Category: Catskills

Best of NYS Music 2015: Staff Picks for New York State Festivals

Nothing compares to experiencing live music. But when it comes to packing up and leaving the world behind to immerse in a weekend of musical debauchery with a community of like-minded souls, well, that’s the stuff that dreams are made of for music festival fans.

From one-band to multi-artist events and crowd sizes from 2,000 to 50,000, New York State hosts a bevy of festivals annually in some of the most beautiful settings imaginable, and let’s face it, our state knows how to throw a proper fest, as it is ingrained in New York’s rich musical history having put on one of the biggest rock festivals of all time, Woodstock. Here we’ve rounded up our favorites from NYS Music 2015, so sit back, relax and relive some of the festival magic that happened throughout the Empire State this year, because we all know what it’s like to experience those post-fest blues.

Best Small Festival: Buffalove and Disc Jam

The third installment of Buffalove Music Festival saw a venue change from Cole Farm, Panama, NY, to North Fork Music Park, Warsaw, NY, with the new location offering four stages, a private beach, disc golf and wooded-area camping, and a record attendance that doubled previous years. With an impressive lineup including Kung Fu, Pink Talking Fish, Funktional Flow, Particle, Formula 5, Mister F, Space Junk, Dopapod, Aqueous and Aquapod, the three-day June 2015 festival created to celebrate Western New York’s emerging music scene was one for the books, according to Jen Foster and Thomas Sgroi:

Buffalove came through. Co-founder of Buffalive Productions and Founder of Buffalove Cody Conway clearly had one goal in mind: keep the energy as high as possible. Every single band had heads turning and jaws on the ground. There was never a lull, never a band that just played to fill space. Every minute was dance-worthy. If you missed out this year, we can highly recommend you don’t make that mistake next year. Without any problems or unruly attendees, this festival made its mark at North Fork Music Park in Warsaw, NY. The amount of talent coming out of Upstate New York is only paving the road for more incredible shows. Buffalove, you certainly were lovely.”

Another summer fest that saw a venue change was the fifth annual Disc Jam Music Festival, which moved from Massachusetts to New York State—and promoters recently announced that the event will return to Gardner’s Farm in Stephentown for its sixth year in June. Throughout four days of music, camping, disc golf and Flow Tribe, festivalgoers experienced live performances from more than 50 acts, including Lettuce, Electron, Dopapod, Aqueous, Brightside, Kung Fu, Consider the Source, Cabinet, Soule Monde, Roots of Creation, Formula 5, The Hornitz, Soul Rebel Project, Broccoli Samurai, Krewe de Groove and Relative Souls. According to Dave DeCrescente, the festival’s last day culminated with a “healthy dose of guest sit-ins” with jamband Twiddle, noting that:

One of the highlights of the set was the massive guest sit in with DJ Honeycomb, James Woods, and Joe Davis from Formula 5, Scott Hannay of Mister F and Todd Stoops for the ultimate mega jam on “Apples.” The Disc Jam Flow Tribe was out in full force with fire spinners and hooping entertainers that were almost as mesmerizing as the music. The weekend ended just as it started, with mind blowing music and a close knit community who continue to make the Disc Jam Festival special. Tony Scavone and crew did a suburb job of organizing the 5th annual Disc Jam with a new location but still the same friendly, loving festival experience that keeps fans coming back each year.”

Best Mid-Size Festival: Catskill Chill

While Catskill Chill is speculated to make a move to Lake George in 2016, the festival’s last waltz at bucolic Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY, this September was a success, selling 5,000 tickets, according to Chill promoter Dave Marzollo. Headlined by moe. who kicked off their fall tour at the festival and including other bands like Lotus, Zappa Plays Zappa, Lettuce, Twiddle, Turkuaz, Dopakuaz plays Studio 54 and The Motet, the sixth annual installment of Catskill Chill featured on-site cabin rentals, daily yoga, live art, a farmer’s market, craft and food vendors, a communal bonfire nightly and an open mic. The three-day event was packed with guest sit-ins and collaborations like Dopapod and Turkuaz joining forces to play as Dopakuaz, which Chill organizer Josh Cohen noted is the type of community mindset that sets this festival apart from others its size or larger by creating an environment where rising bands can experiment and grow in a unique setting:

Point is that when comparing us to larger festivals, we’re at this cool stage attendance-wise where in many band’s cases we have the best ‘music’ out there in our prime slots. I love tons of bands who’ve been around since the ’90s or earlier but there’s nothing like seeing musicians in their youthful stages, when creativity is just exploding and you can feel it dripping off the stage as opposed to later-in-their career bands who are playing mostly songs they first wrote and fell in love with decades earlier.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R6Uk03HW9k&feature=youtu.be

Best Large Festival: Magnaball

It’s no surprise that Magnaball takes the cake for this category. During late August more than 30,000 phans invaded Watkins Glen International race track for Phish Festival 10. And while the three-day event took place at the site of their 2011 Superball IX festival, this time around the setup featured many upgrades, including local and regional food vendors, the five-course restaurant Festival Ate, MagnaWater Program, speciality Phish-themed cocktails and coveted craft beer from Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Hill Farmstead. (And let’s not forget to mention the interactive Glurt Institute, Drive-In movie theater, JEMP Record Store and cornhole tournament.) The Vermont quartet majorly delivered throughout the weekend’s eight sets busting out rare tunes like “Mock Song” and jamming out typical breather ballads such as “Prince Caspian” to uncharted territory, but perhaps one of the highlights was the Saturday festival tradition of performing a late-night set, which according to Pete Mason raised expectations for future secret sets:

Magnaball’s foray into the history of Phish’s special festival sets was the Drive-In Jam and it raised the bar while putting forth a performance on par with the ‘Storage Jam,’ if not exceeded this established upper echelon of improvisation. On a 183-foot movie screen, a wide array of visual treats combined with a progressively growing ambient jam that eclipsed the Lemonwheel by a longshot and morphed into a full on jam for 50 minutes. The Drive-In Set raised the bar for surprise performances and gave fans a treat after the music on the main stage ended an hour prior.”

December 23, 2015
Jam for Tots Brings Holiday Joy and Music to The Capital District

Jam for Tots, a music benefit series held throughout New York State each holiday season, returns with host Luke Weiler who has been holding the benefit shows 2008.

With events held at The Hollow in Albany, Putnam Den in Saratoga, Last Chance Cheese (Tavern) in Tannersville and Aaron’s Irish Pub in Gloversville, intimate shows are on tap with a variety of live music as well as a chance to donate gifts and raise money for the neediest this holiday season. Weiler feels encouraged for this year’s Jam for Tots. “I’m so excited to see what takes place this year as I am always excited about the events and the vibe that we can all create collectively as Jam For Tots keeps going strong another year.”

The impact of the donations raised by Jam for Tots is quite impressive. “We have donated about $20,000 worth of toys over the last 8 years. We’ve had exceptionally amazing years where we had $10,000 in toys total, and years where we only had two events that raised about $2,000,” shared Weiler. “All bands donate their performances and with four events this year, I am looking forward to a good amount of toy donations, hopefully at least $2,000. I set attainable goals and more the better if we surpass the goal.”

As a holiday event, Jam for Tots is something that is feel good and fun to be a part of. These intimate events help to bring joy to many kids over the Christmas season. Bring a toy and get free admission to each of the Jam for Tots events in November and December.

November 25, 2015
Felice Navidad! Felice Brothers to Release Benefit Christmas EP

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley will be decking their halls with tidings of comfort for families throughout the region through the help of Palenville’s Felice Brothers. The band is set to release a five-song EP, Felice Navidad, of original Christmas-themed songs through their online store on Nov. 30.

The cost of the EP download is $5, with net proceeds benefiting the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. Those pre-ordering now will receive a free download of the new song, “Country Ham.”

The band will also be performing at Foodstock 8, an annual charity concert benefiting the same food bank at The Chance in Poughkeepsie on Nov. 21. Other bands on the bill that night include Lindsey Webster, Sirsy and Lara Hope and the Arktones. Other dates include a Nov. 28 gig at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, Webster Hall in New York on Dec. 2 and Brighton Music Hall in Boston on New Year’s Eve.

The follow-up to the band’s acclaimed 2014 album Favorite Waitress is slated for release in 2016. The Albany Times Union called Waitress, “freewheeling, loose and heartfelt…A wild cross between The Band and Nirvana.”

The Felice Brothers have released their first video from the benefit Christmas EP, set to be released Nov. 30. Ian Felice performs the simple, forlorn tale of Christmas. Felice tells the Wall Street Journal, “It’s a narrative about feeling lonely on Christmas, and the different emotions that can go with the holidays that aren’t always talked about in the happy-go-lucky songs.” Check out the new video here:

November 23, 2015
A Farewell to Summer and Minglewood

As another remarkable summer festival season draws to a close, the 2015 edition of Catskill Chill also marked the end of another magical era. Dubbed “A Farewell to Minglewood,” festival organizers announced the sixth annual Chill would be the last one at its present and only location to date. Camp Minglewood, an incredibly remote and scenic summer camp in Hancock, NY, has been the festival’s home since inception, but perhaps due to a seemingly yearly growth in popularity the festival announced it will seek new quarters next year. This gave everyone in attendance, collectively known as the “Chillfam” one last time to make memories and enjoy a fantastic lineup of music in a truly special place.

With a steady stream of people still filing in on Friday afternoon securing camp sites and cabin spots, a full three days of music began on the festival’s various stages. Things got funky right away as Funky Dawgz and Natalie Cressman each had their brass powered bands open up action at Club Chill. Definitely more clubhouse than night club, the Club Chill stage is a unique one featuring wooden stadium style seating with multiple levels that were also partially enclosed. Although it was located uphill from the main stage, it featured some of the finest acts of the weekend including a thoroughly enjoyable set from Buffalo’s own Aqueous early Friday evening.

The Nth Power, an emerging funk, jazz and soul hybrid act initiated action over on the main stage. Spearheaded by the drumming prowess of Nikki Glaspie. The lively rockers powered through a set of originals including “Only Love” and also included a cover of The Beatles’ “She’s So Heavy”.

This warmed up the stage nicely for Lettuce, who followed with their signature high-octane brand of funk. Fittingly, they brought former member Nigel Hall on stage for the last few numbers laying down a funky “Sounds Like A Party To Me.” This was only the first of many memorable sit ins and collaborations throughout the weekend. The night continued with spirited set of electronica infused rock courtesy of Lotus, Break Science kept the party going and then some with a set that featured a plethora of sit ins from drummer Adam Deitch’s fellow Lettuce band members.

Meanwhile, Club Chill was packed to the gills thanks to another well-orchestrated collaboration. Members of Twiddle were joined by an all-star supporting cast including Tim Palmieri from Kung Fu on guitar and Tood Stoops from Raq on keys for a Grateful Dead tribute set. A clean run through the Jerry Garcia classic “Birdsong” preceded a thunderous rendition of “The Other One”. Other classics like “I Know You Rider” and “Fire on the Mountain” were met with appreciative roars and applause as this hyped set seemed to live up to its billing. One last mashup of rich musical talent brought things to a close on Friday with Dopakuaz Plays Studio 54. Comprised of members from Dopapod and Turkuaz, the big band ensemble replete with female vocalists did their very best to create an air of a late night disco party at the renowned New York City night club starting with an opener of KC & The Sunshine Band’s “That’s The Way (I Like It)”.

The hits just kept on coming late into the night with spot on renditions of “You Should Be Dancing” and “Get Down.” The group even showed an ability to shift seamlessly between songs which was highlighted by an impressive “Funky Town” >“Disco Inferno” transition.

Saturday saw more musical tributes and artists joining forces with beautiful results. Shwizz and Fikus combined for a Shwikus Plays the ’80s set that was very well received. They were followed by yet another super group as the ChillFam All-Stars, which included Steve Molitz from Particle on keys and Mike Greenfield from Lotus on drums, paid musical tribute to the great Herbie Hancock.

Club Chill was enraptured as the All Stars pulled off a set that included hits like “Watermelon Man” and “Rockit”. A tribute of another sort took place later on the main stage as Dweezil Zappa brought his Zappa Plays Zappa band for a set of his father’s music. Their current tour is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention album One Size Fits All so a steady diet of tracks from that were played in addition to other classics like “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow”.

The main late night musical acts for Saturday featured two bands who are at very different points in their respective careers. Venerable upstate New York jam legends moe. were given the headlining slot for this year’s Chill, the first one they’ve ever played. A set opening “Seat of My Pants” was jammed to perfection and a rousing segue into “Recreational Chemistry” had hopes high for a special set. However, they didn’t dig too much deeper into the musical vault as the rest of set featured staples like “Happy Hour Hero,” “Spine of a Dog” and “Buster,” which served as closer. On the other end of the spectrum is Twiddle, a Vermont based rock quartet that is growing in popularity each passing day. They seem to have already developed a young and enthusiastic fan base and their performance this weekend surely opened some eyes. Playing with a noticeable energy and excitement, the group sent everyone back to their respective homes smiling with a set that saw Todd Stoops sit in on “Brown Chicken Brown Cow” and an impressive display of talent by keyboardist Ryan Dempsey on “Jamflowman” which featured a fun give and take jam with guitarist Mihali Savoulidis.

With two incredible nights of music in the books, Sunday offered no rest for the weary as another full schedule lay in store. Turkuaz got things started in the early afternoon with their customary explosive big band sound. They were followed by The Motet who ran through a set of their own funky hits including “Funny Bone” and “Like We Own It”.

Up at Club Chill, another of New York’s own, Solaris played to a small but rapt crowd as they delivered their version of electronica which included a fun take on the theme from Tetris. Shortly afterwards, it was time for Dopapod and their set on the main stage. With the sun beginning to set behind the trees, a beautiful canvas was naturally created as the group seemed to soak up every minute of their set which was littered with teases of “Funkytown” throughout as a nod to Friday night’s performance.

Additional Saturday highlights included Electron, an old Disco Biscuits side project featuring Marc Brownstein on bass and Aron Magner on keys who were joined by Tom Hamilton on guitar and Mike Greenfield on drums. This was as close to an actual Bisco performance as you can get as the old friends ripped through a set that included classics like “Shelby Rose” and “42” as well as a sterling cover of Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar”. Not to be outdone, Pink Talking Fish, a band that melds the music of Phish, Talking Heads and Pink Floyd, played perhaps one of most enjoyable sets of the weekend afterwards that featured other Pink Floyd covers like “Money” and “Eclipse”. The highlight may have been the performance of “Pigs (3 Different Ones)” that was dropped right in the “pause” section of Divided Sky.

To close things out, Catskill Chill had Particle, the only band to appear here every year, play a farewell set that featured sit ins from start to finish. Members of Dopapod, Turkuaz and Electron all jumped on stage at some point for a truly fitting farewell. The family atmosphere this festival has naturally developed was highlighted by the closing selections of “Family Affair” and “We Are Family”. Particle keyboardist/leader Steve Molitz urged everyone to remember the good times created at this special place before everyone went on their way and the book was closed on another special weekend. Some say the month of March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.

While it may be debatable as to when summer festival season exactly comes in, there’s no doubt after a weekend of music like this one that it goes out with a Chill.

September 28, 2015
The Catskill Chill 2015 Music Festival: A Farewell to Minglewood

The sixth annual Catskill Chill Music Festival – A Farewell to Minglewood – is set to take place this weekend on Sept 18-20 with this year being the last time at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY. The Chill gathers fans from all over the North East to the beautiful, secluded Catskills for a three-day camping summer music festival finale. The Chill has called Camp Minglewood home since the beginning and it’s sleep away camp setting of multiple concert halls, cabins full of friends and tents scattered over the hills, all within short walking distance made for the ideal festival grounds. The Catskill Chill motto holds true to “All Love, All the Time” as you can see and feel it all around you with nonstop smiles, hugs, high fives and the radiating positive vibes that keep Minglewood clean and fun.

This coming weekend will be a time of reflection of all the wonderful moments of Chills past. We’ve endured all types of weather: perfect sunny days, light rain, the Tornado of 2012 and those cold, cold, cold early fall nights of NY. The little to no cell phone reception is a painful delight as we are given a chance to truly enjoy all that the Chill has to offer with both hands and a focused mind. The Catskill Chill lines up talented regional and national musical acts of all genres that connects us to each other and the dance floor. The bands love the Chill as much as the fans do with major returning acts such as Lotus, Dopapod, Particle, Lettuce, The Motet and Kung Fu.

One of the best features about The Chill is the abundance of guest sit ins and collaborations from over the years such as Shwizz and Fikus will join forces to become Shwikus, the late late night Sunday set of Dopadosio, Bobby Paltauf with The Meter Men, Todd Stoops with Twiddle plus so many more. The number of artists has dramatically increased over the years with a jam-packed schedule that doesn’t stop til you do. With more bands comes more stages and those cabin porches serve more than neighborly meetups, Solaris is no stranger to the late night porch shows. Acoustic Junction was a great addition to The Chill with memorable acts from The Brummy Brothers, Consider the Source and Primate Fiasco, guaranteed to rock your socks off electronically or acoustically.

Be mindful to savor every beautiful minute of music and scenery because we’re so lucky to have them together. Don’t miss out on one hell of a going away party and buy tickets now (available here). NYSMusic is grateful to share the bittersweet goodbye of Camp Minglewood and looks forward to more memories of The Catskill Chill.

Check out past NYSMusic Catskill Chill Reviews and Photo Galleries: 2012, 2013 2014

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOMlLBDgUHE]

September 15, 2015
Catskill Chill Preview: One Last Dance at Minglewood

As the summer festival season draws to an end, next week’s Catskill Chill Music Festival which takes place September 18-20, a week later than it is usually held, also marks an end of an era. The 6th annual festival, which has grown in popularity each year, will be the last one held at its original home of Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY before the party moves elsewhere next year.

Fittingly, upstate NY jam legends moe. will serve as musical headliner and Particle, the only band to play every Chill, will close out the weekend in grand fashion along with help from a number of other guests and friends.

This year’s festival also offers a number of other intriguing musical collaborations as this seems to be a theme for the weekend. In addition to their own sets on Sunday, Dopapod and Turkuaz will be combining forces on Friday night and recreating a night at Studio 54. Shwizz and Fikus will follow their Saturday sets with a joint one featuring musical selections from the ‘80s before the Chillfam All-Stars perform what is sure to be an entertaining tribute to Herbie Hancock. This isn’t even the only All Star band of the weekend as the Stratosphere All-Stars, featuring members of Lotus, Particle and Digital Tape Machine, will help usher in the Saturday night dance party.

If a band on this bill isn’t collaborating with another one, there’s a good chance they’re pulling double duty and performing multiple sets. Consider the Source will be doing both an acoustic and an electric set on Friday and Twiddle will be performing a set of Grateful Dead covers in addition to a set of their own Saturday night.

Other notable performers this weekend include upstate NY’s own Aqueous and Solaris as well as Lettuce, Zappa Plays Zappa, The Motet and Electron.

Catskill Chill is known for its home of Camp Minglewood and the purely intimate setting it provides with summer camp style cabins for lodging close to all the stages and designated camping areas strewn between them all. RV parking is also available for $150 and the festival offers both VIP ticket purchases and upgrades. In addition to an incredibly packed musical docket, there’s also Open Mic sessions being offered on Saturday and Sunday afternoons as well as yoga classes.

Tickets for $195 and one last chance to experience one of the true hidden gems of the festival circuit can be purchased here.

September 11, 2015
The Motet Announces Fall Tour Dates and a Midwest Halloween Run

With August just days away, touring bands are beginning to release their fall tour dates, including some exceptionally special Halloween shows. The Motet has done just that, letting fans know that this Halloween will be an ode to one of the funkiest decades in history. Designating it “Mixtape 1977,” the Colorado funk band is taking their annual Halloween tradition on the road with stops in Des Moines, IA, Minneapolis, MN, Milwaukee, WI and Chicago.

The Motet has kept with tradition in the past holding Halloween shows held in their home state. With a new twist on things, they are spreading the love this fall, giving fans in the Midwest an opportunity to get in on the experience. Colorado fans can look forward to a new tradition with The Motet’s “Hometown Hustle” at The Ogden Theatre on November 13 and 14. Friday’s show will feature Chicago electro-funk band The Main Squeeze. For Saturday, The Motet will be rolling out the “Spirit of ’77.” This will feature a special second set of music from their Halloween shows “Mixtape 1977.”

In addition to the “Mixtape 1977” mini tour and “Hometown Hustle,” The Motet is hitting a number of festivals including Catskill Chill, Summer Meltdown, Phases of the Moon and Magnolia Festival. With stops in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Arkansas, Arizona, Massachusetts and New York, The Motet will be covering a handful of states other than the above mentioned theme nights.

Be sure to check their website and Facebook page for complete tour dates and information.

July 23, 2015
Taste of Country Festival 2015 Closes With Toby Keith

After two days filled with incredible live performances by some of country music’s biggest stars, Taste of Country was set to close out it’s third annual festival at Hunter Mountain with one last day of music, food and fun. A lineup of Sasha McVeigh, Western Underground, Josh Abbott Band, Sara Evans, Jerrod Niemann and Toby Keith were set to bring the festival to a rousing finish. Despite the slight weather issues that once again plagued the mountain, the festival’s third day ran smoothly for the most part.

Sasha McVeigh – Taste of Country Festival 2015

They only ran into a few issues towards the end of the night when an impending storm forced Niemann to shorten his set and Keith to move the time of his set up, to ensure all performers were finished before the increment weather set in. Outside of the storm issues towards the end of the night, the rest of the day may have been the hottest out of all three, which is saying something since day two was a scorcher in it’s own right.

Toby Keith – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Around 3:00 p.m., the Texas based Josh Abbott Band, a lesser known group of the weekends performers at Hunter Mountain, took the stage for their set. Although they may not have been a household name, they did a wonderful job of introducing many new fans to their music, and by the end of their set the band fulfilled their promise that fans that were not familiar with them, would know their songs by the end of their set. The group often highlights some more traditional county instruments such as the fiddle and the banjo, and many of the songs that they performed Sunday, especially the more blue grass influenced, twangy “Brushy Creek” gave those instruments ample time to shine.

Jerrod Niemann – Taste of Country Festival 2015

“Road Trippin’” was a carefree song about a group of friends getting away for a long weekend and having a crazy fun time along the way, while lead singer Josh Abbott’s vocals were stellar on the slower paced “She Will Be Free.” Abbott also humorously informed the already inherently rowdy crowd that both line dancing and beer pong were more than welcome and even encouraged during his band’s set. The group then jumped into the fiddle infused “Oh Tonight,” a collaboration with fellow country artist Kacey Musgraves that was a romantic and charming track, while “Where’s The Party” from their 2014 EP Tuesday Night was a wild crowd pleaser. The band poignantly illustrated their love for their home town with “My Texas” before closing their hour long set with their more mainstream sounding single from Tuesday Night, the laid back “Hanging Around.”

Toby Keith – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Sara Evans was the next performer of the day, and if her outfit was any indication, she was ready to help close out the last day of the festival in style. Evans, who has proven longevity in the country music work with her continued success since her debut album in 1997, has been one of country music’s most popular and successful female artists. As a talented vocalist with numerous hits, and awards under her belt, Evans is a confident and experienced live performer. She kept the energy going during the hot weather at Hunter Mountain with classic hits like the uptempo “Suds In The Bucket,” which inspired an abundance of singing and dancing throughout the crowd, and opener “Born To Fly,” a country classic with an distinguishable chorus that tends to hook fans more and more with each listen.

Recent hit “A Little Bit Stronger” is an inspiring track that was well known and was a certainly a fan favorite, before the soaring “As If” and one of her older tracks “Perfect” took center stage. Evans dedicated her twangy hit “Coalmine” to all of the attractive men in the crowd at Hunter Mountain, which earned her a loud applause and cheer, and “Slow Me Down” with it’s clean, modern production and flowy hooks delighted the crowd. She also took the time to inform fans of her soft spot for sad songs, demonstrating her love for them with a heartfelt performance of “My Heart Can’t Tell You.” As her set was coming to an end, Evans played her romantic hit “I Could Not Ask For More,” before closing with her gigantic #1 hit from 2005 “A Real Fine Place To Start.”

Sara Evans – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Jerrod Nieman was the second to last performer of the night, and even though the impending storm cut his time on stage short, his set still rocked fans all over Hunter Mountain. He kicked off his set with “We Know How To Rock” a banjo infused tune of southern pride, before slowing the pace down a bit with the more intimate “Lover, Lover,” a #1 hit he scored as his debut single back in 2010 (and a cover originally recorded by folk music group Sonia Dada).

The Kansas native also broke out another one of his #1 singles, the upbeat party song “Drink To That All Night” which got the thousands in attendance up on their feet, as well as honkey tonk anthem “One More Drinkin’ Song” which had fans singing along enthusiastically. Niemann notably played a new song that he said is to be released in the coming weeks. The track features lyrics that mention many top festivals around the country, as well as ones that show appreciation to a specific type of country girl that you are likely to see at country music festivals and shows. Niemann showed off his silly side to the delight of the crowd when his banjo player wore a giant donkey head mask on stage during the performance of his very strange song “Donkey.”

Josh Abbott Band – Taste of Country Festival 2015

He busted out some fun covers as well, one of Alabama’s “Louisiana Saturday Night,” and another of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Pride and Joy,” a song that allowed his band to jam out during it’s tail end. Though his set was cut short, Neimann put on an exciting and uptempo show for the Hunter Mountain audience, proving to be strong direct support for upcoming headliner Toby Keith.

Toby Keith – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Keith’s set, like Neimann’s, was affected by the threat of an incoming storm looming over the mountain, though his set was moved forward rather than cut short. Although a light but steady drizzle persisted throughout his time on stage, it didn’t put a damper on the party that Keith unleashed on the rowdy and invigorated New York crowd. Since 1993, Keith has created and released 17 studio albums, scored 20 #1 hit singles (with 60 total singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts), sold over 40 million albums worldwide and won a myriad of country music awards, making him undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and successful artists in country music. Known not only for his music but his vibrant and humorous personality, Keith was the perfect choice to close out a wildly entertaining and successful 2015 Taste of Country Music Festival.

Unsurprisingly, Keith brought his usual emphatic and unapologetic brand of patriotism with him to Hunter Mountain, with American flags about and the screens around/behind the stage flashing pictures iconic American images and moments. The production throughout his set was flawless, at time featuring fire shooting out of the floor, fireworks and gorgeous lighting. His set started out with hits like the appropriately themed “American Ride,” and “Beer For My Horses” which featured a really cool moment when Willie Nelson joined him in the performance via video recording. Before the latter song, Keith made a point to salute New York firemen and police officers, and thank them for their service and sacrifices.

His sense of humor made an appearance when outrageous, eclectic hit “Red Solo Cup” a fan favorite, was performed alongside giant red cup props on stage which got a big laugh from the crowd. Keith’s set on this night included “I’ll Never Smoke Weed With Willy Again,” a song that he performed with Scotty Emerick, who was on the road with him. Hits like “Who’s Your Daddy” that featured a notable guitar introduction, “A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action,” and a cover of Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold.” After leaving the stage briefly, the Oklahoma native returned for an encore performance. It was a special moment when Keith closed with an impassioned performance that included “American Soldier” and “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue,” two songs that once again hammer home the themes of patriotism and love of country. It was incredible to see fans all the way up the mountain shouting the lyrics to this anthemic classic as the rain fell down around them. There is no doubt that this was one moment that fans would bring home with them, and remember for the rest of their lives.

Actually, that same sentiment can be said for the entirety of the 2015 Taste of Country Music Festival, as this years star studded lineup of performers and the wonderful environment that Hunter Mountain provided raised the bar for the future. Country music fans on the East coast should take note, if it’s first three years are any indication, the Taste Of Country Music Festival is set to be one of the premier country festivals in the East for a long time to come.

July 17, 2015
Taste of Country Music Festival 2015 Survives Storm

The second day of Hunter Mountain’s Taste Of Country Music Festival began with clear blue skies, and scorching summer heat as the sun beat down heavily on the venue and fairgrounds. Although it was hot, the weather was still great for a festival atmosphere, and definitely beat the rain and lightening that had caused delays during day one.

Tim McGraw – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Fans in attendance flocked to the food stands for delicious cold ice cream, beer and lemonade that provided a refreshing reprieve from the hot weather. While some quickly found and claimed spots in the venue that provided both shade and a decent view of the stage, others embraced the heat, laying out blankets and beach chairs along the Â rolling hills of the mountain to bask in the sun and listen to an incredible lineup of country music stars. The ski lift was also up and running, carrying fans up and down the mountain to admire the beautiful views, stunning landscapes of the Catskill Mountains. A second day lineup that included Amanda Watkins, Jackson Michelson, Chase Bryant, Tracy Lawrence, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, and headliner Tim McGraw had Hunter Mountain rocking from noon until well into the night.

Tim McGraw – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Newcomer Chase Bryant’s set came around 3:00pm right in the peak of the day’s heat, but that didn’t stop from putting on a high energy set, or the fans from showing up in droves to enjoy it. Though has only released one project so far in his burgeoning career, Bryant is gaining momentum in the industry with his stylish good looks, skill on the guitar and unique vocals. With his perfectly styled hair, Ray Bans, and undeniable confidence, Bryant certianly made an impact on the festival goers at Hunter Mountain. Fans broke out the beach balls, bouncing them throughout the crowd as Bryant performed songs from his self-titled debut EP as well as several notable covers. From his EP, the carefree “Jet Black Pontiac” was a definite crowd pleaser, and the romantic “Change Your Name” delighted many of the female fans in the audience in particular, while “Wayfarer Weather” was incredibly appropriate relatable on this sunny day. The yearning and heartfelt “Little Bit Of You” had a sound reminiscent to a past Rascal Flatts song, (especially at the beginning of the chorus) and was released as his second single. The track is enjoyable as a love song that is still uptempo and fun.

Easton Corbin – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Bryant also took the time to cover Steve Miller Band’s well known song “The Joker,” as as well as The Doobie Brothers “Takin It To The Streets.” Throughout his time on stage, Bryant continually made time for several of his shredding guitar solos to take center stage, proving himself as a talented instrumentalist and performer. He closed his set with his well known debut single and top ten hit “Take It On Back” a nostalgic and hook driven track that evokes memories of a lost, whirlwind love of the past.Fans couldn’t help but belt out the chorus of this catchy tune that was the perfect closer to Bryant’s impressive set.

Easton Corbin – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Easton Corbin was next to take the stage. With his abundant charm, country boy good looks and deep vocals featuring a classic country twang, Corbin had no problem captivating the crowd with a more traditional country sound than many of his peers in the industry. Armed with a variety of hits, Corbin came on stage to the narration of the “So God Made A Farmer Commercial” a nod to all of the work he has done to support small, family owned farms and farmers. He opened with “Clockwork” an honest relatable track that was the debut single from his upcoming album About To Get Real, which comes out on June 30th. The lighthearted “Loving You Is Fun” refreshingly featured a fiddle, as do many of Corbin’s songs. Covers of Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been a Cowboy, and Kenny Chesney’s “She Think’s My Tractor’s Sexy” followed snippets of Michael Jackson, Metallica and TLC songs, as Corbin demonstrated to the crowd the the difference in musical taste had from many of his friends while growing up. As you can probably guess, Corbin was influenced by many traditional country artists, songs, instruments and sounds, and that influence is readily apparent in his music today, planting him firmly in juxtaposition with many other, modern artists in mainstream country music and radio. As yet another demonstration of those who influenced his sound Corbin performed a cover of Merle Haggard’s “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink.”

Billy Currington – Taste of Country Festival 2015

Corbin slowed things down with the title track from his upcoming album, and his first #1 hit and fan favorite “A Little More Country Than That.” He picked up the pace a bit with performances of laid back jam and hit single “Roll With It” and current single “Baby Be My Love Song,” a surefire future hit that is already gaining momentum fast. Corbin closed his set with the feel good “All Over The Road,” letting delighted fans carry the chorus towards the end of the song.

Taste of Country Festival 2015

Billy Currington was the second to last performer of the night, providing direct support for Tim McGraw’s headlining set. As his set began, so did the sunset, creating a watercolor painted sky against as a backdrop for the stage and the surrounding mountains. With nine #1 hits (and a total of 17 top 40 singles) in his back pocket, Currington has been a consistent hit-maker and popular artist in the country genre since his self-titled debut album in 2003. With a very “down home”, and relatable style, Currinton’s music resonates with a wide range of fans, and avoids alienating different demographics of listeners. Currington opened with “I Got A Feeling” before really getting the crowd involved with fan favorites “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” and the humorous “Pretty Good At Drinking Beer.”

Currington kept the party going with “Hey Girl’ a #1 hits from his 2013 album, We Are Tonight. He also featured several songs from his new album Sumer Forever, including #1 debut single “Don’t It,” and current single “Drinkin’ Town With A Football Problem.” He rounded out his set with a pair of sexy #1 singles “Must Be Doing Something Right” and “Let Me Down Easy.” He closed his set with anthemic, carefree #1 single “We Are Tonight,” a track that was penned by fellow country artist Sam Hunt. Fans bellowed the chorus out excitedly as Currington left the stage. The curly haired hit-maker returned to the stage with an an “Uptown Funk” (Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars) cover for an encore, which had fans from the bottom of the stage to the top of the mountain on their feet singing and dancing along.

When darkness had finally fallen upon Hunter Mountain, it was time for headliner Tim McGraw, one of the biggest names in music to take the stage for his set. It doesn’t matter if you listen to country music or not, if you don’t know of McGraw, you might be living under a rock.

Chase Bryant – Taste of Country Festival 2015

With ten #1 albums, twenty-seven #1 singles, three Grammy Awards, the highest grossing tour in the history of country music (and top 5 all genre), McGraw is one of the most successful artists in all of music. His signature cowboy hat tight t-shirt look, deep and relatable songs, distinguishable vocals and out of this world charisma have gained McGraw legions on loyal fans who flock to his concerts all around the country and world, and eat up whatever music that he releases. The atmosphere for McGraw’s set was unbelievable. With rowdy and loud fans packed from right in front of the stage to up the sloping hills of the mountain as far as the eye can see, the view from the stage must have been an incredible sight. I somehow found a spot pretty close to the front with a food view of the stage, and along with everyone else, I was packed in like a sardine. McGraw played hit after hit after hit for a thunderous, loud and enthusiastic crowd who knew every song word for word.

Opening with a humorous redneck anthem “Truck Yeah” McGraw riled up the already rowdy crowd from the first song. Older classics like “Where The Green Grass Grows,” “Down On The Farm,” and the rousing “I Like It, I Love It” which garnered some of the loudest fan sing-a-long sections of the night during the choruses, reminded the crowd of McGraw’s incredible longevity in the entertainment industry and the timelessness of his music. His songs, lyrics and artistic style, both new and old continue to resonate with fans, radio and critics even after more than three decades of success. The sweet and nostalgic “Something Like That” and “Southern Girl” a recent hit that drips with southern pride, are both hook driven fan favorites that thrilled those in attendance as they bellowed out the lyrics along with McGraw. Two more recent and well known hits “One of Those Nights” and “Felt Good On My Lips” enticed the crowd before slower tracks “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools,” and “Shotgun Rider” took center stage. He cranked the guitars up once again with the cheeky “Real Good Man.”

Tim McGraw – Taste of Country Festival

McGraw praised his backing band early and often, stating that one could travel all over the world and still not discover a group as talented and dependable as his. It is wonderful to see a star of his level appreciate the musicians that have his back night in and night out on the road, and allow him to find success in job that he loves every day. After a brief exit, McGraw returned to the stage for an encore, where he performed a notable cover of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” and his ow hit “Mexicoma.” With the mountain at a fever pitch, McGraw closed his set with the timeless classic “Live Like You Were Dying” which had fans in a frenzy from those packed in front of the stage to the thousands spread out among the hills behind them. As it turned out, McGraw’s headline performance the festival in it’s entirety both set attendance records for the Taste of Country Music Festival at Hunter Mountain, an impressive feat considering the superstars who have graced the same stage before him.

As an incredible Saturday of country music came to a close, fans streamed out of the venue still with much to look forward to on Sunday, with a lineup featuring headliner Toby Keith.

July 1, 2015
Taste of Country 2015 Takes The Mountain By Storm

Taste of Country 2015 kicked off its third annual country music festival at Hunter Mountain on Friday afternoon with a bang and a star-studded lineup. Set in the gorgeous Catskill mountains in Upstate New York, legions of East coast country fans packed the mountain ready for great country music, delicious food and drink and myriad of other activities and attractions carefully designed to create an exciting and unforgettable summer festival experience.

Although a ski resort during the winter months, it’s scenic mountain views framing the main stage, sprawling hills for fans to spread out on and numerous camping areas make Hunter’s transformation into a music festival venue in the summer, a seamless one. As usual, fans arrived at the show enthusiastic, animated and ready for a party.

Keith Urban – Taste of Country 2015

Friday, Day 1: Fans crammed the venue and fair ground area for a highly anticipated opening day lineup of Rachel Lipsky, Logan Mize, LOCASH, Colt Form Eli Young Band and Keith Urban. They were also able to enjoy a bunch of delicious food choices, plenty of drinks and various shopping, where anything from cowboy boots to band merch was available. The food stands, despite having been good from the first year of the festival definitely took a step up this year, providing a wider variety of food and more choices than ever. When in search of lunch I found myself wandering through the grounds unable to decide what to get because there were so many delicious options!

Taste of Country Festival 2015

Although the forecast predicted that a massive thunder storm was looming, the weather throughout much of Friday at Hunter Mountain was clear, sunny and hot, albeit very humid. It was only around 9 p.m. when Eli Young Band (whose set had already been move up 15 minutes due to the impending lightening) finished their set that the festival announced a delay for headliner Keith Urban’s set. Fans were directed to quickly and calmly leave the mountain and take cover in their cars until the festival deemed it was safe for them to return. Fans were kept updated on weather conditions and the delay through both the Taste Of Country Festival app and through social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Thankfully, venue announced that it was safe for fans to return at 10:24 p.m., and after some stage cleanup and giving fans time to return, Urban was finally able to take the stage around 11 p.m. Outside of weather issues at the end of the night, the festival ran very smoothly throughout most of the day.

As the day of music began, Rachel Lipsky was the first to take the stage. This young lady has one heck of a voice and a “hell ya” attitude that captured the audience immediately and reeled them in and amped them up, setting the stage on fire from the get go. Singing both originals and covers, this young lady owns the stage and gathers fans everywhere she goes. Whether it’s overseas to perform for the troops or at the next Nascar Race, Rachel’s a fan favorite and a veteran to the Taste of Country stages being her second year performing at the festival.

Rachel Lipsky – Taste of Country 2015

Next up was Logan Mize. This young man, with his wholesome good looks and amazing voice owns both stage and screen when he performs. Fans adore him, and music lovers can’t get enough. Keeping up the momentum, Logan continued to engage the audience and by the end of his set, the party was well under way.

Eli Young Band – Taste of Country 2015

LOCASH was the third act to take stage on Day 1. Anyone who has seen this duo before knows that they are the life of the party on stage, and aways know how have a good time while putting on an amazing show. Comprised of Chris Lucas and Preston Brust, the duo is down to earth, funny, patriotic and always vibrant on stage. It is truly hard not to like LOCASH, and the pair is easily able to connect with the crowd in live settings because of their engaging nature and the relatable subject matter of their songs. Although I arrived about 10 minutes late, I was still able to catch most of their set. The duo was just about to begin playing a new song called “I Know Somebody” as I arrived. The song was undeniably catchy and featured pleasant harmonies between Lucas and Brust. It should be a good track or even a single on a future album or EP.

Eli Young Band – Taste of Country 2015

The pair delighted a predictably intoxicated crowd with their fun and carefree song “Drunk Drunk,” which to no surprise, they wrote when they were drunk one night. LOCASH’s set also featured another new song, “What We Got”, a romantic and charming track about being thankful for the love in their life. The duo also performed some notable covers; “Truck Yeah” which the pair wrote with fellow country artist Chris Janson, and was recorded by Tim McGraw. This number was a huge crowd pleaser as the lyrics are fun and easy to sing out loud. LOCASH briefly went out of genre with covers, of Bruno Mars’ “The Lazy Song” and a rousing version of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” They rounded out their setlist with self-proclaimed redneck anthem “Hey, Hey, Hey”, and a track they called a “meat and potatoes, knockout punch” song that they plan to be their next single, called “All I Need Is You.” LOCASH closed with their current hit single and fan favorite “I Love This Life,” an anthemic track that details the simple pleasures of living a country lifestyle. Before performing the song, they informed the audience that New York is the No. 1-selling market for LOCASH, and thanked fans for their support, dedication and for buying their songs.

Keith Urban – Taste of Country 2015

Country rapper Colt Ford followed LOCASH. Known for his patriotism and high profile collaborations with some of country music’s biggest stars, Ford’s setlist contained an abundance of popular and well known songs. The always aware and generous Ford is also heavily involved in various charity projects to aid current soldiers as well as veterans suffering from PTSD, noting how important it is to support those who fight and sacrifice every day for our country and our freedom. A prime example of the entertainers desire to help others, all of the proceeds of one of his current songs that he performed called “Workin On” will go to help soldiers with PTSD. He also mentioned that he always performs with an American flag attached to his microphone stand, a tribute to soldiers and first responders. Ford performed his infectious party song single “Crank It Up” a track with a dance beat and killer hook, as as well as “Country Thang” recorded with Eric Church, “Driving Around Song” recorded with Jason Aldean, “The High Life” recorded with Chase Rice and even covered Eminem song “Lose Yourself” which the crowd got a kick out of.

Although he is known as a country rapper of sorts, Ford kept his music grounded in country with plenty of fiddle during his time on stage. He ended his set with “Dirt Road Anthem” a game changing, massively popular song he wrote with Brantley Gilbert that was taken to No. 1 on the country charts by Jason Aldean. LOCASH joined him on stage to perform the song, adding camaraderie to an already fun set.

Eli Young Band was the fourth act to take the stage, but the last before the festival issued it’s weather delay. Known for their vocals, songwriting and the pleasant overall sound of their music, Eli Young Band has been able to accomplish the often rare feat of finding critical, commercial and radio success during their time together. They opened their set with a song called “Revelations” an emphatic rock influenced track from their most recent album 1000 Towns, which were followed by the album’s title track, previous single “Dust” and three songs from their new Turn It Up EP, “Drink You Up” and “Plastic” and it’s title track (also the band’s most recent single). Self-proclaimed “bonfire tune” “Always The Love Songs” soon followed. The four man band kept the patriotism going as well, leading several enthusiastic USA chants with the pack out crowd and like Ford, keeping an American flag on stage at all times. They also took the time to dedicate their touching and heartfelt song “Prayer For The Road” to members of the military and first responders. Eli Young band made sure to express how lucky they knew they were to be able to play music for a living, and how thankful the were for the fans that have continued to support them throughout their career.

LOCASH – Taste of Country 2015

The group chose to perform several well known covers, including David Lee Murphy’s crowd pleasing “Dust On The Bottle,” Tom Petty’s “Learning To Fly” and Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls” which was unfortunately a very appropriate prediction of the weather that was soon strike the mountain. Radio hits and Eli Young Band staples “Drunk Last Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and “Crazy Girl” came at the back half of the band’s set, delighting the thousands of fans in attendance with their relatable lyrics, catchy hooks and deep content. Even though a nasty storm was soon to come, Eli Young Band’s set definitely rocked the thousands sprawled out on the hills of Hunter Mountain before the thunder, rain and lightening could ruin the party.

Logan Mize – Taste of Country 2015

Not 10 minutes after Eli Young Band’s set (around 8:50 p.m.), the festival announced the temporary delay of Keith Urban’s set, and informed fans that for their own safety, they would have to leave the mountain until the weather improved. Although disappointing, the festival officials always maintained that they believed the show would be able to go on after the delay. Sure enough, around 10:20 p.m. they announced via Twitter and the Taste of Country Festival app that the venue had re-opened and that headliner and worldwide superstar Keith Urban would finally be able to perform after the stage was cleaned and fans had returned.

Keith Urban – Taste of Country Music Festival 2015

Urban, who has been a titan in the music industry for decades has drawn millions of fans to his concerts and music though his perfect pop-country formula, movie star good looks, sweet personality world renowned skill on the guitar, and distinguishable voice and musical sound. The Australian native’s illustrious career beginning in 1991 includes 10 wildly successful headlining tours starting in 2004, 18 No. 1 songs, three Grammys and numerous country music awards.

Taste of Country Festival 2015

Fans were relieved and thankful to see Urban take the stage. The continuing rain, and substantial pools mud that were a result did nothing to deter fans from flocking excitedly back to the mountain for his set. While the guitar is nothing more than a prop for many musicians on stage, for Urban it is like an extension of his arms, and at times can be just as poignant and affective as his vocals or lyrics. He often delights the crowd in live performances, showing off his extensive shredding ability with long, emphatic and complicated guitar solos at the end of many of his songs that leave fans wondering how he has enough fingers to hit each note and this night was no different. Urban also has a fully stocked stable of well known hits that he trots out confidently each show, often having to trim down the list to fit his set into the allotted time frame. He began his set with the upbeat “You’re Gonna Fly,” the catchy “Put You In A Song,” followed by “Somewhere In My Car” a No. 1-hit from his most recent album Fuse, and irresistible summer jam “Long Hot Summer.” Urban then brought talented singer and fan from Saratoga Spring Kayla Saris, who won a fan contest on stage to help him perform his hit song “We Were Us” a duet he recorded with fellow country artist Miranda Lambert. Also from Fuse, Urban performed popular singles “Little Bit of Everything” and “Cop Car” before the romantic, fan favorite “Sweet Thing” which included an extended guitar solo to close out the song and an acoustic rendition of “Making Memories of Us.”

Urban also broke out his brand new lead single “John Cougar, John Deer, John 3:16” an easygoing, laid back, easy to jam out to track that is sure to become another hit for the talented singer, and the last single from Fuse, “Raise Em Up,” a star-studded collaboration with Eric Church that also included a thrashing guitar solo at it’s conclusion. The audience enthusiastically screamed back the lyrics of sweet, fan favorite “Kiss A Girl.” He closed the show and brought down the house with performances of massive hits the cheeky and anthemic “You Look Good In My Shirt” and the the uplifting ” Someone Like You.”

By the end of the show Urban had proven yet again why is a must see performer for all casual and serious music lovers and showed that even a storm couldn’t stop the thousands of loyal country music fans in attendance from, showing up in droves to enjoy their favorite performers. Urban’s headlining set was the cornerstone to an incredible day full of great music, delicious food, eclectic festival environment and beautiful views at Hunter Mountain. The best part was that there were still two more exciting days of the festival to look forward to.

June 22, 2015