'08 to '09: How is Rothbury different?

ROTHBURY, Mich. (WOOD) - As the only member of our media team who attended the inaugural and the second annual Rothbury Festival, I feel it's my job to provide some sort of comparative analysis -- to educate those who have yet to attend, as well as give a sense of what direction the festival is headed.

Camping this year was very similar to last; two rows of cars/tents, a fire lane, repeat. I'm a fan of this system. No one is ever "boxed in" and you always are able to leave in case of emergency. This is not the case at all festivals. Also, water is completely free at water refill stations located throughout the festival. Again, not the case at all festivals.

The police presence was very noticeable this year and last. State police patrol the camping area and the festival grounds in cruisers, golf carts, on foot and on horseback. Obviously, there are some illicit happenings at music festivals -- some, in my opinion, more dangerous than others. Law enforcement seems to recognize this, and is very efficient and effective at primarily going after things that pose a significant danger to festivalgoers.

The Rothbury crew at the main gate to the festival grounds has a similar mind-set.

Last year, rules and regulations were enforced strictly in the beginning. On day one, you were allowed one bottle of water (full if sealed and empty if unsealed), and no other outside food or beverages. On day two, unsealed water bottles were permitted (after security smelled them to confirm they were not alcohol), and outside beverages (sealed bottles of Gatorade) were allowed. By day three, all food and drink was allowed inside, so long as it was not an egregious quantity.

I like the system implemented this year: No unsealed beverages allowed, any sealed beverages allowed, and small quantities of food are permitted. When it comes to safety, however, the staff remains unwavering. Everyone entering the festival grounds is searched, and anything that could be construed as a weapon will be confiscated.

The illustrious Sherwood Forest has (thankfully) remained mostly the same. There are still lots of hanging decorations, some old, some new. The amount of stage lighting scattered throughout the forest is, in my opinion, still perfect. The secret stage is in the same location as last year, obviously taking away some of the secrecy.

However, shows and times for the stage are still very hush-hush, so you're able to attain the feeling that you've stumbled upon an unannounced performance. The small village of various art pieces in the forest (some of you may remember the "Pinecone Buddha") makes its appearance again this year, and now it has a name: "Reincarnation Village."

Some changes: The large tent structures are no more, and have been replaced by the addition of four fully functional bars. Trees are no longer decorated in wrapping paper; instead, Rothbury held a "Sherwood Forest tree wrap contest," where the decorator of the winning tree received a viewing upgrade for himself and two guests, among other prizes.

One thing that hasn't changed in a year is the "green" spirit. Rothbury has a "Green Crew" to pick up trash after shows, and believe me, they get EVERY piece. Every cup, every cigarette butt -- if it's not there naturally, it's removed.

What was amazing to see last year was the amount of unpaid festivalgoers helping, unprompted, to pick up trash. I remember seeing people picking up trash that was not their own, and that made me want to pick up trash, and the feeling spread rapidly. The result? One of the cleanest festivals you will see.

A lot of other things have remained the same. There are still lots of things to do besides the concerts; Think Tanks, burlesque shows, various swag booths. Some things are no longer present and are sorely missed (RIP spinning monkey art). But I will say that I believe the festival is headed in the right direction.

The "green" message is prevalent over all other aspects of the festival, the staff is still incredibly vigilant and dedicated to keeping everyone safe, and I guarantee that if Rothbury comes back next year, I'll most likely be here as well.

Hopefully in the presence of some spinning monkey art.