Crozet - As Fredrich Nietzeshe articulated, “Without music, life would be an error.”  Referring to that statement, what would our lives be like without the echoes of our heart’s rhythm?  One thing is certain, and that is without the Crozet Music Festival, there would be many musically-starved, disappointed people in the surrounding Charlottesville area.  As Biff Rossberg states, the supreme mission for the Crozet Music Festival is “to produce a semiannual event to raise revenue to support Crozet Park, the Western Albemarle Rescue Squad, and other area nonprofits.”  The Crozet Music Festival has truly been a magnetic source for families and friends to gravitate to as a musical community in the Misty Mountain Campground.  This being the fourth Crozet Music festival, of which I have attended all, I observed a stunning lineup of musicians, a pristine environment for camping, and beautiful rays of sunshine after a two-day torrential downpour that conveniently vaporized, turning this year’s event into the best festival yet.  There were enthusiastic vendors willing and ready to accommodate anyone in need, music ranging from many areas throughout the state of Virginia, and the feeling of fall in the air that provided a carefree mood throughout the entire weekend.  The outdoor and indoor stages also provided the foundation for hosting a variety of musical flavors, traditional and non-traditional, indicative of this sweetly nestled area amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Performers at this year's Crozet Music Festival (October 1 - 3) included: Casey Cavanagh Band, We Are Star Children, Horsehead, Skip Castro Band, William Walter and Co., Jamie Dyer and Jamal Millner, The Lost Souls, 6 Day Bender, Misty Strings, the Rock River Gypsies, the Gladstones, Nathan Moore, the Steel Wheels, Alligator, the Kerns, Red Satellites, ClearView, Jackass Flats, Willie D-E, the Judy Chops, Julius Hangman, Momentary Prophets, Eric Heinsohn Band, Mark Miller Band, Red Eye Seamus, Kathryn Caine, Peyton Tochterman, Honey Dewdrops, the Sometime Favorites, the Atkinsons, the Rogan Brothers, Second Draw, David Tewksbury, Poly-Tone Blues Band, Ric Olivarez Trio, the Dirty Truth, TJ Moss Band, Funk45, Rockhouse Railway, Righteous Friendz, Jeebus, Mariana Bell, Jacabone, Nick Pollock, Modern Tactics, Bobby Read and Secret Sauce, Gene and Gayla Mills, David Wax Museum, Martinez and Guthrie, Chez Roue, Sarah White, Ian Gilliam, and John D’Earth.  For a complete listing of all the sponsors that made the Crozet Festival memorable for everyone that attended, please visit CrozetMusicFestival.com.

With these incredibly talented musicians, there was a spectrum of musical genres, appealing to anyone willing to expand their musical horizons.  While basking in the camping atmosphere, relaxing, and enjoying the company of family and friends seated around a raging fire, it is easy to see why this is a time-honored event.  Every time I have been camping at Misty Mountain, the day turns into night, evolving into an array of unique, amusing Misty Mountain experiences instantly bringing a smile to my face.  The consistent enjoyment of those experiences call me back every year, and have justly been the most anticipated event for me since living in Charlottesville. 

 With every year getting better and better, such as the exponentially diverse music groups and the amount of people partaking in the indoor stage, it has been exciting to witness the evolution of the Crozet Music Festival.  During many of the performances that I visit around town, sometimes depending upon the venue's accessibility, it is common to see bands tightly compressed onto a tiny stage, where their general lack of movement affects their performance.  However, during the festival, as the two stages left ample room for the musicians to stretch out and breathe a little, the enthusiasm lifted, the performances escalated, and their voices resonated with heightened power amongst the crowded park.  The stages provided the room for clear, distinguishable instrumentation, so that I was able to decipher each instrument’s contribution, instead of the instrumentation clashing.  This promoted the individual musical ability, thus making the performance unmistakably fresh and vibrant.

Something I also noticed during the Crozet Festival was everyone’s general demeanor.  Everytime I peered around, I saw how everyone was having such a wonderful time.  There was something for everyone, including the delectable food and the prestigious wines from the area.  There were vegetarian concoctions, Mexican food, deep fried potato slices, Sal's Pizza, and enough hot sauce to even satisfy my thirst for spicy flavors.  There were also the presenting vineyards - Pollack, Cardinal Point, Well Hung, and Afton Mountain.  Whether you enjoy a glass of vino, listening to the music, walking your dog, or merely strolling along with your children, it is easy to understand the ease of the Crozet Music Festival. 

 When I asked Biff Rossberg why he thought people fell in love with the Crozet Music Festival he stated, "The music is excellent, there is an eclectic mix, as well as a beautiful, accessible spot.  The Festival is extremely family friendly, and there are all the contacts needed for safety concerns.”  As I have spent many occasions at the Misty Mountain Campground and the Crozet Music Festival, I have personally observed safety always to be a priority within the parks vicinity, making this event perfect for anyone wishing to enjoy in a family-oriented environment.

There are so many wonderful things endearing and enjoyable about the Crozet Music Festival.  To see the joyful faces among the congregation of family and friends and the cool and relaxing atmosphere, you finish the weekend with a positive, memorable experience that will have you immediately planning for the next year.  There are so many elements making it unforgettable.  Two people that make sure every experience at Misty Mountain is memorable include John Howard, from the Misty Strings, named in honor of Misty Mountain, and Mike Leo.  I could not speak about the either the Misty Mountain Campground or the Crozet Music Festival without mentioning these men and their contributions.  Every time I have attended a Misty Mountain occasion, both Mike Leo and John Howard have been nothing but hospitable.  Every person entering the Misty Mountain gates leaves with a sense of accommodation that is a direct result of the entire staff’s hard work and commitment to provide a natural and serene ambiance.  A new addition to the campground that expands this natural ambiance is a recent addition of a gemstone mine where anyone can sift for assorted gems.  It was built entirely from scratch by original wood from within the park as a replica of an original mine, and is water-run, recycling water back and forth from the pond.  “It is really something that I am so incredibly proud of,” Howard remarked.  The festival showcased the parks many natural attributes, not to mention the camp store, on-site showers, playground, internet service, game room, pond, and hiking trails that are perfect for a music festival, and for camping year-round.      

I would like to conclude with a poem I found in the Crozet Music Festival program, which I found to be an attitude of the many that flock to the Crozet Music Festival.  Perhaps this music appreciation creates the festival’s allure.  It is a time to commemorate the positive effects and roles that music plays in all of our lives.  As Plato stoically professed,

Music is a moral Law.         
It gives a soul to the universe,
wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination,
a charm to sadness,
gaiety and life to everything. 

It is the essence of order,
and leads to all that is good, just, and beautiful,
of which it is the invisible, but nevertheless
dazzling, passionate, and eternal form.

CrozetMusicFestival.com.  

By Director and Correspondent: Helen Brown

Although originally from Marion Junction, Alabama, Helen has been living in Virginia for the last three years because she absolutely loves the Blue Ridge Mountains.  She attended Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia, gaining a degree in Philosophy and Psychology.  Helen moved to Charlottesville on a whim because of the unique music scene, interest in the food and wine Industry, and the desire to incorporate music into her professional aspirations.  She is looking forward to listening to an array of eclectic music, observing the local talent, and meeting some interesting people while working with the Magazine33 team!  See you around town ...