular demand and will take place on August 6th, 2011. Gates open at 1 PM and the music starts at 2 PM. The event, benefitting The Son Rhea Foundation and held outdoors at Wha Bahs Steakhouse (in their 4 acre backyard), promises to be bigger and better than last year’s inaugural event. It will be a day that’s centered on music (8 performers/bands) but has so much more to offer as well (kid’s activities, unique vendors, tarot reading, food and drink by Wha Bahs, and a few more surprises).

Organizers Matt Pfefferkorn and Chuck Lauth are pleased to be doing it all again. Pfefferkorn said that “there were a lot of positive comments about last year’s event” and he is counting on that word of mouth to help attendance grow. He added that “it’s great to be involved in something with so many positives; good music, people having fun, raising money for a great cause, and bringing back the spirit of a place in time that both young and old seem to enjoy”. Lauth noted that another goal “is to provide a place for friends, family, and artists to get together and get to know one another in a very relaxed atmosphere. By all accounts that was achieved last year and we’ll be shooting to create that positive vibe again”. 

This is a day truly all about the music. The schedule is packed tight with performers, and the show is planned to be opened by some of the very kids who have taken advantage of the Son Rhea’s mission. That sounds like a great idea. Son Rhea provides musical instruments to kids who want to participate in their school’s music programs but cannot afford the instruments. Son Rhea’s president, Tony Lindsey, is working with a school music director to get that all together. The kids come from not only Warren County but from all the adjacent counties in South Central Kentucky as well. The organization has donated instruments valued at over $200,000 during its’ 11-year existence. And Lindsey was honored this year as a WBKO Hometown Hero for his work with Son Rhea. So you’ll get to hear great music at the event, and you’ll also be helping the musicians of the future get started in school. It’s a great way to help keep music programs alive and vibrant in our schools. For info on Son Rhea check out www.sonrhea.org.

Tickets are priced very reasonably at $10 (Advance) and $12 (at the Gate), and kids 12 & under get in free! What parent doesn’t love that? Kid’s activities include face painting, spin art, a clown, balloon animals and inflatables. It’s a pretty good bargain for those 13 & older too, considering 8 performers/bands, vendor and artist booths, and good food and drink. Again, there should be some added surprises for the adults too. For all the info you need and updates right up to the minute visit www.gratefulgathering.com. The site is updated whenever something new has been added. The organizers work on that right up until the day before the event.

Last year’s event made around $3,000 for Son Rhea and was declared a success by Lindsey. Lots of great local businesses support the Grateful Gathering, most notably title sponsor Bluegrass Cellular, without whose generosity there would be no event. So with sponsor support, word of mouth, and improvements like the addition of a second true Grateful Dead tribute band, Terrapin Moon, who are coming in from Dayton, Ohio, the goal is to reach the $5,000 mark this year. There are two bands returning from last year; headliners The Pranksters from Louisville, and Fat Box from Bowling Green. Rounding out the bill of electric bands are Johnny Thompson from Scottsville (who is sure to be accompanied by a full band of his young students – he is the proprietor of the Scottsville Conservatory), and another local favorite, Canago.  Acoustic acts will feature Steely James from Nashville, Terrapin Travelers from Cincinnati, and local favorite Brennan Graves from Bowling Green, who is sure to play an all-Grateful Dead set.

Of course, any music and arts festival trying to recapture the feel of the late 60s/early 70s festivals would not be complete without long hair and tie-dyes. If the trend continues from last year, you’ll see plenty of that again. And the vendors will cater to this too, with plenty of t-shirts, earthy jewelry, and other cool stuff. Of course, you can come with your own on, and letting your freak flag fly is strongly encouraged. Dancing is also enthusiastically encouraged.

So if you’re looking for something different (this is currently the only event of its kind in Bowling Green, and perhaps the Nashville area too), and something fun, and something for a good cause too, why not come on down to the Grateful Gathering? And help them out by spreading the word to all your friends (real and Facebook) too. They have an event set up on Facebook – just type in Grateful Gathering 2011. Like them, or better yet, RSVP that you will attend. Let’s keep this going Bowling Green, the future is now.