| Ekoostik hookah | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Fredericktown, Ohio |
| Genre: | Rock, psychedelic rock, jam band |
| Years Active: | 1991–present |
| Website: | www.ekoostik.com |
Ekoostik hookah (styled əkoostik hookah) is a jam band from Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1991, the band has made multiple national tours in the US,[1] as well as performing in overseas locales like Amsterdam and Jamaica,[2] although they may more commonly be found playing local Columbus, Ohio venues like Newport Music Hall and Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. They are fixtures in many fine venues across the midwest. The band has shared the stage with many of today's top touring "jam bands", as well as stars such as Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Weir, and Bruce Hornsby.
The band's name, pronounced "Acoustic Hookah", was taken from dictionary entries for the two words. The phonetic spellings were chosen, and the schwa (ə) became the band's official symbol. "Schwa" is also the title of a song by keyboardist and primary songwriter Dave Katz. The band endorses a number of charitable causes; among them, Pittsburgh's ongoing BurghSTOCK Concert Series that benefits area non-profits that assist homeless and disabled military veterans.
Hookahville is a semi-annual music festival featuring performances from local and regional bands and usually hosted and headlined by Ekoostik hookah. Formerly located at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio or at Frontier Ranch in Kirkersville, Ohio, it was moved to Zane Shawnee Caverns in Bellefontaine, Ohio, in 2017 where Hookahville 50 was held in September 2018 and was Ekoostik hookah's reunion show with eh2.0. Hookahville 51 was held at Brushy Fork Phamily Ranch in Newark, OH in May 2019. Hookahville 52 was held at Clear Fork Adventure Resort in Butler, Ohio where eh2.0 returned for one more performance. Spring Hookahville is held the weekend before Memorial Day weekend; the end of summer version is held during Labor Day weekend. In November, 2020, an event was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is not considered the official Hookahville 53 which was ultimately postponed until September of the following year.[3]
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ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1991
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Dave Katz from:18/04/1991 till:31/01/2019 color:keys bar:Dave Katz from:18/04/1991 till:31/01/2019 color:vocals width:3 bar:Steve Sweney from:18/04/1991 till:31/01/2019 color:guitar bar:John Mullins from:18/04/1991 till:07/08/1996 color:guitar bar:John Mullins from:12/04/2006 till:27/03/2010 color:guitar bar:Ed McGee from:25/09/1996 till:31/12/2005 color:guitar bar:Eric Sargent from:27/03/2010 till:31/01/2019 color:guitar bar:Cliff Starbuck from:18/04/1991 till:31/12/2009 color:bass bar:Phil Risko from:01/01/2010 till:31/12/2017 color:bass bar:Matt Paetsch from:26/01/2018 till:end color:bass bar:Steven Frye from:18/04/1991 till:26/08/1993 color:drums bar:Eric Lanese from:18/05/1993 till:31/01/2019 color:drums bar:Don Safranek from:18/06/1992 till:09/07/1994 color:percussion bar:Johnny Polansky from:01/03/2000 till:01/10/2005 color:percussion
width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:John Mullins from:18/04/1991 till:07/08/1996 color:vocals bar:John Mullins from:12/04/2006 till:27/03/2010 color:vocals bar:Ed McGee from:25/09/1996 till:31/12/2005 color:vocals bar:Eric Sargent from:27/03/2010 till:31/01/2019 color:vocals