An incredibly thorough and diversified artist lineup is now complete for the 2014 edition of Gathering of the Vibes. This increasingly popular music and arts festival, held once again within the friendly confines of Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT features nationally recognized headliners such as John Fogerty, Widespread Panic, moe. and Umphrey’s McGee for starters. The lineup also includes what promises to be an amazing nod to its Grateful Dead inspired roots with a collaboration of The Disco Biscuits and drum legends Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, the group’s first ever public performance.
Vibes certainly doesn’t limit itself to jam based acts either as the bill also includes names like Dispatch, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ziggy Marley and Maceo Parker. And like last year, the festival will also feature “roaming” acts that traverse the festival grounds all weekend long for spontaneous jams in Primate Fiasco and Funky Dawgz Brass Band.
With music beginning early Thursday afternoon, Northeast icons Ryan Montbleau and Strangefolk each deliver sets to usher in the evening schedule on the Main Stage. The secondary stage for the festival, the Green Vibes Stage, also features performances from up and coming act White Denim as well as the already proven Rusted Root. Dopapod gets the late night assignment for Thursday and Stanley Jordan is also tabbed as the ‘artist at large’ for today, liable to sit in with any of the aforementioned acts at any time which is great for anyone who appreciates guitar virtuosos.
Friday’s highlights includes Keller Williams getting his Grateful Grass band together again for a set of Dead covers with a makeup including Jeff Austin on mandolin and bassist Reed Mathis. Later in the day, drummer extraordinaire Joe Russo gets his turn to pay homage to the legends of jam with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Slightly Stoopid also makes an appearance with a set on the Main Stage before giving way to the legendary John Fogerty. For any Talking Heads fans, a real interesting tribute of sorts will be paid in the form of Lotus: Talking Heads Deconstructed with a late evening set that has the potential to be epic. Other groups working the late shift on Friday include Deep Banana Blackout and EOTO.
There’s no let up on Saturday, as the afternoon features known acts like Kung Fu and Leftover Salmon which will be joined by Bill Payne of Little Feat. Dumpstaphunk also makes an appearance tonight on the Green Vibes Stage and the Main Stage features an amazingly solid 1-2 punch of Umphrey’s McGee and Widespread Panic before giving way to the aforementioned Disco Biscuits and Grateful Dead debut collaboration. Digital Tape Machine and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe complete Saturday’s almost overwhelmingly full schedule.
Sunday is typically a more relaxed atmosphere at GOTV as the festival nears the finish line. The afternoon includes sets from local act McLovins and the legendary Maceo Parker. Today’s lineup has a verifiable Upstate New York block as well as jam icons Donna the Buffalo will entertain everyone with a set on the Green Vibes Stage before moe. does the same on the Main Stage. Those needing a reggae fix can get it with a performance from Ziggy Marley that follows before Dispatch closes things out and wraps up what promises to be an amazing four days of music.
Tickets for Gathering of the Vibes are still available and can be purchased at www.gatheringofthevibes.com with a number of varieties available. Weekend camping passes can be purchased for $235 and there are also Friday, Saturday and Sunday only tickets available as well. There are no weekend only tickets but there are VIP options as well. What can’t be given a price, though, is a weekend that’s bound to be magical one fueled by a complete musical lineup and the near tangible, friendly communal vibe that’s present from start to finish every year.
The Luna Light Music & Arts Festival will take place in Barto, PA from July 11-13. The location is two hours southwest of NYC at Hex Hollow Farms and will be headlined by the healthiest batch of funk New York has to offer, Lettuce. Keller Williams, Shpongle, Particle, and The Heavy Pets are also among the 40+ bands on the bill in the festival’s inaugural year.
While Woodstock ’94s host town, Saugerties, NY, will draw an estimated 20,000+ eclectic EDM, hip hop, and rock fans for The Hudson Project this weekend, Luna’s attendance will be capped around 1,800, including some of New York’s best live rock bands. Buffalo’s Aqueous, Ithaca’s Jimkata, and New York City’s Consider The Source will each offer unique interpretations of rock. Lettuce will play the prime-time Saturday night set.
With a plethora of festivals to choose from this summer, the intimate crowd size and rocking lineup make Luna Light Festival one to catch. Check out more details on the festival’s website and see below for the full schedule.
This year’s Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, one of the country’s most well-known and well-respected bluegrass festivals, will be taking place from July 17-20 on the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, NY, a quaint hamlet nestled in the Catskill Mountains. This event consistently draws both national and international fans by the thousands, including from as far away as New Zealand, Japan, and the Czech Republic! Located about two and a half hours from New York City, it is definitely worth winding your way up the mountain to check out the transcendental experience that is the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (formerly known as the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival), where the line between artists and fans seems to disappear, and where folks can truly jam with and learn from the musicians performing throughout the weekend, as well as one another.
In its impressive 38th year, having landed the #2 spot on USA Today’s “10 great places to go to bluegrass festivals”, Grey Fox features an amazingly impressive collection of musicians that is hard to beat, this year’s line-up to include award-winning musicians Del McCoury’s 75th Birthday “Delebration”, The Gibson Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Claire Lynch Band, and Della Mae, to name just a few. To top that all off, Nickel Creek, who have not toured together for quite some time, will be celebrating their 25th anniversary at Grey Fox on the opening night of the festival. In addition to the “regulars” who appear, and who are definitely appreciated, year after year, the producer of the festival Mary Tyler Doub likes to introduce new talent to the scene. Her knowledge of what the fans are looking for shines through in that many of Mary’s discoveries have gone on to become regulars at not just Grey Fox, but festivals throughout the country, so be sure not to skip seeing a band just because you don’t recognize their name, as they will be sure to delight. As has been the tradition since 1983, the Dry Branch Fire Squad will be the musical hosts of Grey Fox, kicking off the festival with a “welcome” set on the Thursday afternoon of the event, and ending with a Sunday morning gospel set that gets fans motivated for that one last trip over to the High Meadow (Main) Stage before heading back to pack up camp.
While Grey Fox is obviously well-known for the extraordinary caliber of musicians it tends to attract, it can also be thought of as a place to further your bluegrass schooling, with workshops and “directed slow jams” taking place throughout the event. Even though the music taking place on the High Meadow Stage is sure to be unbelievable, it is crucial that you check out the other stages scattered around the festival site, each offering its own distinctive fun and educational experiences. The Creekside Stage is the place to go if you are looking for some of your favorite artists who will be conducting instrumental and vocal workshops on a more intimate scale, jamming out with each other, and answering questions you’ve been dying to ask your musical idols.
The Catskill Stage can also be called the “dance stage”, as that is where you will find folks boogying down to high energy “almost acoustic” bands until the wee hours. And for those early risers, a yoga class is offered each morning on the Catskill Stage, with live acoustic music provided in the background. For those who arrive on Wednesday, there will be an Open Mic Night on the Catskill Stage from 7:00-10:00PM, followed by a screening of the documentary How to Grow a Band, featuring the Punch Brothers.
The Grass Roots Learning Tent is an open forum for musicians of all abilities who want to hone their skills. Hands-on sessions on a variety of topics, last year’s topics ranging from the banjo to improvisation to harmony, are taught by top musicians and teachers in their fields.
And finally, the Slow Jam Tent is where jamming for beginners is encouraged and fostered by Paul Dube, who patiently guides new players through familiar bluegrass tunes chord by chord, and gives a few helpful pointers along the way, so you can feel inspired to join in the impromptu jams that take place in the camping areas throughout the event.
Grey Fox is an extremely family friendly event. Many of the families who come to Grey Fox together treat it as their yearly family vacation – to note, kids 12 and under are admitted free to Grey Fox with a ticketed parent or guardian. Grey Fox sure is equipped for it, with a Family Tent providing a constant array of activities from when the festival gates open, straight through until Sunday afternoon. Activities range from crafts and games, to clowns and magicians, with some musical headliners making appearances at the Family Tent as well. Movies are shown after dark, and this year, the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association will be on hand to present their star-gazing equipment and answer any astronomy-related questions. None of these activities are meant be treated as babysitting services, and parents are encouraged to interact and participate alongside their children.
For some fans, rather than listening to the music taking place on the main stage, they are there simply to connect with old friends (some of whom you may only see once a year at Grey Fox), meet new friendly folks, and do some good old-fashioned picking. It is truly amazing to walk through “Pickers Paradise” just one of the many camping options at Grey Fox, and just listen to what is happening around you: traditional bluegrass fans truly appreciating the music they hold so dear, so much so that most people in attendance at the festival play at least one instrument and aren’t afraid to take part in a jam and learn new things from fellow festival-goers. Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is unique in that you may hear music that is just as good in the campground as the music happening on the main stage. On a side note, there is generally no need to feel unsafe about leaving your instruments out in the open at your campsite; one typically does not hear about people having things stolen from their campsites at this festival.
Yet another distinctive feature of the Grey Fox Festival is the Bluegrass Academy for Kids (BGA). BGA is a free learning program that takes place throughout the four days of the festival, and is open to children between the ages of 8 and 17. The program teaches participants how to play, sing, and perform bluegrass music, and consists of both sectional practices based on what instrument the child plays, and ensemble practices as an entire group. BGA also features guest appearances by several of the professional musicians playing at Grey Fox. Approximately 100-120 children take part in BGA each year, and for those lucky enough to participate in this FREE learning opportunity, the entire class performs a “Graduation Gig” on the High Meadow Stage. It is truly inspirational to end the festival on this note, demonstrating that bluegrass is still going strong, and will be for a long time, being that children are continuing to show an interest in the genre.An additional worthy activity to take part in while at Grey Fox is, believe it or not, the raffle! Thanks to the generous sponsors of the festival, including Stelling, Collings, Martin, Eastman, and Deering (which should all ring a bell for all you musicians out there), fans have the chance to win custom-built, top of the line acoustic instruments from each of these sponsors! Be sure to purchase a ticket, as you may be lucky enough to take everything you learned music-wise over the course of the festival and use it on a beautiful new instrument. Plus, by purchasing a ticket, you will be supporting companies that donate funds to the Grey Fox Scholarship, which is awarded on an annual basis to promising bluegrass students who demonstrate the need for financial assistance.
As mentioned above, there are a variety of camping options to suit your fancy. High Meadow Camping is available for tent camping without cars, and is primly located behind the seating area for the main stage. For those who choose to bring their RVs along for the ride, there is a whole section of the festival site known as Generatorville. For the families attending Grey Fox, there are a few designated quiet/family camping areas scattered throughout the site, so be sure to seek out those spots if you are hoping to get some peace and quiet, because the majority of folks tend to gravitate toward Pickers Paradise, where it is not uncommon to hear sweet bluegrass tunes coming from every direction at all hours of the day and night. This is the place to camp (or just roam around) if you are looking to soak in, or take part in, all of the amazing jamming going on all around you. Be sure to look around at all the imaginative campsites you will find at Grey Fox; that is because every year, Grey Fox gives out a Best Campsite Award, with the prize being a pair of tickets to next year’s festival, plus the pride you will gain in having your name announced during Saturday night’s show! This year, the award will go to the campsite that is leanest and greenest, taking up the smallest amount of space in the most creative way. Start thinking about those sites now and perhaps you will be the lucky winner.
Camping gates open on Wednesday, July 16, at 7:00AM for those who are eager to secure the ideal camping spot and to get the festivities started early. Some fans actually camp out for the entire week before the festival at nearby campgrounds just to be one of the first to arrive and claim their camping spots for the week. For the past couple of years, Grey Fox has been encouraging folks to drop off their gear, then move their car across the street to the Car Corral, to make more room for campers. If you choose to car camp, you can do that for a $20 fee; which will be refunded if you move to the Car Corral, which also makes you eligible for nifty prizes throughout the four days, including one lucky winner who could take home a free camping ticket to next year’s festival. Even though camping at Grey Fox is “in the rough” meaning no water or electrical hook-ups, there is always plenty of potable water available at several locations throughout the site, and the port-o-johns at Grey Fox are practically a pleasure to use, as they are kept super clean the entire time. Sometimes, you’ll even find a kind person who has left an air freshener in there to make the experience that much nicer. Plus, for those who have never attended Grey Fox, you will quickly become accustomed to hearing “I-I-I-CE” called out via a megaphone throughout the camping areas; that is because there is actually an “ice man” driving a truck around selling ice to keep those coolers chilled during your four days of camping. Man, they really think of everything at Grey Fox!
Tickets are currently available on the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival website, with camping tickets selling fast, so if you’re interested, grab them soon, as they typically sell out. Full festival tickets, which include camping from 7:00AM on Wednesday, July 16, through 7:00PM on Sunday, July 20, cost $195, with an additional $20 parking fee if you are not planning on moving your car across the street to the Car Corral. Single-day tickets are available at $65 per day (except for Sunday, which cost $30). There are very few rules at Grey Fox, which leads to a much more relaxed festival experience. Basically, you are asked not to bring glass or pets, and smoke only in designated areas. You can set up your chair in the concert area and leave it there the entire weekend, but the Grey Fox way is to share your chair until you return. The system seems to work well overall.
If you are a fan of bluegrass music in its truest form, then the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is definitely the place for you. While having the opportunity to see many of your favorite musicians and bands in one place, you can also attend workshops to become masters of your instrument, take part in directed slow jams, or try your hand at picking with fellow fans in the campgrounds. Grey Fox is definitely a festival where you take away way more than you ever expected, whether it’s learning a new chord progression, getting to chat with your favorite musician, or trying your hand at bluegrass karaoke, where a live five-piece band plays behind you. Expect to leave Grey Fox a more enriched person musically, and plan on coming back next year and the year after, as once you start coming to Grey Fox, it’s hard to stop! For some examples of what you can expect to hear at Grey Fox, here are some tunes for your enjoyment. Hope to see you lots of you on the hill
There is something magical about Buffalove Music Festival, which took place on June 19-21 in Silver Creek, NY at the Willow Creek Winery. The festival nearly doubled in size in its second year and the venue itself was absolutely breathtaking. Willow Creek Winery will be the concert destination in years to come and Cody Conway, the man behind Buffalove Music Festival, hopes to make it one of the premier destinations for concert goers all over Western New York. The venue boasted two stages, complete with great lighting and superior sound, while the grounds had vending and concessions for anyone looking. The area was also conveniently small, making it very easy to get around. Ticket holders were able to camp and park at no extra cost, which you don’t see at any festival, making the experience very affordable. Over the course of three days, there were over twenty bands, so there was little time to sleep and recover; however, it provided a perfect showcase of bands from all over New York as well as neighboring states.
The festival started off on Thursday with Buffalo’s Intrepid Travelers and Slip Madigan on the main stage. The Little Mountain Band played in-between the two, while Lazlo Hollyfeld went on after. Jimkata, who calls Ithaca home, headlined Thursday night and treated the early festival crowd to a great night of music. Jimkata continues to make a name for themselves out in the Buffalo area as they amazed and wowed concert goers in their first Buffalove appearance. They will continue to impress the Western New York region when they take the stage tonight at The Great Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman, NY. Slip Madigan came back out for the late night faithful with a set on the side stage for anyone looking to party through the end of the night.
Friday brought out the majority of the crowd, and with fans filtering in throughout the day from their busy work weeks, the weekend really looked to pick up some steam. One of the neat things about this festival is the small size and family-like vibe that it produces. All of the bands, workers, and fans all seem to know one another and it created such a different experience than those commercial-size festivals. The music began promptly at twelve o’clock with Red Horning Project and Lancaster, NY’s Wonder Crayon on the main stage, and The Grace Stumberg Band between the two slots on the side stage. Formula 5, an Albany-based band, really impressed a lot of folks, and rightfully so, combining jazz, funk and jamming. It was easy to see how many new fans they converted with lots of chatter around the camp sites about them, especially their late night split session with Funktional Flow. Their cover of moe.’s “Happy Hour Hero” was a great set closer and perfectly placed in Buffalove’s happy hour slot.
Groove Force and Smackdab followed Formula 5 on the main stage, while Broccoli Samurai and Brown Sugar played between breaks, leading up to what a lot of people were waiting for, headliners Funktional Flow. Smackdab is such a fun group, very uplifting and they provided the perfect setup to the evening. Combining soul and funk to create just a blazing good time, they really are what festivals are all about. Broccoli Samurai, who call Cleveland, Ohio home, set it off on the side stage, making a strong case for the main stage next year. The band is influenced by such bands as Lotus, The Disco Biscuits, and STS9 and produces a live electronica show that got everyone talking throughout the festival.
Funktional Flow has grown so much in the last few years and is truly making a name for themselves as of late. They have been relentlessly touring for the past few years and their playing and following is proof of that hard work. Funktional Flow consists of Ben Whelan (bass), Jeffrey Kuebler (guitar), Mike Szczepanik (guitar) and Jim Edgar (drums). Flow provides a funk driven jam that feeds off of the energy on stage as well as in the crowd. The rhythm section of Ben Whalen and Jim Edgar are the real heartbeat of the group, while Szczepanik and Kuebler bridge everything together with their exceptional guitar work. Busting out fan favorite “Mulligans” was a real treat and its jam rivals some of the best of the scene. Funktional Flow had some nice surprises as well when they played Umphrey’s McGee’s “Hajimemashite”, with Kuebler leading vocals that were spot on. Even with that hard-to-follow combo, the band surpassed everything when they closed with Trey Anastasio Band’s “Push on Til’ the Day”, complete with horns and fireworks and a truly amazing solo by Szczepanik. Funktional Flow put on such a good show that they really set the bar high for Aqueous who would be headlining the festival the following night. Flow took a much deserved break before their late side stage set with Formula 5. Those who managed to stay up were treated to a special night.
Funktional Flow Set List: Moonlight, Improv, Edge of Time, Animals, Ambush, What Will Be Will Be, Bumblin, Sevenate, Runaway>Bring You Down>Runaway, Mulligans, Hajimemashite*, Push on Til’ the Day^
*Umphrey’s McGee cover
^Trey Anastasio Band cover
Friday Photo Gallery:
With everything that already happened, it was crazy to think there would be another day packed with great music and great vibes. Saturday started right at twelve o’clock with Blue Roots, followed by Relics on the side stage. Relics, Western New York’s tribute to the music of Pink Floyd, played the entire Animals album and filled the side stage tent with anyone that was up early enough. The band is most known in the area for being a side project of Buffalo News music critic, Jeff Miers. He did a great job recreating the Roger Waters role, with the band as a whole performing flawlessly. It was a great start to the day and got everyone’s blood flowing.
Jeff Miers of Relics
Mister F played on the main stage in the dinner slot and anyone grabbing some eats from the various vendors got a pretty good show. Mister F is an Albany-based band that is tightly run, featuring members of Timbre Coup and Capital Zen. The group is quickly becoming a must see act and has been gaining some solid steam this year. Playing several festivals this summer and coming off their debut album, The F Stands Four, the sky is the limit for these guys.
Headlining the night, and such a big part of the Buffalo music scene, was none other than Aqueous. The band has been playing nonstop for sometime now since they graduated from North Tonawanda. Their playing has evolved into something quite magical and their future looks strongest of all the bands from this festival. The group who consists of Mike Gantzer (guitar), David Loss (guitar), Evan McPhaden (bass) and Nick Sonricker (drums) is really something to be proud of for anyone who is from the area. The band combines great music with a stage presence that just oozes energy all over the place. It’s a real joy to have watched these guys grow up from when they started out. Gantzer and Loss have such a control over their respected guitars and pack a one-two punch on any given song.
McPhaden may hang back a bit in the background with drummer Sonricker, but they’re an integral part of what makes this band so successful. “They’re Calling For Ya” started out the opening set, which provided a perfect build up to the evening, followed by “King For a Day” and “Mosquito Valley Part I>Marty>Complex Part II”. AQ dipping into the covers,as they usually do, with the Smashing Pumpkins “Today “, followed by an impressive run of “Timmy’s Blades>Cellino> Triangle”. “Cellino” was one of the biggest bustouts with the song not being played in 60 shows, according to UnclePhils’sBlog. Loss’s intro on “Triangle” setup a back and forth musical volley with guitar-mate Gantzer. Sonricker kept them both in check all night though with his tight percussive work.
A short set break for the band brought out DJ Jeff The Repeater, and armed with just a Macbook and his beats, he entertained the crowd with some techno-infused dance music.
Aqueous resumed their night with “Willy is 40>20/20>Warren in the Window” with a tease of Phish’s “Meatstick”. Aqueous debuted a first time David Bowie cover in “Lets Dance” before a solid set ending run that included “Kitty Chaser (Explosions)>Staring into the Sun>Kitty Chaser (Explosions)>Star Spangled Banner”, finishing with fireworks overhead that produced a very memorable moment. One thing that Aqueous does well is treading in unknown waters. Even with cover’s that most bands couldn’t pull off, they still find a way to make a song their own. The encore was no different. The band ended the night with R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly>Mice>I Believe I Can Fly”.
Aqueous Set List –
Set 1: They’re Calling For You, King for a Day, Mosquito Valley Part I>Marty>Complex Part II, Today*>Timmy’s Blades>Cellino>Triangle
Set 2: Willy is 40>20/20>Warren in the Window, The Village Dog and Pony Show>Eon Don, Lets Dance^, Kitty Chaser (Explosions)>Staring in to the Sun>Kitty Chaser (Explosions)>Star Spangled Banner
Encore: I Believe I Can Fly#>Mice>I Believe I Can Fly#
*Smashing Pumpkins cover
^David Bowie cover
#R. Kelly cover
All in all, Buffalove is an incredible festival that is only going to grow year after year. I think Cody Conway and his vision for what it’s going to become is a true testament to what he is as a person. Aqueous’ encore was more of a tribute to that as well with the belief that this festival will continue to fly.
After 8 days of the hedonistic grooves and late night debauchery of the 13th annual Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest I felt a strong need to get my butt to church. I would not visit a standard house of worship, this church bestowed the powers of the elements. For the next 90 minutes in Rochester, the forces of Earth Wind and Fire would command my soul with the gospel of funk. They spoke not from pulpits, the three original clergy members and choir of 9 spoke with guitar, bass, horns a plenty, multiple percussion stations, a practical Valhalla of keyboards, bongos, shakers, candle stick makers and I believe at one point a kitchen sink may have entered the fray. These priests of boogie brought forth no judgement, they brought smiles, joy, and the inherent obvious fact that every one of these 12 men on stage unequivocally love what they do.
The normally reserved nature of the beautiful Kodak Hall at Eastman School of Music became a virtual party room. A congregation of old and young, suburban and urban, liberals and conservatives all standing together for the purest spectacle of music mastery that may have ever entered this distinguished venue. Seats did not remain full for long as the performance was peppered with standing ovations, rushes to the front to shake hands offered by the band, and an endless cacophony of applause, shrieks and dancing feets.
After a quick introduction from some distinguished sponsors, county executive Maggie Brooks and Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren; the band entered to the sounds of the classic “Boogie Wonderland” before plowing expertly through a set list filled with classics such as “Shining Star”, “Devotion”, “After the Love is Gone” and everyone’s favorite “September”. Given the bands 40+ years on the scene they also fed the fanatics some deep cuts. But this experience went way beyond the songs. With multiple instrumental solos, an absolutely goose bump inducing vocal solo by original member Philip Bailey, the aforementioned hand shaking section, amusingly suspicious looks from the band at the audience after exclaiming “Some of you may even have been conceived to our songs.”, and even some freaking cymbal karate kicks, no one left this show feeling unrequited.
Also offered was a moment that was a surprise even to the band. During an earlier stop for coffee in Rochester’s beautiful east end district, Earth Wind and Fire vocalist Phillip Bailey was approached by Eastman graduate saxophone wizardress Alexa Tarantino for some musical questions. What came of this was Alexa was invited to join the band for a stunning sax solo towards the middle of the set which concluded with the most raucous standing ovation, possibly of the entire week of Jazz Fest 13. Not quite done yet with what had to be a life changing experience, she would be seen later in the back jamming with the horn section until the end of the show. Bravo Alexa, all of Rochester could not be prouder of you! If you have a musical bucket list of any sort, no matter what your genre of choice is, put Earth Wind and Fire on it, it’s an experience no one could forget.
There we were, the final day of the Taste of CountryMusic Festival and what a spectacular day it was with sunny skies, warmer temperatures, and no sign of rain in the forecast. Perfect weather to end a perfect weekend. As I checked out of my hotel in East Durham, The Shamrock Inn. It had the amenities I needed, shower, bed, and electricity to charge up my camera, computer, and phone, but it had one thing I needed most of all, a bar directly across the street with more live music and a kitchen open till 2am. Yep, this girl didn’t mind the half hour travel through the windy mountainside, which I must add was spectacular. As I spoke with the campers throughout the weekend, they absolutely loved being there at Hunter Mountain.
Catskill Mountains – Taste of Country Music Festival
Day Three
The energy at the mountain seemed to be a little more passive this morning as I made my way through the vendors to select my breakfast of choice. It very well could be as the attendees were beginning to slow down from their two-day drinking binge, perhaps it was the sullenness they were beginning to feel with the approaching end to the festival, or perhaps they just weren’t awake enough yet. Whatever it was, it certainly was easier to maneuver through the crowd this morning to get this creation I had heard of the previous day at my favorite corn dog vendor. This creation was the best of all breakfast foods wrapped into one scrumptious delicacy. It was a breakfast sausage on a stick with a donut drizzled with syrup and covered with bacon bits. Yep, these carney chefs were geniuses when it came to hangover foods for these people, and myself who just appreciates anything with bacon.
Breakfast of Champions
As I made my way to the Ram Guts and Glory stage, the jealous stares at my purchase were evident as I pointed back towards my new vendor friend. With another stellar lineup in store I was really looking forward to the day’s shows. First up was Jessica Lynn, followed by Chase Rice, Tyler Farr, Thomas Rhett, Thompson Square, and ending this amazing weekend as no other could, Hank Williams Jr., aka Bocephus.
As Jessica Lynn took the stage, the crowd was sparse but, beginning to fill in, as this beautiful young lady with a full band behind her eased them into the day with some amazing music. Her sound was the perfect blend of classic country and modern country with hints of pop. With the accompaniment of the pedal steel guitar (played by her father), a fiddle, two guitars, bass, percussion, and even backup singers (one being her mother), her style was country classic, and her talent as a songwriter was apparent.
She sang songs she penned about girls in the music business, “Taking Over”, and about insecurities girls often feel about themselves in numbers such as “Pretty”. To look at Jessica you would think she was immersed in the country music business from the time she was born. After all, she had two parents who were also in the music business. However , this northern gal grew up in Yorktown Heights, NY and at an early age found country music, and life for this New Yorker was never the same. Her roots may be from the north, but this girl has a southern charm that goes on for miles.
Jessica Lynn -Taste of Country Music Festival
As Jessica’s show ended, next on the ticket was Chase Rice. Rice is one of Nashville’s superstars on the horizon as he has burst onto the scene as an independent artist and made huge strides in a business dominated by coorporate record labels. This handsome young man, who once played football for North Carolina and worked in a Nascar pit, is all about writing music. Although, he’s best known for his #1 hit song he co-wrote, “Cruise” that changed his life and propelled him into the spotlight, he’s quick to share his plans for the future and add to that catalog of musical hits.
When asked about the song he says “I am very appreciative of it, but I’m about a lot more than just one song”. That he is. Chase is currently touring with Dierks Bentley and has built a huge fan base across the country. Getting ready to release his next album Ignite the Night on August 19, Chase is living his life by his motto – “On a scale of 1 to 10, be an 11.” As he performed Sunday for the huge crowd that had amassed for him, he sang “Ready Set Roll”, and to this day he is still amazed how crowds sing along with him and know all the words despite the fact radio has never played the song.
His show was one of the most energized performances I had seen all weekend. With brothers City and Fence Tucker backing Chase up on guitar/bass, these two shred like no others with a duel pitting brother against brother, east crowd vs. west crowd to see who could yell the loudest. Chase Rice is a going to be a country super star, that I would place money on.
Chase Rice – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
Okay, now that the football player and his dueling guitarists had left the stage, out came a man after my own heart, Tyler Farr. I loved his southern twang, I loved his redneck tunes, I loved his camo attire, and I loved his beautiful ballad “Hello Goodbye” he wrote after finding his love in the wrong driveway. Those were all endearing qualities, but what I loved most about this guy? I loved how mid sentence he spotted the guy with the turkey decoy on his head and called him out as his new best friend. This man (Tyler, not decoy head) was awesome. All weekend long the turkey decoy hat made the jumbotron, garnered whispers, points, and high fives, and it floored me why no one else had noticed it from the stage.
After all, it was definitely not small or the norm, even with this rowdy bunch. Kudos Tyler on being one with your audience. His voice, a low sexy voice, with a rugged after tone – moved you no matter if he was singing about “Chick, Trucks, and Cold Beer”, how he was “Redneck Crazy”, or how she was the “Whiskey In my Water”. No matter what he sang, he nailed it. Perhaps this is because he’s actually a classically trained musician. The control he has over his voice, almost purrs as he sings. As many of these artists had done all week, he also performed a cover, this one was by Awolnation, “Sail”. His cover got the attention of everyone there and by the end of his set, Tyler Farr was my, new best friend.
Tyler Farr – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
Up next was Thomas Rhett. Although Rhett was born into the country music world, his plans were not to follow in his famous father’s footsteps. Seeing what Rhett Atkins went through in the business, Rhett Jr. spent a good portion of his early years trying to decide which direction to take. No matter which way he turned, it kept leading him back to the music industry. Starting out as a songwriter, his songs have been recorded by the likes of Jason Aldean and Lee Brice, and Florida Georgia Line to name a few. It was only a matter of time this talented young man would begin singing his own songs and climbing the charts himself. As much as he is a talented songwriter and singer, he has a special charisma that translates to his audiences.
From the moment he took the stage, there was a good time to be had. Singing his hits “Get Me Some of That”, “It Goes Like This” and “Something To Do With My Hands” the crowd, going crazy for each song he sang, became part of his show. Quite literally as Thomas came out into the crowd to find someone to share the stage with. Didn’t take long to find Connor, a Brantley Gilbert doppelgänger, to come up on stage with him to finish out Garth Brook’s “Friends In Low Places”. Sometimes no matter how much we try to fight something, fate plays a part in it and this is a shining example of how Thomas Rhett was meant to be on the stage.
Thomas Rhett – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
Next on the all-star billing was Thompson Square, a husband and wife duo who have been taking Nashville by storm lately. Relatively new to listeners, this couple is not new to country music or their journey to where they are today. Arriving in Nashville to pursue solo careers, the couple met the first week there and from that moment on have found together everything they ever dreamed of. Joining forces after marrying on the music front as well, this duo combined their aspirations, songwriting talents, and blend the best attributes of both to create Thompson Square.
Since Just Feels Good, their second album, was released, their schedule has been packed with a full year of touring and performing. When this couple hits the stage you feel their connection. You feel their chemistry on stage as they performed “You’re Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About” and “Here We Go Again”. However it was their performance of “If I Didn’t Have You” that fans felt their passion in each other and the music they share.
As they began playing their final song “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” I looked around to see the first hand how contagious this love they share is with their audience. Couples dancing all around me just confirmed what an amazing team they are, and how worthy they are to be the first and only married couple to receive CMA Vocal Duo of the Year honors, in addition to multiple other CMA, AMC, AMA, and Grammy Awards and Nominations. Just proof that sometimes things are great on their own, but combine them and they are even better together. As a footnote, the award for line of the day was awarded to Thompson Square as they spotted a special guest in the audience and shouted out, “Is that Spiderman? Well it’s not a party until Spidey shows up”. Classic.
It Ain’t A Party Till Spidey Shows Up
As the sun began to set, and the festival prepared for its final act, concert goers seemed a little more subdued awaiting the legendary Hank Williams Jr. Growing up in Murfreesboro, TN instilled a few country customs one never outgrows. These include the love of cornbread, barbecue and sweet tea, the appreciation of clogging and square dancing, and the sheer awe of country greats such as Hank Williams, his son Bocephus, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, and so many more that graced the Grand Ole Opry stage.
No matter how far north you go, you always hold dear to your heart those country basics. So the anticipation of seeing Hank Williams Jr. in person was surreal in a way for this gal. Those in the audience seemed to share this belief as well. The crowd wasn’t the rowdy, on your shoulders holding beer up in the air bunch that had been having a good time all weekend. No, this bunch was perhaps the same group, but they were a buzz with a respectful excitement of suspense now awaiting Hank Williams Jr. to take the stage. Without keeping the crowd in suspense any longer, Hank Williams Jr. took the stage, and from that moment on that man had your attention. Not quite sure what was to be expected, but without any reservations, this man far exceeded what I imagined.
Hank Williams Jr. – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
As Hank Williams Jr. began his set, you knew immediately that this was a man who made no excuses, didn’t apologize for who he was, and took full ownership of his beliefs, his life choices, and career. He truly was an original outlaw. As he performed numbers throughout the evening the audience gained an insight into what makes Hank tick. Raised in a household with frequent guests who gathered around the dinner table and piano, Hank’s momma, Audrey, couldn’t understand why when Hank got into music he kept gravitating towards that rockabilly sound.
Perhaps it was because Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash (his godmother), Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, and Elvis Presley didn’t play old-fashioned country or gospel type music, when they came over. No, they banged those keys and rocked the house, and this was what Hank wanted to play. In a career that has seen more number one albums, singles, awards, and continues to thrive today, the man on stage was a living legend. As he began playing his hits such as “Women I’ve Never Had” “A Country Boy Can Survive” and “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight”, the crowd cheered and clapped and Hank fed off of this and just got better and better with each number.
Hank Williams Jr. – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
Because Hank has had such a successful and long career, he has the options of traveling or not traveling. He is selective when it comes to shows, so when he was approached, he said it was a no brainer to come to see us at Taste of Country Music Festival. It was on a mountain that once held one of the all time great festivals, was great hunting and fishing country, and offered a Remington Arms factory right up the road. What was to decide?
Hank Williams Jr. – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
As the show progressed I was truly amazed at this man’s versatility. Hank Williams Jr. is quite a musician as well as an amazing singer. At one point he was sharing his love and respect for Fats Domino, as he played the piano and sang “Jambalaya”. The next minute he was performing Johnny Cash’s “Walk The Line”, and you would have sworn it was Johnny himself singing it. Then he went into one of the best mash-ups of Lynyrd Skynard/ZZ Top/Aerosmith that I’ve ever heard. All the while he shredded, strummed, tickled the ivories, and rosined up his bow – he did so with a new brim each and every number. This man is a classic. He had a hat for his guitar numbers, a hat for his rock numbers, and a hat for his honky-tonk numbers.
As he played throughout the night, I believe my favorite moment was hearing him talk of how he had been approached by a lady who had always wanted to see his father play, however didn’t have the chance to make it in time, so he dedicated a number to her. As he sang to her “Lovesick Blues” you could see Hank Williams live on through his son, through country music, and through the never-ending love and adoration of his fans. As Hank Williams Jr. played the evening, this sentiment held true for him too. As he closed out the festival, joined on stage by Tyler Farr and Thompson Square, fans knew they had just witnessed a piece of history not often seen.
Hank Williams Jr. – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
As the curtain called, the set began to be torn down, the buses filled with gear, the shuttles filled with passengers ready to go back to their cars in the lots and hotels surrounding the mountainside, festival goers were left with an afterglow of sorts from the amazing weekend they just experienced. I must commend the event organizers, planners, volunteers, and staff for an amazingly seamless event. The security team was top-notch, diffusing anything that may escalate into a problem so that everyone there was safe and had a good time without incident.
I commend them on their top-notch staff that was hands on from day one and had every detail possible covered, beforehand and as it arose. They were efficient, professional, courteous, and always striving to make the event the best for everyone involved from the performers to staff, to media, to attendees. I can’t imagine how 2015 will live up the standards of 2014’s Taste of Music Country Festival. Oh wait, maybe you can get Tim McGraw to headline.
As day two began at Hunter Mountain’s Taste of Country Music Festival, festival goers certainly didn’t allow the torrential downpour on Friday night to hinder their spirits in any way. Perhaps the other spirits on hand played a part in that. Perhaps it was just this crowd was tough and didn’t care about sissy things like a little adverse weather conditions. With a clear forecast up on the mountain for the day, this crowd was locked and loaded, okay not quite loaded yet, but they were there and the fun had begun.
Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
Day Two
Having the hindsight to write down the directions vs. relying on cell powered GPS today, I made my way to the mountainside in no time flat, with enough time to meander around and see the festival goers, vendors, food sources, and fun to be had away from the stages. As I approached the entrance, a random festival goer high five’s me and immediately I become one with the crowd again, despite my lack of tent, cowboy hat, and/or red, white, and blue attire; this girl did have her cowboy boots on though. We belong to a gang, one that loves to hoop and holler, one that doesn’t mind getting a little dirty, cold, or wet, and a group that loves their country music and those that sing to us.
As I scoped out my attack on today’s culinary cuisine, a few of the sites beckoned me with their wafting fragrances. Tough as it was to decide between loaded potatoes, barbecue, hot dogs or hamburgers, fried macaroni and cheese, potato pancakes, alcohol infused donuts (which I would love to try next time I’m not working), watermelon, and so many more choices too numerous to list here, I made my decisions. I would start off with the Asian noodles as a healthy light fare, and later follow-up with the bacon wrapped corn dog.
As the crew began to set up the stages for the day’s performances I couldn’t help feel the energy already building for the day’s stellar lineup. Up first was Jamie Lynn Spears, followed by The Cadillac Three, Charlie Worsham, Leah Turner, Craig Morgan, Randy Houser, and the headliner and one of country music’s icons, Brad Paisley would finish the night out right. Wishing the line to the chair lift wasn’t so long so I could get a panoramic view of this crowd and the goings on, I had to put off as there just wasn’t time before the first performer took the stage. As I hiked the hill to scope out the crowd, I took note that the crowd around the Ram Guts and Glory Stage was starting to fill in, which was my que to hightail it back to my spot for the shots I needed to capture.
Up first was Jamie Lynn Spears, best known as an actress on several Nickelodeon shows, and sibling to her famous sister, Brittany. The crowd seemed apprehensive to what they would be in store for, but open-minded enough to welcome her with cheers and encouragement. Jamie had been out of the lime light now for more than six years focusing on her soon to turn 6-year-old, daughter Maddie. During this time, Jamie did some soul-searching and being from the south and loving country music, she began writing with a team that included Chris Tompkins, Liz Rose, Lisa Carver and Luke Laird.
With their expert guidance, she learned the art in putting your heart and soul into words that translate to messages through her songs. As she began to sing, as good of an actress she is, this definitely is her calling She has the perfect country voice, the perfect stage presence, and showed this audience what raw talent she has in this business. She definitely proved herself and laid to rest and doubts the audience may have. As she sang songs from her current list of music and covers she won over the audience. However it if they didn’t love her yet, when she brought out her daughter to have the audience help her sing “Happy Birthday” to her, she won them over then. Look forward to seeing more from this artist in country music as she grows with this country music family too.
As Jamie left the stage, next on the days lineup was a band called The Cadillac Three. As they took the stage, this trio of musicians stole my heart and rocked my world. You couldn’t help relating to these guys as you felt like you were in the presence of Wayne and Garth from the movie Wayne’s World, which I’m sure they get all the time. However, once past the initial doppelgänger recognition factor, Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason and Kelby Ray got your attention in a whole new way. The energy they had during their set was off the charts.
As they performed all I kept thinking was they were a party on stage. Their hillbilly rocking, southern rock style was reminiscent of ZZ Top meets Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Molly Hatchet meets Charlie Daniels, meets .38 Special. This wasn’t country music, this was rock and roll folks. Their performances incited the audience and made for some of the most fun I had to date this weekend. As a photographer first and foremost, I just love bands that move around the stage. Things that always make for great photos were everything they offered in their show; long crazy rock and roll hair to whip around, a drummer that stood up and above his set really getting into the beat, and reflective glasses to show off the insanity their music was inciting.
The Cadiallac Three – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
If you haven’t taken a look at these guys yet, please do. You may have heard Keith Urban’s #1 single “You Gonna Fly”, which was co-written by Johnston, but it’s only the tip of their talent as their music that is worth a listen to. Numbers such as “Tennessee Mojo”, “Back It Up”, and “The South” substantiate their stronghold they will wreck on the country music world.
Next on the bill was newcomer Charlie Worsham. Relatively new to this audience but definitely not new to the business, this talented young man has years and years under his belt of music experience. He began playing piano in kindergarten, and then after seeing bluegrass banjo player, Mike Snider, at Opryland began learning the banjo. Years later he would join him onstage at the Opry accompanying him on his own banjo. This multi talent young man didn’t quit at the piano and banjo, each year he would learn another new instrument.
This versatile young man found himself at Berkelee College of Music, where he fine tuned his craft in instruments and writing and since has toured and collaborated with such stars as Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift. On his newly released album Rubberband you will hear further collaborations with country music greats, Vince Gill and Marty Stewart, who join him in “Tools of the Trade”. This young man was a total crowd pleaser from the moment the audience saw him. Out of the norm for most musicians, he came out to the audience prior to his set to meet fans and sign autographs. You see this after the fact at times, however beforehand is generally not the norm. Signing and talking with them for a good long time, he eventually had to stop as his band beckoned him back to the stage to start the set.
Already developing a relationship with this audience, this continued as he totally countryfied this crowd with his amazing banjo and mandolin playing tunes. As if they couldn’t love him more, he decided today was the crowd and day for his first ever “body surfing”. This totally rocked as he was passed from front to back to the soundboard and high fives everyone the entire time. During his set he pulled up a young lady from the front and serenaded “Happy Birthday” to her as she blushed and gushed over him. Yes, Charlie Worsham was a crowd favorite.
The Cadillac Three – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
As Leah Turner took the stage, her raspy country voice was a nice example of female representation in the male dominated country music business today. Leah originating from California was by no means a surfer type, in fact she was representing the California cowboy/cowgirl clans. One area of country music often forgotten about as Bakersfield, CA, which has given us some of country’s greatest artists, such as Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakum, Marty Stewart, Creedance Clearwater Revival, and Merle Haggard to name a few. About an hour outside of LA, Leah was raised on a farm in Morongo Valley with horses, goats, and chickens.
This young lady had been around cowboys her entire life as her father has been on the rodeo circuit for years. So country music was in her soul. After working in LA with well-known producers, David Foster and Humberto Gatica, she realized her heart was in country music, and shortly thereafter bought her one way ticket to Nashville to realize her dreams. The one thing you noticed about this country gal was she was no sissy. She had a strong presence, strong voice, and I’ll kick it country attitude. As she sang some of her new tunes like “Take The Keys” and “Bless My Heart” from her EP Leah Turner, she showed us she had followed her true path. Show casing her strong voice even further were her covers of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” which pumped up the female crowd attendees, and her cover of John Fogerty’s tune “Proud Mary” which truly accentuated her strong vocal skills and stage presence.
Leah Turner – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
Next up was Craig Morgan. As I looked around the audience, his popularity was apparent. It was a blanket of people everywhere. Opening the set with his hit “International Harvester”, he immediately got the attention of the crowd and from that point on sang hit after hit. Numbers such as “A Little Bit of Life”, “Wake Up Loving You”, and of course his hits “Redneck Yacht Club” & “That’s What I Love About Sunday”. This down home family man has found success just being himself. With a resume that is as diverse as it gets, it demonstrates one thing about Craig, that he is a people person that cares about making life better for others no matter what the job. Beginning as an EMT, he then spent ten years in the military, went on to being a contractor, sheriff’s deputy, and even worked at Wal-Mart. The one thing though that tied all these jobs together?
No matter what he was doing or where he was going, music was his passion and played a part in every aspect of what he did. This dedication continues into his personal life as he is an avid outdoorsman, husband, and father to four children. He continues with his dedication to community and causes such as those serving in the military. He has had an extensive singing career for years, and the one thing he continues to do is grow with his music. He’s at a point in his career now that allows him the ability to feel confident enough to uncover raw emotions in his songwriting that reflects a piece of him in each song.
Songs such as “If Not Me” and “We’ll come Back Around” signifies the depths he went to, to address ideals and experiences in life he drew from. His success and longevity however come from his ability to mix it up and covers such as Justin Timberlake’s “Drink You Away” and Foreigner’s “I’ve Been Waiting” were perfect examples of Craig being Craig. His set flew by, and the sea of people gathered cheering confirmed his popularity at this years Taste of Country Music Festival.
Craig Morgan – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
If any artist was to receive an award for their performance at the show this year, hands down it would be Randy Houser. As Randy took the stage, unbeknownst to anyone in the audience, he and keyboardist, John Henry Trinko, literally just arrived. Somewhere out in Pennsylvania was the rest of the band, the gear, and a broken down bus. Not quite sure how the crowd would react, he began his acoustic set. As he shared with the audience how he is a songwriter first and foremost, he began his set. Best known for his “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” song recorded by Trace Adkins, Randy’s portfolio of work is much more serious as he writes mainly about life experiences. As he played song by song, no one noticed there wasn’t a band behind him.
Between him and John Henry, they had it covered. Randy told the audience how it felt as though we were all sitting in his living room or on his porch, sharing a beer, and listening to music together. And that is how it felt. This acoustic set was amazing. His voice was all the crowd needed. It wasn’t the pomp and circumstance they loved about Randy, it was his voice, his message, his music. As he sang “Started With A Goodnight Kiss” and “Running Out of Moonlight”, the audience loved him more and more. However they really were on his front porch as they joined in on his cover of Garth Brook’s “Friends In Low Places”. He didn’t need all the special effects. A keyboard, a guitar, and his voice was all that necessary to bring the show.
Randy Houser
As Randy left the stage, Dee Jay Silver pumped up the crowd with his mixes of country tunes keeping this complete wall to wall crowd at bay during set change. Pure genius as this crowd was completely pumped up and ready for the highlight of the evening, Brad Paisley.
Brad Paisley – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
As Brad Paisley took the stage, the most spectacular light show ensued along with a full lineup on stage, and full set list of hits to share. Brad best known for his numerous number one albums and hits, and charming sense of humor brought that along with an extensive catalog of music to choose from. Even though he was promoting his new album, Moonshine In The Trunk, with today’s current hit “River Bank”, he shared out of the treasure chest of other albums with numbers such as “This is Country Music”, “Online”, “Ticks”, “Mud on the Tires”, and “American Saturday Night”.
Through the modern miracle of technology, Brad was able to perform his duet with Carrie Underwood, “Remind Me”, as her image was projected in a hologram right there on stage. He was awarded the best line for the night as he told the crowd “…this is the most fun you’ll never remember you had…” Brad always has come across as a decent human being, and this was solidified as I saw him sign and hand a guitar he had just finished playing to a small boy right in the front of the stage. Who does that right in the middle of their act? Brad Paisley does. Truly a superstar and all around decent guy.
Brad Paisley – Taste of Country Music Festival 2014
As the night came to a close up to the top of the mountain the spectacular light show finished out the night as the fireworks display went off. Yep, Day Two lived up and beyond Day One. Surely Day Three, would be anti-climatic. Or would it?
From June 19-22, eager festival goers from up and down the East Coast jumped down the rabbit hole into The Mad Tea Party Jam. Down Tally Ho Lane, miles from the nearest town of Hedgesville, West Virginia, Ashton Farms sits among rolling Appalachian hills and has been the home to the festival since its inception in 2012. The party started Thursday and raged all weekend, driven by jazz, funk, and good ole’ rock n’ roll. It rained on and off all weekend, yet no one’s tempers were dampened.
Thursday
Turkuaz took the stage for the first nighttime set at 8 p.m. Thursday night. This Brooklyn band puts out huge sound. The band consists of two sax players, a guitarist, bassist, drummer, a trumpeter/synth player, and a synth player/guitarist. Then there are the ladies—both of whom shake the tambourine, sing, and shake it on down. The group’s uplifting jazzy funk started drawing people to the crowd as then sun came out just in time to go down. Playing to the crowd at hand, Turkuaz cranked up the weird meter for their sundown set; if Rick James and the Queen of Hearts hosted Mardi Gras, Turkuaz would’ve led the parade. Smiles were contagious and bodies were jiving as Turkuaz set the tone for a weekend that would be full of grooving and jamming.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, a Baltimore 4-piece with 2 guitars, a bassist, and drummer, followed Turkuaz. Funk is their menu, and this band serves it up hot, whether you’re ready or not. They played a heavily psychedelic improvisational set, tightly casting out and reeling back in jams. Bassist Ben Carrey and drummer Dan Schwartz held the tempo while guitarists Greg Ormont and Jeremy Schon fed off each other as tunes poured out. Ormont’s hopeful singing pitch soared during a joyous rendition of their original song “Julia”. They closed the set with Tukuaz’s Greg Sanderson and, artist at large, Ron Holloway joining in on the tenor saxes as the Pigeons reminded everyone they’re just here to “F-U…N-K!”
Next up, Dopapod kept the funk ball rolling, playing upbeat, dark dance rock. A unique cover of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” may have been the night’s highlight; the crowd sang the familiar lyrics as approving looks of surprised delight were shared with neighbors. The band welcomed their original drummer Mike Angelo on stage for “Roid Rage” and Ron Holloway came back out (this would be a theme all weekend) for a saxy version of “Priorities”. Guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque—who, along with Consider the Source’s Gabriel Marin, was one of two men rocking a double-necked guitar this weekend—offered his talents for a scorching version of “Bahbi”. For the set finale, the band played “Trapper Keeper” while TAUK drummer Isaac Teel relieved Scotty Zwang, Turkuaz’s Craig Brodhead took over on the guitar, and Consider the Source’s bassist John Ferrara manned the bass – combining to form Consider the TurTAUKapod. Rob Compa reappeared on guitar first, soon followed by Zwang, and the jam was kicked up a few notches. Ferrara stayed up with the rest of Dopapod, slapping an entrancingly fast and funky bass solo before handing off to Chuck Jones to end the 25 minute “Trapper Keeper” and a great first Dopapod set.
Around 12:30 a.m., Dopapod stepped down and TAUK smoothly cut in on the neighboring stage. The instrumental quartet of Long Island natives represented the Empire State admirably and is sure to reach another level with the release of their new album Collisions in July. Drummer Isaac Teel, having already showcased his talent during a particularly technical section of “Trapper Keeper”, proved he is TAUK’s rock during their first set with his tight, snappy, concise style of delivering the beat. Alric “Ace” Carter also demonstrated his value on the keyboard; while the band constantly floated in an emotional, exploratory rock space, it was often Ace’s infliction on the keys that determined the mood a given song would take on—exulting or ominous, adventurous or reverent. While Teel and Ace were the backbone all weekend, Charlie Dolan shined on the bass and Matt Jalbert brought it all together on the guitar. The band’s chemistry was evident; they’ve been playing together for 10 years, dating back to middle school. Their powerfully raw rock left the crowd TAUKing at the end of night one.
Friday
The first full day began with the sun sizzling and temperature edging toward the ’90s. The watering hole, which was within a five-minute walk from any campsite, was a godsend for campers. A drum circle ebbed and flowed on the far bank, people floated with their beers in the creek, and dogs splashed and swam excitedly. The watering hole provided a much-needed and inviting respite from the sun, and there was neither a shock nor a knot in the stomach when entering the water—just pure, pleasant refreshment flooding the body with each step deeper in. Scranton’s Primate Fiasco, which features a virtuosic fiddle playing front-man, played an upbeat afternoon set before the sound of Turkuaz started wafting down to the water; only the grandiosity of their jazz-funk soulshine music could have dragged festival goers from the watery nirvana, and it did. Back at the stage, the band’s chemistry was even more apparent in the daytime. Turkuaz’s members poured enthusiastic joy into their instruments which, in turn, emitted bright, upbeat vibrations that induced twisting hips and shaking arms. At all times, a few people sang, a horn or three blared, strings buzzed, and the percussion marched along, creating the perfect daytime dance party. Turkuaz heads out West during July, but returns to the Northeast in August and is definitely worth checking out (check out their tour schedule).
TAUK’s second set followed, which was, again, thoroughly impressive. If you close your eyes, the four friends from Mon-TAUK will pick you up, bring you on a pioneering aural journey through outer space’s wild west, and send you back with a “whoa!” on your lips, all without singing a line. While the night before Dolan particularly stood out on the bass, Jalbert took on the persona of Master Shredder on the guitar during Friday’s set, as the sunshine apparently fueled him to lead the musical expedition. He poked and prodded along proggy scales, showing off talent that has helped the band earn play time on Sirius and spots at festivals including Summer Camp, Bonnaroo, and the Peach Festival. The downstate band left me wanting more and I now know not to miss the Collisions release party on June 19th at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn.
After getting TAUKed, regrouping was necessary. Luckily, the music could be heard clearly from any campsite, as well as from the Wonderland-styled VIP lounge that featured blow-up couches, disco lights, hanging tapestries, iced coffee, a grill that was constantly churning out dogs and burgers, and a small acoustic stage. The “Insecurity” guard in charge of policing the area, Andy, personified southern hospitality all weekend. When partiers would light up a cigarette on an air couch, he would wander over and, for a moment, a foreboding look would come across his imposing face. He could not pretend to be upset for long, though: “Come on, brother, you know the only rule by now!” From Andy’s first smile to his last beer, he exemplified a Mad Tea Party Jammer: friendly, jocular, and a proud part of the growing MTPJ family.
The North Carolina-based Mantras played a heavy rock set from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Friday. The Mantras arsenal includes metal, psychedelic, funk, a hint of electronica, and generally equates to what can only be called good ole’ rock ‘n’ roll. They play a few shows in the Northeast from July 9-13 and at the Catskill Chill in September, and are recommended to anyone who enjoys the slightest head banging at a rock concert.
The Pigeons put on another funk exposition on Friday, reigniting the dance party from 8:30-10:00. They will be jamming out in Saratoga Springs on July 5th for a post-Phish party and are always looking to increase the size of the flock.
Many of the bands at MTPJ played multiple sets, which meant it was possible to miss the occasional set to explore the myriad of other sources of entertainment at this grown-up fantasy land. Dopapod’s second turn to the stage was a good time to explore the concert grounds. Fire dancers showcased their art in one corner as a small crowd always hovered nearby. A big, glittery Cheshire Cat guarded a labyrinth of art—Wonderland—in the middle of the music field, while painters set up easels just outside to watch the stage as the sonic landscape inspired the visual arts. Vendors skirted the outer edges of the field, creating a “V” whose point was straight out from the front of the stage, a few hundred yards up a slight slope, selling colorful clothes, handcrafted pipes, hacky sacks, quesadillas, and other creative goods and foods. Hoopers, families, and friends hanging out on blankets and lawn chairs created a loose-knit buffer between the vendors and the eclectically dressed crowd dancing at the stage— Thursday’s costume theme was “storybook”, Friday’s “Futuristic burlesque”, and Saturday’s “Summer solstice”.
Papadosio was the most popular band to only play one set, from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 1:00 a.m. Saturday, and may have elicited the most dancing all weekend from the crowd. After two days of hard rock and heavy funk, a reprieve into ambient tunes with electronic touches was welcomed. The crowd collectively swayed as ‘Dosio sent out the only waves of electronic vibrations of the weekend. Papadosio’s unique sound is Ambien to the ears and produced a mellow melt-fest among fans; the tribal drums, smooth keys, subtle electronics, and plucky guitar induced pleasant, trancey swaying. The opening tune, “We Are Water”, concluded with a sampling from “Alice In Wonderland”—“would anyone like some tea?”—and more than a few “cheers” went up in the audience. The North Carolina based five-piece played songs like “Curve”, “Hippie Babysitter”, “Night Colors”, and closed their only set with an enthusiastic, 15-minute version of “Unparalyzer”.
After ‘Dosio wrapped up at 1 a.m., The Werks treated Jammers to the first of three slamming sets they’d play in a 30-hour window. The weather broke and sprinkles fell from the sky as Tea Partiers werked out to good old-fashioned rock again. The highlight of the night, however, may have been delivered post-Werks. At nearly 4 a.m., ELM (Electric Love Machine) closed the day/night/morning with a filthy cover of Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter”. The lead singer channeled Robert Plant in his prime for this haunting version that remained generally true to the Houses of the Holy original. Shivers shot down the spine as the beautifully twisted, evilly moving jam conjured up powerful emotions. The sprinkles falling from the sky turned into deluge, and huge raindrops washed away the grime that ELM cascaded from the stage. The party people still awake in the wee hours of the morning were really treated as the dogs of doom howled once more.
Saturday
A light rain lingered Saturday morning, but mostly cleared up by the time Threesound sang “Roll Away the Dew”, covering The Grateful Dead’s “Franklin’s Tower”. They also performed a heavy instrumental cover of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” before ceding the stage to Fletcher’s Grove, Kings of Belmont, and then The Shack Band. The People’s Blues of Richmond (PBR) trio invited up Ron Holloway and Isaac Teel to help create their funky blues sound with a southern rock twang. Nekoro Williams busted out the best drum solo all weekend while lead singer Tim Beavers, who is an amalgamation of Jack White and 311 frontman Nick Hexum, tore it up on the guitar and vocals.
Following PBR, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus rocked out before Moogatu had their shot on the stage. They opened with Pink Floyd, closed with the Allman Brothers’ “Jessica”, and, in between, played a technically proficient cover of Umphrey’s McGee’s “Nothing Too Fancy”. Needless to say, Moogatu can hold their own. If ever in the DC/Virginia area, this band deserves a listen.
Consider the Source took the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, cramming as much talent into a 3-piece band as possible. Another NYC-based band, CTS transcends genres, blending progressive rock and jazz with Middle Eastern influences to create a powerfully unique sound. Bassist John Ferrara had already made his mark on Thursday night while slapping a mean solo with Dopapod, but double-necked guitarist Gabriel Marin and drummer Jeff Mann seized their opportunities to show off on Saturday. The majority of their 90-minute set consisted of all three members playing at mind-bending speeds with total precision. For CTS, that is the norm: rapid, technical jaunts into Middle Eastern psychedelic jazz-rock. I had to pull my jaw up from the floor when Fareed Haque joined the band (2 double neck guitars rocking the same stage) and Mann shifted over to his electronic drum kit. Luckily, this band calls New York home and there are plenty of opportunities to marvel at their proficiency when they are around.
Ron Holloway was likely the busiest man all weekend, offering his jovial presence and impeccable saxophone skills to at least a dozen bands during the festival. Despite the 80-degree plus temperatures, Holloway was as cool and crisp as an October breeze all weekend, undeniably at home on the stage. He expressed joyous, soul-massaging emotions with his sax the whole Jam. When Holloway led his band onto the stage, however, he shifted much of the spotlight to them. His guitarist tore off one of the best solos of the weekend while Holloway bopped in the background, with a lovely lady singing and dancing on either side of him. For over an hour, his band traded solos Saturday evening, energizing a throng of dancers that greatly appreciated Holloway’s groove-master presence for three days and nights.
The Ron Holloway Band yielded the stage to The Werks at 11:00 p.m. Saturday as the festival was winding down. They have a new keys player who completes the band and, during MTPJ, The Werks were firing on all cylinders. Out of the gates Saturday, they set the stage ablaze with “Disco Inferno”, which transitioned into the grooviest “Duck Farm” the Appalachians have seen. Ron Holloway helped the band cover Three Dog Night’s “Fire Eater” before drummer Rob Chafin sang an emotional version of “You’re Not Alone”. Previous keys man Norman Dimitrouleas and Consider the Source bassist John Ferrara joined in on “Galactic Passport” and the set concluded with an intense “Onslaught” that raised brows and dropped jaws.
There would, however, be one final “werkout” of the weekend; at 5 a.m. Sunday morning, the Ohio-based quartet came out to slap an exclamation mark on the festival. “Country Roads” finally drifted from the stage, igniting a full-out sing along, after which Chafin told everyone: “Look to your left; look to your right; hug both of those people. Share the love one last time that has been going around so strong all weekend.” The special moment seemed to stretch on, but ended abruptly when The Werks proffered a shifty, quick-paced “Mission Impossible” theme that had people boogying again. Most of The Mantras rotated in and back out during “G-Funk”, the final collaboration in what became colloquially known as “sit-in-city.” No one wanted the music to stop, but, at around 7 a.m. Sunday, hosts Elise and Taco, whose wedding anniversary the festival celebrates, came out to thank everyone for coming and pulled the plug on the music.
The Mad Tea Party Jam is an incredible secret tucked away in northeastern West Virginia. Its proximity to the Mason-Dixon Line drew in a perfect mixture of Northerners and Southerners for an amazing weekend. There was a comfortably laid back demeanor common among festival goers, and southern hospitality was abundant from “Insecurity” guards, volunteers, Elise, Taco, and the many talented and humble musicians. On the other hand, there were enough Northeasterners with the inherent gusto to squeeze every last drop of jamming into an unforgettable weekend.
Well if there was ever any question as to how northerners feel about country music, all doubts were laid to rest June 13, 14, and 15 – as more than 40,000 ready to party, country music fans flooded the Catskill Mountains with their tents, coolers, cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and American flags in tow for the Second Annual Taste of Country Music Festival.
Sponsored by Taste of Country Music, organized by Townsquare Productions, LLC, a collaboration between Townsquare Media Group and Chet-5 Festivals. The Festival was held at the beautiful Hunter Mountain Ski Lodge, in the heart of the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York. The setting and choice of seasons couldn’t have been better to celebrate the festival. With a lineup that looked like the guest list from the country music awards show, I was caught up in the flood of anticipation for what was to come over the next three days.
Friday – Day One
Although the festival opened Thursday with a few special performances for the early arrivers. Friday was officially the start of the festival and the lineup was stacked, starting with Gwen Sebastian opening the main Ram Guts & Glory Stage, followed by Blackjack Billy, Eric Paslay, Brantley Gilbert, and closing out the night with one of my favorite country musicians, Dierks Bentley. Inside at the Bud Light Stage, Ms. Ashley Winters, Gwen Sebastian, and the Timothy Chance Band entertained those taking cover from the weather conditions. Which did its best to put a damper on the show by the end of the night with a downpour. However, tried and true die-hard country fans didn’t budge. What’s a little mud on the boots after all? Wasn’t anything new to them. Bring it on, and bring on the weekend. They were ready.
Friday Fans at Taste of Country Music Festival
As I meandered my way through the mountainside towards the festival, cell coverage was sketchy for this gal and as the GPS gave out, I found myself at the end of a dead-end dirt road. Realizing this truly wasn’t the way to Hunter Mountain and thinking to myself what a great country song this would be, I turned myself around and found my way to the mountain just in time to make my way up to my parking place and inside to the main stage just as Blackjack Billy was going on. A little disappointed to have missed Gwen Sebastian’s set, I heard from those around what a great performance she had and vowed to catch her next time she came up this way.
Blackjack Billy at Taste of Country Music Festival
For new fans of Blackjack Billy, this amazing group is the partnership of Rob Blackledge and Noll Billings who moved to the Nashville area to pursue solo careers, however it was after meeting each other and partnering with Jeff Coplan that they had realized that they found the right mix to showcase their talents. Individually they have their own unique sound, however it’s the combination of what these individuals bring to the table that put them over the top. Throw in drummer, Brad Cummings, and the energy they brought to the festival was off the charts. With songs, “Get Some”, “Got A Feeling”, and “Drink Along” these guys turned up the heat for the crowd and got them rocking. But it was their mashup of – Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”, Nelly’s “Must Be For the Money”, throw in some classic Journey, and finish it out with Lil Jon’s “Get Low” and the crowd was on the verge of pandemonium. What’s unique about this group is their unique sound, their showmanship on stage, and their genuine desire to take time out for their fans. In between sets as the stage was being set up for another act you could find Noll Billings out in the crowd signing caps, shirts, and whatever was thrown his way while also taking selfies. A relatively new band, but definitely one to watch for in the future.
Brantley Gilbert at Taste of Country Music Festival
As Ashley Winters went on the inside stage, it wasn’t long before Eric Paslay was set up and out entertaining the hyped up crowd. Wishing I could be at two places at once, I stayed put as Eric began his set. The one thing that stood out immediately with Eric was his songwriting talents. You hear all the time of artists who travel to Nashville, LA, and New York to become stars. However part of the internship into this select group includes playing numerous gigs every time asked no matter where, and writing song after song, many that end up being someone else’s hit. With songs like “Angel Eyes” Paslay showcased his impressive resume of melodies for the audience demonstrating to them his talent with words.
Dierks Bentley
But after hearing a few other melodies such as “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and “Rewind” it was apparent that this multi talented young man was destined for a long and successful career both writing and recording. Ending an absolutely outstanding setlist was his current hit “Song About A Girl”. As Eric so bluntly puts it, country music isn’t always “about tailgates…about bonfires…about souped up cars, water towers, or drowning in a bottle of Jack – it’s a Song About A Girl”. With the debate of how country music has changed over the years, this song brings to light how country music has evolved and covers all topics. Just because it’s not the same as what it was generations before, doesn’t mean country isn’t country any more. For decades subject matter for country songs tends to follow these guidelines – Some songs are let’s have good time Friday night songs, some are love songs, some are break-up songs, and some are family songs about home and the farm. No matter what the subject matter is though, Eric Paslay I guarantee will put it to words and music, and make it a country hit.
Eric Paslay
As the night grew darker, the weather began to look ominous, a storm was brewing. As if on que, out came Brantley Gilbert, a 29-year-old from Jefferson, Georgia wearing biker boots, blue jeans with a chain hanging out his pocket, a white tank top, ball cap, piercings, and rings that could definitely break your nose with one hit. With a microphone handle that looked like brass knuckles, this bad boy had our attention. It was apparent that this outlaw definitely makes his own rules, and I looked forward to seeing if his music reflected this attitude as well.
As Brantley performed, the audience began to see another side to this tough guy. He was charming, he was patriotic, he was chivalrous. All in all he was one outstanding young man who stood for what he believed in and made no excuses. His music was the same. I could see all the influences of life and music he had inside, come out in the music he wrote and performed. He sang of family, friends, love, and country. His music was the perfect marriage of country and southern rock n’ roll, the kind you have to crank up in your car, and this music was delivered with a sultry raspy country twang that came across super sexy and powerful.
Brantley Gilbert at Taste of Country Music Festival
As he performed the hit “Dirt Road Anthem” which he co-wrote and was recorded by Jason Aldean, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”, and “Small Town Throwdown” you were wrapped up in the wave of energy both on stage and off as the audience began to respond. As he shared stories behind his music, fans got a sense that this young man was destined for greatness. His stage presence, his energy level, his sheer talent, all are indicators that this man is a name to remember.
Take amazing songs, add in a bit of southern country bad boy, a splash of patriotic charm, and a whole bunch of energy and talent and it’s understandable how he has more than 823K followers on Twitter and more than 3,000,000 on Facebook. As he closed out his set with his number one hit “Bottoms Up”, the 2013 ACM’s Best New Male Artist Award recipient gave festival goers a peek of what is to come for this young man. Brantley Gilbert is definitely a name that will go down in country music history.
Brantley Gilbert at Taste of Country Music Festival
As Brantley left the stage, the act everyone had been waiting for all day was up next. Headlining the first night of the Taste of Country Festival was multiple Grammy, CMA, and ACM award-winning artist, and Grand Ole Opry member, the one and only Dierks Bentley. Bentley, currently touring in support of his latest album, Riser, had a magnificent stage set up. With so many number one hits to choose from for a setlist, it was bound to be a complete hour of amazing music.
This family man outdid himself this time as each number demonstrated the depths he went in finding the words to express his feelings. These raw emotions found an outlet through his songs, each representing loss, love, and life he had recently been going through. His talent is more than just a pretty face and honey twanged voice. He grows with his music. He’s not afraid to put himself out there or stand up for what he wants in life. As he began to play, you could see a part of him in numbers such as “Drunk On A Plane” in which he shows his sense of humor and his other passion in life, being a pilot.
The truly personal song “I’ll Hold On,” which gives an insight into his character and what means the most in his life – family, love, and music. Sharing moments on the road, displaying family and friends in a video projecting behind him and the band, he sang “Every Mile A Memory”. I’m always impressed by the production of these tours and his light show was actually another piece of the band accompanying him on each number.
As he played “Got A Lot of Leaving Left To Do” the ambient lighting left you feeling a bit melancholy, as the low twinkling lights helped set the mood. As he began singing “Counting Stars,” one of the songs recently performed with One Republic at the festival, I thought to myself what a perfect pairing these artists were bringing out the best in them and their songs. Covers continued with two more crowd favorites with a rendition of both Bon Jovi’s “Living On a Prayer”, always a crowd pleaser, and one of my personal favorites, “Hey Brother” by Avicii.
As anticipated, his set list was amazing, full of hit after hit, his production with lighting, sound, and videography paired perfectly, and to end the evening was another favorite, “Settle For A Slow Down”. He nailed it. His live performance lived up to any expectations festival goers had.
Dierks Bentley at Taste of Country Music Festival
As the night came to an end with pouring rain coming down on each and every attendee, it didn’t seem to matter as I passed smile after smile. I couldn’t imagine this event getting any better than tonight’s performances and wondered if this was the climatic highlight to the weekends event. Could Day 2 live up to the first day? Stay tuned for Day 2’s coverage and highlights with NYS Music.com’s part two of the Taste of Country Music Festival at Hunter Mountain.
As Fox Fest approaches year five of its festival run, the growth of the event in its own right is noteworthy. What began as a blending of three friends’ annual parties, has now taken on a scale enviable by many regional festivals. Located in the pastoral hills south of Syracuse, Fox Fest is a non-profit event that annually donates its proceeds to honorable charities; this year’s proceeds will go to the Cpl. Kyle R. Schneider Foundation, a local Marine who lost his life serving our country in 2011 while in Afghanistan.
The festival is organized by George Ryan and Kelly Nichols, held on their property in Navarino, and sponsored by a large group of local businesses, residents and attendees. There’s a full professional production provided byWizzardSound Corporation including staging, PA system, and lighting, while local food vendors like Limp Lizard BBQ provide food and refreshments at reasonable rates. It’s a family-friendly event that allows camping, coolers full of whatever you choose, and the open space to enjoy yourselves while security by Onondaga County Sheriffs keeps things safe, but not restrictive.
Each year, Fox Fest tries to bridge musical genres, bringing a little bit of a taste for everyone while keeping to a high standard of performance that matches their event. Previous headliners have included Childhood’s End – A Tribute To Pink Floyd, Vinyl Albums – LIVE,FrostbitBlue and local favorites Emerald City. This year’s roster features the return of TJ Sacco and The Urban Cowboys, Dave Porter (the former front man of regional legend and national recording artists 805) with hisbassand drum robot, Bob, ‘80s metal monsters Three Inch Fury, and the remarkable Tiger and Off The Reservation as headliners. With twelve solid hours of music, including eight bands and three acoustic acts to play during change-overs, Fox Fest is easily one of the most musically diverse events of the year.
The event will be held on Saturday, August 2 at 3242 Fox Road in Syracuse, from 12:00 pm until 12:00 am. Admission is gained through a donation to the event which gets you entrance andan eventt-shirt that functions as your ticket. $24.00 pre-pay includes the t-shirt or $25.00 at the gate with no t-shirt. Call or text 315-382-5896 OR e-mail bruddyryan (at) hotmail.com or gryan (at) billrapp.com and they’ll send you a form or even fill it out for you! The donation deadline is coming up fast (July 11), and you don’t want to miss out on “the biggest backyard party of the summer”, so get your donation in soon to join a couple thousand of your closest friends!
Vibes certainly doesn’t limit itself to jam based acts either as the bill also includes names like Dispatch, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ziggy Marley and Maceo Parker. And like last year, the festival will also feature “roaming” acts that traverse the festival grounds all weekend long for spontaneous jams in Primate Fiasco and Funky Dawgz Brass Band.
The normally reserved nature of the beautiful Kodak Hall at Eastman School of Music became a virtual party room. A congregation of old and young, suburban and urban, liberals and conservatives all standing together for the purest spectacle of music mastery that may have ever entered this distinguished venue. Seats did not remain full for long as the performance was peppered with standing ovations, rushes to the front to shake hands offered by the band, and an endless cacophony of applause, shrieks and dancing feets.
As the crew began to set up the stages for the day’s performances I couldn’t help feel the energy already building for the day’s stellar lineup. Up first was Jamie Lynn Spears, followed by The Cadillac Three, Charlie Worsham, Leah Turner, Craig Morgan, Randy Houser, and the headliner and one of country music’s icons, Brad Paisley would finish the night out right. Wishing the line to the chair lift wasn’t so long so I could get a panoramic view of this crowd and the goings on, I had to put off as there just wasn’t time before the first performer took the stage. As I hiked the hill to scope out the crowd, I took note that the crowd around the Ram Guts and Glory Stage was starting to fill in, which was my que to hightail it back to my spot for the shots I needed to capture.
Up first was 
Next up, 
Friday
After getting TAUKed, regrouping was necessary. Luckily, the music could be heard clearly from any campsite, as well as from the Wonderland-styled VIP lounge that featured blow-up couches, disco lights, hanging tapestries, iced coffee, a grill that was constantly churning out dogs and burgers, and a small acoustic stage. The “Insecurity” guard in charge of policing the area, Andy, personified southern hospitality all weekend. When partiers would light up a cigarette on an air couch, he would wander over and, for a moment, a foreboding look would come across his imposing face. He could not pretend to be upset for long, though: “Come on, brother, you know the only rule by now!” From Andy’s first smile to his last beer, he exemplified a Mad Tea Party Jammer: friendly, jocular, and a proud part of the growing MTPJ family.
The Pigeons put on another funk exposition on Friday, reigniting the dance party from 8:30-10:00. They will be jamming out in Saratoga Springs on July 5th for a 
After ‘Dosio wrapped up at 1 a.m., 
The festival is organized by George Ryan and Kelly Nichols, held on their property in Navarino, and sponsored by a large group of local businesses, residents and attendees. There’s a full professional production provided by
Each year, Fox Fest tries to bridge musical genres, bringing a little bit of a taste for everyone while keeping to a high standard of performance that matches their event. Previous headliners have included Childhood’s End – A Tribute To Pink Floyd, Vinyl Albums – LIVE,