Rothbury News

Erin Zindle, lead singer of The Ragbirds. Editor's note: Erin Zindle, lead singer of Ann Arbor-based band The Ragbirds, is keeping a diary of the band's experience at Rothbury as they camp out at the festival throughout the weekend.

Images by: Dave Vann & Chad Smith Rothbury Music Festival :: 07.02.09 - 07.05.09 :: Rothbury, MI Thursday, 07.02 Rothbury 2009 by Vann Life is and should be epic.

With 88 arrests related to the Rothbury music festival last weekend, Oceana County's 78th District Court is still catching up.

Ooh, boy! The 2009 version of Rothbury is off and running! After the gates had opened at 6 p.m., the crowd at the Ranch Arena seemed somewhat subdued as Toubab Crewe put their spin on Afro-Pop and tribal drumming.

Sight unseen and from afar, the ROTHBURY Festival looks like a whole lot of camping, hippies and dreadlocks, and a ton of varied music spread across four days in rural West Michigan.

Police reported few serious problems as the second annual Rothbury music festival wrapped up on Sunday, but the Ludington Daily News is reporting that the Oceana County courts are left with a backlog of court cases stemming from arrests at the festival.

Steve Nettles helps break down the Sherwood Court music stage after Ani DiFranco performed at ROTHBURY Sunday, July 5, 2009.

The last four sunny, cool, adrenaline-soaked days at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury have been a musical and cultural bonanza.

'If I could buy my ticket for next year somewhere around here, I would.' Eric Smith , a 22-year-old student at the University of Central Oklahoma, an attendee who was dressed in a clown costume on Saturday.

Police and organizers say more than 30,000 attended and 88 arrests were made at the second Rothbury music festival in rural western Michigan.

Grand Rapids' Ralston Bowles had "Velvet Elvis" and "James Dean," passionately singing his signature songs during his Rothbury debut Sunday on the main Odeum Stage.

Check out Sunday's iClips.net schedule below 1:45 p.m. Toots and the Maytals 3 p.m. Four Finger Five 3:45 p.m. Yonder Mountain String Band 5:15 p.m. The Hard Lessons 6 p.m. Willie Nelson 7:30 p.m. Grace Potter 8:45 p.m. Flogging Molly 10:00 p.m. Ani DiFranco 11:45 p.m. Matisyahu 1 a.m. Umphrey's McGee See more in Video INSIDE ROTHBURY Resources RSS ...

It pays to show up early to things like this. The Hard Lessons, who might be my new favorite Michigan band, just set an absurdly high water mark for this last day of music at Rothbury.

Holding a rock festival has proved to be an efficient way to attract thousands of people to Michigan.

Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart perform with The Dead on the Odeum Stage Saturday evening During.

Festival-goers listen as Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad plays on the Sherwood Court stage Saturday afternoon.

Talia Ortisi, left, and Anna Wismer, both of Grand Rapids, receive an order of plants to be placed around artist suites in preparation for ROTHBURY Wednesday.

Day 2 of the Rothbury music festival has come and gone, and festival-goers are gearing up for two more days of revelry at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, about 20 miles north of Muskegon.

Deep in the woods of the Rothbury music festival, sometimes you have to look away from the stage to find the real show.

USA TODAY is teaming up with instrumental rockers STS9, who are Twittering about their Rothbury Festival experience for our readers.