Tag: twiddle

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
Hearing Aide: Twiddle ‘PLUMP–Chapter One’

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.”

https://soundcloud.com/twiddlemusic/twiddle-lost-in-the-cold

“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”

December 10, 2015
Backwoods Pondfest 2015: Small Festival with Big Heart

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”.

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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.

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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.

October 10, 2015
Catskill Chill: Where Young Bands Come to Grow Up

The 2015 incarnation of the Catskill Chill Music Festival may serve as a farewell to host site Camp Minglewood, but since its inception, the festival has really been a big introduction to new music and groups, while also bringing in established bands that many people know.

For instance, this year’s lineup features moe., Lotus and Zappa Plays Zappa as the headliners, while groups such as the Motet, Lettuce and Electron also support the bill. Just like all festival flyers, the headliners get the most ink, while the font size shrinks with each passing line.

Twiddle

Enter Twiddle, on the fourth line of the Chill’s flyer. Just three years ago, it seemed Twiddle was a name at the bottom of so many festival advertisements. Yet, now, the group from Vermont has risen steadily up to headlining smaller festivals such as Disc Jam, while throwing down what band members describe as one of the best sets the group has ever played at this year’s Bonnaroo.

At the Chill last year, Twiddle played a normal set, and a Grateful Dead set, the latter being one of the most well-received sets in the history of the festival. Since then, Twiddle has exploded, headlining tours and playing venues such as Red Rocks in Colorado.

“One tidbit I often appreciate about our fest is what is great about a lot of small-to-medium size fests, which is how great it is to hear bands who are still in the early stages of their career on the main stages and in prime, night time slots,” Catskill Chill organizer Josh Cohen said in an email.

He went on to specify about Twiddle: “For instance … Twiddle. Twiddle always plays daytime sets at larger festivals, even have at the Chill the last couple years actually, but their Dead set was at night. Anyway, (they’re playing a late-night Dead set this year) and I’m pretty sure that’s going to make a lot of Twiddle fans very happy (including me!).”

This kind of exposure can do wonders for a band, especially in the jam band scene, where people listen with the most open of ears.

Just ask Ryan Dempsey, keyboardist from Twiddle.

“Last year at Catskill was one of my favorite Twiddle sets. Ever,” Dempsey said. “I thought we were all very connected and we had the privilege to have some of our mentors and favorite musicians from the scene sit in on our songs with us.

“It was also the debut of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hats idea that took on as a fad even after Catskill.”

That statement says a lot about just what the Chill has done for Twiddle. In the last year, every Twiddle show is littered with fans wearing Ninja Turtles hats, shirts and even full-on Turtle costumes. It also helps that Twiddle has one of the most dedicated young fan bases in the entire scene.

Mihali Savoulidis, guitarist for Twiddle, summed up his thoughts on Catskill Chill in a few short words.

“Bottom line is Catskill creates a super creative environment that I believe all the artists can feel and feed off of,” he said.

This year, Dopapod and Turkuaz are collaborating on a late-night set that Cohen referred to as Dopakuaz, saying this type of community mindset is what sets the Chill apart from other festivals its size or bigger.

“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,” Cohen added. “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.”

Dempsey echoed that sentiment: “They are a great ally of ours and have helped us play in front of new and old fans. They have a strong and professional staff and crew along with a lot of great music and people.”

Camp Minglewood has a unique setup which allows attendees to rent cabins if the traditional tent-style camping is not wanted. Savoulidis closed his interview by summing up not only Twiddle’s experience at the Chill, but also spoke for fans, calling it one of the best festivals he has had the opportunity to play.

“Catskill is one of our fans’ favorite festivals,” he said. “It gives them the opportunity to see us play and interact with our fellow artists in an incredibly unique setting. The way that Minglewood is set up provides a very cool experience for both the festival goers and the artists. I believe this is our fifth Chill and each year is better than the last. Our career has grown as the festival has and it’s usually the last one we do of the season so I think whenever we play at Minglewood all our creative juices are primed from a long summer of shows enabling us to come up with some really strong performances. This year should be no different.”

If hearing these words from the Lion’s mouth got you as pumped as I did writing this, clear your weekend plans and get yourself to the Lion’s den. It’s an experience that cannot be recreated anywhere else.

September 17, 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
Twiddle’s Hometown Takeover in Burlington

Coming off the heels of an extensive summer tour which included a gig at Red Rocks and multiple festival appearances, Twiddle took its momentum home to Burlington Vermont for two shows. The quartet played a sunset two-set show at Burlington Waterfront’s Maritime Festival on Friday and a late night party at Higher Ground on Saturday evening. The Twiddle community has grown immensely over the past few years, and it was shown by attendance at both their shows out numbering fellow jam band moe.

Twiddle

Twiddle performed on Friday evening under a breathtaking sunset over Lake Champlain for Burlington’s Maritime Festival. The first of two sets featured an opener of the semi rare “Atlantic Mocean>BBQ>Atlantic Mocean” to get things started. The fan favorite “White Light” followed and featured an extensive jam, with the song clocking in at 19 minutes. “Latin Tang” was up next, and featured a plethora of sit-ins that included Russ Lawton (Soul Monde) on drums, Ray Paczkowski (Soul Monde) on keys, and Dave Grippo (Giant Country Horns) on saxophone. “Lost in the Cold” was played next and was no surprise to anyone, the band has played it 18 times since it was written by lead guitarist Mihali Savoulidis in early 2015. The lyrically inspiring “Hatti’s Jam -> When it Rains, it Pours” closed out the first set in perfect fashion. The jam heavy second set saw Twiddle play 4 songs. “Brick of Barley” opened and featured a great jam. “Gatsby the Great,” a song about keyboardist Ryan Dempsey’s college pet duck came next and showcased the jam of the night, and possibly the weekend. It included classic sandwich of Bela Fleck’s “Big Country” in the middle of the song. After the song ended, fans could be heard cheering “Frankenfoote” and the band responded by closing the set with a smoking version. The band returned for an encore of “Doinkinbonk!!!” before handing things off to moe. over at Higher Ground for their late night set.

Twiddle

The band took to Higher Ground on Saturday evening to play a late night show after moe.’s set at the Maritime Festival. The show opened with an electronic dance party, started by drummer Brook Jordan and dubbed “DJBJ” by Mihali as each remaining band member slowly trickled into the jam. “Mamunes The Faun” was up next, and contained a lengthy jam that was followed by instrumental “The Catapillar.” A cover of the reggae tune “Harder They Come” by Jimmy Cliff saw keyboardist Josh Dobbs sit in and finger the ivories. An excellent version of “Jamflowman” was up next and the set closed with “Bronze Fingers”. Already after midnight, nobody in attendance showed any signs of letting up, the band included. A fiery “Wasabi Eruption” opened the second set and segued into a 20 min version of “The Box,” that contained an amazing jam with a soaring guitar solo from Mihali. The serious song “Tiberius” was next, and was standard but welcomed. The band ended the second set with jammed out rendition of “Cabbage Face” and the slower, lyrical, “Amydst The Myst,” An encore of “Mad World” by British band Tears for Fears closed out a spectacular weekend of music.

Twiddle

Waterfront Park, Burlington, VT – 8.7.2015

Set 1: Atlantic Mocean > BBQ > Atlantic Mocean, White Light, Latin Tang[1], Lost in the Cold, Hatti’s Jam -> When it Rains, it Poors
Set 2: Brick of Barley, Gatsby The Great > Big Country > Gatsby The Great, Frankenfoote
Encore: Doinkinbonk!!!
[1] “Latin Tang” featured Russ Lawton (Soule Monde) on drums, Ray Paczkowski (Soule Monde) on keys and Dave Grippo on saxophone.

Higher Ground, Burlington, VT – 8.8.2015

Set 1: Mamunes the Faun, The Catapillar, Harder They Come[1], Jamflowman, Bronze Fingers
Set 2: Wasabi Eruption, The Box, Tiberius, Cabbage Face, Amydst the Myst
Encore: Mad World
[1] “Harder They Come” featured Josh Dobbs (Cats Under The Stairs) on keys

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August 18, 2015
Camp Bisco: New Place, Better Party

Walking into Camp Bisco was quite different this year than in years past. For starters, the bikers were replaced with police which kept things on the up and up and lead to a safer vibe throughout. As I walked in, there were two rows of your standard concert venders: merchandise, burritos, wicked gems, and further down the path was a small stage called Steamtown Stage. This stage was located in a smaller area right in front of the entrance to Montage Mountain, where there always seemed to be a bunch of people having fun.

Once you walked through the main gate there were, of course, more vendors, but also there were water stations strategically stationed around the venue so people could be safe and keep hydrated. The path further led to the main stage, Electric City Stage, with a pavilion feel and covered with a huge white tent — which would come in handy later on in the weekend. Past the Electric City Stage there were more vendors and checkpoints on the way to the water park, which had three slides, a wave pool and a lazy river. With the temperatures as high as they were, this would come in handy for those who wish to partake. Even cooler, just past the wave pool was the second main stage, which stage looked over a mountain where you could catch a glimpse of people zip lining or going on a scenic chair lift ride. This area was also home to the disco lounge. Inside the lounge DJs spun records and kids hula hooped, which continued throughout the festival. All in all, Montage Mountain was set up perfectly for Camp Bisco.

On Thursday, the Business Casual Disco started things off with a bang on the electric city stage. The smooth bass beats set everyone up for what was to be a rocking weekend. Kung Fu brought their unique sound to the Above the Waves stage, which is a double entendre — being next to the wave pool, and also being one of the Disco Biscuits classic songs. With the newly recruited Beau Sasser on keys, his presence was made very prominent throughout the band’s set. Being next to the wave pool and surrounded by tons of water rides, one might have asked themselves “Where am I?” You, my friend, are at the new Camp Bisco, where Kung Fu played their intricate part in adding excitement and fun to the party. It was almost Kismet as the band was finishing up their set, the sun slowly sunk behind the stage making for a most blissful moment. Sound Tribe Sector 9 tore things up back on the Electric City stage, and with beats galore a smile was on everyone’s face. Opening with “March” was the perfect choice. A bouncy number that had even the biggest skeptics hooked. A different rendition of the Nina Simone classic “New Dawn, New Day” was also a treat. It enabled people who may not be familiar with the bands catalog to connect. There was no other act better suited to open up for the The Disco Biscuits.

Marc Brownstein began the Biscuits set on the microphone with an announcement that they had started in Pennsylvania in 1999 and after a few years away it was good to be back home. When that segued into the Prince’s Purple rain hit “1999,” the crowd went totally nuts. Starting out with this song was an inspired way to kick off the party. Everyone was into it and it left the door open to endless possibilities, such as “Mr. Don” and a huge “Reactor” closer, which left confetti strewn all over as it popped right at the end. Sheer entertainment brilliance. After the Disco Biscuits, Twiddle played on the Above the Waves stage to a miniscule crowd — it didn’t help that Pretty Lights was playing the Electric City stage. Regardless of the numbers, these guys tore it up. With the raspy lead vocals of Mihali Savoulidis and his wailing guitar, there was no way those in attendance weren’t going to have a good time.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong brought their raging style to the Above the Waves stage to kick off day two. Although there were many highlights in this electro fusions band’s set, none was more prominent than the Talking Heads cover “Psycho Killer.” The way lead singer Greg Ormont captured the spirit of the song was unparalleled, they had the whole crowd into their set with people actually walking around like pigeons! It was kind of weird but enormously fun. American Babies, Tom Hamilton’s home base, played a stellar set. The vocal range of Hamilton was soothing with passion while bassist Clay Parnell played with one hand. (His left hand appeared to be in a brace of some sort.) Hamilton’s shredding guitar brought the set to a close, leaving fans old and new wanting more. The indie electric duo CHERUB brought a new sound to the stage. Reminiscent of MGMT, the duo uses a lot of looping and beats to make their sound different. Their vocal ranges were in a league of their own hitting high and low all in the same line of a song. It’s refreshing to see a band take an idea and make it a reality, which is what CHERUB did.

For their second night of music the Disco Biscuits focused on their inversion style, inverting four songs in two sets. This is a style unique to the Biscuits which involves playing the middle and the end of the song before going back into the beginning. It’s really something to see. Opening with “Beethoven’s Fifth” and going into an inverted “House Dog Party Favor” was out of this world and performed flawlessly. As a surprise and a pleasant one at that, Marc Brownstein called up a guest singer to help the Biscuits take on the Hall and Oates number “She’s Gone.” This throwback got everyone’s attention, resulting in high fives circulating through the crowd and there was a happy vibe throughout the whole pavilion. The second set opened with the Grateful Dead’s “Help on the way > Slipnot” with a little help from Tom Hamilton. It was cool how they played homage to the Dead in a different way than most bands do. This was the Biscuits playing as the Biscuits, but playing a Dead song – not your average cover. This is when the fun really started for the fans as well as the band. Three inversions in a row: “Confrontation,” “Overture” and “Above the waves.” The Biscuits kept the crowd on their toes never knowing which song was coming next or which way it would be played. The covers continued with a take on Pink Floyd’s “Us and Them” featuring Dominic Lalli of Big Gigantic on the saxophone. This slow melodic song showed a different side of the Biscuits, a more patient side and Dom’s sax only added to that serenity — really nicely done. This segued into the set closer “Helicopters” which took the subdued crowd and brought their energy back, preparing them for day three of Camp Bisco.

Saturday at Camp Bisco is always a little more filled with music than the days prior. The Disco Biscuits played 3 sets and if that wasn’t enough, there was something happening on most of the stages all day so boredom didn’t have a chance. The Disco Biscuits opened the Electric City Stage with the crowd pleaser “Astronaut,” a perfect start to the set, followed by a dark version of the staple “Vassilios” and finishing with an epic “I-man.” If this was the kind of set they opened with, one could only imagine what was to come later on. Reptar, a band hailing from Atlanta, Georgia played at the Above the Waves stage. Reptar had an indie punk feel to them with a lot of energy and the crowd ate it up. They would have been a great segue into Papadiso but due to a severe weather warning their set was pushed back and everyone was asked to please seek shelter. This is where the white tent came in handy. People huddled around the area waiting for the storm to pass. When it finally did, it left a euphoric rainbow and fantastic vibes. Since most people were under the tent anyway, they stayed for the Disco Biscuits. The energy was intense. Opening up with the classical piece “Saber Dance” the band showed off their diversity and solidified that they are not just a transfusion band, as they previously did in the festival by playing “Beethoven’s Fifth.” This set was solid with “Konkrete,” “Crystal Ball” and a Muse cover “Knights of Cydonia.” The latter was an extra special treat as it was the first time they had ever played it. Bassnectar was up next and made a lot of people extremely happy. His legions of fans took over the pavilion leaving Disco Biscuit fans to wander around aimlessly waiting for the Biscuits to reemerge. T just kept going and going and every song or beat or whatever it was sounded the same, but these fans ate it up. One fan actually said “I live for Lorin (Bassnectars real name).” Everything may not be for everyone but the crowd seemed to have a really good time. As the Bassheads dispersed to one of the DJ venues, the Bisco fans proudly regained their seats and were ready for the last set of the weekend, performed by the festivals namesake, The Disco Biscuits. Their last set was played so tightly and patiently you were able to tell that the boys have been practicing. This became even more apparent when they covered LCD Soundsystems “Home”. The whole crowd was bouncing and high fiving. It was definitely the highlight, not just of the set, but of the festival as a whole.

July 24, 2015
The Fifth Annual Frendly Gathering: Where Friendship Comes First

The fifth annual Frendly Gathering was held the last weekend of June at beautiful defunct ski mountain Timber Ridge Resort in the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. With professional snowboarders Jack Mitrani and Danny Davis at the helm, Frendly set out to bring the masses together for a weekend of incredible music, camping, skateboarding, delicious food, yoga and most importantly, inclusiveness. With the motto “there is no ‘I’ in frends,” the festival was true to its word and brought out the best in their attendees.

For those who bought early arrival passes for Thursday, there was noteworthy music already happening once they were shuttled to the grounds. Devesh Duo Band and Gold Town welcomed Frendly goers setting up camp, followed by Burlington favorites Dead Set . With their unique renditions of classic Grateful Dead tunes, they got the bodies moving during the first beautiful sunset of Frendly Gathering.

Billed as The Smooths, Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle and Todd Stoops took the stage for a unique, smile-inducing set. A cast of characters joined in on the fun for “Frends Theme,” including Jack and Danny, Ryan Dempsey of Twiddle and Jack’s brother Luke Mitrani. The crowd was full of energy, singing along with every word. The magic began to swell, and it was only a matter of time before the rest of the masses would fill the mountain with hugs, smiles and high-fives.

By Friday morning, it was apparent that people were anxious and ready for the headliners of the weekend, Twiddle. Mihali did several solo shows in the Martin Guitar Dome where anyone could pick up a guitar and play throughout the weekend. But Mihali’s kid’s set in the dome was certainly something special, with the tiniest of Twiddle fans singing every word. The kid’s set really proved that the Gathering wanted every single attendee, from little to big, to be included in the magic. Even Ben and Jerry’s were in on the fun, handing out free ice cream throughout the weekend.

The Wood Stage, set in the dense forest with a giant teepee covering the stage, was the scene of some incredible shows on Friday. New Jersey natives Sleepy Man, consisting of a trio of brothers ranging from age 12 to 17, put on a show that left the masses boggled at what they had witnessed. Spitting out folk and bluegrass like they had been playing for 20 years, Sleepy Man left no stone unturned. The crowd was electric, showing their pride for Frendly’s youngest act. Following Sleepy Man was the sultry sounds of Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band. The eight-piece band sent horns blaring through the mountain, giving people the classic soul sounds sure to get them on their feet and dancing. Jumping back to the Woods Stage, Montana bluegrass band The Kitchen Dwellers took bluegrass to an entirely different level, blending psychedelia and bluegrass effortlessly.

Friday’s lineup was stacked, including Moon Hooch, Valerie June, Spirit Family Reunion and Canyon Collected. Each keeping the energy high, they were only paving the road for what would become an epic evening at Frendly. Heavy-hitting funk band Kung Fu brought the hammer down on Friday night, with new keyboardist Beau Sasser’s Hammond organ giving the crowd exactly what they were craving. The jam-funk brought the energy level at Frendly to new highs, especially when Mihali of Twiddle came on stage for “Hollywood Kisses,” which of course turned into “Mihaliwood Kisses.” After a full day of dancing and high energy acts, the crowd was still very ready for the headliners of the weekend: Twiddle.

If you were looking to hear your favorite Twiddle song, then they were anxious to give it to you. Opening with “Gatsby the Great,” Twiddle came out swinging. Every single person at the venue was on a Twiddle high, singing along and throwing the now-famous “peak” in the air. Torrin Daniels, banjo master from the Kitchen Dwellers, jumped in adding that extra something to an already incredible Twiddle set. Closing out the night with an epic version of “All Along the Watchtower,” no one left without a smile from ear to ear.

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and beat-boxer Lynx brought it all home Friday night after Twiddle. Her voice carried through the mountains, even to those too weary to stand after a heavy first day. It wouldn’t be the last we saw of Lynx though, as she played throughout the weekend on several stages, even making a stop in the Martin Guitar Dome.

Saturday came, and with it, some rain. But that didn’t stop the masses from doing their morning yoga and dancing to the incredible music that was to follow. If you were up early enough, your day began with a marching band down the mountain including Twiddle and Jack Mitrani and Danny Davis. As you hopped on the train, it led you down to the pond where Twiddle played to everyone huddled around the tiny body of water. It was an incredible way to kick off the final day, with everyone wearing their weary smiles with pride. The day was riddled with fantastic music, including Americana favorites The Kalob Griffin Band hailing from Philadelphia and an intimate Burton TeePee set from Nahko (of Nahko and Medicine for the People). Turkuaz took the Frendly Stage and before you knew it, the ultimate dance party erupted. Their horn-heavy funk eruption had a sea of people dancing effortlessly. Jumping back to the Wood Stage, soul band Con Brio kept the feet moving with their old-school approach to soul and funk.

In the middle of all the activities and music, there was some very important charity work being done by organizations like Love Your Brain and the newly-founded White Light Foundation. White Light raffled off Twiddle and Burton goods, raising over $2000 for the Kurn Hattin Homes for Children and Love Your Brain. If you bought even just one ticket, you could feel the good being passed on to those in need.

Even when the rain began to fall on Saturday evening, people gathered around for the inspiring international music of Nahko and Medicine for the People. The rain certainly did not deter fans from being included in the soul-healing music of Nahko. If anything, it was a welcomed sign from Mother Nature that we were all in it together.

Still the rain fell, but it did not stop every single person on the mountain from witnessing the final night of Twiddle. The crowd’s collective voices rang through the rain for songs like “Frankenfoot” and “Jamflowman.” It was magical, to say the least. Frendly Gathering most certainly delivered, paying homage to the ties that bind music-lovers together. If you came in with one friend, you left with many. If you came with the stresses of daily life on your shoulders, you left without them. Jack and Danny created the ultimate festival experience in the middle of Vermont, leaving everyone anxious for next year’s Gathering.

If you’re interested in seeing what all the fun was about, check out Frendly Presents YouTube channel, which has high-definition recaps of the entire weekend.

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July 13, 2015
Camp Bisco to get Wet at Montage Mountain

After a year’s hiatus and a change in venue, Camp Bisco is back and moving to a site that offers fans a better experience at Montage Mountain in beautiful Scranton, Pennsylvania on July 16-18th. Campers will be treated to a water park, as well as many other amenities not offered at other festivals, such as full restaurant and bar.

The festival will feature many Camp Bisco regulars, such as Pretty Lights who is performing Thursday night as one of the festival’s headliners. Derek Vincent Smith took the moniker Pretty Lights in the summer of 2004. He had played electronic music with other groups but chose to go on his own and make his own music, starting out as a late night act for other major groups — one of them being the Disco Biscuits. He has since made a name for himself and has earned the coveted spot he’s playing. Thursday night also features STS9, otherwise known as Sound Tribe Sector Nine, pioneers along with the Biscuits with the livetronica genre. Mixing beats from hip hop to funk and jazz, this is a perfect addiction to the experience that is Camp Bisco.

Thursday also welcomes newcomers to the festival Twiddle, a rocking band hailing from Burlington, Vermont and featuring wailing guitar solos as well a tad of dub to it as well. Whatever the mixture they use, they found a good one because Twiddle is not an act to miss at this years festivities.

Big Gigantic plays on headlines Friday night bringing their own version of electronic jazz to the main stage. In a world where electronica seems to have peaked, bands keep coming up with new ways to make the sound their own. Gigantic does this by incorporating horns to the mix, leaving the crowd in pure awe. As with Twiddle, the festival is not only electronic music. For example, Tom Hamilton of The American Babies [Electron, Joe Russos Almost Dead, Brothers Past] shows his Americana side with this project. He covers tunes by Bob Dylan as well as reworking Brothers Past songs to have them fit this genre.

Saturday is the day that many campers will be looking forward to. With Tipper, Basssnectar, and yes, of course — the Disco Biscuits. Bassnectar has worked hard to get where he is on the Camp Bisco stage. Starting off as a side attraction over the years, he became more and more popular making his way to the main stage as a headliner. This is where a lot of hard work and determination has paid off, and Lorin Ahston, otherwise know as Bassnectar, is not an act to sleep on.

This leaves us with the festival’s namesake, The Disco Biscuits. Closing out all three nights, they definitely leave the crowd wanting more each time. Having been together for 20 years, The Biscuits have come as far as any band can dream and they keep getting better. Having sold out shows across the country and playing with members of the Grateful Dead, there is no time like now to see them play.

There are many different travel packages which all can be found here. Between all the great bands (the complete list can be found here) and the beautiful scenery, there is no reason not to get down to this year’s Camp Bisco.

July 11, 2015
10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Miss All Good Music Festival

The 18th annual All Good Music Festival and Camp Out has returned to West Virginia this year, and boasts a jamband heavy lineup that is surely not to be missed and my favorite of the summer. With no overlapping sets, all of the weekend’s amazing music can be seen without sacrificing one band for another. The music takes place for 3 days, Thursday July 9 – Saturday July 11, with gates opening at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Here are 10 reasons this year’s All Good Music Festival is not to be missed!

10. CAKE

This American alternative-rock band from Sacramento, California draws from a heavy influence of country, rock, funk, hip-hop and more. Not your typical act on the jamband circuit, but these guys know how to have fun and put on a great show. You can catch Cake on the Dragon Stage on Saturday from 10:15 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

9. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

The quartet based out of Balitmore, MD has been growing tremendously over the past few years. Blending rock, funk, and electric grooves is their specialty. These guys bring the heat every night and you are guaranteed to find yourself dancing to their infectious grooves. Pigeons are performing on Saturday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on the Dragon Stage.

8. Dark Star Orchestra

Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra has been recreating the Grateful Dead concert experience since 1997. They are widely considered one of the best tribute acts on the scene, and play a host of festivals every year on top of extensive nationwide touring. With the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead this year and the Fare Thee Well shows happening in Chicago the week before, expect Dark Star’s set to be a celebration. They perform on Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. -1:00 a.m. on the Crane Stage.

7. Late Nights: STS9, Thievery Corporation, Lotus

All Good boasts a stacked late night lineup to keep the party going into the morning hours. Thursday night features STS9, playing from 1:15 a.m. -3:00 a.m. on the Dragon Stage. Friday night features Thievery Corporation performing on the Dragon Stage from 1:15 a.m. -3:00 a.m. Lotus will be closing out the festival on the Dragon Stage from 1:00 a.m. -3:00 a.m. on Saturday.

6. Lettuce

These guys bring some serious funk to every show. Lettuce is on my list of must see bands anytime they play a festival. With a late night spot on the Crane Stage from 12:00 a.m. -1:15 a.m. directly following Primus, things are sure to go from weird to funky as soon as they take the stage. Be warned, you will find yourself dancing way too much at this set.

5. Yonder Mountain String Band

Who doesn’t love some late afternoon bluegrass to go with their whiskey? Veterans of the bluegrass world, Yonder is sure to deliver a high octane string infused dance party. They play the Crane Stage on Sunday from 6:15 p.m. -7:40 p.m. The addition of fiddle virtuoso Allie Kral and mandolin player Jacob Jolliff has Yonder sounding as good as they ever have.

4. Primus

Headlining Friday night at All Good on the Dragon Stage from 10:15 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Primus is sure to bring the weird together for an unforgettable concert experience. Hot off the recent Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory tour, expect good things from bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde, and drummer Jay Lane. Primus is no stranger to All Good, having performed at the festival in the past.

3. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

JRAD is a fairly new band that has exploded onto the scene. These guys bring high energy, intense, authentic Grateful Dead tunes every time they step on stage. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead is super group composed of Scott Metzger, Tommy Hamilton, Dave Dreiwitz, Marco Benevento & Joe Russo. They perform on the Crane Stage on Friday night from 9:00 p.m. -10:15 p.m. If you haven’t seen them yet, be sure to check them out!

2. Twiddle

If you don’t know who Twiddle is by now, you should. Hailing from the green state of Vermont, they are taking the jamband world by storm and right now the sky is the limit for the quartet. Twiddle blends reggae, funk, and rock n roll into heavy improv laden sets. Twiddle has a huge following of fans and they are growing each and every time they take the stage. Twiddle kicks off the festival with an hour long performance on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on the Crane Stage.

Twiddle

1. moe.

New York State’s own moe. are veteran’s of the jamband festival circuit. Mixing heavy rock n roll with psychedelic improvisations moe. is going to rock the Dragon Stage on Thursday night for two hours from 10:00 p.m. -12:00 a.m. Expect soaring, crunchy, guitar solos and funk laden bass lines all night. Moe. has a heavy following all over the county, so expect many moe.rons to flock to All Good to see their beloved band and the rest of All Good’s amazing lineup.

moe. Saranac Brewery

There rest of All Good’s amazing lineup can be found here. Tickets will be available online until Wed July 8th, and prices will go up at the gate. Tickets can be purchased here. See you all in West Virgina!

July 3, 2015