5Q :: Local faves join Wilco, DMB in Detroit Lakes

Detroit Lakes' 10,000 Lakes Festival has always attracted big names, but this year's lineup is really something else: In addition to regional favorites like Cloud Cult, Trampled by Turtles, Atmosphere and Mason Jennings, organizers managed to secure two of the biggest bands on the planet: Wilco and the Dave Matthew Band.

We talked to one of those miracle workers, Dave Weissman, to see, well, how they did it.

Budgeteer: The first thing everyone notices this year is the huge lineup. I mean, there have always been great musicians at the festival, but this year's event attracted the attention of major media outlets like Billboard, etc. So ... how did you guys pull it off?

Weissman: The festival has been growing since its 2003 inception. With that growth comes considerable awareness within the industry with artists, managers and agents.

The progression into this year's 10,000 Lakes Festival lineup has been an organic one, growing over time.

In fact, we've had coverage in Billboard before with some of our other year's lineups. This year USA Today and The New York Times both took notice -- along with some other larger outlets. That may have to do with the inclusion of Dave Matthews Band, which is ranked as the seventh-largest touring group in the world.

Do you feel the event is growing at a comfortable rate?

Yes. The festival organizers have been planning for growth all along. The capacity of the venue is such that we aren't in a place where 10KLF will fill up and sell out.

With that said, the festival could afford to hold a larger audience while not feeling cramped or overcrowded.

For our readers out there getting ready for their first 10KLF experience, do you have any sage advice you'd like to pass on?

Certainly there are some who come to multi-day festivals and come without being properly prepared.

Of all the multi-night camping events I've ever been to, 10KLF offers the most comfortable setting to pitch a tent, enjoy the outdoors and make a weekend out of music.

I highly suggest folks who are planning to attend 10KLF -- or any other festival for that matter -- consider the basics of camping in warm weather: Bring lots of water, sunblock, a hat or visor, a well-ventilated tent with a rain fly, a cooler, plenty of clothes, raingear or ponchos, extra cash, cooking utensils, a cell phone charger for the car, food that you can cook and that won't spoil in your cooler, camping chairs, towels and acoustic musical instruments.

Some other associated ideas include a flashlight or headlamp, extra toilet paper -- as well as the ever-so-useful hand sanitizer.

The best thing about the 10KLF campgrounds is the fact that they each have running-water sinks and hot showers to clean up in. This is an amenity many people take for granted.

Outside of the music, what else is going on throughout the day at the festival?

Swimming in Lake Sallie, hiking through our miles of trails, vendor villages, interactive sponsor booths and more ... but come for the music, stay for the scenery.

Finally, what's your year like leading up to the festival itself? Do you get any down time between the concerts and planning for the next summer's event?

Planning for the next year's event actually begins at the festival itself as we're getting surveys from our patrons and receiving feedback through the course of the event. We do begin to target the following year in August following the festival.

There really is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that takes place in late summer, fall and winter to present such an amazing event as the 10,000 Lakes Festival.

There are people from a variety of states working year-round to make it the way it is.

NEWS TO USE
This year's 10,000 Lakes Festival, featuring headliners like Wilco, Widespread Panic and the Dave Matthews Band, will be held July 22-25 at the Soo Pass Ranch outside Detroit Lakes. For the full lineup, visit www.10klf.com .