No one ever said Baton Rouge could notthrow a party. But, the Ivanhoe Music Festival, held on Aug. 22 and23, offered a different kind of college party — more hula hoopsthan keg stands, more frisbee than football and a large, diverseshowcase of live local music.
    ”It’s the most organized backyard partyever,” said event organizer Neil Werries, who is also a member ofthe band Elsah. “And there are all kinds of people here –students, teachers and families. It’s an easygoing blend of dogsand kids.”
    The festival, held on a grassy lot onIvanhoe Street, resembled more of a playground than a concertground. Kids and young adults alike played on the rope swing andthe see-saw while listening to the music. Local neighbors broughtsofas and sold jambalaya.
    A central stage, covered by trees and ashade umbrella, featured bands all weekend for the hundreds ofpassersby who came to hear the free music.
    Local resident Justin Duchaorme campedby the stage to sell his homemade didgeridoos, long tube-likeinstruments which were traditionally used by Australianaboriginals. “I make them out of PVC,” he explained. Despite littlebusiness, Duchaorme said, “I really like the vibe here.”
    Festival-goer Jason Allain, a third yearmath student, agreed with the positive atmosphere. “This place ispretty groovin’,” he said.
    The concert organizers can not explainhow the pieces fall into place year after year, but they gave muchof the credit to the local community. Neighbors even came to pickup trash in the area before the music started.
    ”This festival has such a unique andindividual characteristic,” Werries said, as nearby toddlerssplashed in a baby pool. “It has a great community spirit.”
    But this was not just a lazy day in thepark — it was a picnic of rock.
    Now in its fourth year, the IvanhoeMusic Festival featured a wide array of local bands and musicians,including Erin Miley, The Anna Byars Band, Zenbilly, Elsah, PoorHarvey, The Michael Foster Project, The Myrtles, k-flux, Friends ofGravity, Souls of Blues Revival, Secret Annex, Secret BlackSociety, the Jazz Missionaries, Ryan Lake, Palo Viejo, Capt.Legendary Band, Gangsta Folk, Righteous Buddha and Lingus.
    ”It’s amazing how diverse and wellaccomplished these bands are for as little exposure as they get,”Werries said. “It’s great to see some diversity of bands in BatonRouge. There are a lot of bands here that are better than regional,in my opinion.”
    Angelina de los Rosarios Lopez, agraduate student in horticulture, performed at the festival for thefirst time with her band, Palo Viejo.
    ”I can’t believe I never heard of thisbefore, this place is awesome!” Lopez said. “Baton Rouge music andculture isn’t as dead as people think it is.”
    Palo Viejo was one of many bandsperforming for the first time at Ivanhoe. Bluegrass singer RyanLake even formed his band specifically for his one show, a bandwhich included his ten-year-old daughter, Maya Lake, on backgroundvocals.
    Steve Struck, the festival’s soundtechnician, helped organize the festival along with Werries andk-flux member Scott Whiddon.
    ”This is about as good as it gets,”Struck said as he adjusted the soundboard during a performance ofThe Jazz Missionaries. “I’ve got no complaints. There are so manygood bands, with perfect weather and perfect people.”
    Rain threatened but never came, leavingbehind typical Louisiana heat. To cope with the sun, abicycle-operated fan was constructed for the stage, much to thedelight of the performers.
    ”This is just a real festival,” saidJazz Missionaries bassist Joe Eunice, who has performed at all fourof the Ivanhoe events. “It’s a neighborhood. It doesn’t cost fortybucks. It’s perfect.”
    Even the bands themselves held to acommunal spirit during the two days, oftentimes watching eachother’s sets.
    ”I saw Friends of Gravity last night,they were rockin,” said Brad Walker, a third year music student andsaxophonist for Palo Viejo.
    The festival was the best attended yetin Ivanhoe’s short but thriving history, Werries said, and theoverall positive response speaks well for a strong Baton Rougemusic scene.
    ”It’s just amazing how it all comestogether.”
    As the start of classes beckoned, theIvanhoe Music Festival was a refreshing summer appetizer for theupcoming live music season.