Gathering Of The Vibes To Take Hiatus In 2016

After 20 annual festivals Gathering Of The Vibes will not be held in 2016. Festival organizers are committed to bringing Vibes back in 2017 after “a pause” next summer. Gathering of the Vibes was first held in 1996 as “Deadhead Heaven – A Gathering Of The Tribe” at SUNY Purchase less than a year after Jerry Garcia’s death. In 1997 the name was changed to Gathering Of The Vibes.

Nearly every major jam act has played the event’s 20 annual festivals and many numerous times. Organizers also have promoted local talent as many acts became members of the Vibes family and frequent performers at the event. While Gathering of the Vibes moved locations a handful of times up until 2006, organizers had found a longtime home at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut which has hosted Vibes since 2007.

A letter from Vibes founder Ken Hays was posted on the festival’s Facebook page detailing the decision:

Over the past 20 years, we’ve traveled many roads together and experienced the beauty and magic of what happens when thousands of like-minded souls converge to celebrate life, love, music and community.

When Jerry died, we all took a moment to look around and take account of those for whom we are grateful; time stopped, we formed a circle within our cosmic music community and said to each other, “It’s okay, we’re going to get through this TOGETHER.”

I’m enormously proud of Gathering Of The Vibes and our community that has carried the torch representing the spirit of Jerry Garcia, the music of the Grateful Dead and the uniqueness of the Deadhead community.

As you know, we pour our hearts and souls into producing this “rare and different” festival, but after a seemingly never-ending amount of thought and deliberation between myself and those closest to me, I’ve made the decision not to move forward with Gathering of the Vibes in 2016. Producing the Vibes as an independent promoter is a challenging endeavor, and honestly, after 20 amazing years, we need a time out.

This is not the end of the Vibes my friends; it’s simply a pause, an opportunity for us all to reflect on the memories, explore new and exciting festival initiatives while planning our triumphant return in 2017.

We know how important the Vibes is to all of you, and ask for your love and support as we look to the horizon with great excitement. Paradise and new adventures await us VibeTribe. Take good care of each other, be kind and know that our love will not fade away!

Be well, continue embracing the music and we’ll stay in touch.

Ken Hays – Founder – Gathering of the Vibes

The 2015 installment of Vibes was held at Seaside Park July 30 – August 2 featuring the likes of The String Cheese Incident, Wilco, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Gregg Allman, Zappa Plays Zappa and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.