Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2001
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2001 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Lewis Taylor, The Register-Guard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/conde.htm (Conde, William)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

HEMP, HEMP, HOORAY!

A Celebration Of All Things Alternative

Jaya Lakshmi plans on getting very high at the World Hemp Festival in 
Harrisburg this weekend.

As vocalist and keyboardist for the techno/world music act Lost at Last, 
Lakshmi won't need any mind-altering substances to reach her elevated state 
of consciousness. All she needs are music and an audience.

"I dance a lot on stage, and I do a lot of spiraling and spinning," Lakshmi 
said in a phone interview. "The idea is to kind of generate positive energy 
and for the audience to generate positive energy. ...

"After a couple of hours of really passionate dancing, things start feeling 
pretty intense. I get really high."

With a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy, 75 security guards and an 
unknown number of undercover police officers sure to be roaming the grounds 
of this year's festival, dancing yourself silly is probably the best way to 
enjoy the three-day gathering.

Hosted once again by Bill Conde, the controversial hemp crusader and lumber 
maven, this year's festival includes 22 bands, several speakers, a bunch of 
performance artists, vendors, craft booths, a beer garden and even a hemp 
fashion show.

Along with Lost at Last, which will make its major label debut on RCA 
Records next month, the musical lineup features the Zen Tricksters, a New 
York jam band; and the Eugene-based Zimbabwean Afro-pop legend Thomas 
Mapfumo and his band, the Blacks Unlimited. Eugene's own Liquid Jeanie, 
Carmizin, Norma Fraser and Abakadubi also are scheduled to play.

"You guys better come out and take a look, because it's gonna be a great 
show," Conde said in a telephone interview. "It's an essential event."

Ken Kesey will appear at the festival on Sunday, along with Ken Babbs and a 
bus full of pranksters. Molecular biologist Alan Kapular will speak about 
organics, microbiology and other subjects.

The Dragon Tribe, a roaming circus of fire-eaters, will perform nightly and 
throughout the festival. Artis the Spoonman will be the master of ceremonies.

One novelty at this year's World Hemp Festival will be Conde's attempt to 
launch a bid for the governorship. On Saturday, using a little-known 
provision called the "assembly of electors," he will attempt to gather the 
signatures of 1,000 registered voters in order to secure a spot for himself 
on the ballot. He said the idea came to him in jail last month, while he 
was serving a 15-day sentence for charges stemming from a 1999 hemp gathering.

Running as a candidate for the new Environmental Peace and Freedom Party, 
Conde promises to legalize the industrial use of hemp, which he says can be 
used as an alternative to lumber composites. He said the decision to run 
for governor was impulsive, but very logical.

"I'll admit it; I'm a C-plus student," Conde said. "But would you rather 
have a dishonest Rhodes Scholar or C-plus student you can trust as your 
governor.

"I figure I can talk just as well as Jesse Ventura."

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

TODAY

12:30 p.m. - Liquid Jeanie

2:30 p.m. - Sumerland

4 p.m. - Toca

6 p.m. - Higher Ground

8 p.m. - Zen Tricksters

10:30 p.m. - Thomas Mapfumo

SATURDAY

Noon - Carmizin

1:30 p.m. - J. Mack

2:45 p.m. - 4th Plane Jaiant

4:15 p.m. - Scott Huckabay

6 p.m. - Freedom Tribe

8 p.m. - Abakadubi

10 p.m. - Lost at Last

SUNDAY

Noon - Earthtones

1:30 p.m. - Norma Fraser

3 p.m. - Alma Melodioao

3 p.m. - Ken Kesey, Ken Babbs and a bus full of pranksters

5 p.m. - Shamir

7 p.m. - Grupo Antifaz

NIGHTLY

Dragon Tribe in "Rings of Fire!"

WORLD HEMP FESTIVAL

WHAT: Celebration of hemp as a fuel, paper and clothing alternative; no 
drugs, no alcohol, no weapons, no dogs allowed

WHEN: Noon to midnight today and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: 23005 N. Coburg Road (Exit 209 off Interstate 5)

TICKETS: Advance tickets are $12.50 today and Saturday, $8 Sunday (or 
$17.50 per car), available through Fastixx; day-of-show tickets are $15 
today and Saturday, $10 Sunday (or $20 per car); three-day camping passes 
are $25 or $22.50 advance.

ALSO: To hear music from Lost at Last's major label debut, call GuardLine 
at 485-2000 and select category 9942
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MAP posted-by: Beth