NYS Music 20​16

Category: Regions

  • Hearing Aide: LYON “Trinity”

    LYON TrinityWhat does a music-monger love more than great weather on Shakedown Street? The answer is a solo project from a member of a favorite band.

    SOLARiS drummer Dan Lyons has released Trinity, the third studio album from the New York City producer, recording as LYON. As a member of Ithaca’s electro-rock band SOLARiS and touring for years at smaller venues around the Northeast and at festivals such as Catskill Chill, LYON brought together numerous contemporaries for this compilation, including guitarist Wiley Griffin and producers Binary Bits and Digital Davy. Members from Horizon Wireless and SOLARiS also guest starred. Trinity was mastered by Disco Biscuits‘ archivist and sound engineer Rich Steele.

    Each of the 11 songs on this album is seamlessly put together and downright smooth; and each tune features unique euphoric sounds with steady drum beats that seduce a perpetual head bob. The first key track on the record,”When I Was Young,” is a bouncy collaboration between Lyons and Horizon Wireless, while “Hydrocuff” flows as an alluring trance with touches of Caribbean steel drums mid-song.

    “Midnite Society” offers listeners a surprising and fun mixture of disco and pile-driving guitar jams, and it lead my mind to start jamming into LOTUS shortly after. The title of “Clock Strikes 12’” nicely closes out the collection, as Trinity is the perfect soundtrack for those impromptu after-hour dance parties. Or for listening to as the western sun floated down through the window and left me bouncing and grooving in my chair, feeling completely relaxed and at home in myself.

    LYON’s beautiful new release, Trinity, can be streamed in full via the artist’s Bandcamp page, and if you find yourself impressed, there is no shortage of live SOLARiS documentation to check out.

    Key Tracks: “When I Was Young,” “Hydrocuff,” “Midnite Society,” “Clock Strikes 12′”

  • The Sweet Sixteen of NYS Music 2016 March Madness

    We are into Round 3 of NYS Music’s March Madness and our field is down to 16 bands from across New York State! This friendly tournament style competition runs throughout the month of March, bringing new bands you should know about to your attention.

    These are bands you might not know about, but should know about. Recommended for inclusion in our field of 64 by the NYS Music staff, we hit every corner of New York State from Long Island to Buffalo, The Catskills to the North Country and all points in between. NYS Music March Madness is a great way to discover a new and upcoming band and also to show your support and love for bands you see often. Established bands who have gained a massive audience are not included in this year’s March Madness. Instead, the bands who are on the cusp of greatness are the stars of this year’s tournament. There was only room for 64 but we made some great choices and picked a wide array of genres to offer you competition.

    We’d like to thank The Hollow Bar and Kitchen, Buffalo Iron Works, Funk n Waffles and The Waterhole for each sponsoring a regional bracket this year. These venues represent the best of what New York State has to offer and they all celebrate music by allowing local and touring bands to perform for growing scenes across the state.

    Third round matchups in the Iron Works region include:

    Stellar Young (Indie) vs Blind Owl Band (jamgrass)
    Sophistafunk (funk hip/hop) vs Sly Fox and the Hustlers (blues funk rock)

    Funk n Waffles third round matchups are:

    Waydown Wailers (roots rock) vs Subsoil (psychedelic hip hop)
    Folk Faces (folk jazz) vs Annie In the Water (acoustic rock)

    The Hollow Bar and Kitchen region has:

    Sprocket (jam) vs Let’s Be Leonard (jam)
    Mister F (prog jam rock) vs Northern Faces (indie)

    The Waterhole region brings together these matchups:

    Super Killer Robots (rock) vs Chris James & Mama G (Ameribeat)
    Big Mean Sound Machine (Afrobeat/dance) vs Formula 5 (funk jam)

    Round 3 voting begins at 12 noon EST on Tuesday, March 15 and closes at midnight on Thursday, March 17. Round 4 voting begins at 12 noon on Friday, March 18 for the remaining 8 teams. Vote now for your favorites and discover some of the great up and coming music that New York State has to offer!

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  • Free Friday Night Concert Series Returns to Lake George’s Shepard Park

    The Free Friday Night Concert Series Fridays at the Lake: Band and Brews at Shepard Park in Lake George will feature bands from a variety of genres with the first show scheduled for Friday, June 24.

    Now in its seventh year, the summer festival series has expanded to include a revolving schedule of restaurants/bars who serve as hosts of the beer/wine tent and food service.

    With the exception of the first and last night, there will be an opener at 4 p.m. followed by a headlining act from 6 to 8 p.m. Kicking things off on June 24 is big/swing band Georgie Wonders Orchestra. They’ll play favorites from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s including covers from Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Bunny Berrigan and more. Food and beverages will be sold by King Neptune’s Pub.

    Other acts include the Refrigerators, Spiritual Rez and Funky Dawgz Brass Band. The concert series will close out on Sept. 2 with Skeeter Creek, five-time winners of No. 1 County Band and three-time winners of Best Cover Band by Metroland.

    Admission is free and the events are family and dog friendly. There will be children’s activities including a bounce house, face painter and air brush artist.

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    New York Players 2012

    Friday’s at the Lake 2016 schedule:

    June 24: No opening act scheduled; Main act — Georgie Wonders Orchestra (big band/swing)
    Food and beverages by King Neptune’s Pub.

    July 1: Opening act— Richie Ortiz; main act — New York Players (funk)
    Food and beverages by Backstreet BBQ.

    July 8: Opening act — Jonathan Newell Band; main act — Audiostars (rock)
    Food and beverages by King Neptune’s Pub.

    July 22: Opening act — The After Fab; main act — The Refrigerators (Party Band)
    Food and beverages by Duffy’s Tavern.

    July 29: Opening act — The Tumbling Dice (Rolling Stones tribute band); main act —Emerald City (rock)
    Food and beverages by The Boardwalk Restaurant.

    Aug. 5: opening act — Meet the Mockers; main act — Grand Central Station (pop)
    Food and beverage by Fire & Ice Bar & Grill.

    Aug. 12: Opening act — Richie Ortiz; main act — Spiritual Rez (reggae/ska)
    Food and beverages by Backstreet BBQ.

    Aug. 26: Opening act — Jonathan Newell Band; main act — Funky Dawgz Brass Band (funk/jazz)
    Food and beverages by The Boardwalk Restaurant.

    Sept. 2: no opening act scheduled; main act — Skeeter Creek (country)
    Food and beverages by Duffy’s Tavern.

  • Venue Change: Cage the Elephant to Play Albany’s Palace Theatre, May 11

    On Tues. May 11, rock band Cage the Elephant will now play a 7 p.m. show at the Palace Theatre in Albany. The group was originally scheduled to perform at the Times Union Center. Tickets purchased prior to the venue change will be honored. Floor seat holders are granted general admission access to the orchestra section of the Palace, and all reserved tickets will have general admission seating in the balcony section. Tickets for both price levels ($45 floor; $37.50 balcony) are still available for purchase at the Palace Theatre box office at 19 Clinton Ave. or through Ticketmaster. NYS Music was on hand to cover Cage the Elephant’s stop at Rochester’s Main Street Armory in March for the Spring Fling Tour; read more here.

    Original Post:

    The Grammy-nominated rock band Cage the Elephant will head out in May on a string of tour dates that will route the Kentucky alt-rockers to several venues in New York and neighboring states, plus stops in nearby Toronto and Montreal.

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    Jack White will release new album “Boarding House Reach” on Friday, March 23.

    The headlining North American tour kicks off May 1 in Little Rock, Arkansas, before CTE stops in Canada and takes the stage at Times Union Center in Albany on May 11, the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, on May 15, and at SummerStage in New York City’s Central Park May 16. Supporting acts for this run are Portugal. The Man, Broncho and Twin Peaks.

    Prior to launching the 34-date cross-country trek, which comes to a close June 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, the band is continuing Spring Fling Tour with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands with shows billed in Pittsburgh on March 25, at the Main Street Armory in Rochester on March 26, First Niagara Center in Buffalo on March 28, XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, March 30, followed by Portland, Maine, and Providence, Rhode Island.

    The high-energy quartet consists of singer Matt Shultz, guitarist Brad Shultz, bassist Daniel Tichenor and drummer Jared Champion. CTE is hitting the road following the release of their fourth studio album, Tell Me I’m Pretty. A follow-up to 2013’s Melophobia with hits “Come a Little Closer” and “Cigarette Daydreams,” the 10-track record produced by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys, The Arcs) debuted in December and features the alternative chart-topping single “Mess Around.” CTE has shared the stage with Foo Fighters, Muse and Queens of the Stone Age, among other big-name artists, and most recently, the group performed on the Late Late Show with James Corden, the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Conan.

    Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. Passes for the upcoming New York dates are currently available through the band’s website, the respective venues and ticketing sites like Ticketmaster.

    Cage the Elephant tour dates:

    3/16 – Don Haskins Center – El Paso, TX ~
    3/18 – Cox Business Center Arena – Tulsa, OK ~
    3/19 – Landers Center – Southaven, MS ~
    3/20 – Freedom Hall Civic Center – Johnson City, TN ~
    3/22 – Richmond Coliseum – Richmond, VA ~
    3/23 – Constant Convocation Center – Norfolk, VA ~
    3/25 – Petersen Events Center, University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA ~
    3/26 – Main Street Armory – Rochester, NY ~
    3/28 – First Niagara Center – Buffalo, NY
    3/30 – XL Center – Hartford, CT ~
    3/31 – Cross Insurance Arena – Portland, ME ~
    4/1 – Dunkin Donuts Arena – Providence, RI ~
    5/1 – Verizon Arena – Little Rock, AR *
    5/3 – Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, OK *
    5/4 – INTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, KS *
    5/6 – DeltaPlex – Grand Rapids, MI *
    5/7 – Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI *
    5/8 – International Centre, Arrow Hall – Toronto, ON *
    5/10 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC *
    5/11 – Palace Theatre – Albany, NY *
    5/15 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD *
    5/16 – SummmerStage, Central Park – New York City, NY *
    5/19 – Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN *
    5/20 – Infinite Energy Arena – Duluth, GA *
    5/21 – Hangout Festival – Gulf Shores, AL
    6/3 – KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY ^
    6/4 – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica – Cleveland, OH ^
    6/5 – EXPRESS LIVE! – Columbus, OH ^
    6/7 – UIC Pavilion – Chicago, IL %
    6/9 – BMO Harris Pavilion – Milwaukee, WI %
    6/10 – U.S. Bank Theater at Target Center – Minneapolis, MN ^
    6/11 – Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center – Madison, WI ^
    6/14 – Calgary Stampede Corral – Calgary, AB ^
    6/15 – Shaw Convention Centre – Edmonton, AB ^
    6/17 – PNE Forum – Vancouver, BC ^
    6/18 – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater – Portland, OR ^
    6/19 – WaMu Theater – Seattle, WA ^
    6/21 – Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA %
    6/22 – Valley View Casino Center – San Diego, CA %
    6/23 – Bill Graham Civic – San Francisco, CA %
    6/25 – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV ^
    6/26 – Gila River Arena – Phoenix, AZ ^

    ~ Spring Fling tour dates with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands
    * with Portugal, The Man + Broncho
    ^ with Portugal, The Man + Twin Peaks
    % with Portugal, The Man

  • Craic Is Had By All at The Wescott Theater with Enter The Haggis

    The Irish word “craic” refers to fun, music, and enjoyment. It is always great “craic” for all when Enter the Haggis plays the Westcott Theater, as they did this past weekend.

    Two Hour Delay opened to a near empty venue prior to the main act, Enter the Haggis. As the audience began arriving, those present were unfortunately not truly engaged in the original music of this band. One song with its Jerry Garcia folksy feel, although really good, wasn’t enough to demand the full attention of the crowd.  As the night progressed, and the crowd filled, it was the last song with Brian Buchanan, that definitely roused the attention of the otherwise distracted audience.  It was a shame, but this band’s musical style was clearly not matched with the proper audience and unfortunately was lost in translation. Seeing this often, it reaffirms the importance of venues when booking acts to pair opening acts to the main act.  This not only readies the crowd for the headliner, but also introduces them to another band in the same genre.

    craic enter the haggisThe Westcott is the perfect venue to showcase the relationship of Enter The Haggis shares with their fans. Concert goers get the sense that they are family and friends as band members Brian Buchanan, Craig Downie, Trevor Lewington, Mark Abraham and Bruce McCarthy take to the stage to play for their loyal following. Changing their name from Enter The Haggis to Jubilee Riots, back to Enter The Haggis, their fans didn’t skip a beat but instead skipped all the way to the next venue they were playing.  Their fans truly have a love affair with them and honestly could care less of their name.  Well, except for those die hard fans that already had the Enter The Haggis tattoos.

    craic enter the haggisThe band opened with the lyrical and soulful “Aerials” which incorporated the vocals, guitars, bagpipes and fiddle of this cohesive group of entertainers. They continued with fan favorites including “Lanigans Ball”. At this point, everyone in the theatre was dancing. “Gasoline” was also a crowd favorite featuring Brian Buchanan on the fiddle and vocals. The audience joined him in an enthusiastic sing along. “C Section” featured multi-talented Craig Downie on the bagpipes. “One Last Drink” featured Trevor Lewington on the guitar and vocals. A concert attendee yelled “We love you, Trevor!” and he responded “I love you too, man!”

    craic enter the haggisBecause the band is just a whole bunch of great guys, the entire audience was invited to the Enter the Haggis concert on Saint Patrick’s Day in Portland, Maine, and they would be remiss to not take a selfie of the evening for of those nearest and dearest to them to commemorate the evening, telling them “We are going to tag everyone in this room!”

    The show was a continuous hour of strong vocals and an entertaining performance that incorporated many different instruments. The band returned for an encore of three more songs including one of their new songs, “Rose of Tyrone”. Enter the Haggis tells us they have written seven new songs, they will be recording and making the videos for in the weeks to come.

    craic enter the haggisAll in all, good times “craic” was had by the audience which was a mix of devoted fans and those that were experiencing the band for the first time. This renowned Celtic rock band does not disappoint, and anyone who has the opportunity to experience their unique style of music should definitely attend a concert.

  • Annie in the Water and Hayley Jane Collaborate for Overnight Recording

    On Sunday, March 6, Brad of Annie in the Water along with Hayley Jane asked via Facebook for suggestions on what to write a song about. Within an hour, they had more than 50 suggestions and proceeded to write a song throughout the evening and recorded the final take around 6:30am as the sun was coming up. The song, “Dr. Ashlee Little the Narwhal and Other Earthly Creatures (This Will be a Long Song),” has a silly storyline with a real message of love and optimism, inspired by their frends. The track was recorded in Clifton Park, NY. Enjoy!

  • Cradle of Filth Unleashes ‘Inquisitional Torture Tour’ On Cleveland

    Not since 2011, have the states been graced by one of the most renown British metal bands, Cradle of Filth. The North American Inquisitional Torture Tour was meant to kick off in Philadelphia, PA on January 26, but the first four dates were cancelled due to visa issues. The tour kicked off on January 31 in Charlotte, NC and wrapped up in New York, NY on March 8 before heading back overseas.

    Joining Cradle of Filth on this tour were Los Angeles natives, Butcher Babies and the Australian Progressive Death Metal band, Ne Obliviscaris, who were embarking on their first US tour.

    Cradle of FilthOn March 3rd, the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio fell under siege to the trio of metal bands. A long line of Cradle of Filth fans outside the venue, braving the elements eagerly waiting for the show. Some with their faces painted and donning wildly colored contacts similar to those of Cradle’s vocalist, Dani Filth.

    The night started off with Ne Obliviscaris, who immediately won the crowd over. From the powerful screams and growling vocals of Xenoyr to the clean vocals and symphonic cries of the violin by Tim Charles along with guitarists Benjamin Baret and Matt Klavins, bassist Brendan Brown and drummer Daniel Presland, this band knew how to leave you wanting more.  Their 2015 EPs Sarabande to Nihil and Hiraeth are worth checking out.

    Cradle of FilthIt’s always refreshing to see women, dominating the stage in the metal world and that’s just what the Butcher Babies did. With their their aggressive stage attire and vocals, the band’s frontwomen Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey kept the crowd screaming. Backed by Henry Flury on guitar, Jason Klein on Bass and Chrissy Warner on drums, the band played songs from their 2015 album, “Take It Like A Man.”

    Setlist: National Bloody Anthem, Blonde Girls All Look the Same, The Butcher, Gravemaker, Igniter, Jesus Needs More Babies for His War Machine, Monster’s Ball, Magnolia Blvd., The Deathsurround, Goliath, I Smell a Massacre and Axe Wound.

    Cradle of Filth’s long awaited US Tour brought fans flocking from out of state to Cleveland’s House of Blues. The band serenaded the crowd with favorites from albums past in addition to songs from their new album Hammer Of The Witches, the album cover which also made for the background for the stage. Frontman Dani’s entered the stage in spiked attire, a painted face and ghoulish contact lenses, later adding of a crown of horns. With their sometimes dark and provocatively poetic lyrics, symphonic musical style and macabre imagery  a Cradle of Filth performance is always a glorious spectacle. With the unique vocals of Dani Filth in addition to the vocal power of keyboardist, Lindsay Schoolcraft along with Martin ‘Marthus’ Skaroupka on drums, guitarists Richard Shaw and Marek ‘Ashok’ Šmerda, bassist Daniel Firth, Cradle of Filth never fails to deliver and outstanding performance.

    Setlist: Humana Inspired to Nightmare (Intro), Heaven Torn Asunder, Gilded Cunt, Blackest Magick in Practice, Lord Abortion, The Graveyard by Moonlight, Malice Through the Looking Glass, Right Wing of the Garden Triptych, Born in a Burial Gown, Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids, Nymphetamine (Fix), Her Ghost in the Fog, The Twisted Nails of Faith, Yours Immortally, From the Cradle to Enslave, At the Gates of Midian, Cthulhu Dawn, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh and The Forest Whispers My Name.

  • Choose Your Own Genre: Ether Band at Brooklyn Bowl

    Way back when on Friday February 5, Ether Band took their fans and the patrons of Brooklyn Bowl on an improvised auditory journey like no other. This experience is extremely unique as the audience is invited to aid in the style of music the band plays by choosing the key and genre before each performance. That means that every song or jam is very particular and a surprise for all in attendance. tmckenna_ether_bkbowl_14

    There was a very special guest present as famed trombonist Natalie Cressman joined the band for their improvisational expedition as the night ranged from “EDM in D” to “Nola Funk in F#,” “Williamsburg Chainsaw Massacre in F” and even some “Light Metal in D.” No matter what Ether Band played they exuded massive amounts of precision musicianship and talent; it’s as if they were reading each other’s minds during the performance. Every genre displayed someone’s chops in full swing and had the crowd moving non-stop.

    As a fan of live, improvisational music I realized that it is an absolute treat to witness an Ether Band performance; the audience CHOOSES what the band plays which ensures that no show is the same, the band is comprised of incredibly talented musicians that continuously find each other’s grooves, and lastly, there are amazing guest musicians that join in on the fun. If you’re able to see them live I implore you to do so, it’s certainly an adventure.

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  • Bell Serenades The Knitting Factory

    On Sunday February 28, Bell brought their tranquil sounds to an eager crowd at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. The southern-bred, NYC-crafted folk group is comprised of Caitlin Marie Bell (guitars/vocals), Gab Bowler (bass), Harper James (guitars) Jared Saltiel (drums) and Jason Sager (keyboards).

    It was a fitting night for their bright, soaring harmonies and placid soundscapes as Mother Nature had graced the borough with warm(ish) temperatures and plenty of sunshine earlier in the day.

    The band took the stage, made quick introductions and graciously thanked the crowd for their support. They opened with a cover of “Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me” which was performed with so much character and earnest, you’d think it was an original. Caitlin’s soft and honest vocals weave a serene story over the band’s crisp and considered notes. They’re able to tell a different tale with each song and have the audience feel as if they’re a part of it; “Isn’t That Life,” an original, is a great example of this.

    They performed an excellent rendition of Hozier’s “Work Song” showcasing their tact at turning music into serious emotion. My favorite song of the night was their amazing performance of “In the Pines.” I’ve heard this track covered before but not quite how Bell did it justice; their harmonies and endearing sentiment allowed me to perceive the pain and worry the song imbues in a way I hadn’t heard before. Once the track ended you could hear a pin drop; they have an uncanny ability to tug on heartstrings through sound.

    I’m excited to hear and see more from Bell as they certainly possess an abundance of talent. Be on the lookout for upcoming shows in the NYC metro area!

  • Aura Music and Arts Festival Stacks the Collabs at Suwannee

    Although festivals are scheduled all year round, if you’re from New York, you typically kick things off in May or June. But, if you’re willing to travel south to a magical place called the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, festival season starts early – this year with The Disco Biscuits and Thievery Corporation as headliners at Aura Music and Arts Festival.

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    Aura drew us in on March 3-5 with its incredibly stacked lineup, sunshine and rumors of perhaps something bigger to be discovered. Everything seemed to fall in place throughout the trip, from something as small as a free burrito bowl at Tijuana Flats to a chance encounter that would lead to a dozen new best friends. This festival’s namesake is vibrant, full of light and overwhelmingly positive.

    Like most festivals, the first day of Aura brings a heightened sense of excitement. Guests find the perfect spot to camp under draping live oaks, walk the more than 500 acres of festival grounds and plan their strategy for attending their favorite sets. The park feels like an enchanted forest out of a fairy tale and the guests as happy as royalty attending a special kind of ball.
    _MG_5301 We kicked off Thursday with a passionate set from Florida’s own Greenhouse Lounge at the Amphitheater Stage. The electronic trio gave it their all for their last performance as a band, while welcoming their former drummers Jason Hunnicut who now runs the 1904 Music Hall in Jacksonville and Scotty Zwang, now of Dopapod who came to Aura as an “artist at large” (AAL).

    Fusik of Jacksonville delivered an upbeat and funky set in the vibe tent, covering The Talking Heads’ “Born Under Punches” and preparing the crowd for ultimate cover band Pink Talking Fish. PTF is the perfect night-one band by seamlessly blending favorites from each beloved group._MG_4477

    The Werks were a major draw for us, having only seen them once before, but making appearances in our earbuds on the regular. Unfortunately, the only rain of the whole weekend decided to come down mid-way through a powerful “Duck Farm,” After only three songs, the Werks were forced to call it quits as fans ran for cover.

    By late morning on Friday, the Florida sun dried things out. Georgia natives Dank delivered a hard-rocking set, reminiscent of the progressive rock style of Umphrey’s McGee. Crazy Fingers provided the familiar and beloved sounds of the Grateful Dead, while welcoming guitarist Ben Sparco for the later half of the set, who was clearly still feeling the adrenaline from his own set earlier that afternoon.

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    Mike Dillon brings a wild stage presence during his bands set, preceding an incredible show from Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO). They are joined by Carly Meyers and Adam Gertner of ROAR for one of the best sets of the weekend just in time to release their new album Follow the Yarn.

    Particle delivered a stellar performance keeping the tempo of Escort’s “Cocaine Blues” throughout the majority of the set. At the same time, a special project called Nunchuck!, consisting of Mike Dillon, Craig Brodhead of Turkuaz and again Chuck Jones and Scotty Zwang of Dopapod, did something unique in the Vibe Tent. The “psychedelic punk rock” set was more quirky than it was tight leaving the crowd giggling, and blushing when Dillon “tea bagged” his own drum. (Yes, this happened.)

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    The New Deal and Thievery Corporation both had beautiful stage presence with lasers and lights for days. However it was Turkuaz that stole the show Friday night. The nine-piece funk outfit from Brooklyn, NY filled the Porch Stage with a powerful and truly fun set. Artists at large Jennifer Hartswick and trombone player Natalie Cressman of Trey Anastasio Band brought the brass to the party.

    On Saturday, Broccoli Samurai of Ohio welcomed artists at large Chuck Jones and Scotty Zwang of Dopapod adding to the delight of fans. The Heavy Pets brought us back to the 80’s covering Paul Simon, David Bowie, Thomas Dolby and R.E.M. Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman sat in as well.

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    Tom Hamilton’s American Babies welcomed Aaron Magner of the Disco Biscuits on the keys for a rendition of “The Wheel” into their own “Joelene” and back to “The Wheel.”

    Two-time Grammy-award winners Snarky Puppy was an experience in itself. The 13-member jazz/funk group is more of an orchestra than it is a band. Keeping with the guest appearances, they welcomed Dillon on percussion and again Hartswick and Cressman for an outstanding version of “Quartermaster.”

    The festival culminated with two sets of jamtronica giants The Disco Biscuits. Tom Hamilton helped them kick off the first set with “Scarlet Begonias” and “I Know You Rider.” “Pimp Blue Rikki” was a surprise to many leading into the ending of “Morph Dusseldorf.” Hartswick and Cressman joined tDB for “Funky Town” before taking a set break. The second set was geared towards the masses picking up again with “Morph Dusseldorf” and weaving in and out of Caterpillar with “A Fifth of Beethoven.” The laser light show was out of this world reflecting off the woodsy amphitheater.

    Throughout the weekend, both on stage and off, collaboration seemed to be a key theme. We ended our experience gathered around our own campfire we collectively built with a family who just days before were complete strangers. We came for the music, but we left so much, much more.

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