Gathering of the Vibes 2009 – Music Festival in Bridgeport, CT

As my wife would say, it’s time to chillax. Dig out your tie die, throw a couple braids in your hair and prepare for a music festival that’s all about community spirit and old-school charm: Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Gathering of the Vibes comes from a very specific place, but the appeal of good tunes, good friends and social responsibility is universal. Vibes is essentially a Grateful Dead festival without the Grateful Dead. Formed in 1996 as a memorial to the recently-passed and wholly-irreplaceable Jerry Garcia, the festival allowed lifelong Deadheads to come together in celebration of both Garcia and the iconic band.

The show has grown year after year, as has the audience, but the spirit is the same as it ever was.

Join the “Vibe Tribe” and attend Gathering of the Vibes 2009 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Now a two-stage, four-day weekend festival, Vibes ‘09 will run from July 23 – 26 with shows starting around 11:00 a.m. and concluding late. (Like three in the morning late!)

Don’t be thinking this is nothing but Grateful Dead tunes. Rather, Vibes welcomes styles and performers from all over the musical map: funk, jazz, folk, blues, gospel, rock, even a little country now and again. More than 40 bands are heading up to Bridgeport next week, including headliners Crosby, Stills and Nash, Buddy Guy, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, the Harlem Gospel Choir, Bob Weir & Ratdog, the Levon Helm Band, George Clinton & P-Funk, moe., Dark Star Orchestra, State Radio and what must be the best-named band ever, The McLovins.

There’s plenty more going on. You’ve got your typical Shakedown Street lined with art, hand-made goods and plenty of band merch. Then you’ve got the “Non-Profit Village”. Over a dozen non-profits and charities will be on hand to spread their message in a no-pressure, community-minded environment. Learn more or sign up for a cause. Vibes is also initiating major “green” practices, so love to see that.

Tickets are available now, but they’re a little complicated. For most, the standard Weekend Pass at $200 is the way to go. This includes all shows Friday-Sunday and provides camping privileges. To see the Thursday shows, you’ll need to purchase a VIP Pass at $240 or pay $20 at the gate.

Again, Gathering of the Vibes 2009 will be held July 23-26 in Bridgeport, Connecticut at Seaside Park. Learn more about this summer music festival here.

A past recommendation of ours happens to be a featured hotel, so today it was a no-brainer. We like the Holiday Inn Express Shelton – Trumbull Hotel. The hotel is offering complimentary shuttle service to the festival grounds as well as discounted rates to festival-goers. Use booking code GV1.

Have fun!

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