This week, Nonpoint hits the stage with the killer opener Surrender the Fall, in support of the release of their latest self-titled record.
Nonpoint:
Founded in early 1997 by Elias Soriano (vocals) and Robb Rivera (drums) in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The rest of the band members consists of Rasheed Thomas (guitar), Dave Lizzio (guitar), and Adam Wolaszyn (bass). Over the years, the band has released a total of 9 albums and has shared the stage with Hinder, Drowning Pool, 12 Stones, Anew Revolution, Mudvayne, In This Moment, Sevendust, and Buckcherry, as well as recently making an appearance at X-Fest in Syracuse, NY.
Surrender the Fall:
Hailing from Memphis, TN, this five pieced band hits the stage to continue supporting their debut record, Burn in the Spotlight, released in September 2012. Members are Jared Cole (vocals), Anthony Pitts (guitar), Eddie Tyre (guitar), Devin Hightower (bass), and Rick Anderson (drums). This past year, Surrender the Fall rocked the stage at Rockapalooza with Candlebox, Saliva, and Mushroomhead. They have previously toured with Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Almost Kings, Eye Empire, and My Darkest Days.
Be sure to check future tour dates on both bands’ Facebook pages. This is certainly a performance you will not want to miss.
This is Part 1 of ‘s coverage of Gathering of the Vibes 2013. Check back tomorrow for a recap of Saturday and Sunday.
Gathering of the Vibes celebrated its 18th year with its annual four day festival at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut filled with a variety of music, food and art on July 25th-28th. Acting as one of the biggest playgrounds in the country, Vibes offers something for people of all ages with family camping, the School of Rock Teen Scene, a colorful Ferris Wheel and of course, music from every era and genre. Seaside Park was the ideal setting for the festival with its 375 acre lush greenery and endless blue shores.
Original Strangefolk
With so much planning or lack thereof that goes into preparing for festivals, the music can almost get forgotten. There is so much to do before you can actually breathe, sit back and enjoy yourself that the music takes you by surprise. One moment you’re buying tickets, the next you’re packing up the car and then suddenly find yourself in front of the Main Stage, feeding off the crowd’s anticipation for the start of the show. The weekend began with the original lineup of Strangefolk, one of the first bands to play at the first GOTV’s in 1996, making this set not worth missing with Jon Trafton, Reid Genauer, Erik Glockler and Luke Smith. Their upbeat melodies built up a great hope and reassurance that this weekend was going to be amazing as the set contained gems like “Reuben’s Place” with “Helpless” (Neil Young) vocals and guitarist Jon Trafton teasing Phish’s “Bathtub Gin” during “Paperback Book.” Strangefolk was then joined onstage by Grateful Dead Hour host David Gans for the ultimate DeadHead party starter, “Shakedown Street”.
Dark Star Orchestra headlined the Main Stage with the Grateful Dead performance from Andover, Maryland in September 1976. The evening took off with a rockin’ “Bertha” opener, a solid “Let it Grow” and darling “Sugaree” for the first set and an intense closing sequence of “Scarlet Begonias>St. Stephen>Not Fade Away>Drums>St. Stephen.” The show featured Jim Allard on bass and Jeff Mattson capturing Jerry Garcia flawlessly. With a light drizzle throughout the night, it wasn’t enough to damper the crowd’s positive spirits and added for an extra entertaining factor for the light show.
Kung Fu
Thursday night ended with Kung Fu and The Dojo Allstars lighting up the night on the Green Vibes Stage. The Connecticut based band of Tim Palmieri (guitar), Robert Somerville (tenor sax) and Todd Stoops, (keyboards) were joined by talented musicians Chris DeAngelis (bass guitar) and Adrian Tramontano (drums/percussion), Nigel Hall (vocals/keys), Nick Biello (sax), Rob Volo (trombone), Cy Madan (keys), Ryan Cavanaugh (Banjo) and 13-year-old prodigy Bobby Paltauf (guitar). Needless to say, it was a funk face-melting over load.
Friday morning brought even more people to the festival grounds. The perfect wake- up call was hearing the electronic rock music from Upstate New York’s Jimkata echoing off the Green Vibes Stage. Their light-hearted synthesizers loops mixed with indie guitar strumming was more than enough to get the crowd moving and ready for the rest of the day. Assembly of Dust eased into the Friday afternoon with an early 70s rock combined with a mellow country sound. Jason Crosby on the keys, held his notes strong especially during “Telling Sue”. Singer-songwriter Reid Genauer sang out with a true Americana charm and was joined by his four-year son for “Second Song.”
The Revivalists
One of the best things about Vibes is being introduced to new musicians that you don’t hear on the radio yet still have an incredible stage presence. Hailing from New Orleans, The Revivalists nearly tore down the Green Vibes Stage with their intense sound and energy. The musicians were literally climbing all over the stage and each other, charging the audience with a heavy dose of rock and roll mixed with southern soul. Dave Shaw screamed the lyrics with raw attitude, only to have the crowd screaming right back. Ed Williams shreds the pedal steel guitar apart and comes close to pushing it over onto the front row fans a few times. The Revivalists have made stops at more festivals this year than any other band (per Relix Magazine‘s festival guide) but what sets Vibes apart from the rest for the boys is the smell of the salt water on stage and having the longest set of almost 2 hours.
Wavy Gravy
Blue skies and sunshine greeted festival goers as the day continued, making for a terrific view, especially from a top the Wheel of Lights Ferris Wheel. The top cart was the best place to take in not only the beautiful venue of Seaside Park but for the Railroad Earth set on the Main Stage. The bluegrass jam band from New Jersey filled the air with a laid back summer time vibe with their blissful strumming and continuous flow. The crowd clapped along with the Carey Harmon steady rhythms and danced all over the field from Tim Carbone’s fiddle playing.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi returned to Vibes this year with their 11-piece blues rock group, Tedeschi Trucks Band. Featuring Kofi Burbridge (keys, flute), Eric Krasno (from Lettuce, on bass), Tyler Greenwell (drums), J.J. Johnson (drums), Mike Mattison (harmony vocals), Mark Rivers (harmony vocals), Maurice Brown (trumpet), Kebbi Williams (sax) and Saunders Sermons (trombone), all of these artists make up a musical force to be reckoned with. Tedeschi’s strong female vocals can be heard across the festival alongside with blaring guitar riffs from Trucks. The surprise of the first set came from Bill Evans joining TTB with his saxophone, jazzing up the funky blues song “Love is Something Else.” The set continued with a gentle “Angel from Montgomery” only to flow beautifully into a bluegrassy version of the Grateful Dead’s “Sugaree.” Trucks and Tedeschi have both made strides with their separate solo careers but when performing all together, their family creates nonstop harmonies that help us appreciate the musical bonds we share, especially at Gathering of the Vibes.
Phil Lesh & Friends
To celebrate the 18th year of Gathering of the Vibes, Grateful Dead former bassist, Phil Lesh was booked for both Friday and Saturday night, joined this year with his Friends: guitarist John Scofield, keyboardist John Medeski, Joe Russo on drums and John Kadlecik on guitar/vocals. The evening got underway with a graceful and groovy “Scarlet Begonias” straight into a rockin’ “Just Like Tom Thumb Blues”. The night was filled with spacey, chaotic improvisational jams that swirled through the evening air. Each musician had their own sound going, making it difficult to focus on any singular part of it. Fans were left in awe as most of the songs were well over 10 minutes, each receiving a well-deserved jam with seemingly directionless patterns. Phil took a few minutes to thank the fans and festival for continuing to keep the Grateful Dead spirit alive and with tears in his eyes, he said, “It’s like coming home.” The highlight of the evening was pretty much the entire second set with “The Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion” opener into an almost 20-minute “Viola Lee Blues” and “Unbroken Chain.” The moon rose over the tie-dye covered field, which seemed to glow brighter when the band went into “Standing on the Moon” sending chills down my spine from the saltwater breeze and Medeski’s righteous lingering chords. The set ended with the gentle lullaby of “Ripple” causing the audience to sing and sway off into the night.
The late night party got started with Connecticut‘s own Deep Banana Blackout on the Green Vibes stage, delivering hot New Orleans inspired funk. DBB is no stranger to GOTVs as they have been invited back for the past few years now, serving up soulful contagious dance music complete with a full horn section. DBB shocked listeners, particularly Phish Phans, as they teased Phish’s “Wilson” chant, which was played that same night by Phish at The Gorge in WA, proving that good news and music travel fast.
Silent Disco
The Silent Disco was on the complete opposite side of the festival from the Main and Green Stage. It’s a long walk but definitely worth the trip. You walk up to the tent, where you are given a huge pair of headphones and given simple instructions for proper usage. As you look around, there are a few hundred people on the beach, all wearing the headphones, dancing their asses off and being surprisingly very quiet. There are two DJs that have two completely different sounds going that fans can choose to tune into. Friday night featured Conneticon and Sloedwn from 1am to 4:30am as well as Matt Haze, who sampled various European genres and beats while Saturday played host to Suspence and Cosmal. The clear crowd-pleaser was the artist MoPo, short for Motion Potion, also known as Robbie Kowal from California. He mixed 90’s jock jam with Phish with Talking Heads with Jay Z plus so much more. As the sun began to rise, creating dream like colors across the sky, MoPo remixed various Beatles covers such as, “Here Comes The Sun” and “Dear Prudence.” Silent Disco fans know how to party and with music from MoPo, it was easy to dance until dawn.
Equifunk: The All-Inclusive Music Festival is happening from August 16 to 18 this year and we are happy to announce a new series on that will bring you previews and interviews with bands that will be playing the festival. The All-Inclusive Preview is happy to take a look at Marco Benevento to continue this series.
Marco is no stranger to those in the Upstate region. Living in Woodstock, he regularly visits Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo while out on tour. His mastery of the keys along with his fun-filled jam-packed set always sets the floor into a dance party regardless of what venue he is playing. Marco will be playing at least three times over the weekend with a solo set, a special late night camp fire set, and finally on Sunday he will playing with The M&M’s that also includes Maceo Parker, Stanton Moore, John Medeski, Robert Mercurio, and Papa Mali. He is no stranger to the festival as this will be his 3rd appearance.
Tickets are available now here. Check out our full preview of the Equifunk festival here.
Dan Smalls Presents recently announced the fall schedule for The Haunt, in Ithaca, NY. Known throughout the Upstate New York Region as the premier concert promoter, Dan Smalls Presents is bringing the hottest musical artists in the country to our neck of the woods. Their shows are well run and highly organized and we here at are proud to announce the artists coming this Fall.
Tickets for these Dan Smalls Fall shows in Ithaca go on sale Friday 8/9/13 and can be purchased online or at the venue box office.
October 10 – Brooklyn based funk all-stars Turkuaz will start off the season with their appearance at the Haunt. Doors open at 8:00PM and the show is at 9:00PM, Ages: 16+.
October 18 – John Brown’s Body brings their Roots based Reggae to The Haunt. Doors open at 8:00PM and the show starts at 9:00PM, Ages: 16+.
October 27 – Tera Melos will introduce their punk/prog-rock tunes to Ithaca all the way from Sacramento, C.A.. Doors open at 8:00PM and show starts at 9:00PM, Ages: 16+.
October 13 – Regulars to the Upstate scene Jimkata and their signature brand of song-oriented electro-rock, will be a rager for sure. Doors open at 8:00PM and the show starts at 9:00PM, Ages: 16+.
November 11 – Spiritual Rez will light up the dance floor at The Haunt. Doors open at 8:00PM and the show starts at 9:00PM, Ages: 16+.
December 13 – Bluegrass fans will be treated with the sounds of Driftwood and some good’old foot-stompin hootnany. Doors open at 8:00PM and the show starts at 9:00PM, Ages: 16+.
I first heard of this band called Phish in the middle of my first year of college at SUNY Alfred from a fellow architecture student. He had a few tapes which he copied for me (which in turn I was able to trade for a box full which now resides in the “dusty memories” corner of my basement). This was back in the day where you couldn’t just turn on YouTube or cruise to the Phish spreadsheet to hear whatever show you wanted – you had to actually work for it! Despite my musical background, which was mostly metal and classic rock at that point, the band impressed me immediately. The juxtaposition of incredibly structured songs wrapped in periods of ‘anything goes’ was completely new to me and I became engrossed in learning about all things Phish.
It wasn’t until the summer of ‘93 that I finally had an opportunity to catch the band live, but by then I had heard dozens of tapes, knew the studio albums by heart, and was beyond psyched for my first experience. My friend Ron and I traveled up from Candor, NY, just south of Ithaca, up to Buffalo to meet some of his friends. As luck would have it, his friends parents were quite well-off and we spent the early afternoon in a gorgeous custom pool with attached hot tub before collecting everyone and heading towards Darien Lake. After a quick and delicious stop at Buffalo’s Mighty Taco we got to the venue a few hours before show time.
After scoring my first ever lot grilled cheese and a nice fan-made “Gone Phishin’” t-shirt, we wandered in to find a good spot on the lawn. The weather was perfect and the shrieks of nearby tourists in the next door amusement park only added to the overall excitement in the air. I was immediately taken aback by the crowd, while it certainly reminded me of the two Grateful Dead experiences I had gone on, there was something different about it, almost intangible…
The band wasted no time coming out of the gate with an especially “Taboot” version of “Llama”, arguably one of the greatest openers in the bands repertoire. While my ears remained transfixed to the auditory mastery unfolding before them, my eyes started to wander around the crowd around me, trying to quantify that intangible feeling I had noticed earlier. What I observed was astounding. Everyone stood, transfixed by the music. Chatting was minimal. The sea of people knew every word, every note, every nuance of the songs being performed. People danced to their own hearts, with no qualms of judgement. This was not a place to worry about mortgage statements, exes or bosses that make you work all weekend. This was a time to live in the moment and become immersed in the pureness of music mastery. The rest of the set was loaded with treats for new timers and seasoned veterans alike. From the simple recreation of “Bouncing around the Room” to the fierce peaks and improvisation in a “Reba>Maze” pairing, which remain as some of my favorite versions of those songs to this day.
Then stuff got awesomely weird as the first notes of Colonel Forbin’s ascent rang out and the crowd collectively shit their tie-dyed britches. The Colonel went on quite the journey this sunny August day, as Trey’s narration appropriately took us through the “roller coaster of the mind” as unknowing park dwellers went on their own metal and wood coaster journey’s nearby. Eventually the Colonel found the Famous Mockingbird and the band closed the set with a spirited version of classic set closer “Cavern.”
After far more than the 15 minutes Trey promised us, the band came back for the second set and launched into the familiar notes of Strauss’s “Also Spracht Zarathrusta”. More typical lengthwise to the 3.0 versions of this tune, it was a quick one and launched immediately into my very first experience with Mike’s Groove. Mike’s Groove has had a lot of variations throughout Phishtory, but the standard is the trio of “Mikes Song”, the segue instrumental “I am Hydrogen”, and the raging rock of “Weekapaug Groove” to close it. This particular Mike’s would stray far from the standard. Two distinct jams in the Mike’s section, with the second being so atypical it is often marked on setlists as “Irish Diddy Jam”. Sandwiched in the middle of this monster was my first experience hearing (or knowing about) the Jon Fishman penned poem “Kung”. We stood up, we ran to the hills, we imagined 1000’s of stampeding golf carts hell-bent on stealing our rich minerals. I gave Ron the 10th of what would be dozens of “Did that just really happen?” looks that night.
Little did I know, this Mike’s was just getting started. Instead of the typical segue into “I Am Hydrogen” the band went into yet another rarity, the beautiful and succinct Trey instrumental “The Man Who Saw Into Yesterday”. Continuing the groove madness, the Phish version of the Jewish prayer “Avenu Malkenu” came next. “Our Father, Our King, be gracious with us and answer us, even though we have no deeds; treat us with charity and kindness, and save us.” But who would save us? Instead of the typical “Weekapaug” exclamation point, “The Sloth” came down from the ghetto to slice our nipples. No one complained. In fact we all felt like laughing. And we laughed and laughed until we fell apart during the ensuing “Sparkle” which was set on super-holy-phuck-turbo speed. No bathroom songs in this show. The set continued with a well executed version of THE original Gamehendge song, “McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters” which segued into a hilarious take on Prince’s “Purple Rain” with the typical Phished up version of Argent’s “Hold Your Head Up” to follow. The set then closed with arguably Phish’s greatest show closing tune, a rip roaring, unrelenting “Run Like an Antelope” complete with fireworks and a laser light show from inside the theme park.
Two decades later this show still resounds as one of the greatest experiences I’ve had. Five Gamehendge related songs, a Kung, audience signals, the most atypical Mike’s Groove I have seen to this day, and just the overall experience of euphoria and belonging in the air made it something I will never forget. It was truly a life changing experience and Phish has endured as a major portion of my being ever since. I wear a handcrafted gold Phish ring on my hand. My car is adorned with a PH1SH license plate. I saw my 3oth show on my 30th birthday. My son was conceived during Coventry weekend. Twenty years later, I’m still upside down.
Set 1: Llama, Bouncing Around the Room > Poor Heart > Stash[1] -> Makisupa Policeman, Reba[2], Maze, Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird[3] > Cavern
Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Mike’s Song[4] -> Kung -> Mike’s Song > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu > The Sloth, Sparkle, My Friend, My Friend[5] > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters -> Purple Rain > Hold Your Head Up, Run Like an Antelope
Encore: Carolina, La Grange
[1] Unfinished. [2] No whistling. [3] Narration dealt with the “Roller Coaster of the Mind.” [4] Aw Fuck! and Oom Pa Pa signals. [5] Beginning featured Trey on acoustic guitar.
The team at Catskill Chill Music Festival has announced a collaboration that all of the ChillFam is sure to love. An official “Dopadosio” set featuring all members of Papadosio and Dopapodtogether on one stage to close out the fourth annual event. As much fun as it has been for us fans to combine the two names “Papadosio” and “Dopapod,” finally we have a name that will stick. You surely will not want to miss this amazing festival closing set at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, New York.
After the success of last year’s intimate Acoustic Junction and the response to Consider the Source’s first-time endeavor at the musical style, the festival organizers have doubled the offerings. This year’s roster features Consider The Source along with a mix of artists that regularly perform acoustic such as Brock Butler, The Brummy Brothers and Dan Collins, along with acts performing stripped down sets for the first time. These performances by Tom Hamilton & Friends, Primate Fiasco and MUN are definitely not to be missed.
Yoga lovers will also be happy to hear that the Catskill Chill has expanded their program adding additional classes, some of which will be accompanied by live music from Cosmal so you can get down while getting downward dog. Also, new to the ever expanding Vendor Village for 2013 is a local Farmer’s Market serving fresh, seasonal produce and other delicious specialties.
The Big Up Festival is right around the corner and it’s time to start mapping out your festival game-plan so you don’t miss all of the awesome acts The Big Up has in store. I had the opportunity to ask one of The Big Up’s recent additions to the already stellar lineup Eskmo, or Brendan Angelides. If you had the opportunity to catch Eskmo at Camp Bisco, you know you are in for a serious treat at his late night set at the Space Ball City Tent.
Jennifer Wilson: Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in the music industry?
Brendan Angelides: I’m from the east coast of the US originally. I started playing music with bands in high school and then slowly started working on solo projects with cheap electronic gear. Flash forward a number of years and with a series of singles on vinyl, I ended up signing with Ninja Tune to release the latest batch of music.
JW: Can you tell us a story about a day in your life?
BA: Nothing too fancy really. I do my morning ritual, take care of simple tasks and work on music. I always mix in hiking, meditating and (just as of recent) practicing Kenpo.
JW: How would you describe your music to someone who had never heard it before?
BA: I’m not sure really, but I could say melodic Earth and Water music.
JW: Your musical technique seems to cross many different genres and styles. What goes into your process of creating a new song or album?
BA: Honest reflection of what is going on in my life and growth process. It can come from a variety of places, but as long as it’s authentic it is always the best route to take. Sometimes lyrics, sometimes melodies, sometimes it can be a cool recording I got at a train station.
JW: You released a collaborative project with Amon Tobin, what was it like working with such an influential composer and producer?
BA: Humbling and encouraging. I value his integrity and person a large amount. He is one of the best out there.
JW: What do you want The Big Up goers to expect from your performance and how will it differ from what they may have seen at CampBisco?
BA: Each set has a ton of improvised elements, live singing and happy accidents. I’m sure it will be its own experience. If anyone wants to bring me sound effects, go for it.
JW: What advice would you give to other artists at The Big Up festival who have less experience playing live than you?
BA: Be patient, stay focused and authentic; and breathe
Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance was held on the 18th- 21st of July, 2013. Not really though. Really it began on Rabbit Run Rd. behind the Trumansburg Fairgrounds outside of Ithaca on July 17th. Anybody there will tell you. Cars, trucks, buses and RVs lined up early Wednesday morning to get in line and do their best in claiming a good spot on the grounds. Loyal fans spent the night on the side of the road in the humidity and July heat carrying Grassroots cheer with them, as they reminisced about past years. When Thursday morning arrived, the hard work had paid off and at noon, hot pink bracelets were on and gates were opened. People filled up the fields and both onsite and offsite camping almost full as the much anticipated music began.
To many, Grassroots is a summer staple, a place where they return again and again, often times carrying new friends along, recommending the joy to others they meet on their travels. Musicians and crowds carry similar chants: “Grassroots is not like any other festival, it is in a class all of its own. Casting spells and sharing the whole wide world on four stages.”
The popular new camping area dubbed “Next door camping” is a great place to stay while the festival unravels. You can hear sounds from the famous stage at the Infield, as well as be tempted by sights and sounds coming from the Grandstand stage. Thursday evening The Blind Spots kicked the festival into full gear, mixing oldies, funk, reggae, rock and the gorgeous vocals of lead singer Maddy Walsh up into the perfect brew. Their rendition of “Purple Rain” kept people talking through the weekend. Staying at the Grandstand would have kept anyone satisfied with bands like Driftwood, Rubblebucket, and of course Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad filling up the night with sound. At Grassroots though, a different world is a walk away. Down a dusty old path to the Infield, festival creators Donna the Buffalo was making beautiful music before handing the stage over to old time favorites Rusted Root. Meanwhile, the famous Grassroots dance tent was successfully being turned into a NYC dance club with newcomers DJ Bill Kelly & Richard McVay.
Grassroots parties ‘til the moon goes down. So after a perfect night of raging, Friday comes too quick. Yoga in the dance tent tempts most festival goers but the early morning sun seems like too much and the crowds remain small (“maybe tomorrow?”) One of the perks to being a Grassroots flower is you get second chances. Everything happens twice. Any overlapping bands, events or adventure usually give you a second chance. There is the double-scheduled bands, the healing tent activities happening each day, ethnic and comfort food available all hours of the night, shuttle buses that leave every ten minutes to the forest at offsite, the free-flowing art in the barn and of course the forever tumbling gorges a walk away.
Friday at Grassroots promised some of the biggest acts of the weekend including Jim Lauderdale, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, Sim Redmond Band, and John Brown’s Body. If you are willing to look and listen you’ll find a few new favorites as well. The Spam Allstars from Miami, Florida rocked the Grandstand Friday evening taking festival goers from the hot Latin music of South America to the cool trance music of Canada.
Saturday is the day to get down at Grassroots. Anyone who makes their way to this sweet spot will tell you, “If you’ve got some energy left, save it for Saturday.” It is the day to roam the grounds, do some shopping at the array of local artisan booths, and take a gander at the artistic creations that will leave you both impressed and inspired. Just stopping in the picnic area and taking a look at the sights that surround you are enough to fill your senses. The people are a work of art. Everyone dares to be different. There’s the dancers, the painted ones, the glitter goddesses, the families, the farmers, the jugglers, the musicians (everywhere) and the fairies on stilts; which will of course lead you to the kids play area, the drum workshop, the hula-hoopers, and the bubble blowers. Everywhere you go there is something to see, something to hear and someone to meet.
Saturday music offered yet again a beautiful lineup. Elliot Martin of Black Castle and lead singer of John Brown’s Body satisfied the rootsy souls in the Dance Tent while Driftwood put on another stellar performance at the Grandstand. Festival au Désert Caravan For Peace shared music from across the world in the Infield. The Horseflies, a Grassroots favorite took over the crowd with their trance-like folk melodies and tempting beats, the Grandstand was overflowing with intrigue. Finally the one, the only, Samite of Uganda. Samite is a beloved Grassroots act whose African music and beautiful talent on flute and Kalimba (thumb piano) has not been enjoyed in the evening hours in years. The sights and sounds of faraway places and warm tones pour into your soul and have you begging for more beauty. The crowd was pleased pleasantly and gratitude was all around.
As for the Dance Tent on Saturday night, it is legendary. Keith Frank & His Soileau Zydeco Band play their hearts out until the sun comes up. Colored paper lanterns lit the way as dancers swayed to the music and made their way to the stage. The crowd was thrilled to finally be there in that moment, a year’s worth of waiting finally paid off. And it was so worth the wait. There is something about that energy, some kind of passion found in that present moment that is like fuel. It keeps you burning, it keeps you going, dancing, feeling alive, ready for more music, and more memories.
Then there was Sunday. The Happiness Parade filled the pathways of the festival with theatrical masterpieces, music from drumming, tambourines, harmonicas, guitars, chanting and laughter. This was the perfect day to make a visit, experience the festival in a nutshell and tap into your own creativity. Beyond that the mellow, sunny, open vibe that lingered on Sunday from the joy created all weekend was lovingly intoxicating and left us all begging to stay just a while longer. Who better to unwind in this feeling and under the bright sun with, than Sim Redmond Band. Their warm sound just mimics the atmosphere and makes you feel right at home.
As neighbors fade away, crowds dwindle down, and reality starts calling, the Sunday party does anything but wind down. Bands like Preston Frank & His Zydeco Family Band, Miami natives Suénalo, and Donna the Buffalo kept things alive and full of energy until the end.
All of Grassroots music, uniqueness, humbleness, talent and beauty not only have the locals coming back for more but also continues tempting music lovers worldwide, and making Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance one of the world’s top festivals of its kind.
One-man-band Keller Williams hits the road this Fall performing his signature solo sets with stops in Upstate New York. Accompanied on stage only by a slew of instruments and musical gadgets. In his seemingly insatiable quest for constant musical evolution, Keller will also make very special select live appearances with any one of his creative collaborations.
Since he first appeared on the scene in the early ’90s, Keller Williams has defined the term independent artist. And his 16 recordings tell only half the story. Keller built his reputation initially on his engaging live performances, no two of which are ever alike. Williams’ solo live shows—and his ability to improvise to his determinedly quirky tunes despite the absence of an actual band—quickly became the stuff of legend, and his audience grew exponentially when word spread about this exciting, unpredictable performer.
Keller will play 4 shows in Upstate NY on this tour, the first show will be held at Rochester’s historical, German House on September 12th. Doors open at 7:00PM The show starts at 8:00PM, tickets are $25 and all ages are welcome. To purchase tickets please visit KellerWilliams.net and for more information you can call 585-442-6880 or visit www.upallnightpresents.com.
The following night, September 13th, Keller will play the Wescott Theater in Syracuse, NY. Doors open at 8:00PM and the show starts at 9:00PM. Tickests are $25 and all ages are welcome. Tickets can be purchased online at KellerWilliams.net or the venue box office. For more information please call 315-478-8634 or visit www.thewestcotttheater.com.
September 14th Keller will play Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY. Doors open at 8:00PM, the show starts at 9:00PM and this is an all ages show. Ticket prices range between $35-$55 and can be purchased online at KellerWilliams.net.
The last appearance in Upstate NY will be a special treat as Keller will be joined by special guests and New York natives, Floodwood, for the October 10th show at Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs, NY. Doors open at 8:00PM and show begins at 9:00PM, this is an all ages show. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased online or at the venue box office.
The booming introductory music to Otherwise’s setlist filled the eager ears of the Wise Ones at Bearfest, all crowding in closer and closer to the barricade, animated cheers escaping from them as one by one each band member made their appearance, Corky Gainsford (drums), Vassilios “V” Metropoulos (bass), Andrew Pugh (guitar), Ryan Patrick (guitar), then finally, Adrian Patrick (vocals) emerged from behind the crates. His deep, powerful voice washed over the crowd as he began to sing “Die for You”, the fans shouted out the rest of the chorus as he held out the mic towards them. Next was “Lighthouse” which Adrian dedicated to all the “good girls”, followed by “the song that goes out to all the bad girls”, their party anthem, “Vegas Girl”. The number of fans increased every second, eager for more of Otherwise; however, they were just getting warmed up. The next to play was “Silence Reigns” followed by their single, “I Don’t Apologize”, the fans belting out the lyrics whole-heartedly, their eyes stared in wonder as Otherwise continued to unleash their unbelievable energy.
The fun didn’t stop there; Adrian then encouraged the Wise Ones to raise their middle fingers as they began to chant, “fuck you” rapidly, starting up the next song, “Full Circle”. This was followed by “Scream Now” and from one of their earlier records, Some Kind of Alchemy, “Stop, Drop, and Roll”. The music changed abruptly to a familiar tune, “Killing in the Name Of” by Rage Against the Machine. Fans head-banged to the rhythm of the song, pumped fists and rocker horns in the air as well as mouthed the lyrics enthusiastically. To say the least, Otherwise did a killer cover. Of course, the band saved the best for last, the song that got their name out there, “Soldiers”. At the end of the song, Adrian jumped off the stage and ran towards the barricade, bringing the mic to the fans and having them harmonize with the band, and then he stood on top of the railing, one hell of a way to end an awesome setlist.
As always, Otherwise brought their game to the stage. No matter the size of the crowd, they always have a way to connect with their ever-growing fan base.
Surrender the Fall:
