ZepFest Cancelled

Update, and bumped:

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Some good information and excellent source material in an article by Ally Schweitzer of the Washington City Paper in the ZepFest cancellation:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2011/05/16/the-disintegration-of-zep-fest/

Meanwhile, Paul Hammond from Get the Led Out reports that they too have not been officially notified of the cancellation. Possibly more disturbing, neither has MissionTix, who are telling customers it may take up wait 48 hours before requesting refunds.

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ZepFest 2011, only two weekends away and set to be staged in Washington DC, has been cancelled:

Rumours began circulating about ten days ago, when Led Zepagain publicly announced they would be dropping out due a lack of upfront money as contractually committed by ZepFest. That came on the heels of Richard Cole dropping out. The response from ZepFest when I enquired about Richard Cole was "couldn't work out travel."

Today, Dread Zeppelin dropped out, and looking into it, I heard word that less known acts, Fosterchild and Craving Strange had either dropped out or been dropped. It was becoming clear ZepFest was in trouble. Enquiries to the organizer resulted in an email sent at 5:57 this evening:

EVENT IS CANCELLED
refunds at place of purchase

[someone will be in touch with you]

One act is now publicly wondering whether a fraud was committed, and certainty the acts involved will lose revenue from not playing that weekend. As well, people who booked a flight will also be out their money.

Ramble On will keep this story up to date as new information becomes available.

Chris Dreja at ZepFest

When ZepFest rolls around later this month, there will be a number of special guests. Among them, Yardbirds rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja.  Dreja was an original member in 1963, playing rhythm guitar behind Top Topham, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. While Jimmy Page originally joined the Yardbirds as a bass player, he soon joined Beck on guitar and Dreja moved to bass.

When he was forming Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page reportedly offered the bass job to Dreja, who declined in order to concentrate on a career in photography. He did, however, shoot a number of pictures of the Led Zeppelin members, including the back cover picture on their first album, Led Zeppelin I.

While he is at ZepFest, Dreja is bringing a number of pictures which he will sell at a merchandise table. One picture of Jimmy Page, signed by Dreja and Page will be sold at the show.

Tickets for ZepFest can be purchased at their website.

Chris Dreja Photography can be found here.

ZepFest Updates

There's a little bad news coming out of camp ZepFest, as previously reported speaker Richard Cole will not be in attendance at National Harbour in Washington DC next month. According to the organizer,  "couldn't work out travel to accommodate all."

Dave Lewis, of Tight But Loose, will be there, however, and he will have his new book, Feather in the Wind - Over Europe 1980. You can pre-order by emailing Dave, davelewis.tbl1@ntlworld.com, and request a copy or copies be reserved to be picked up at his ZepFest display.

Dave, meanwhile, has been busy both putting together the book and the latest edition of Tight But Loose, #29. Featuring a preview of Feather in the Wind, a look back at Stairway to Heaven 40 years later, a review of Anna Nicole: The Opera and a listen through of the new Black Country Communion album with Glenn Hughes. If you don't already subscribe, you can do so here.

Finally, a technical note. Last week I posted a video of myself playing my Led Zeppelin I 8-track, which I received from ZepFest during their 12 daze of Zepmas giveaway (to tie this whole post together, the question I won on was, how many editions of Tight But Loose are released every year?) I have no idea why the video simply won't work on YouTube, but it won't. I have tried editing, re-uploading &tc. But there is something wonky with the codex, and I am not a video guy. It does not matter very much, it was a silly little video. If you have tried to watch the video, my apologies, but you didn't miss very much.

Led Zeppelin I - on 8 Track

At Christmas time I won, courtesy of ZepFest 2011, an 8-track of Led Zeppelin's first album. I did promise at the time that I would post on it. Well, I took my sweet time, but you do have to understand, t took me a while to find an 8 track player I liked. C'est La Vie.

Here's my first ever home produced video of me trying out my Led Zeppelin I 8 track.



Click here for information on tickets for ZepFest 2011.
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Update. The video is not currently working. I don't know why, but t will be a day or more before it's corrected. I will post to twitter when it is updated

ZepFest 2011

With just over a month to go until Zepfest 2011, things are coming together. They have announced 5 "waves" of musicians and speakers who will be in Washington over the Memorial Day weekend, and they have an astounding line up of acts.

[caption id="attachment_1075" align="alignright" width="300" caption="David St. Hubbins will not be at ZepFest?"][/caption]

Wave V came out last week, and features former Led Zeppelin tour manager and author of Stairway to Heaven Richard Cole and Warren Grant, the son of Peter Grant. Musically, they announced former Detective singer Michael Des Barres. Detective were signed to Swan Song, and Des Barres was married to infamous groupie, and former Jimmy Page lover, Pamela Des Barres. Wave V also announced skiffle legend Chas McDevitt and former Ted Nugent front man, Derek St. Holmes (not to be confused with Spinal Tap frontman David St. Hubbins - that was just embarrassing).




Other acts already announced include The Yardbirds, Vanilla Fudge and Dread Zeppelin. Zeppelin tribute acts will be in abundance, including Zoso, Get the Led Out, Led Zepagain and Kashmir. If you have seen that video of the old guy dancing while the band played Whole Lotta Love, the band playing is a local band here in Ontario, The Crunge, and they too will be playing ZepFest 2011.

The speakers are just as impressive, with Tight But Loose author Dave Lewis leading the pack, along with Cole and Grant. Former Yardbirds Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty, and Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice will also be speaking.

I have just touched the surface of what someone going to ZepFest 2011 can expect, and the organizers promise more to come. It will be a very full weekend of immersing yourself in Led Zeppelin activity, and worth the drive to Washington. Tickets are available in single day or as a three day pass.

Zeppelin Caroling

Washington’s BIG 100.3, in conjunction with Zep Fest 2011, are Zeppeling up Christmas with 24 hours of non-stop Led Zeppelin.

From 10PM EST Dec 24, Christmas Eve, to Midnight Christmas night. You can listen on 100.3FM, or listen to their on-line player.

There will be, besides all those Zeppelin Carols, many chances to win Zep Fest 2011 tickets (which are on sale now).

When you just can’t stand one more version of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, turn the dial (we’re analogue folk here) to 100.3 or, if you fancy using those internets, click here. All Zeppelin, All Christmas.

ZepFest 2011

I try, I really do, to not just be a rehash of what everyone else is doing. There are other, more established Led Zeppelin blogs who already do so much, so well. If I can give a story a personal touch, I’ll jump all over it. If I’m just rehashing, I stop and wonder what I’m adding to the discussion.

The other blogs in their entirety, have been doing a wonderful job of promoting ZepFest 2011 (in fairness, the other bloggers all seem to have been invited to speak at ZepFest 2011). My plan was to hold off, start talking about it sometime in the new year. Come the spring, ZepFest is going to be a huge Zeppelin story, so I thought I’d wait.

That’s what I thought. Things change. A couple of things have come up. First, I won a Led Zeppelin I 8-track (in-gently used, 1969 Chevelle not included) on their 12 Daze of Zepmas. I recommend everyone on Facebook join their mailing list, and watch for the The 12 Daze of ZepMas. Trust me, you can win.

Then the guys at ZepFest decided to link up to this blog. Great blog, they call it. When guys have good sense like that, they become hard to ignore.

So for the record, here’s the pertinent bits:

ZepFest 2001

The Worlds Largest "Zep Fest"
Memorial Day Weekend
May 27, 28, 29 2011
Washington DC

50+ Bands on 5 stages
"Interactive" Festival Grounds
DJ's-Speakers-Authors - Largest collection of Zeppelin Memorabilia ever assembled - secret shows - surprise guests.

It’s going to be a great event.