Phish will return to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for a four night New Year’s run. While Phish might be the main event, there are many shows happening around the city both before and after Phish that fans might interested in checking out. Here’s a rundown of those shows – both those being billed as Phish after-parties and those that are not.
Many New York bands are represented in those performing around the Phish shows, including some of the after-parties. On Wednesday night, Jersey City’s Lil Joe and the ill Picards will bring their funk to Leftfield on Ludlow Chromatropic will join forces with Sprocket to form ChromaSprocket. They will perform with special guests Natalie Cressman and Peter Apfelbaum of the Trey Anastasio Band at Lucille’s at B.B. King’s also on Wednesday night. Late night on New Year’s Eve, Snarky Puppy will play Irving Plaza.
On Friday night, Nyack’s ShwizZ will join forces with FiKus to perform as ShwiKus and play tribute to P-Funk at Lucille’s. Saturday night brings Elise Testone and an all star lineup, including Todd Stoops, Natalie Cressman and Michael Ray, leading a James Brown Dance Party at B.B. Kings. ShwiKus will also be at Lucille’s again, this time playing an ’80s set. One ticket gets you into both of those shows. Dopapod will be at the Grammercy Theatre. Finally, Ha Ha the Moose, made up by members of moe., will bring their off-centered musical theatre to Irving Plaza. You can expect nothing but the unexpected from “The Moose.”
Wednesday, Dec. 30 Post-Phish:
Tower of Power @ B.B. King’s Blues Club – 10 p.m.
Kevin Hedge and Louie Vega @ Cielo – 10 p.m.
Joseph King @ Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3 – 10 p.m.
The Bad Plus @ Village Vanguard – 10:30 p.m.
*Start Making Sense @ Irving Plaza – 11 p.m.
Disco Biscuits w/ Horizon Wireless @ PlayStation Theatre – 11 p.m.
*Particle w/ New Riders of the Purple Sage @ The Cutting Room – 11:55 p.m.
*ChromaSprocket (Chromatropic x Sprocket w/ Natalie Cressman and Peter Apfelbaum) @ Lucille’s at B.B. King’s – 11:55 p.m.
*Rebirth Brass Band @ Highline Ballroom – 11:59 p.m.
*Lil Joe and the ill Picards @ Leftfield on Ludlow – midnight
New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31 Post-Phish:
*Snarky Puppy @ Irving Plaza – 2 a.m. (technically on Jan. 1)
Friday, Jan. 1 Pre-Phish:
*Holly Bowling @ The Cutting Room – 4 p.m to 6 p.m.
Frank & Tony, Taimur Agha, Ray Zuniga, Nikola Baytala, Ted Krisko, Willie Graff, Alex Graham & More TBA @ The Panther Room – 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. (technically ends Jan. 2)
Post-Phish:
The Bad Plus @ Village Vanguard – 10:30 p.m.
Disco Biscuits w/ Animal Rexx @ PlayStation Theatre – 11 p.m.
*Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ Irving Plaza – 11:30 p.m.
*Dead Sessions @ The Cutting Room – 11:55 p.m.
*Pink Talking Phish @ Highline Ballroom – 11:55 p.m.
*ShwiKus plays P-Funk (ShwizZ + FiKus = ShwiKus) @ Lucille’s at B.B. King’s – 11:55 p.m.
The Motet @ B.B. King’s – 11:59 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 2 Pre-Phish:
PhanArt Presents: Skyscraper is Grand @ Hotel Pennsylvania – 12-7 p.m.
*New Mastersounds @ The Cutting Room – 4 p.m.
Touchpants @ American Beauty NYC – 5 p.m.
Post-Phish:
*Ha Ha the Moose (Rob, Chuck and Jim from moe.) @ Irving Plaza – 10:30pm
The Bad Plus @ Village Vanguard – 10:30pm
*Dopapod @ Grammercy Theatre – 11 p.m.
Disco Biscuits @ PlayStation Theatre – 11 p.m.
BIGYUKI @ Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 – 11 p.m.
Subset @ Webster Hall – 11 p.m.
*The James Brown Dance Party (Michael Ray, Natalie Cressman, Chris Bullock, Todd Stoops, Fred Thomas & Moussey Thompson, Adam Chase & Matthew Chase, Elise Testone) @ B.B. King’s – 11:55 p.m.
*ShwiKus plays The 80s @ Lucille’s at B.B. King’s – 11:55 p.m.
*New Mastersounds @ The Cutting Room – midnight
Walker Adams @ Rockwood Music Hall – midnight
Becoming a highly successful jam band is not an easy task. Very few smart, thought-provoking, improvisational rooted groups have found themselves on the path to becoming a top-tier act in the music industry. In a musical world where bands like Phish and the Grateful Dead prove that you can stay true to your artistry and build a fan base, while acts like the Dave Matthews Band and Blues Traveler showcase a more commercial success side, Twiddle seems to be a band that is on everyone’s radar. And their third studio album and second fan-funded record PLUMP Chapter One, a double-disc set, is scheduled for dual releases.
Launched in January of 2015, Twiddle’s dedicated fan base pledged the $20,000 PLUMP Kickstarter goal in less than 24 hours. And even after the goal was reached, backers continued to elect into the campaign’s rewards raising more than $40,000 by the project’s end.
PLUMP–Chapter One is a slightly departed yet highly fulfilling venture for the Vermont-based quartet. The band’s two previous studio albums were mainly composed of clever, intermingled lyrical hooks displaced among lengthy jams and instrumental tracks. The band has stepped away from that style to offer a more developed and produced sound. Only one song on the record clocks in at longer than six minutes. But what the album lacks in extended jam, it succeeds in showcasing Twiddle’s prowess as well-rounded songwriters.
This first installment is overly ripe with earworms and radio friendly pop hooks, none of which should be a surprise to Twiddle fans, as the album contains not one previously unheard tune. If you want to understand why so many new listeners have latched onto the band over recent years, PLUMP–Chapter One exemplifies that attachment at its roots.
Twiddle (L to R) Brook Jordan, Mihali Savoulidis, Ryan Dempsey, Zdenek Gubb
With this selection of songs, Twiddle highlights their socially conscious yet personally hopeful resonance that their followers love. Lyrically, the album is easy to swallow; it’s the tones of personal and social self-discovery that is neither preachy or melancholic. Even in more intense tracks like “Polluted Beauty” and “Indigo Tigger,” deeper, prophetic messages hide among sweet grooves and grunge-inspired edge.
The record’s opening track “Complacent Race” sets the stage for the album’s lyrical flow that reads like a beautifully written manifesto. The song, which has only been played live during a solo performance from lead guitarist and vocalist Mihali Savoulidis, is probably the most ominous of PLUMP–Chapter One’s 11 tracks. Even the initial burst of horns heralds in Savoulidis’ slight contempt, “Drowning in hypocrisy/Doubting our democracy/Still fighting for equality/So you can live the way you please.”
At the album’s most lyrically stern moments, it’s Twiddle’s brand of musical fusion that drives the sheer optimism behind the music. The four-piece outfit masterfully weaves up-tempo reggae fluidity with deep funk-driven bass lines and quirky keys to create the perfect backdrop for their variety of lyrical directness. PLUMP–Chapter One is overflowing with tales of hope, frustration, humanitarian desire and self-awareness. Savoulidis has no problem revealing his life’s truths in songs like “Lost in the Cold,” “Amydst the Myst” or even the well-veiled love song “Five.”
“Lost in the Cold,” a meaningful and personal exorcism, takes on a new life through PLUMP. Lyrically, it’s the courage that comes at the end of hitting rock bottom; Savoulidis perfectly captures what it’s like to be tortured by life’s complexities and the fear of moving beyond them. For fans of the song’s live version, the added horns and sleek production of the track may feel like a slight overreach. But the PLUMP version of “LITC” is a shining example of how Twiddle’s music has the ability to take on a bigger, more complex sound. And it’s more than likely a glimpse into the direction that the band sees its music heading.
“Syncopated Healing,” the band’s upbeat, music-loving anthem, serves as a solicitous reminder that the heart of Twiddle’s music and fanbase is a desire to heal through music. Lyrics like “Relax and dream one day at a time/Let the beauty of the music start to heal your life,” is an example of the mantra-like cadence to which Twiddle excels. Housed right in the middle of the album, the track is a feel-good song that showcases the perfect blend of sing-along lyrics and danceable music. It also holds one of the few illustrations into the band’s jam capability, with a minor but beautifully finished guitar solo from Savoulidis.
Highlighting the album is “Every Soul,” which features Todd Stoops (RAQ, Oktopus). The funky yet seamless track is truly a showpiece for bassist Zdenek Gubb who drives a steady and unstoppable bass line throughout the song that stops only for a musical showdown between Gubb, Stoops and keyboardist Ryan Dempsey. While Stoops lays down his signature sound of wonk and wobble throughout the song, Dempsey counters with classical key work that sounds both studied and whimsical. Behind the kit, drummer Brook Jordan creates a supernatural disco-style rhythm that serves as the foundation for the highly intoxicating and powerful song. It’s a sound that Twiddle explores often in the live improvisational formula, but doesn’t reveal often in the studio form—a sign that the band has plenty of diversity in its arsenal and room to grow musically.
Saxophonist Kenny Brooks (Alphabet Soup, RatDog) makes a guest appearance on “Be There.” The song is an ideal vehicle for Brooks’ warm and charming sound, and the heartfelt track is reminiscent of the vibe created in early Dave Matthews/LeeRoi Moore collaborations. However, the beauty of “Be There” gets slightly lost in its placement, as the tender moment is sandwiched between two of the album’s heavier hitting tracks.
PLUMP–Chapter One reveals much growth for the band. Dempsey places well-manicured piano rifts and keys throughout the album that create a silky, romantic appeal to some of the record’s quieter moments. Without the jam vehicle, Dempsey is forced to use his classical training to make a statement. And Savoulidis makes much better use of his distinctive vocal tone. Unlike the band’s two-disc set Live, recorded from the famed Vermont club Nectar’s, this latest compilation isn’t scattered with unforgiving vocal runs or muffled lyrics. Perhaps it’s merely the growth provided by studio tracking versus the ability to experiment through live performance, or the realization that if you have something worth saying, you probably want to make sure it can be heard. Regardless, Savoulidis hits notes with laser-point precision and delivers lyrics with crystal-clear distinction.
One of the biggest misses for the album is the vocal exploration between Savoulidis and Jordan. Although Jordan has his own vocal vehicle on the folkish “Dusk til Dawn,” there are only minor moments of harmony between the band’s two main vocalists. Jordan’s smooth and milky tone has the opportunity to complement Savoulidis’ smoky and raspier vocal quality. However, even on tracks where harmonies are present like “White Light” and “Polluted Beauty,” the pairing isn’t emphasized enough to truly hear it.
While a track list has yet to be announced for Plump–Chapter Two, it can be expected that the album will drop sometime in spring 2016. And this is leaving online fan groups abuzz with the possibilities. Will Chapter 2 showcase Twiddle’s more instrumental and improvisational side? Will their previously unrecorded jam-worthy songs like “Gatsby the Great” or “Zazu’s Flight” find their way on the second disc? Will they showcase a more playful side through songs like “Cabbage Face,” “Mamunes the Faun” or “Brown Chicken Brown Cow”?
What Plump–Chapter One proves, at least on the surface, is that Twiddle doesn’t want to remain a second-tier festival group. The record’s polished finish is intended to attract listeners that may stumble upon the album, while the songs demonstrate that Twiddle has an ear to create hits that resonate with the community it represents. But as Twiddle continues to find success and its fanbase grows, can the group continue to create music that intrigues new listeners without compromising the band’s musical integrity and its supportive community? Plump seems to be poised to place Twiddle directly in the path to find out.
PLUMP–Chapter One officially drops on iTunes, CD Baby and Spotify Streaming on Dec. 11.
Key Tracks: “Every Soul,” “Lost in the Cold,” “Syncopated Healing”
Elise Testone brought her All Star Tribute to Led Zeppelin to The Spot Underground in Providence, Rhode Island on Friday, Dec. 4. Rhode Island band Sgt. Baker and the Clones opened for her, and Breakfast for the Boys from New Paltz closed out the night.
The Spot Underground, now in its third location in Providence, features two stages. Sgt. Baker and the Clones took the stage in the smaller room around 9:20 p.m. Their sound is ’90s grunge meets rockabilly and country. The band consists of three guitarists, two on acoustic; a bassist; and a drummer. The crowd was still filing in throughout their set. They opened with “Stick Fishin’,” which features quotes from The Beatles’ “Cry Baby Cry” outro. This was followed up by a cover of Robert Cray‘s “Phone Booth,” which brought some energy to the crowd as folks started dancing. A country influence could be heard in the slower “Flesh Puppets.” They also played a few more covers, including Mars Volta’s “The Widow” and Cold War Kids’ “We Used to Vacation.” The latter featured additional vocals from local singer/songwriter Nate Cozzolino. They closed out their set with a raunchy cover of “I Will Survive,” played in a similar vein to Cake’s version with some altered lyrics. The lead guitarist played a really nice solo before the band finished the song to end their set. The highlight of the set was “Pigs,” which featured some fun animal sounds from Baker to start. While a bit rough around the edges, the set was enjoyable for all the smiling faces in the room.
Testone’s set was delayed a bit. To keep the fans happy, Cozzolino, who is also the venue’s cook, played a short set with Mike Baker, aka Sgt. Baker, on djembe. His set started with a cover of Sublime’s “Badfish.” He then played through a handful of originals to a small crowd eager to hear Elise Testone and her tribute to Led Zeppelin.
Elise Testone and her all-star tribute to Led Zeppelin took the main stage around 11 p.m. The band consisted of Todd Stoops (RAQ) on keyboards and backup vocals, Michelangelo Carubba (Turkuaz) on drums, Danny Mayer (Alan Evans Trio) on guitar, and Jed Lingat (Timothy Bloom) on bass. Testone, of course, handled the lead vocals. They opened their set with “Black Dog.” It took a little bit for the crowd to really get into it, but when the opening notes to “When the Levee Breaks” were played everyone was pulled in. The set ran through 19 of Led Zeppelin’s more notable songs. “Trampled Under Foot” featured a short, but fun keyboard solo from Stoops. “No Quarter,” one of the highlights of the night, saw an unexpected piano solo, one of the few moments the band took some creative license with the music. This was followed by two of the other highlights of the night, “Kashmir” and “Nobody’s Fault by Mine,” which featured excellent keyboard and guitar solos. “Fool in the Rain,” while a bit rough, was one of the crowd favorites of the night. The entire venue was dancing along. “Heartbreaker” was played without the expected segue into “Living Loving Maid.” Carubba played a solid solo in “Moby Dick,” and his perfect keeping of the beat held the band together throughout the night.
The set ended with “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” an odd choice given slower tempo. They came back out to encore with “Rock and Roll.” The one other highlight of the night was “Over the Hills and Far Away,” which featured some nice interplay between the guitar and keyboards during a short jam. The crowd was quite pleased with the two hour set. The band was tight and well-rehearsed. Testone’s vocals, while not completely appropriate as a Robert Plant replacement, handled the songs as though they were written for her. If any criticism is to be made, it’s that they simply covered the songs as Led Zeppelin would have played them. With a band of such talented musicians, it would be nice to see them use some creativity in the future, making the songs more their own and fitting them better to Testone’s voice.
Breakfast for the Boys played a late night set in the smaller room. Their female-led soul closed out the night as the crowd slowly dwindled. Their sound can be compared to that of Lake Street Dive.
All in all, it was a great night of music in Providence. The Spot’s new location isn’t the most ideal, though the larger room has great sound, which might be better than their previous locations. If you have the chance to see Elise Testone doing any type of show, don’t hesitate. Her voice is fabulous and quite adaptable to many different genres and styles of music.
Elise Testone will be playing with her All-Star Band on Thursday, Dec. 17 at The Hollow Bar in Albany at 9 p.m. Brian LaPoint and the Joints are the supporting act. Tickets are currently available.
One of the best kept secrets in the festival circuit took place on August 7 and 8, 2015 in the Adirondack region known as Backwoods Pondfest put on by Full Circle Music Productions. The intimate festival is located at Twin Ponds Campsite in Peru, NY (almost Canada) with less than 2,000 attendees, most of whom have been coming to Pondfest for years and rejoice in the North Country reunion. The open car camping provides festival goers with spacious sites in the grassy fields, pond side or quiet wooded area.Newest and biggest upgrade to the festival was the large circus, cone shaped tent over the Woods Stage that offered quality sound and intrigue late night visuals. The event features over 20 musical talents from all genres and calibers of local favorites and national acts, with back to back performances on two stages. Guests who took advantage of the Early Bird Thursday night tickets got prime real estate and a live stream of Albany’s Formula 5 show in Lake George.
Pondfesters arrived all throughout the day on Friday, unloading and setting up under crystal blue skies and sunshine. The Lynguistic Civilians voted Vermont’s best hip hop groupand making their debut at Pondfest, engaged the crowd with old school favorites and original, expressive lyrics. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong was another group new to the festival and was received with open arms. Their lighthearted, psychedelic funk was at an all-time high with a splash of reggae stirred in was the perfect start for the party on Friday night. “F U” got an extended jam with extra voltage from Max Garrett on trumpet from Capital Zen. The all string, quartet of Blind Owl Band call the Adirondack region and are no strangers to Backwoods Pondfest with a dedicated fan base at the Woods Stage. It was a hot set of bluegrass with an extra steamy, ferocious cover of The Allman Brother’s “Whipping Post”.
[FinalTilesGallery id=’469′]
Lucid took a break from festival hosting duties to perform their traditional first set of the weekend on the main stage. “Simmer On Down” had beautifully stretched peaks of tropical melodies that splashed down into a psychedelic middle eastern ride. The crowd got charged up as Lucid brought up George Wurster on harmonica for the “Backwoods” theme song. The night only got hotter after the sun went down with the fire spinners whipping and juggling the flames in sync with the North Country music and to the awe of the audience. At the woods stage,Gang of Thieves, Vermont’s funk rock and roll band slayed their first Pondfest with a mighty Led Zeppelin medley that sent chills all over the backwoods. Headliner of the night, Particle, brought their dirty Philly street funk to Pondfest for a set full of high organ groove courtesy of Steve Molitz and heart racing rhythm of Allen Aucoin. Guitarist Ben Combe and bassist Clay Parnell unfolded layers of riffs that drove the vibrant rock. Friday night wasn’t over yet as Albany’s Mister F closed out the woods stage with a late night set of chilling livetronica. Fans who stayed up for the action got a special Steve Molitz sit in that raised the bar for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday began as another beautiful day at Pondfest with perfect weather settings and an incredible lineup to look forward to. Those seeking a space of meditation and peace found it with Samantha Jo at her morning yoga class. Dozens participated in the deep breathing and stretched that were so desperately needed after a night of dancing. Meadow and Kevin Sabourin of Lucid serenaded the yogis with soft, acoustic lullabies. One of the best things about this festival being so small is that you can hear the music from the stages at your campsite. You’re always in the music. The Balkun Brothers, Steve and Nick Balkun invited everyone into the sandbox of the Wood Stage for train track, funk rock. Festival host and performer, Lowell sat in with his mean harmonica soul as the Balkun music awed the crowd. Twiddle fans were gifted with a Mihali Savoulidis acoustic Story Telling set on the Main Stage for a mellow ease into the afternoon. The raw and intimate set featured beat box looping of Twiddle classics about love and friendships, with behind the scene tales of how they came to be.The Heavy Pets kicked it up a notch with improvisational tight jams of rock and roll. Their deep focused peaks provide high cliff hangers when the chorus catches up with you.
[FinalTilesGallery id=’470′]
One of the most anticipated sets of the weekend was the Ex Presidents featuring Eric Gould of Particle, Todd Stoops of RAQ and Kung Fu, Neal “Fro” Evans of Dopapod, and Andrew Block of Big Sam’s Funky Nation. There was plenty of hype to go around with it being their first performance and let’s hope it’s not their last. The chemistry these veteran musicians have is impeccable with a fluid groove that kept the set fun and airy. Jeff Lloyd of Heavy Pets joined the talented crew for an awesome cover of Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side.” Stoops made the announcement of Evans becoming the newest member of RAQ with a side of jokes of everyone joining each other’s bands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i__QLSM3_y4
The night took a turn towards a urban street party as Sophistifunk packed out the Woods Stage with old school hip hop that had the ground shaking. The big event of the night was Backwoods Pondfest veterans, Spiritiual Rez blowing up the Main Stage at midnight. You could see the steam rising over the band as they feverously rocked out with a climactic unannounced fireworks show that flawlessly matched up with “Let’s Go Out With A Bang.” Normal Instruments brought the key ingredient of late night festival life with high energetic livetronica with fast rhythm and blaring chords.
The festival ended as quickly as it began. The pack up is never as much fun as setting it up but we carry the memories with us until next year’s festival. Backwoods Pondfest continues to be a close knit festival of friends and family working together to host talented musicians that bring incredible music and smiles. It’s one of the best weekends you could have of the summer in Upstate NY so be sure to meet us in the backwoods for next year’s Backwoods Pondfest.
This summer, the North Country of New York State plays host to the 9th annual Backwoods Pondfest, taking place at Twin Ponds Campground in the town of Peru. One of the most authentic music festival experiences in terms of size, music, atmosphere and community, the festival has grown steadily since inception and boasts a stellar lineup once again, highlighted by the first performance of a new supergroup, Ex-Presidents.
This supergroup’s name is tongue-in-cheek in origins, given that Todd Stoops, formerly of Kung Fu, brought together friends who are former members of bands. “It a play on words, making light of situations that have happened. I’ve played with all these guys separately for a while. I’ve known Eric for 15 years at least with RAQ and Particle. Block and I played with Stratospheric Allstars this past spring at Brooklyn Bowl and he’s an amazing guitar player. Fro I have known from playing shows with Dopapod in the past and it was all one of those flashes of ‘Hey, let get together and play some serious heavy metal space funk dance music,’ explained Stoops. “It was a spark of ‘let’s do something awesome.’”
The lineup of Ex-Presidents, a reference to Point Break, a cinematic masterpiece as Stoops will readily argue, includes Todd Stoops (RAQ, Kung Fu) on keys, Eric Gould (Particle) on bass, Andrew Block (Gramatik) on guitar and Neal ‘Fro’ Evans (Dopapod) on drums. The bands that these members originate from reflect distinct genres that will mesh together when the band comes together on August 9. Funk (Stoops), Soul (Block), EDM (Gould) and jam/prog (Evans), but that is not to say the four musicians are pigeonholed in this new outfit. Rather, the group will find cohesion among the idea of wanting to make people dance with a non-familiar edge, with Stoops hoping fans realize “I didn’t expect this sound, but I’m moving to it.” That sound is explained by Stoops as “White Zombie meets LCD Soundsystem,” the latter of which he has performed “Home” during the Stratosphere Allstars show at Brooklyn Bowl this past May.
Each member of Ex-Presidents brings to the band something different, shaped around Stoops’ concept of putting together something new and with an edge. “Fro is that drummer and he beats the shit out of the drums and one of the best. When I met Dopapod back in the day and became friends, one night they were crushing a Tool cover and I considered him for this project based on that. Eric has been crushing on bass and we’ve known each other so long it was a natural choice. Andrew has just a soaring guitar and this is a chance for fans to see him outside of Gramatik and hear something different. Plus, he is super, super talented and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.”
When asked if there will be more shows, Stoops doesn’t rule it out. “There is definitely some potential for this project.” Fans in attendance at Pondfest will get first crack at the Ex-Presidents when they perform August 9 at the festival in what will hopefully be their first of many performances.
The sound of Ex-Presidents could be a breakout set at Backwoods Pondfest, and that’s just the tip of the lineup. With more updates on Pondfest to come, stay tuned for what will surely be a banner year for the festival.
A festival in the Berkshires has revealed the schedule for the 2015 installment of the festival with headliners Lettuce, Electron, Dopapod, Cabinet and Twiddle leading a stellar lineup of musicians from the Northeast and beyond.
They have also announced the addition of five artists-at-large who will be joining bands throughout the weekend, providing unique collaborations with artists both new and familiar. Artists-at-Large include Todd Stoops (RAQ, Kung Fu), Craig Broadhead (Turkauz), Garrick “Force” Perry (The Alchemystics), Mikey Carruba (Turkuaz) and Brian BT Thomas (Akashic Record).
The fest is held June 11-14 at Gardner’s Farm in Stephentown, NY, a short 30 minute drive from Albany. The annual festival features 4 Days of Music, 50+ Musical Performances, Disc Golf Tournaments, 2 Main Stages, Carside, Grassy or Wooded Campsites, Food and Craft Vending, Kids Activities, Late Night Acoustic Sets, Silent Disco, Disc Golf Clinics, Live Painting, Art Installations, Yoga Sessions, Fire Performances, Hula Hoop and Flow Art Workshops and much more.
In a shocking statement, funk group Kung Fu announced that the band and founding member/keyboardist Todd Stoops have parted ways, and that Beau Sasser, of the Alan Evans Trio and Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan, will be his replacement.
Stoops co-founded the band in 2009, and Kung Fu has been a staple of the festival circuit ever since, with a unique blend of psychedelic funk, high-energy rock and jazz.
Here is the band’s official statement:
Change is exciting, challenging, and a constant part of life. It is the process of evolution and growth. We do our best to embrace change in our lives and the music we play, and it is in this spirit that we announce that Kung Fu and Todd Stoops are parting ways.
Todd is our brother, a brilliant musician, and composer. This decision has been difficult for everyone involved. We wish Todd nothing but the very best for his family, his musical endeavors, and we are grateful for everything he has contributed as a founding member of Kung Fu.
We would like to give a gigantic welcome to Beau Sasser as our new keyboardist. Beau is most notable for his work with Alan Evans Trio, Melvin Sparks, Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan, The Z3, Uncle Sammy, Ryan Montbleau and more. He is a beast of a different flavor on keys, with incredible song writing skills, and we are very excited to have him on the Kung Fu team. With Beau on board, we know that Kung Fu will continue to be one of the best live bands on the scene.
We would like to thank you, our loyal and dedicated fans, for your continued support! We can’t wait to see you this summer!
Peace, Love and Music-
The Ninjas
Stoops took to Facebook to issue his own statement, seeming to tell a bit of a different story. It appears the band kicked him out via email, and that it may not have been a mutual decision:
Dearest Family, Friends, and Fans,
This is tough, but here goes…
It has been the utmost honor to have performed for all of you with Kung Fu for the past 5+ years. I have experienced some of the greatest highs of my life onstage with the band that I co-founded, and I consider myself one of the luckiest humans alive to have been able to share that energy with all of you.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you…
After an incredible run out to the midwest for sets at SummerCamp and Revival, I came home to an email Tuesday from the rest of the band informing me that I was being replaced. Effective immediately.
Needless to say, it was as shocking to me Tuesday afternoon as it must be to all of you reading this now…
I can only wish the best for the remaining members of Kung Fu as they continue their journey. They are good musicians. With only two original members remaining, I’m excited to hear the evolution of that collective.
Moving forward…..
I have always kept a commitment to myself to perform with as many different artists and projects as possible. Always with the intent of broadening my musical vocabulary, personal growth, and most importantly, learning from everyone I have had the opportunity of performing with.
Becoming a highly successful jam band is not an easy task. Very few smart, thought-provoking, improvisational rooted groups have found themselves on the path to becoming a top-tier act in the music industry. In a musical world where bands like Phish and the 
Elise Testone