Max Creek have confirmed the 2016 dates for their Camp Creek festival. The gathering will return to Mariaville, NY’s Indian Lookout Country Club from July 8-10. A note from Max Creek keyboardist Mark Mercier reads:

OK – so there’s another Camp Creek in the works – but thinking about it gives me cause to reflect on last summer’s Camp… what it was, what it did, and what it meant.

Sometimes the seeming futility of all this appears to be the largest thing – the monster in the room. We donate a large part of our time, our efforts, our lives, to this band and its ongoing endeavors for, in the grand scheme of things, a dubious financial or personal return with no idea as to what good might come about for anyone. Probably our own fault, and believe me, I’m not complaining. But onward…

That being said, I have to say, and I think that I may speak for a great many involved, that last year’s Camp Creek was the most satisfying, the warmest, the most rewarding one in memory. We went into it prepared for the possibility that it was going to be the last one. Sorry – but you never know. Nothing lasts forever. And this event came particularly hard. We chose music carefully to try to get a “not your mama’s jam band festival” line up. Many of our musical compatriots were very generous. Many were extremely disappointed that we were not able to fit all of our very good friends. We’re pretty sensitive, and to piss off anyone we care for is very hard for us. We hope you still love us. Costs went up. What we hoped was going to be an easy weekend for everyone to make turned out to be kinda hard for a lot of people. School started the week before. College started two weeks before. And the weather – well, let’s just say that God becomes a member of the band.

It turned out to be perfect. You – the family – came through incredibly. It was like many forces came together to form something that was greater than the sum of the parts. We all spent a weekend together that we will always remember. It was more than a festival. The moon was perfect. The weather was outstanding. The music was unbelievable – every band had something different to offer. We were with people we like… people we love. It was a community. Every person came away with a story that they wrote themselves. And what moved me personally the most was the number of people that came up to tell me how much the band has meant in their lives. Their lives. A lot of people. And how much Camp Creek has meant. Many people felt that they had to be there. Many came back after a pretty lengthy absence. Or from a pretty long distance. In short, there are many that feel about the band and Camp Creek the same way we do. Bill from the Trading Post said “I remember when you were the only one – you were the first one.” Maybe we’re not now, but for us and for many that we have known through the years, this is still truly home.

You have no idea, but it was all up in the air. It was close. And just before the encore, Derek and I looked at each other and, almost with the same mind as myself at that moment, he said “You know we have to do this again.” I did know. We all knew. And it was right then and there that the decision was made. And so we are.

Max Creek has been hosting Camp Creek for over 30 years. The group will perform at Pawtucket, RI’s The Met this Friday, November 27.