“Our first year went really well, so we decided to do it again,” smiles Ten Mile Creek Revival founder and producer Biasha Mitchell. This year’s event takes place from June 27-29 at Laytonville’s historic Black Oak Ranch and will feature 3 nights of camping, music, family fun, swimming and community.
Biasha Mitchell, 2nd Generation Hog Farmer grew up on the Black Oak Ranch and is the founder and producer of the upcoming festival. She hopes her efforts will help to solidify the future of the iconic property founded by original members of the Hog Farm in the 1960's.(Contributed)This year’s musical lineup includes local favorites, new visitors to the Ranch and fan favorites that were staples at the legendary Kate Wolf Festival. Los Lobos, The Wailin’ Jennys, Old Blind Dogs, Miko Marks, Rainbow Girls, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, Wake the Dead, Two Runner, Crys Matthews, Hot Buttered Duo, Jason Beard’s Bring Joy, Jimbo Scott & Yesterday’s Biscuits, Broken Compass Bluegrass, The Real Sarahs, Clan Dyken, J. B. Barton, Sound Immersion with Danny Goldberg and Hannah Mayree will be performing. In addition to individual performances, there will be three special song sets and collaborations- a Sunday Revival Jam featuring , a “Bring Buttered Joy” Allman Brothers set and Jimbo Scott’s John Prine Tribute.
Mitchell has a long personal history with the ranch, its festivals and the Hog Farm community that helped bring locals and visitors together for summer weekends of music in the heart of Mendocino County.
A variety of camping options are available, from car, RV and tent camping to "glamping" options. (Contributed)‘I built this festival on the footsteps of the legendary Kate Wolf Festival, and we made the decision to schedule it on the same weekend,” Mitchell continues. Cloud Moss, the founder of the Kate Wolf festival helped with booking the artists. “He’s an incredible curator of music. We created 21 different schedules to figure out how the music should flow day to day. I’m really pleased with the outcome.”
Mitchell is a second-generation Hog Farmer. “My family lived on Black Oak Ranch.” As a child, she attended the iconic Camp Winnarainbow festivals made famous by Hippiedom’s most beloved clown, Wavy Gravy. Mitchell grew up attending the festivals on the ranch as well as being backstage during Grateful Dead shows produced by Bill Graham. “During high school, I worked on the Pig-Nick here at the ranch. I did everything from running merch to staffing the coffee booth.”
Following graduation from Laytonville High, Mitchell attended Stanford University, majoring in International Relations. “I came back to music in 2001. I really loved this work and wanted to make it a career.” She worked at entry level music security jobs at Shoreline, acted as a runner for Bill Graham Presents and despite spending time working at the mega festivals at Coachella and Bonaroo, her heart always returned to Black Oak Ranch. “I took a career in tech for nine years, working at EventBrite in the semi-corporate internet startup world. I was asked to produce the Hog Farm Hideaway, which got postponed due to the pandemic.” Following Covid, it was difficult to make festivals financially viable. “People began changing their consumer behaviors following the pandemic. But I realized that if we didn’t put together an event, it would be the first time in over 30 years that there wasn’t a summer festival at the ranch. I felt like I couldn’t let this happen.” Mitchell worked with Black Oak Ranch co-founder Bob Barsotti, who spent years as an event producer with Bill Graham. “We came up with the idea of putting on this festival as the next evolution of Kate Wolf’s event, and decided to focus on the bluegrass, Americana and folk music that made that festival so beloved.”
Mitchell made the decision to keep this event low-risk, with a maximum attendance of about 1,000 people and a renewed focus on a family-friendly vibe. “Our Kidz-Landia area is bigger and better than ever,” she smiles, featuring special guests EarthCapades- who focus on environmental science-based activities using juggling, circus activities and circus performance, and Mr. YooHoo, international clown and performer who brings his unique humor and physical comedy to elders and children in institutional settings through his affiliation with two organizations- Clowns without Borders and the Medical Clown Project. Kids activities are scheduled throughout the entire weekend.
This year, the Shady Oak Bar will be partnering with the Trees Foundation in Redway, with a portion of the proceeds to help with the work of the foundation. “We make an effort to connect back to our communities in as many ways as we can,” says Mitchell. Participating non-profits will have booths staged at The Front Porch, where coffee, massages and conversation will be available throughout the festival. A variety of locally crafted beers and wines will be available, as well as food vendors and about two dozen craft vendors.
Mitchell has a personal affinity for bluegrass. “It makes you so happy. It’s so swingy and upbeat. This year, Hannah Mayree, the founder of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project will be a featured non-profit at The Front Porch, and will be running one of the late-night music jams.” The non-profit focuses on reclaiming the banjo within the racial, social, economic, historical, spiritual, earth-based and practical ways that music can be used as a form of cultural healing. “We encourage our festival attendees to bring instruments, but no drums,” she laughs. “There’s something about singing that helps people feel really connected.”
The Kate Wolf festival always concluded with a community singalong of “Give Yourself to Love.” “Last year we asked our artists to close out the festival by choosing one or two of their favorite songs- folk, classic rock, whatever they want. Every song was known by the audience. It was a wonderful festival moment. I’m really looking forward to all the song circles and collaborations.”
There’s still plenty of water in the creek for wading and wildlife, and there are still some great camping spots available, including some glamping packages close to the stage. “For our local guests, we have single day passes and evening tickets which provide access after 5 p.m. All our ticket prices include fees, so the price you see is the price you pay,” Mitchell notes.
As someone who was raised in the love, excitement and community of Black Oak Ranch, Mitchell knows that like many projects started by children of the ‘60’s, the future of the property remains uncertain.
“Everyone is getting older. My hope is that this place continues to be an institution. This festival and a small fundraiser in September represent what I can do to help focus on preserving and evolving the events business. I want to see Hog Farm and Black Oak ranch continue the legacy of these heartfelt events, and the best way is to make sure people come,” she concludes.
For information visit www.tenmilecreekrevival.com
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