Festival revives human kindness and camaraderie

One of the things I enjoy most about life is how different experiences make you stretch your personality, try new things and get more out of life. I recently had a similar experience that made me feel more positive about humanity as a whole.

While attending the 2008 Mossy Headz Music Festival, I saw several hundred people avoid calamity and bond to handle what could have easily turned into a crisis. After a full night of great music, Mother Nature decided we all looked a little parched and needed a nice bath. After a few hours of rain on Saturday morning, the hundreds of attendees were forced to find higher ground. Tents were swamped as the waters of the Shoal River rose to meet the furthest crowds and eventually covered the stage over 150 yards from her banks. The previously dry spot of ground I'd set up my tent on was overrun by runoff from the elevated highway above.

However, it would take more than several inches of rain to dampen our spirits as families, vendors and individuals like myself helped their neighbors evacuate the swamped campgrounds. The music was revived later in the day, before rising waters forced bands to perform from the balcony of the only house on the remote property.

After the migration, not a soul had been lost, hurt, maligned or otherwise mistreated during the entire ordeal.

During the shenanigans, I met people that I will work with closely in the future and people that I will never see again.I was also able to discover some great bands and music that I'd previously never heard of.

I want to thank the promoters for accommodating me, hosting such a great event and keeping a cool head in the middle of adversity. See you next year Mossy Headz!