Ten Things We Learned From Chat With Lockn’ Co-Founder Dave Frey

Earlier today, Lockn’ Festival co-founder Dave Frey answered questions from fans via a live chat held on the event’s Facebook page. Frey was very forthcoming about many aspects of the festival, and we learned a lot about what is – and what isn’t – ahead for this year’s Lockn’ Festival taking place at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia August 25 – 28.

We’ve compiled a list of ten things we learned from Frey’s live chat:

1. The String Cheese Incident will not play Lockn’ this year: Frey revealed that SCI decided to play July’s Merryland Music Fest instead of returning to Lockn’ for the fourth year in a row. As such, they are not expected to be added to the Lockn’ ’16 lineup.

2. The festival gates will open on Wednesday this year: In order to make entry easier this year, Frey advised some festivalgoers will be able to enter the site a day before the music begins. He also mentioned the music will start later in the day on Thursday, so that should also help ease the burden of entry.

3. Ween will close out the main stage action on Thursday: The recently reunited Ween will play Lockn’ twice this August and one of the sets will close out the main stage action on the first night of the festival.

4. Single Day Tickets will be available: Frey advises single day tickets should go up for sale by early/mid July.

5. Look for another artist announcement in June: Dave expects the next major artist announcement to come in June and hopes to reveal a few of the collaborations Lockn’ is known for at that time.

6. Widespread Panic will not play Lockn’ this August: Just like SCI, Widespread Panic took another area gig instead of returning to Lockn’ for the fourth year in a row.

7. No RatDog and Dead & Company, but perhaps a member of the Grateful Dead will play Lockn’: Frey was clear in responding that RatDog and Dead & Company will not play Lockn’, but he gave a few “no comments” when asked about whether any members of the Grateful Dead would perform at the festival. The “no comments” were rare from Dave throughout his chat and one of the only other times he played that card was when asked about the possibility of Trey Anastasio collaborating with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.

8. The Pope’s visit hurt Lockn’s Port-A-Potty situation last year: Last year’s Lockn’ was held not long before the Pope came to Philadelphia. Dave mentioned the company Lockn’ uses to source Port-A-Pottys had less of them available as they were also supplying the portable bathrooms for the Pope’s visit.

9. Lockn’ hopes to book moe. for 2017: While moe. is one of the few major jam acts that haven’t played the festival yet, Frey hopes to get them signed for next year’s Lockn’. He actually said “2016,” but from the context of his comments in which he noted the band won’t perform at Lockn’ this year, he seemed to mean 2017.

10. Lockn’ will go to a turntable stage instead of two main stages: After utilizing two main stages placed next to each other for the first three years of the festival, Frey revealed Lockn’ will instead go with a turntable-style stage this year. Dave indicated he doesn’t think there will be much of a delay between sets and the turntable-style stage has many advantages including that attendees will have the same sight line throughout each day.

We also learned that My Morning Jacket will headline on Saturday, so the final main stage acts of each day will be Ween on Thursday, Phish on Friday and Sunday and MMJ on Saturday. Frey also discussed that the Triangle Stage will now be Garcia’s Forest featuring “all Jerry, all the time.” The co-founder mentioned a number of other acts that won’t play Lockn’ this August besides the ones listed above including The Motet, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, STS9, Lotus, Little Feat, Warren Haynes and Greensky Bluegrass. Watch the chat:

This year’s Lockn’ Festival will feature two nights and four sets of Phish, two nights of Ween, two late nights from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead as well as performances from My Morning Jacket, White Denim, Vulfpeck, Umphrey’s McGee, Twiddle, Turkuaz, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Moon Taxi, Lettuce and more. Tickets are available via the festival’s website.