Great Escape: The Midsummer Meltdown

If you went to the original Woodstock, toured with the Dead or at any point in your life felt like a hippie love child conceived a stone’s throw away from an outdoor stage on a traveling tour, the Midsummer Meltdown #2 presented by Jibberjazz productions is your key to unlocking your inner flower power.

Even though the Midsummer Meltdown is only in its second year, Jibberjazz has produced more than 13 festivals since 2005 as part of their mission to showcase diverse musical talent. Their concerts have generated quite a following and attracted talented musicians.

“You can rest assured you will have an amazing weekend of music and camping,” said Jon Stein from Jibberjazz productions.

From July 8 to 10, music-loving hippies will descend upon the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds to hear 20 of the best local and regional bands perform funk, folk, blues, Americana, bluegrass and rock on three stages throughout the day and most of the night. 

The Brooklyn-based Pimps of Joytime headline on Friday night with their soulful version of funk, which Time Out New York has called "swaggering" and "infused with bluesy Latin and African flavors." The band's new album, Janxta Funk, is wowing audiences with its electrifying rhythms.

Another Brooklyn-based band, Rubblebucket, headlines on Saturday. Their new album Omega La La debuted June 21 to critical acclaim.

Paste Magazine describes it as "joyous jungles of worldly pop-funk, instrumentally rich but catchy enough to ass-kick Katy Perry off the pop charts (in a just world)—mega-melodic without sacrificing an ounce of atmosphere or creativity."

Children’s activities including workshops, puppet shows, a kid’s jam and face painting will keep the kids occupied whenever they need a break from dancing. Light shows, fire performances, yoga, food and craft vendors will complete the festival.

Whether you decide to stay up all night or all weekend, you won’t have far to walk for a power nap in between sets. Hassle-free camping on 60 acres at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds is part of the hippie experience, and a temporary tent village is expected to spring up. Permanent showers and restrooms may be more hipster-ish than hippie, but are a real perk in addition to the electricity access for RVs. Friendly breeds of animals are always welcome.

Bring your own food or enjoy the variety available from various vendors.

“There’s a good variety of food for veggies and carnivores: American fare, Asian, Indian, BBQ, ice cream, smoothies and more,” said Stein. 

Visitors are welcome to bring their own alcoholic beverages but are asked not to bring glass beer bottles.

A pre-purchased pass for the weekend is $50, or passes will be available for $65 at the gate. The cost of admission includes access to all the music and camping. Parking is $5 per car.

Gates will open at 11am Friday, but early birds can arrive between 4 and 11pm Thursday for $10 more.

Strangers Helping Strangers will be conducting a non-perishable food drive, so please donate to those in need.

“Now let's get to dancing!” said Stein.

Artists appearing at Midsummer Meltdown #2:

Rubblebucket

The Pimps of Joytime

Cabinet

Consider the Source

Bawn in the Mash

Stonefed

The Big Dirty

Matuto

Dr. Slothclaw

Agent Moosehead

West Philadelphia Orchestra

Mystery Fyre

SeedRotten Belly Blues

Painted Blue

Displaced Peoples

The Backroad

Native Maze

Muppet’s Titanium Stardust Machine

Dave Fry

Angelo M

Kyle Morgan

Nina Scarcia

Amanda Penecale

Erik from Baltimore

Janelle Dowkus