Hippie-Hop Harmony

Once upon a time, there was the Monterey International Pop Music Festival. Then there was Woodstock, which was followed by a thousand other freewheeling excursions into the folk-rock counterculture.

In Minnesota, the tradition was upheld for years by the legendary Big Wu Family Reunion held at Harmony Park in Geneva, Minnesota, a bucolic getaway about an hour south of the Twin Cities on I–35 that features a campground shaded by huge oak trees. There, a weekend’s worth of live music and plenty of positive vibes kept the camaraderie of the 1960s going well into the 1990s.

This year, May 23–25, the honor is handed to Festi Di Bella Sol, a three-day musical extravaganza featuring an eclectic lineup of cult headliners and Twin Cities favorites. More than fifty bands will play over the Memorial Day weekend, with something for just about everyone, except maybe hard-core metalheads. Mark Grundhoefer, whose MJG Productions is producing the festival in partnership with Guerilla Promotions, says the broad range of talent is no accident. “We work with great agents across the country to bring in headline talent,” Grundhoefer says. “We went for a well-rounded event that can appeal to many different people, from Deadheads to hip-hoppers.” 

Among those headliners are Cornmeal, Buckethead, Oddball Protocol, Pnuma Trio, and Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band. Twin Cities talent include Pert’ Near Sandstone, Sol Spectre, Big Wu spin-off God Johnson, jam-band–juggernaut Down Lo playing with LA hip-hop legend Deploi, hip-hop icon Desdamona (she of the nonmisogynist verse and sultry singing voice), and ace R & B rockers The New Congress.  

“I’ve been going to events at Harmony Park since I was sixteen, and it’s a very special place,” says Grundhoefer, who will also perform as a member of Down Lo. “It’s a great place for this kind of event. Good camping, good people, beautiful oak trees, and a family atmosphere.” 

If you love live music and the tradition of camping and partying all night long, there’s no better way to kick off the summer festival season than at Festi Di Bella Sol. May 23–25. Harmony Park, Geneva