HEMP, HEMP, HOORAY!

A Celebration Of All Things Alternative

Jaya Lakshmi plans on getting very high at the World Hemp Festival in
Harrisburg this weekend.

As vocalist and keyboardist for the techno/world music act Lost at Last,
Lakshmi won't need any mind-altering substances to reach her elevated state
of consciousness. All she needs are music and an audience.

"I dance a lot on stage, and I do a lot of spiraling and spinning," Lakshmi
said in a phone interview. "The idea is to kind of generate positive energy
and for the audience to generate positive energy. ...

"After a couple of hours of really passionate dancing, things start feeling
pretty intense. I get really high."

With a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy, 75 security guards and an
unknown number of undercover police officers sure to be roaming the grounds
of this year's festival, dancing yourself silly is probably the best way to
enjoy the three-day gathering.

Hosted once again by Bill Conde, the controversial hemp crusader and lumber
maven, this year's festival includes 22 bands, several speakers, a bunch of
performance artists, vendors, craft booths, a beer garden and even a hemp
fashion show.

Along with Lost at Last, which will make its major label debut on RCA
Records next month, the musical lineup features the Zen Tricksters, a New
York jam band; and the Eugene-based Zimbabwean Afro-pop legend Thomas
Mapfumo and his band, the Blacks Unlimited. Eugene's own Liquid Jeanie,
Carmizin, Norma Fraser and Abakadubi also are scheduled to play.

"You guys better come out and take a look, because it's gonna be a great
show," Conde said in a telephone interview. "It's an essential event."

Ken Kesey will appear at the festival on Sunday, along with Ken Babbs and a
bus full of pranksters. Molecular biologist Alan Kapular will speak about
organics, microbiology and other subjects.

The Dragon Tribe, a roaming circus of fire-eaters, will perform nightly and
throughout the festival. Artis the Spoonman will be the master of ceremonies.

One novelty at this year's World Hemp Festival will be Conde's attempt to
launch a bid for the governorship. On Saturday, using a little-known
provision called the "assembly of electors," he will attempt to gather the
signatures of 1,000 registered voters in order to secure a spot for himself
on the ballot. He said the idea came to him in jail last month, while he
was serving a 15-day sentence for charges stemming from a 1999 hemp gathering.

Running as a candidate for the new Environmental Peace and Freedom Party,
Conde promises to legalize the industrial use of hemp, which he says can be
used as an alternative to lumber composites. He said the decision to run
for governor was impulsive, but very logical.

"I'll admit it; I'm a C-plus student," Conde said. "But would you rather
have a dishonest Rhodes Scholar or C-plus student you can trust as your
governor.

"I figure I can talk just as well as Jesse Ventura."

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

TODAY

12:30 p.m. - Liquid Jeanie

2:30 p.m. - Sumerland

4 p.m. - Toca

6 p.m. - Higher Ground

8 p.m. - Zen Tricksters

10:30 p.m. - Thomas Mapfumo

SATURDAY

Noon - Carmizin

1:30 p.m. - J. Mack

2:45 p.m. - 4th Plane Jaiant

4:15 p.m. - Scott Huckabay

6 p.m. - Freedom Tribe

8 p.m. - Abakadubi

10 p.m. - Lost at Last

SUNDAY

Noon - Earthtones

1:30 p.m. - Norma Fraser

3 p.m. - Alma Melodioao

3 p.m. - Ken Kesey, Ken Babbs and a bus full of pranksters

5 p.m. - Shamir

7 p.m. - Grupo Antifaz

NIGHTLY

Dragon Tribe in "Rings of Fire!"

WORLD HEMP FESTIVAL

WHAT: Celebration of hemp as a fuel, paper and clothing alternative; no
drugs, no alcohol, no weapons, no dogs allowed

WHEN: Noon to midnight today and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: 23005 N. Coburg Road (Exit 209 off Interstate 5)

TICKETS: Advance tickets are $12.50 today and Saturday, $8 Sunday (or
$17.50 per car), available through Fastixx; day-of-show tickets are $15
today and Saturday, $10 Sunday (or $20 per car); three-day camping passes
are $25 or $22.50 advance.

ALSO: To hear music from Lost at Last's major label debut, call GuardLine
at 485-2000 and select category 9942