The official Dave Matthews Band homepage announced that the DMB Weekend festival is in development for the July 4th date in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

Questionable Timing

The official announcement about the Weekend Festival came roughly nineteen hours after Warehouse Ticketing for the entire tour ended. This timing has left some fans unnerved. Once the ordering period has closed on a Warehouse Lottery Ticketing, it isn't possible to remove a request for tickets via the Warehouse. This has left some fans locked in to shows they perhaps would have skipped in lieu of the NYC Weekend Festival.

As quoted from the official main page DMB is "developing a plan for an event at a unique site in the NYC metropolitan area for the Saturday and Sunday of July 4th weekend."

CNN put the Dave Matthews Band's last NYC performance in Central Park at an attendance of 85,000 people. A two day festival implies the inclusion of many other bands. Logistics of the sheer attendance at such an event keep Central Park off the list of likely venues.

Good Day Governor

A full day before the Warehouse publicly announced a DMB Weekend Festival over July 4th in the NYC metro, a fan broke the news quietly on antsmarching's forums. It is strongly believed that Governor's Island could be the location of the DMB Weekend Festival.

Governor's Island is located off the southern tip of Manhattan. It was donated to the United States Army on February 15th, 1800 for national defense. The US Coast Guard was in control of it until 1995. Finally the island was transferred back to New York State on January 31st, 2003. The island is currently overseen by GIPEC, or the Governors Island Preservation and Education Committee.

All Ferries Float to Governors Island

There are several reasons Governors Island, NYC is the surprise location of the 2004 July 4th DMB Weekend Festival. First, it has been indicated that several hotels have booked large blocks of rooms for an event marked 'DMB concert on governors island.

Lower Manhattan as Seen From Governors Island

A large festival on the island would cover the ongoing $1.3 million dollar feasibility study currently being conducted, and leave extra change for the heavy costs of maintaining the grounds.

Third, Stefan Lessard has spoken recently of wanting to play a national parks with WBCN Boston's on-air DJ, Cali. He lightly dodged Cali's reminder in his recent interview.

Listen to Stefan Being Shady Here in mp3 (:33, 391kb)

Highly Anticipated Event

Regardless of the venue, fans have already begun speculating over which bands will join DMB for their July 4th festival. Although Dave Matthews has played solo at festivals as recently as Farm Aid '03, Dave Matthews Band, (Carter, LeRoi, Stefan and Boyd,) haven't played a festival together since the Bridge School Benefit Concert, 10/29/00.

> Champion Your Fandom: DMB: Step Into The Light, New Revised 2nd Ed.