No one really noticed that the coastal evening mist had grown into the kind of cold steady rain that eventually stings as it taps at your face. However, the 350-plus attendees collectively refused to take shelter. As the rain continued, a historic set of music unfolded at Hipnic III in 2011. Beach Boy Al Jardine joined the Mother Hips on the outdoor stage at the Fernwood campgrounds for a dazzling rendition of Del Shannon’s “Runaway.”
Fast forward to Hipnic IX in 2017, when Jonathan Richman (formerly of the Modern Lovers) and frequent collaborator, drummer Tommy Larkins, jammed late into the night in front of an intimate audience inside the Fernwood tavern. These are just a couple of the many dozen instances that (((folkYEAH!))) Presents’ Britt Govea (who co-produces and co-curates the three-day Hipnic with longtime NorCal jamband/event namesake, the Mother Hips), cites as unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime musical moments.
The intimate three-day music gathering, celebrating its 10th year this weekend, is the complete opposite of mega-fests like Coachella. Govea breaks it down as, “Good times with close friends with unbeatable camping in a truly family-friendly place.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT MONTEREYCOUNTYWEEKLY.COM
