Tomorrow, Summer Camp Music Festival will once again return to Chillicothe for three days of music featuring some of the festival’s staple acts like hosts Umphrey’s McGee, moe., STS9, Yonder Mountain String Band and many others along with newcomers like Tom Petty’s Mudcrutch, who will make their Summer Camp debut this weekend. The Roots, Jason Isbell, Ani DiFranco and others add another layer of uniqueness to the lineup as well. 

Below, some longtime Summer Camp artists returning to Illinois this weekend shared some of their favorite memories from the tight-knit festival. 

Brendan Bayliss | Umphrey’s McGee

Several years ago, Rob Derhak from moe. and I were playing a gig somewhere before football season started. I was boasting about my Chicago Bears, and he was convinced his New England Patriots could handle them. So we made a gentlemen’s bet:

The loser would perform with the winner’s band in a dress at Summercamp the following year.

Unfortunately for all the music lovers out there, Rob won the bet. I “manned” up and luckily was able to convince him that this sit in should happen during the late night set where less people would have to deal with my legs.

Ryan Stasik | Umphrey’s McGee

Summer Camp rules! It reminds me of an enormous bar like Cheers…

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name,
And they’re always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

For me, Summer Camp is a larger Midwest version of the West Coast’s High Sierra Music Festival. Great music, homegrown vibe, and includes highly competitive kickball. In tribute to the epic sunrise kickball games that still take place at HSMF, I brought a version to Summer Camp 5 years ago. Ahh sunrise kickball. Fresh dew on the grass, like a scene from Walking Dead, the playing field littered with passed out wooks and over-served drunks mixed with competitive kick-ballers ready to play. You might eat some crispy bacon during your stop at 2nd base, or maybe roll some dice at third. Hell, you may not even remember you crossed home plate. Yes indeed, Summer Camp rules. See you there!

Vinnie Amico | moe.

I have so many memories of Summer Camp that I can’t pick one. I am just looking forward to getting back there and hanging out with all my musician friends, whom I don’t get to see enough and having a great time.

Jon Topper | moe.

I remember riding in a limousine in Las Vegas with Chip Hooper and Ian Goldberg. It was the first time we had met Ian. I am not even sure how he got in the limo. During the ride Ian just kept bringing up the idea of doing an annual festival with moe. on this site in the middle of nowhere, Illinois. Thankfully we listened.

STS9

In the whirlwind that was the summer of 2015, there is one set that we all agreed on that was just one of those next level nights. That set was in “The Red Barn” at Summer Camp. There just seemed to be something in that late night air that put this one over the top. It’s hard to describe it really. Often at soundchecks across the country the rest of 2015 the band would be saying “Let’s play this one like we did at Summer Camp”. It was such a great night for the band, the festival and fans lucky enough to get in.

Paul Hoffman | Greensky Bluegrass

Two years ago (I think) playing the Moonshine Stage, we came in directly from a long night of driving. On site maybe 90 minutes before our set and somehow it was a rager. Fatigue can create an awesome energy. Lucid and pure. Allie Krall sat in for “Eat My Dust” and it smoked. A favorite overall memory for me. One of the first times I saw Lettuce was at SCamp in The Barn. I remember it raged hard in that small packed house. That’ll always be a special night. Tripping on tent wires in the dark. Cocktails served by a shirtless team of Anders and Joel.

Anders Beck | Greensky Bluegrass

I have fond memories of Allie Kral sitting in with Greensky a few years ago. She had just started playing with Yonder and just knocked it out of the park with us. She’s a badass! I’ve seen lots of amazing things go down at Summer Camp over the years, which is a great indicator of what a cool festival it is. I loved seeing The Chicago Farmer smash a laptop during his set there a few years ago–that was pretty sweet and about as punk as folk music will ever get. It was pretty special to see Willie Nelson there at Summer Camp one year because, well, it’s freaking Willie! I had my mind blown by a Mike Dillon Band late-night set last year–what a sick musician!

Keller Williams

Every year I enjoy walking through the forest when the sun goes down. A decent chunk of woods that separate the moe. stage from the late night barn and catering. Tents are almost on top of each other and the foot traffic is always heavy. With all the dust, it’s normal to have a bandanna around the face and a cap with brim pulled low. With different music swirling around from several sources and the plethora of conversations along with all the different smells and lights can make for an entertaining festival stroll. 

Dominic Lalli & Jeremy Salken | Big Gigantic 

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into our first time playing Summer Camp. We flew into Peoria, rented a car and drove to the fest. When we pulled up to the Campfire Stage we both thought: “This is gonna be interesting.” The stage was palettes raised on something with an EZ-up tent over it – not ideal for playing any kind of show. Dom had a big round dinner table for his equipment and Jeremy was on the edge of the palette and if he leaned back in his drum throne he would have fallen off the ‘stage’!

We were playing mid-day with the sun blasting on us too which isn’t always fun because you can’t see anything and computers tend to start acting cray when they overheat. But once we got going, all of a sudden kids came out of the woods and started raging! Before we knew it the whole campfire area and field was packed as far as we could see!!! Everyone was going absolutely bonkers that energy had us playing our asses off!! It was one of the most epic experiences we’ve had and honestly, that show is what set us off in the Midwest!! Summer Camp will always have special place in our hearts! Can’t wait to be back!!

Dave Johnston | Yonder Mountain String Band

I don’t know where to begin, I mean, where else does Vince Herman show up dressed as the Easter bunny when the temperature on stage is 110? Another one of my favorite memories was from a couple of years ago. Jerry Douglas introduced us to Zac Brown, and Zac came onto the bus and we all sort of sat there brainstorming seeing if there was a song we could play. We landed on “Freeborn Man,” and sitting there in the cool and dark confines of the front lounge, he crushed it. Great, we thought, let’s do that one. Fast forward to our set. We introduce Zach, and on-stage, these three guys walk out, long beards, trucker hats, boots, flannel and denim. These must be his guys, I thought, crew, here to set him up. They didn’t leave though, and Zac counted us in and all these guys all jumped in and sang harmony to Zac, and it tore the Moonshine Stage down to the ground. It was an absolute blast.

Isaac Teel | TAUK

I specifically remember my 1st Summer Camp performing experience because it took place with a beautiful sunset and clouds that looked like spaceships. It was an action packed foot-in-the-dirt set, as the crowd cheered to the fun culmination of the festival. As we packed up our gear, a thunder and lightning storm rolled in eerily across the far fields.