Taste of Terrastock

The definition of psychedelic music has changed since its beginnings in the 1960s. Branching off into a huge array of styles over the years, modern psychedelia has become extremely varied, and the term can easily be applied to anything from stoner rock/jam groups to druggy folk and drone.

A celebration of this diversity, the Terrastock festival will bring the wide branches of the psychedelic tree together in Louisville, Ky., for a weekend of artists rarely heard by the average American music lover. And you can get a little taste of the music this Wednesday at Bear’s Place.

Four of the artists, along with local Bloomington act Poison Oak, will play a prequel to the festival this Wednesday at Bear’s Place, giving locals an opportunity to experience Terrastock’s sound. The show includes folk-influenced psychedelic artists United Bible Studies, Sharron Kraus and Ignatz (from Ireland, the United Kingdom and Belgium, respectively), and Kohoutek, a Washington, D.C., collective that improvises loud psychedelic rock, drone and noise.

“In many ways, these artists are indeed outsiders. They choose to work in idioms outside of the pop world of modern times,” Heath Byers, co-owner of Landlocked Music and event organizer, said. “Those coming to the show should come with open ears to new sounds and experiences.”

Joining these groups in Louisville at the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center, a massive meat-packing plant turned art haven, are Terrastock veterans like Bardo Pond, Major Stars and The Bevis Frond, as well as legendary indie-rock group Antietam. With three stages and a full three-day lineup, Terrastock has a huge variety of music to offer.

Sharron Kraus, who sings rich, haunting folk accompanied by acoustic guitar and banjo, will be performing at Terrastock for the second time this year. She describes the festival as “an extended family — only without the dysfunction!”

“Mostly it seems that there are people working in different genres who all get each others’ music on a gut level and enjoy hanging out, playing together, talking about music,” Kraus said.

Along with her own set, Kraus will sing and play fiddle with United Bible Studies, who she is currently touring with. Kraus called United Bible Studies a “great improv collective,” and said she may be joined by some of the group’s members during her own performance.

“Every show they do seems to be different,” Kraus said. “There’ll be electronics, analog keyboards, plus harp, fiddle and all the acoustic instruments.”

Scott Verrastro, three-time Terrastock attendee, will have the chance to play the festival for the first time this year with his group Kohoutek.

“If you’re going to this festival, you’re a hard-core fan of underground psychedelic rock,” Verrastro said. “Everyone plays great sets; there’s quality and diversity all around.”

Verrastro, who plays drums and percussion, describes his band as having a revolving lineup, and is unsure of exactly who will be playing with Kohoutek at Terrastock and Bear’s Place. Like many Terrastock bands, Kohoutek’s music is largely improvisational.

“What I like to do is create on the spot; create something new every time,” Verrastro said. “I like to see bands that do things differently every time. When you come see me, I want to give you something different.”

Co-owner of Landlocked Music Jason Nickey is most excited to see Ignatz, a one-man act, at Bear’s Place.

“(He) put out a strange little album last year, and I’m curious to see (him) live,” Nickey said. “Many of the bands playing Terrastock never play this part of the world, so the whole thing is a real treat.”

Along with the music, Terrastock will offer camping for attendees, as well as over 40 vendors in the “market area,” including visual art shops, record sellers and other oddities.

For diehard fans and newcomers alike, Terrastock is a unique, diverse look at underground psychedelic rock in the 21st century. The music may be unusual to the ordinary listener’s palette, but if psychedelic music is something you find yourself drawn to, Verrastro is confident that the festival will be a great experience.

“It’s my favorite festival,” Verrastro said. “It’ll be 300 to 400 people who are all music geeks of the psychedelic. There’s no violence, no bad vibes; I can’t speak highly enough of it.”