Tyler Jernigan wants to bring something “cool” to northeastern Indiana. Something cool, according to Jernigan, involves music, camping, food, beer and people selling stuff from makeshift storefronts. In other words, a music festival. The Indiana Jam Bash, to be exact. Modeled largely on the long-running, biannual Hookahville festivals in Ohio while veering away from the more stressful aspects of the behemoth Bonnaroo, Jernigan says the inaugural Indiana Jam Bash will provide a much-needed injection of fun for area music lovers.

Located at the expansive 480-acre Kruse Auction Park at I-69 and Dekalb County Road 11-A, Indiana Jam Bash brings together some 25 bands on two stages with car-side camping and an open come-and-go-as-you-please attitude.

“There’s nothing like it that goes on around here,” Jernigan says. “Other people have tried it, but not on this level and not at this location. The facilities are outstanding.”

A veteran of four Bonnaroos, a pair of Langerados and multiple Hookahvilles, Jernigan has learned what works and what doesn’t at festivals. “We’re trying to take as much of the hassle out of the process as possible,” he says.

Part of such hassles at Bonnaroo, for one, include a protracted wait in long lines while safety/security teams shakedown vehicles for stuff they don’t want inside, like glass, flame throwers or small ponies. That stuff inevitably makes it in anyway. At South Florida’s Langerado last March, on-site camping was allowed, but moving freely between the campground and music venues was not. Those who left hats or sunscreen or whatever in the tent, well, tough luck.

“Everybody will be wrist-banded,” Jernigan says, “so they can come in, hang out for a while, leave and drive into town if they want.” And for those who don’t want to go anywhere but their tent, Jernigan says the main stage will be visible, and audible, one presumes, from the camping area.

But much of what is needed, or wanted, will be provided on-site by a slew of vendors selling shirts, food, glass, beer (beer sales are sponsored by Miller Lite, Coors Light, Newcastle and Blue Moon) and soft-drinks.

But enough of that. What makes Bonnaroo, Langerado, Hookahville and other play-here, stay-here music festivals worth the time, travel and money involved is the music. And at Indiana Jam Bash there’s going to be lots of that to go around. Some 25 bands will rotate on and off two stages from late morning until way past midnight. Ekoostik hookah and Vince Herman, formerly of Leftover Salmon, will play both nights. Another Leftover alum, Drew Emmitt, plays Friday with his band. Other bands include Moser Woods, LOTUS, Special ED & The Shortbus, The Grove, Starrunner, U.V. Hippo, Best Players in Baseball, Four Finger Five and Glass Can.

As the name of the festival implies, most of the bands fall into the broad category of jam bands, which generally means a lot of open-ended improvisation is in store. Take headliner ekoostik hookah, for instance. Back from a three-month break after the first of the year, and recently reunited with founding member John Mullins after a 10-year absence, ekoostik hookah are ready to tear it up once again. Based in Columbus, Ohio, ekoostik hookah have been smearing rock, blues, jazz, funk and bluegrass into a psychedelic swirl since 1991. Vocalist/keyboardist Dave Katz, guitarist Steve Sweeney, bassist Cliff Starbuck and guitarist/vocalist Mullins, while playing full-time in other bands, met at a weekly open-mic night and wound up playing together. A gig at a party led to a recording session (thanks to a fan who offered to bankroll a CD), and before they knew what happened they were a band with an album, Under Full Sail. Drummer Eric Lanese joined in 1993.

Ekoostik hookah tapped into a ready fan-base, apparently, because in no time people were following them on the road, and eventually to twice-yearly festivals at an ephemeral place called Hookahville. Over the years Hookahville has hosted the likes of Ratdog, David Crosby, Arlo Guthrie, David Grisman, Dickey Betts, Jazz Mandolin Project, Merl Saunders and the Rainforest Band, Zero, The David Nelson Band and Leftover Salmon.

But not all was peachy in Hookahville. The sudden success brought egos and other problems to the fore. According to Mullins, things were not good. “We just kind of got into it in a bad way,” he said by cell phone. “We just got on each other too much. It’s an odd situation. I wasn’t being the most mature person in the world.”

So he left. Ed McGee stepped in to replace him and for the next decade hookah continued rolling through the American countryside, trailed by an ever-growing circus. After a much-needed rest in January, they were set to play a festival in Jamaica in March, but McGee had a previous gig with his side project, One Under. They called on Mullins to fill in. “I’ve been tight with these guys over the years, even though we weren't playing much,” Mullins said.

McGee decided to devote himself full-time to One Under, and Mullins seemed the natural to take over. The old hookah began to click again. Playing songs they hadn’t played together in nine years, as well as new ones Mullins wrote for his band, turned out to be the kick ekoostik hookah needed.

“I’m pretty happy about it,” Mullins said. “I’m really pretty excited. Everything has been going really well. All the negative stuff is behind us now. I’m older, wiser, more mature and less stupid. Personally, I’m a lot more comfortable with myself. I had a chip on my shoulder. I got rid of it. I learned not to take it for granted. Everyone is running around with smiles on their faces.”

The reunion has put smiles on the faces of hookah fans as well. Mullins said the music is re-energized. “For me, everything old is new again. We’re all better musicians now. We haven’t had time yet to play all the songs we know. We’ve played seven gigs but we keep running out of time.”