Get a dozen or so bands and all of their friends together, and you have one heck of a summer gig going.
You also have Lumberjam II, the second annual festival hosted by Doodis at the family home of guitarist Pete Mansmann. Over the weekend of July 22-24, the music starts Friday night and wraps up Sunday morning, with a variety of acts keeping everyone entertained in between.
The tradition actually dates back to 2001, starting as "just kind of a party for the Mansmanns," says Doodis bass player Jason "Mitch" Mitchell. Pete and his buddies being musicians, the rest of it just naturally took hold.
This year's rendition features a bigger lineup, with 10 bands, a couple of solo acts and some late-night jam sessions. Stylistically, the music includes jambands like Doodis and Fungus, with some jazz, reggae, bluegrass and good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll at various points in the program.
"We thought, let's try to get as many different kinds of bands as we can," Mitch says. "All the bands just kind of donate their time. It's a good opportunity for everyone to get out and expose themselves to everyone."
And it's an opportunity for busy musicians to catch their fellow performers.
"Most of the bands we've all seen. We're friends with some of the people, and we catch them when we can," Doodis drummer Shane McGraw says. "This is a chance for us to say, 'Come on our turf and do it when we can be around."
The organizers are keeping the proceedings kind of low-key, spreading news of the festival mainly through word of mouth, through the participating bands, and through a Lumberjam II Web site. That way, everyone kind of knows each other, and those who don't can get to know everyone quickly.
Shane liked that approach during last year's festival, his first with Doodis.
"Between the people in the other bands and fans we'd seen around, there were a lot of people I knew on a first-name basis," he says. "It's just a big, extended musical family."
Lumberjam II has plenty of room for camping, for folks who want to make a whole weekend of it. Dave DeFlippis is coming in from State College to handle the sound, and the guys from Doodis like what they've heard when they've worked with him.
BTW, Lumberjam came across its name only partly because of its proximity to Joe Hardy's renowned lumber company.
"Really, the reason it's called Lumberjam is that the stage is right under a tree," Mitch says. "And it just so happens it's in Eighty Four."
You also have Lumberjam II, the second annual festival hosted by Doodis at the family home of guitarist Pete Mansmann. Over the weekend of July 22-24, the music starts Friday night and wraps up Sunday morning, with a variety of acts keeping everyone entertained in between.
The tradition actually dates back to 2001, starting as "just kind of a party for the Mansmanns," says Doodis bass player Jason "Mitch" Mitchell. Pete and his buddies being musicians, the rest of it just naturally took hold.
This year's rendition features a bigger lineup, with 10 bands, a couple of solo acts and some late-night jam sessions. Stylistically, the music includes jambands like Doodis and Fungus, with some jazz, reggae, bluegrass and good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll at various points in the program.
"We thought, let's try to get as many different kinds of bands as we can," Mitch says. "All the bands just kind of donate their time. It's a good opportunity for everyone to get out and expose themselves to everyone."
And it's an opportunity for busy musicians to catch their fellow performers.
"Most of the bands we've all seen. We're friends with some of the people, and we catch them when we can," Doodis drummer Shane McGraw says. "This is a chance for us to say, 'Come on our turf and do it when we can be around."
The organizers are keeping the proceedings kind of low-key, spreading news of the festival mainly through word of mouth, through the participating bands, and through a Lumberjam II Web site. That way, everyone kind of knows each other, and those who don't can get to know everyone quickly.
Shane liked that approach during last year's festival, his first with Doodis.
"Between the people in the other bands and fans we'd seen around, there were a lot of people I knew on a first-name basis," he says. "It's just a big, extended musical family."
Lumberjam II has plenty of room for camping, for folks who want to make a whole weekend of it. Dave DeFlippis is coming in from State College to handle the sound, and the guys from Doodis like what they've heard when they've worked with him.
BTW, Lumberjam came across its name only partly because of its proximity to Joe Hardy's renowned lumber company.
"Really, the reason it's called Lumberjam is that the stage is right under a tree," Mitch says. "And it just so happens it's in Eighty Four."
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