Ohio’s əkoostik hookah will reunite in Central Ohio at their biannual Hookahville 52 over Labor Day weekend.
As Ohio’s longest-running rock music festival, the band will reunite one last time with their popular lineup “əh2.0” to Hookahville 52 on August 30th-September 2nd at Butler, OH’s Clear Fork Adventure Resort for three days of camping and 32 sets of live music for a summer send-off.
First held in 1994, this year’s lineup features Russ Liquid, EarthCry, Glostik Willy featuring Doug Wimbish (Living Color), Ed McGee, Consider the Source, Mike Perkins, The Probable’s and more, along with five sets of əkoostik hookah. Past years have seen Bob Weir and Ratdog, Willie Nelson, Little Feat, David Crosby, Keller Williams, Galactic, Umphrey’s McGee, Steve Kimock, Leftover Salmon, and many other world-renowned musicians grace its stage. Over the years, Hookahville has grown to over 15,000 people in attendance to celebrate music, friends, family, and musical history.
Hookahville 52 Music Festival
[Video: Hookahville]
Formed in 1991, əkoostik hookah showcases their improvisational treatment of psychedelic rock, blues, funk, jazz, and bluegrass, resonating as one of the most original and energetic acts around in the Midwest. The band has been performing for audiences for over 28 years and continue to celebrate their success at their biannual event, making it one of the longest running music festivals in the world. Comprised of Dave Katz (keys, vocals, acoustic guitar), Eric Lanese (drums, vocals), Matt Paetsch (bass, vocals), Steve Sweney (guitar), and Eric Sargent (guitar, vocals), the band has raised the bar on their musical voice throughout the years with over 100 original songs and eight album releases.
Dave Katz remarks on the band’s establishment of the festival, “…it was so much fun we’ve done it again and again, twice a year, every year, since then and have had so many amazing guest artists over the years, some new, some well-established.”
Featured this year is “əh2.0”, whose members are all previous or current members of əkoostik hookah. “əh2.0” features Ed McGee (guitar, vocals), Steve Sweney, Dave Katz, Eric Lanese, Cliff Starbuck (bass, vocals), and Johnny Polansky (percussion, drums). Hookah fans were first able to see this popular addition at last year’s festival, merging old and new styles of their favorite band. Reuniting again this year for its encore performance, Hookahville 52 will be the last time to see the powerhouse reunion group.
An additional feature to this year’s festival includes Wild Bill’s “Fun and Games” $10,000 cash and prize giveaway to “change someone’s life.” Fans can go to the main stage on Sunday, September 1st at 2:30 p.m. to enter.
Labor Day weekend is sure to delight Hookah lovers new and old with this year’s unique experience. For more information and tickets, head to the festival’s website.
