Not only did Phish reform after five years for a tour and album this year, but according to their Web site, they are reviving one of their trademark festivals. The iconic jam band’s site currently opens with a banner that reads, “Save the Date: A 3-Day Festival 10/30, 10/31, 11/01.”
The location has not been released for the fall festival. However, two big festival sites are speculated: the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, where Coachella and Stagecoach are held, and a 700-acre farm in Manchester, TN, where the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is held and the owners have been looking for other projects.
Phish’s first festival was named Clifford’s Ball and was held in Plattsburgh, NY, in 1996. They followed it up with The Great Went at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, ME, in 1997 and 1998; Camp Oswego at the Oswego County Airport in Volney, NY, in 1999; Big Cypress at the Big Cypress Indian Reservation in the Florida Everglades in 1999 for its Millennium Celebration; the It Festival in Limestone, ME, in 2003; and Coventry in Coventry, VT, in 2004. These festivals generally attracted 60,000 to 85,000 fans.
Phish returns to the concert trails for its late summer 2009 tour leg on July 30-31 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO, just outside Denver.
The band first reformed for a trio of shows in March — their first since officially splitting in 2004 — and quickly followed with plans for a summer reunion tour. The band’s summer touring plans launched May 31 with a special performance at Fenway Park in Boston, MA.
Phish recently announced the July 28 release of its 14th studio album, “Joy.” Tracks from the record have been debuted at various stops of the on-going U.S. tour.
