NYS Music 20​13

Tag: JImkata

  • Get Strange this Memorial Day at StrangeCreek Campout!

    Memorial Day, a weekend traditionally known as the opening of summer kicks off 2013 Festival season in the Northeast with StrangeCreek Campout Music and Arts Festival in Greenfield, Massachusetts, nestled in the Berkshire Mountains. The festival is named after the bands Max Creek and Strangefolk is held at Camp KeeWanee, a children’s summer camp on a small river in the woods of Northern Massachusetts.

    StrangeCreek CampoutWith a notorious combination of great music and a welcoming family friendly atmosphere, this festival has become a favorite of many, especially . While a small festival overall, StrangeCreek has benefited from positive word of mouth over the years and continues to grow and gain loyal attendees seeking out the best music in New England.  Several Upstate NY bands, including Donna the Buffalo, Jimkata, Conehead Buddha, Marco Benevento, Eastbound Jesus and Lucid will be making an appearance this year, as well as numerous bands that make routine trips through Upstate New York.

    The entire StrangeCreek Campout lineup includes headliners Max Creek, Dumpstaphunk and Donna the Buffalo, plus fan favorites Zach Deputy, Ryan Montbleau, The Alchemystics and Marco Benevento. The rest of the lineup is not too shabby either, with something for everyone: Consider the Source, Jimkata, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Bernie Worrell Orchestra, Alan Evans Trio, Juggling Suns, Shake Down, Turkuaz, A. Dario, Barika, Bay Road, Beau Sasser Project, Big Daddy Love, Big Something, The Big Sway, The Brummy Brothers, Byrne’s Big Suit, Carole Davia, Conehead Buddha, Cosmic Dust Bunnies, Cosmodrome, Daddie Long Legs, Danny Pease & the Regulators, Domino Theory, Eastbound Jesus, Fat Bradley, Fungus Amungus, Gaia Roots, The Garcia Project, Gary Backstrom Band, Goosepimp Orchestra, Jabooda, Juicy Grapes, Kind Buds, The Kings, Les Racquet, Liquid Pocket, Lucid, The Marks Brothers, Matt Carey, The McLovins, Moses & the Electric Company, Orange Television, Otis Grove, Our Own World, Outer Stylie, Paranoid Social Club, People With Instruments, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Primary Others, Primate Fiasco, Raft, Rebelle, Rebel Alliance, Relative Souls, Resin Ed, Rev Tor featuring Charles Neville, Rising Tribe, Romano Project, Secret Sage, Seed, Silent Bujak, Sun Jones, Tawdry, Tony Vacca and World Rhythms Ensemble with Abiodun Oyewole (of The Last Poets), Van Gordon Martin Band, Vernville Family Jam, Viral Sound and William Thompson Funk Experiment.

    StrangeCreek CampoutAside from the music, the festival also offers Yoga, bonfires, late night music, and an overall sense of community, that is missing at many larger events. This year, as in years prior the gates will open on Thursday evening for those looking to get a jump on the weekend. Tickets are now on sale.

    We cannot wait for Memorial Day! See you at StrangeCreek!!

  • Summer Camp Music Festival – One of the Best Lineups This Summer Features 8 Upstate NY Bands

    For the past decade, Summer Camp Music Festival has been on the radar of live music aficonados, as it unofficially kicks off the summer festival season, and this year features 8 bands from Upstate NY. Living in the Northeast, we have our own kickoff for summer festival season, StrangeCreek in Greenfield, MA. But finally, the stars have aligned and in 3 short weeks, will be headed to Chillicothe, Illinois to cover Summer Camp Music Festival!

    summer camp upstate ny

    And we couldn’t have picked a better year to be there! Upstate New York has not just founder of Summer Camp, moe., but EIGHT Upstate New York bands are on the extensive lineup, bringing the best of Upstate to the Midwest. Among the rest of the bands on the lineup, which includes Umphrey’s McGee, Thievery Corporation, Trey Anastasio Band, Lotus , Cornmeal, Dopapod, Keller Williams, Conspirator, Lettuce, Big Gigantic, Tauk and dozens more, Upstate New York is represented by Floodwood, Jimkata, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Timbre Coup, Project Weather Machine, Aqueous, John Brown’s Body and of course, moe. There is rarely a festival outside the Northeast to feature so many bands from the Upstate New York region, showing that these acts are making names for themselves beyond their region and branching out to newer and broader fan bases around the country.

    This installment of Summer Camp isn’t just the best yet, it is also one of the best lineups anyone could ask for. For four days and nights, central Illinois will be rocking from noon till nearly dawn with some of the best jambands, electronic acts, bluegrass groups, reggae troupes and ensembles of every genre imaginable. The folks at Canopy Club have outdone themselves, and that’s saying a lot when you look back at previous lineups.summer camp upstate NY

    Mike Armintrout, one of the promoters for Summer Camp, had this to say about the bands hailing from Upstate New York and the Northeast: “Being that moe. is such a major part of Summer Camp, and has been since the first year (2001), bands from their home area clearly hold a special place with them and therefore with the festival.  Over the years we’ve had a number of acts from the Northeast and Upstate NY on the festival.  This year we’re excited about the return of a number of Northeast-based acts like Medeski Martin & Wood, The Wood Brothers, The Pimps of Joytime and Jimkata.  As well as a first-time appearance by some other great acts from the region like Lettuce, Dopapod, Project Weather Machine and Aqueous.  The Northeast continues to have a foothold at the Summer Camp Music Festival.”

    This, the 13th installment of Summer Camp will be nothing short of magical, but with so much music to see, the task of knowing what to see is daunting. For your consideration, may we interest you in the acts from Upstate New York, all worthy of an hour of your time, and quite possibly, many hours of listening in the future…

    moe.

    Summer Camp was founded by moe. in 2001, on the heels of their incredibly successful moe.down, now in it’s 14th year. Playing six sets during the weekend, odds are you’ll be seeing plenty of moe., and that you don’t need us to tell you of their involvement of putting this festival together. moe. plays the mainstage each night on the main stage.

    “It’s interesting, when we all get togeher, it doesn’t matter if its moe. or Floodwood, there’s definitely a thing about being from the Northeast and being from Upstate NY. You don’t really know it until you leave and get out of the Northeast and leave Upstate New York and run into people from Upstate in another geographical part of the country … we were on the road with Floodwood recently and ran into someone in  Asheville, NC. This guy spent a lot of time in Upstate and said ‘I miss Upstate New York, the sarcasm, the food, the everything … when I hang with you guys for a couple days, it takes a bit to readjust (attitude-wise) with my wife.” – Al Schnier, Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals, moe. and Floodwood

    Jimkata

    Hailing from Ithaca, Jimkata has begun to draw sizeable crowds throughout the country, combined electronic music with rock and progressive jams. Their recent album Die Digital has been a huge hit and led to incredible sets as they stretch into the south and Midwest. Read an interview with Evan Friedell of Jimkata with ’s Johnny Goff.  Few acts from the Northeast have risen as fast as Jimkata has. To see them live is a pure treat for the ears and eyes. If you like electronic rock, you’d be hard pressed to find better. Check them out from 6-7pm on Sunday in the Vibe Tent

    summer camp upstate NY“I think there are a lot of hard working bands that have come out of upstate or the northeast that earn or have earned every fan or credit they get.  To see many of them on the same bill makes it feel like our area is indeed a productive one when it comes to live music and building a live music community.  Hopefully as more people from back home see their favorite hometown bands on bills like this they’ll feel more inspired to continue supporting the live music scene we have going.” –Evan Friedell, Guitar/Vocals, Jimkata

    Timbre Coup

    Progressive rock is alive and well thanks to larger acts like Umphrey’s McGee, and Timbre Coup from Albany have put their signature sound on prog-rock, standing out among their peers and producing excellent albums, most recently Knuckles and Valleys, a spectacular release in 2012 that covers all 12 months of the year in 12 tracks, highlighted by the interplay of the band as they seamlessly switch instruments for various songs and intertwine their sound while our ears scream in joy. Timbre Coup is a treat every time we see them, and you’ll thank us when you check them out Sunday from noon-1pm.

     “I feel like Upstate NY is a hotbed of creativity right now from the most progressive of music all the way to rustic and traditional sounds of blue grass and jam rock. Bands like Jimkata, Aqueous, Timbre Coup, Project Weather Machine and all the others that will be representing this region in the Midwest at Summer Camp show how eclectic the creativity is and how this scene really has something for everyone.” – Dan Gerken, Guitar/Vocals, Timbre Coup

    Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad

    Hailing from Buffalo, Giant Panda is one of two reggae-infused bands to come out of Upstate for Summer Camp. If you like your reggae diverse and beyond run of the mill, Giant Panda is perfect for you and makes a great mid-day aural snack on Saturday from 330-430pm.

    summer camp upstate NY“It is some of the more honest, foot stomping fun that you will see this summer. We’re all funked up from the cold and the Kodak chemie sunsets. Oh and the fracked water…” James Searl, Bass/Vocals, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad

    Floodwood

    Two parts moe. and three parts Zachary, Jason and Nick equals one helluva pickin’ party with string band Floodwood. Playing bluegrass standards, David Grisman tunes and a variety of foot-stompers, Floodwood has been a huge hit out east and the Midwest is lucky to have them playing five sets throughout the weekend. There’s lots of bluegrass and jamgrass at Summer Camp, so get your dose of Floodwood, as they’re only playing three festivals the rest of the summer – Fiddler’s Picnic June 14-16 in Lyons, NY, Clearwater Music Festival on June 15-16 in Croton-on-Hudson, NY and moe.down 14, August 9-11 in Turin, NY.

    summer camp upstate NY“With moe. and getting to the west coast, there’s something about being from Upstate New York and the Northeast – you have this different outlook and certain kind of humor, an appreciation for sarcasm. The interesting thing I love about Upstate New York is that everyone is down to earth and it goes a long way and really stands out when you are out of your element” – Al Schnier, Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals, moe. and Floodwood

    Project Weather Machine

    A band comprised of four individuals with eclectic backgrounds, Project Weather Machine hails from Syracuse and melds the genres of rock, dance, folk and blues, as well as jamming throughout each of these styles of music. Just over a year old, this group has caught the ears of a great deal throughout New York State and will playing from 130-230pm on Sunday afternoon.

    summer camp upstate NY“I feel that the Upstate bands in the Summer Camp lineup stand out mostly in the fact that it is so diverse. There are six markets across Upstate New York that are being represented and each one has it’s own individual sound: Indie, electro, rock, jam, progressive, folk and dub/reggae are all being represented. It really shows what a wonderful cross section of music we have here in Upstate New York.” Daniel Wafer, Bass/Vocals, Project Weather Machine

    Aqueous

    A true jamband with progressive routes and a wide-range of influences, Aqueous is full of deep improvisation, songwriting that is years beyond bands of similar caliber and a live performance that is a hallmark of Upstate New York. They kick off the music on Sunday from 11am-12pm, so start the day off right with an early dose of true improv.

    “The bands selected to represent the Northeast at this year’s Summer Camp Music Festival are among the finest Upstate New York has to offer and we’re excited and grateful to bring our sound to the incredible mix of bands on the lineup!” – Mike Gantzer, Guitar, Aqueous

    John Brown’s Body

    Playing from 5-6pm early Sunday evening, John Brown’s Body has the recent distinction of having the #1 album on Billboard’s Reggae Chart. Hailing from Boston via Ithaca, this ensemble of musicians uses reggae as the base for their sound, bringing in drums and bass, dub and electronica into the mix to bring their music to another level. Horns and a tight core develop immense rhythms. Don’t miss out on JBB.

    “I think it is the people themselves that our making music from the Upstate NY region unique and interesting. There is wisdom and inspiration that has been passed on from older generations of musicians from the area and from our peers who lead their own groups. We are originally from Ithaca NY, so for JBB, it is individuals like Kevin Kinsella and our own Elliot Martin, and bands like Giant Panda and Thunder Body from Rochester that represent a sound and approach unique to this place.” -Drew Sayers , Saxaphone, John Brown’s Body

    See you at Summer Camp!

  • Snoe.down releases schedule for music and sports festival for March 22nd-24th

    Snoe.down has released their weekend schedule for the all ages Music and Sports Festival being held in Killington Resort in Killington, and Spartan Arena in neighboring Rutland, Vermont on March 22nd – 24th.

    snoe.down

    Concert goers will have the opportunity to choose between two different lodges on Friday the 22nd, all while enjoying great music and the scenery. Located at the bottom of Killington, the snoe.shed lodge will host progressive string band Floodwood and electro-rock band Jimkata, whereas further up the mountain, the K1 lodge will host, Brooklyn-based jazz/funk/pop quartet, Tauk and Brasstronica quintet, The Primate Fiasco. From my first snoe.down experience, it was surreal to be inside the lodge, dancing to music while watching snowboarders and skiers hurl down the mountain side.

    moe2.

    Saturday afternoon guests get a treat of a show from Upstate bluegrass rockers Eastbound Jesus and moe. on the Bear Mountain outdoor stage, located on the other side of Killington. It’s remarkable to hear the music echo off the mountains and to have more than enough space to groove in. Another perk of the performances outside is for the winter sports fans, who after a great run down are rewarded with music at the bottom of the hill.

    For Friday and Saturday evening, the venue is located at the Spartan Arena in Rutland, Vermont, a 30 minute drive down the road from Killington. This venue reminds me much of the Washington Armory in Albany, NY, given its wide open space, wooden floors and surrounding bench seating. There will be a private viewing section for VIPs as well as an under 21 viewing area behind the sound board and the right side bleachers. Doors open both nights at 6pm with New Orleans funk band Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk performing on Friday and the reunion of Vermont’s Strangefolk on Saturday. Both evenings will feature moe. scheduled to start at 9pm.

    Sunday concludes the winter fun weekend for VIP ticket holders at the Wobbly barn for a brunch with an acoustic performance by moe. Plus a special performance by Sonic birds contest winners, The Mallet Brothers Band, at 1:30pm at the K1 Lodge.

    FRIDAY

    K1 Lodge: Tauk (12:30-2:00pm)

    K1 Lodge: The Primate Fiasco (3:30-5:00pm)

    Snoe.Shed Lodge: Floodwood (12:30-2:00pm)

    Snoe.Shed Lodge: Jimkata (3:30-5:00pm)

    Spartan Arena: 6pm doors, Dumpstaphunk (7:00pm), moe. (9pm)

    SATURDAY

    Bear Mtn outdoor stage: Eastbound Jesus (Noon-12:45pm), moe. (1pm)

    Spartan Arena: 6pm doors, Strangefolk (7:00pm), moe. (9pm)

    SUNDAY

    Wobbly Barn: VIP Brunch

    K1 Lodge: Sonicbids Contest Winner – The Mallett Brothers Band (1:30pm-3:30pm)

    Currently heading into its fifth season, snoe.down is one of the top winter music festivals to catch on the east coast. Taking place at Vermont’s most popular ski and snowboard resort, Killington offers festival goers a special Snoe.down Learn to Ski/Ride program. Fans can purchase reduced price lift tickets to Killington Resort with their Snoe.down ticket plus a variety of discounted lodging options. Weekend tickets are available as well as single day or for the serious concert goer, VIP.  All tickets are on sale and available at FlynnTix box office in Burlington, VT or by phone at 802.863.5966. A portion of all ticket purchases are being donated to Vermont Adaptive, the only year round sports and recreation organization in the state empowering individuals with disabilities.

    The Snoe.down VIP tickets include an official Snoe.down 2013 festival poster, private entrance and fast lane to both Spartan Arena shows on Friday and Saturday, admission to the Thursday night kickoff shows and more.

    The weekend starts early on Thursday evening, March 24th in Killington for the special, separately ticketed kick-off parties. The Wobbly Barn will host Marco Benevento with special guest Mike Pederson and the jam-heavy, Dead Sessions at the Pickle Barrel. Free admission is included in the VIP package for both shows.

    It doesn’t hurt to have a copy of the Killington Trail Guide handy so that fans can easily locate all their favorite bands without missing a musical beat.