From the beginning, The Hot August Music Festival, formerly the Hot August Blues Festival, was a music industry event. With its roots in the Baltimore Blues Society, the festival began in 1993 as a gathering of music lovers and phenomenal musicians on a farm in Monkton where hundreds of people turned out every year to hear bands making the scene.

As the crowds approached and passed 1,000 – the decision to move the event to Oregon Ridge in Hunt Valley in 2003, allowed the event to grow to its current size, with two stages, over nine bands, a Picker’s Grove, vendors row, and over 7,000 attendees.

Held on August 20^th this year, the festival is a place where families come together, memories are forged and lifetimes are shaped by the music. The community and the friendships fostered over the years span ages and roles with the musicians and the workers equally enchanted and influenced as the attendees.

In its 24^th year, the H.A.M.F. talked with long time goers to hear what the festival means to them and how it’s impacted their lives. While the stories are different, the theme is the same. The festival has been credited time and again for instilling a love of music, for providing a day in otherwise busy, hectic lives to pause and take in the relaxed vibe, and the accidental cultivation of lifelong traditions.

For the Hummell family of four, it started early on, at the first festivals back at the Monkton Farm, and friendship with the founders, the Selko family, who still run the festival today. “They let us borrow instruments, they were always playing music…” said Gram Hummell, “When we first went to the festival, it was because they were a family friend, but they introduced us to many wonderful musicians, bands and genres of music over the years…Hot August Music Festival has really nurtured a love of music for our household.”

His sister Grace looks forward to going back stage this year. She has worked the festival since she was old enough, running the face painting in the Kids’ Corner or ticket sales, and remembers vividly the days when she would run around barefoot. One special memory is when musician Derek Trucks said hello to her, another, when a young boy on stage played blues piano “I just wanted to be him…” said Grace, the music was so magical.

We talked to a lot of people about what the festival means to them and the resounding theme is again and again “Family”. The extended kind of family that is forged over time through shared experiences and common joys. The festival represents a day to check out from the hectic bustle of everyday life and claim one last day of summer relaxation with the people you enjoy spending time with.

Mary Lou Hartley has been attending the festival since its second year. She would come to the festival, hear new bands, fall in love with the music and go buy the cd. When asked to pick her favorite year, she couldn’t. There were too many favorites. Zydeco, bluegrass, country rock – perhaps it’s the year when Nickle Creek and Joe Bonamassa played. “Life gets put on hold. Everyone is happy – whatever else is going on is pushed to the side and there is a fun happy feel to the day,” says Mary Lou. Known as the “Queen of Tent City” part of Mary Lou’s tradition is to go early and stay late. Seeing old friends who were met years back at the festival, friends from high school, and new friends met in line at the gate, all put a smile on her face.

For WTMD DJ Matt Galler, “Afternoon Drive with Galler” and “The Saturday Alternative show”; The Hot August Music Festival was his first time announcing on stage, ever. “It looked like a sea of people out there. It was cool to see how everyone was doing and hear the crowd roar.” To Galler, the festival is always great. “Brad (Selko, founder and director of HAMF) seems relaxed and welcoming. Brad makes you want to be a part of the Hot August Music Festival. He is always picking our brains for new music and makes you feel a part of the process.”

His fondest HAMF moment? Seeing Warren Haynes in person backstage, “a ‘Rock Guitar God’, I got chills. I was really happy”said Matt.

What makes HAMF special is how WTMD, a sponsor of the event, and HAMF ‘s missions are similar. Bringing together community and music lovers. “There is always so much positivity at HAMF. Everyone is “ok” doing their thing and everyone is ok doing it.” Said Galler, who is looking forward to Thievery Corporation this year “I love their music.”As a DJ participating in the festival, it’s feeling the energy of the crowd that sets it apart. “Getting the immediate response from the crowd and seeing the smiles on people’s faces. You can’t get that over the radio in such an instant way.” Said Galler.

Tyler LaPorte, a 10 year HAMF veteran and former WTMD DJ, had this to add, “When working for WTMD and being at the festival- it was work. But now working (directly) for the festival it’s like being a part of a family. Camp HAMF. You get to see the same people every year, including other staff, fans and friends. Working the festival, you come in contact with the talent which is always fun, but it’s your contact with them and how you treat them sets the tone for the day and I take that very seriously.”

“HAMF is the best festival in Baltimore, it always feels relaxed, even when I’m going crazy working it’s still a relaxed feel. I just like being a part of it and knowing it brings people joy. Hot August is the only festival I would miss Phish or Morning Jacket for,” said Tyler. And this year? “I am looking forward to seeing Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.”

Kristen BachranLaPorte, Tyler’s wife and former WTMD Membership Director, started going to the festival in 2005 with her dad, Lester, and her step mom. Lester used to sell tickets to the festival. The year Tedeschi-Trucks played, in 2011, Tyler and Kristin were dating. That day was one of their “big falling in love days.” They shared the music and the moment of the band they both really love. So, of course, they had the band’s music played at their wedding.

“I think it is so cool that I started going to the festival with my Dad and now I am married to Tyler, who also works for the festival. It’s all stayed in the family.” Said Kristen. The festival has that effect on people.

Allen Reisburg remembers taking his son Evan when he was six or seven years old. Evan, now 26, has fond memories of the tie dye t-shirts his father dressed him in, and of playing frisbee in the fields. They both remember the game of ‘guess what song is next” where young Evan surprised and impressed his father by pegging Could it be Love by Bob Marleyas played by Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience.

Allen’s love of live music, music that is not over-produced, has been shared with Evan. They count on being at the Hot August Music Festival, to seeing each other there. Greatly influenced by the music in his life, Evan worked at the 8x10 venue through college and now works at Mission Tix, a concert ticket management company. The Reisburgs are both excited for this year’s line-up, mostly band “Joe Russo’s Almost Dead”.

The Hot August Music Festival has been a gathering place to celebrate the close of summer, to spend a day with the music you love and to come together as a community to enjoy good times and good company. The festival has been serving the music community for over 20 years.

“HAMF is part of our summer vacation. We would never miss a Hot August Music Festival - it’s great and it’s in our backyard” said Kristen BachranLaPorte.

For this year’s lineup: http://www.hotaugustmusicfestival.com/

Photo Credit #HAMF, Mary Lou Hartley and Friends

Photo Credit: HAMF; WTMD DJ Matt Galler

Photo Credit: HAMF; Tyler LaPorte with festival founder Brad Selko

Photo Credit: Michelle McNear, circa 1990’s