Now THAT’S a headliner!

Bottlerock is so civilized, such a good experience, that you believe it’d be headliner independent. But it is the acts that make the difference, sans known names that appeal to many, you can’t sell out. And you need to sell nearly every ticket to make the economics work.

Pearl Jam? To a certain demo they’re god,

Stevie Nicks? Truly a legend. A hero to both the young and the old.

Ed Sheeran? Despite all the press, the chart-topping records, today’s world is very different from yesteryear, when Pearl Jam and Nicks made their bones. Everyone alive knew their hits. Whereas nothing today is ubiquitous, despite what the press would have you believe. Meaning, how many of these mostly middle-aged attendees are interested in seeing this one man band? ALL OF THEM!

Sheeran is an amazing performer. His personality is such that you like him from minute one, and as the set unfolds you think he’s a friend, and by time he’s done you feel like you know him. Ed is personable without being cloying. And he calmed down a minor kerfuffle so expertly. Saying this was a mellow festival. Which worked, I mean that’s the Bottlerock vibe, no one is elbowing each other, people are apologizing when they bump into you or spill something on you, you’d almost be embarrassed to get your dander up.

And I’m thinking maybe it’s because it’s dark out. But by time he’s done, it’s clear that Sheeran’s act would even work in the light. You’re drawn to him. He’s not selling status, there’s no wall between him and you, it’s all about the experience, the music.

Ed’s creating once in a lifetime loops. He explains this…here right now, and then gone forever. And he sings his songs and you don’t have to know them to get them. And they are songs in the traditional sense. With verses and choruses… You might see Ed in the Spotify Top 50 but it’s not one chord numbers, it’s not one voice and machines, it’s a guy singing songs in the tradition that has existed since the beginning of time, on an acoustic guitar to boot.

I wandered over to see Queens of the Stone Age in the middle of Ed’s set, and there was almost no one there. Must have been disheartening for the band, which was firing on all cylinders.

Stephen Marley was laid back and good, but I couldn’t wait to get back to the garden, to Ed’s stage. And I started off at the back, and the lawn was completely full. People weren’t leaving, he had them in the palm of his hand.

Normally they beat you over the head. And barely speak. You can feel the distance between them and you, the scrim, the untouchability. But not Ed.

Norah Jones? Not dynamic enough to keep your attention. More of a nighttime act. With the sun out your eyes and ears wandered.

I saw this great act Cannons. But it was just a bit too good. So I Shazamed and the tunes came right up, meaning most of the set was on hard drive. The lead singer was live, and had a good voice and some charisma, but come on, they call it LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, can’t you live up to the moniker?

Stephen Sanchez was magical. With the right material, he could become a superstar.

But I must mention the Offspring. Rock and roll might not be forever, but punk is. The audience loved them, it was a victory lap. These guys have sustained, they’ve got a sense of humor, they know their roots, they did “Blitzkrieg Bop,” and Ed Sheeran came out to do a number with them to boot. Fine in the daytime. It was a party. It wasn’t about gravitas, but joy.

And I ate more oysters than you ever do at a restaurant. That was an absolute highlight of my experience at Bottlerock.

If you’re looking for civilized, upscale if you want it, if you want to go to a festival that is truly more than the music, Bottlerock is your place. Everybody who goes knows. I’m just letting you in on the secret.