Seattle Hempfest 2000, Myrtle Edwards Park, Sea, WA, 8/20/00 - At these all-day politics/music fests, guest speakers are grateful for the indulgence of fans waiting for the next music act. Seattle Hempfest is unusual in that the activist guest speakers have equal billing, quite an accomplishment given the quality of music offered here. The fest also served as the biggest CD release party ever, with close to 100,000 fans on hand to check out acts who contributed to Hemplennium Compilation, a fund-raiser for groups opposing prohibition and the prison industry Appearing on the disc and Hempfest’s 4 stages were longtime musical activists such as El Steiner, reggae legend Clinton Fearon, Phat Sidy Smokehouse, Jim Page, Krist Novoselic, and the fest’s houseband, the Herbivores. The most surprising personality on stage was none other than founding father Thomas Jefferson( portrayed by scholar Keith Stroup) who framed the issues surrounding prohibition with his views on governance and personal liberty. The lineup also included several bands not on the comp, including Gruntruck and a rare appearance of the funky and funny Supersonic Soul Pimps, who have been absent from Seattle stages for over 2 years. - EAK