ekoostik hookah returned to Ohios Legend Valley Music Center over the Labor Day weekend for the 30th incarnation of the bi-annual Hookahville festival. Hookahville has come a long way since keyboardist Dave Katz’s hosted its inaugural year in his backyard and, this years festivities included performances by Arrested Development, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Abagail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet, Perpetual Groove, The Schwag and Back Forty. Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk were also scheduled to perform but cancelled in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

Hookahville XXX also marked the first time that ekoostik hookah offered three nights of music when, instead of awarding Early Bird campers a chance to hear their Friday soundcheck, the band offered a full-length set. Throughout the weekend, the group also brought back a number of tunes that have been missing from the rotation since the return of founding member John Mullins in 2006, including Katz’s much Day by Day. As usual, hookahs festival-closing Sunday encore featured a series of cover special tunes, ranging from Nirvana’s All Apologies to The Band’s Chest Fever to Bo Diddley’s I’m a Man and Derek & the Dominos Layla. The encore was also marked by a number of special guests, including percussionist Chris Beale, the members of the Schwag and the Tower of Shower horns. Fittingly, the latter group takes it name from that fact that it traditionally rains during its hookahville performances.
ekoostik hookah will appear next at Bellvue, COs Mishawaka Amphitheater on September 12.