THE WASHINGTON POST
Nightwatch

'MOE. OR LES' MOVES

By Eric Brace
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 12, 2002; Page WE05

Concert promoter Tim Walther had to scramble last month when Prince George's
County officials decided it would no longer allow camping at Wilmer's Park,
the outdoor venue that had been the site of many of Walther's jam band
festivals.

"It was odd to run into this brick wall with the county considering how
little trouble we've had the past few years," Walther says. But county
opposition to camping -- as well as to additional parking and outside food
vendors -- forced Walther to find another location for the "moe. or Les
Festival and Campout" that had been scheduled for this weekend at Wilmer's
Park. "We met with seven county officials to try to work things out, but they
wouldn't budge, so we had to look elsewhere."

Walther Productions moved fast and found a site in Masontown, W. Va., called
Marvin's Mountaintop. "It's almost 700 privately held acres, a beautiful
site," Walther says. "It's laid out well for a festival." This weekend's
event will feature the title acts, moe. and Les Claypool's Frog Brigade,
along with the Recipe, Lake Trout, Strangefolk and a dozen other bands.

According to Walther, it was a flier for a rave event at Wilmer's Park that
got residents of nearby Brandywine concerned. "Some residents asked county
officials to look into what was allowed at Wilmer's Park," Walther says.
"They found ordinances from 1981 that prohibited camping; that confined us to
only 11 of the park's 80 acres; and said all food had to be prepared and sold
by the park's concession stand, which is barely in operation at this point
and certainly couldn't have provided for the 6,000 people we were expecting."

Walther decided to switch rather than fight. "The new location really is one
of the best festival sites I could have lined up. People will be amazed."
Walther has also moved the Aug. 31-Sept. 2 " Summer of Love...35 Years Later"
festival (featuring the Dark Star Orchestra) from Wilmer's Park to Marvin's
Mountaintop, and has relocated the Aug. 23-25 "Camp Bisco III" event (with
the Disco Biscuits) to a site in Pennsylvania. For more information, go to
www.walther-productions.com

website
www.walther-productions.com