Editor’s Note: The All Good Now Festival has been going strong here in Maryland since 1997, growing in popularity each year, and this year the festival saw the now two-day festival host two nights of Widespread Panic, Claypool Gold (Primus/Claypool Lennon Delirium/Frog Brigade), Greensky Bluegrass, Dark Star Orchestra, Larkin Poe, The Wood Brothers, Lettuce, The Hip Abduction, Leftover Salmon, Andy Frasco and the U.N., Cris Jacobs, Balthvs, and The Main Squeeze. All Star correspondent Frank Thompson was there to capture the moment.

Saturday, June 13 was the kickoff of the All Good Now Festival at Columbia, MDs Merriweather Post Pavilion. With an impressive lineup of bands to span the two day period. Of course, I got there early, as I always do, to secure my passes and get a lay of the land since I had not been to Merriweather in several years.

First band to take the Chrysalis Stage was the Cris Jacobs Band. Cris along with Todd, Dusty and newbie Tuck. Set the stage for a very entertaining afternoon. Following Cris Jacobs on the stage was a three-piece from Bogeta, Columbia, Balthvs who mesmerized with their psycho-funk jamming rock.

Hip Abduction closed out the first three bands at the Chrysalis Stage. Greensky Bluegrass‘s Paul Hoffman sat in for a song as the band took us on their journey.

Over on the Pavilion Stage we were mesmerized by the Grateful Dead-based band, Dark Star Orchestra. They definitely had people on their feet at dancing.

Lettuce headlined the Chrysalis Stage for a funky good time while the evening brought us to the last two bands of the night, first up was Greensky Bluegrass. Paul and the boys never disappoint with the Bluegrass we have known them for through the years. 

Finally, closing out the first day was Widespread Panic. As the drums sounded like thunder, the two guitars, John and Nick Johnson (subbing for Jimmy Herring out with a medical issue) played off each other, culminating in a crescendo of jamming wonderfulness while Dave Schools held a solid base line throughout.

Check out photos of Day 1 of the All Good Now Festival below. All photos copyright Frank Thompson:

Day two found me again at the Chrysalis Stage anticipating another full day of music as Merriweather knows how to bring it.

The afternoon started out with The Main Squeeze. The band seemed to be somewhat of a funk band, but the guitarist brought the house down with his rendition of Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child.  The always entertaining Andy Frasco took to the stage next in a typical Andy fashion. As he often does, the performance saw Andy mingling among the crowd and getting the dance lines moving. What a great show!

Vince Herman and the boys came out next with Leftover Salmon. Andy, Drew and the boys were stellar and on point while the sisters of Larkin Poe dazzled us on the Pavilion Stage with stellar lighting. Rebecca and Megan played off each other perfectly and seeing them made me feel that they are such an underrated band.

Oliver and Chris Wood along with percussionist Jano Rix brought us the classic Wood Brothers sound to the Chrysalis Stage. This is one band I can never get tired of listening to.

That brings us down to the last two bands of the evening and the festival, first up was Les Claypool/Primus/Gold and all the other iterations Les brought with him this evening. Definitely an entertaining show with Les’s distinct bass powering the musical effort.

Then there was one, for the second night, Widespread Panic close the show with a double set of awesomeness.

Check out photos of Day 2 of the All Good Now Festival Day 2 below. All photos are copyright Frank Thompson:

The All Good Now Festival was a great success! An interesting mix of genres in music and many passionate fans of all forms of music, and a huge hats off to Merriweather Post Pavilion for putting on a great show and providing a great venue to see live music.