NYS Music 20​17

Category: 87/90

  • Folkfaces Announce Extensive 2017 Summer Tour

    Buffalo’s Folkfaces are gearing up for 2017 and their biggest summer tour yet. The extensive tour focus primarily on New York, giving those in the state plenty of opportunities to check them out.

    Buffalo-based Americana quintet Folkfaces has had a busy 2017 and the year is only half over. They released their debut album How Long? back in April while also completing two spring tours. The band consists of Tyler Westcott (guitar, vocals), Dan Borodzik (slide guitar, vocals), Ellen Pieroni (saxophones), Patrick Jackson (upright bass) and Dan Schwach (drums, washboard).

    Folkfaces’ summer tour features over 30 dates throughout New York with stops in five other states and Toronto. The tour kicks off this Wednesday, June 21 at Al’s Wine & Whiskey in Syracuse and closes out at the Night Lights Music Festival in Sherman. The tour primarily brings the band throughout New York with a heavy focus on the western portion of the state for their hometown fans.

    In addition to their own shows, they’ll be sharing the stage with a handful of other bands. They play with Dustbowl Revival on June 28 at Babeville in Buffalo. They’ll join The Tenants on July 14 for a house show in Akron, Ohio on July 14. On July 22, they play the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs with The North and South Dakotas. The Fredtown Stompers and the Buffalo Brass Machine join them on Aug. 2 at the Tralf in Buffalo. As part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival, they play alongside Swimmer, Minor Racket, Dark Matter Trio and The Funk Theory Extravaganza on Aug. 4 at Nietzsche’s in Buffalo. Nietzsche’s sees them again on Aug. 23 along with Minor Moon and Pine Fever.

    Folkfaces is one of NYS Music’s 87/90 up and coming featured artists.

    Folkfaces Summer Tour Dates
    June 21 – Al’s Wine & Whiskey, Syracuse, NY
    June 23 – 42 North, East Aurora, NY
    June 28 – Babeville, Buffalo, NY *
    July 6 – The Waterhole, Saranac Lake, NY
    July 7 – The Monopole, Plattsburgh, NY
    July 8 – Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, VT
    July 9 – The Pizza Stone, Chester, VT
    July 12 – Temple Bar and Grille, Rochester, NY
    July 13 – The Crittenden Tavern, Coudersport, PA
    July 14 – House Show, Akron, OH **
    July 15 – Cobblestone Festival, Buffalo, NY
    July 16 – 10th Ave. Burrito Co., Belmar, NJ
    July 17 – Shrine World Music Venue, New York, NY
    July 17 – Silvana, New York, NY
    July 18 – Arlene’s Grocery, Brooklyn, NY
    July 19 – Salt Gastropub, Stanhope, NJ
    July 20 – Cabaret at Germano’s, Baltimore, MD
    July 21 – TBA
    July 22 – Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs, NY #
    July 28 – Fiddler’s Picnic, Marion, NY
    July 31 – Buffalo Infringement Festival, Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY
    Aug. 2 – The Tralf, Buffalo, NY ##
    Aug. 3 – Funk ‘n Waffles, Rochester, NY
    Aug. 4 – 189 Public House, East Aurora, NY
    Aug. 4 – Buffalo Infringement Festival, Nietzsche’s, Buffalo, NY ^
    Aug. 5 – The Riverboat Bar, Alexandria Bay, NY
    Aug. 6 – Junction City Music Hall, Toronto, ON
    Aug. 11 – Slyfest, Sherman, NY
    Aug. 20 – Nights of Fire Festival, Franklinville, NY
    Aug. 23 – Nietzsche’s, Buffalo, NY ^^
    Aug. 25 – Night Lights Music Festival, Sherman, NY

    * w/ Dustbowl Revival
    ** w/ The Tenants
    # w/ The North and South Dakotas
    ## w/ The Fredtown Stompers, Buffalo Brass Machine
    ^ w/ Swimmer, Minor Racket, Dark Matter Trio, The Funk Theory Extravaganza
    ^^ w/ Minor Moon, Pine Fever

  • Getting Weird at the 15th Strangecreek Campout

    Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend bookend the festival season, meaning many northeasterners start and end their summers at Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield, Mass., for the 15th Strangecreek and Wormtown Campouts.

    strangecreekLast week was the 15th annual Strangecreek, and the vibe was very focused around the family that had been built up over the years. Camp Kee-Wanee is the perfect spot to host this festival, with a picturesque green landscape that leads into the forest, which is cut in half by a stream running through the creek. The late night cabins make it as fun for ragers as all the kid friendly activities make it perfect for families.

    The four-day fete spanned May 26 to 29 and was a hit to everyone in attendance. Aside from the rain over the first two days, the festival went off without issue, and by the time the music was done late on Sunday night, everyone was left with ear-to-ear smiles.

    I wasn’t able to arrive until Friday evening, just as Consider the Source was soaring on the main stage. Prior to that, David Gans’ tribute to the Grateful Dead’s Ron “Pigpen” McKernan had fans singing the type of blues that only Pigpen could sing. Rebel Alliance and Relative Souls were prior.

    At 7:30 p.m., Shakedown took over the Vernville stage to play 90 minutes of the way they interpret the Grateful Dead. It was a very nice and relaxing way to segue back to the mainstage, where headliner Badfish brought the sunny spirit of Sublime to Strangecreek. It was a welcomed surprise to boogie down to one of my favorite bands from my teenage years.

    A few minutes before 11, I caught the tail end of Western Mass. group The Alchemystics and their genre melding blend of funk and hip hop.

    In the Keewanee Cabin, Tweed jammed, and jammed and jammed until the early morning hours, before Skeleton Keys brought a new spin on Grateful Dead music, using two pianos to interpret the legendary catalog. West End Blend and Bella’s Bartok were the late night acts at the Wormtown Cabin.

    After some late night campground shenanigans, I turned in to my tent and took a much needed rest. The cool mountain air, paired with a quiet camping area, made it easy to fall and stay asleep.

    The morning started with a delicious smoothie from the Solar Cafe and a bacon, egg and cheese from an independent vendor. By the time I got to the Vernville stage, Desert Rain was wrapping up, so I wandered to the Riverworm stage, nestled in the woods, to check out Rhythmic Circus, who were the perfect complement to the fair weather.

    A friend messaged me and told me not to miss The Broadcast, a three-piece group that played the main stage at 3 p.m. They brought a sort of straightforward approach to rock and roll, but mixed in some fiery soloing.

    Big Mean Sound Machine, The Fritz and Ryan Montbleau were up next, before a dinner break to get ready for the band I come to see every year: Max Creek.

    The four-piece band has been around since the late 1960s, and continues to innovate in the jam scene. Guitarist Scott Murawski has been playing a lot with Phish bassist Mike Gordon in recent years, and the duo’s partnership and style showed a lot during the show. Max Creek, years ago, sometimes felt like it was Murawski soloing over chord progressions, but this show featured a lot more in the ways of subtle rhythm shifts and deep grooves, which is similar to what he does with Gordon. And not to be forgotten is the Dead’s spirit, which is tattooed all over Max Creek’s live sets.

    Shakedown and Zach Deputy rocked the Wormtown late night cabin, and Keepers of the Vibe and the Z3 held down Kewanee.

    Sunday morning is what I’ve been looking to for a while. New York based group Cousin Earth was opening the Riverworm stage at 10:30 a.m. to bring their super unique, sometimes quirky and all-the-time fun and intricate music to Strangecreek for the first time. The five-piece band featured Joey Calfa on electric ukulele, Corey J. Feldman on a bass the size of a ukulele, Terry Brennan on vocals and percussion, Nate Searing on drums and Tara Lawton on vocals and melodica. They bring a Broadway vibe to rock and roll, and add in memories from your childhood, such as playing the Animaniacs theme song, or performing a video game medley. All in all, Cousin Earth was the most energizing set of the weekend, and I urge you to catch this band any chance you get.

    The Rev Tor Band and Hayley Jane and the Primates performed on the main stage, before Bella’s Bartok took another shot at the crowd. Bella’s Bartok is quite unique, with an indy rock feel and also a singalong sort of vibe. At one point, their singer sang a song while on an inflatable couch that the crowd was making surf.

    The Talking Dreads and Annie in the Water had the Vernville stage hopping, while Steal Your Peach brought the river to life.

    Eric Krasno of Soulive played a set with his solo band on the main stage right around the time people were learning that Gregg Allman had passed away.

    Zach Deputy, Pink Talking Fish and Pink Floyd tribute The Machine closed out the festival in grand fashion. Pink Talking Fish’s set consisted of all Phish material, adding another layer to the weekend.

    From September 15 to 17 at Kee-Wanee is Wormtown, which is put on by the same people. Melvin Seals and JGB and Max Creek are the headliners. You should really plan on attending if you want to experience one of the most amazing and laid back festivals in the country.

  • Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Brings The Funk To Alive at 5 Opener

    The city of Albany kicked off its annual Alive at 5 concert series in grand fashion with Saratoga’s Let’s Be Leonard and funk from Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe on June 8. Leonard and Denson got the crowd going right from the beginning and launched the summer series properly.Karl Denson's Tiny Universe funk

    Next week’s Alive at 5 has Victory Soul Orchestra along with Average White Band playing right at 5pm.

    Karl Denson's Tiny Universe funkKarl Denson's Tiny Universe funk

  • Woodhenge Music, Art and Sustainability Festival 2017 Announced

    Off the grid sustainable community, Woodhenge, has announced its first Woodhenge Music, Art, and Sustainability Festival, located in Adams Center near the Adirondacks, the community will host the festival on June 23-25, 2017.

    The three day event features a diverse mix of music genres including rock, jam, jazz, reggae, bluegrass, electronic, and funk, and features over 20 artist including Formula 5, Space Carnival, Root Shock, Intrepid Travelers, Lord Electro, Jiggawaltz and Drumadics.

    Fans will have the privilege to explore each morning the 60+ acres of nature and trails the area has to offer, along with yoga and workshops focused on how to live mortgage free, creating a sustainable lifestyle, optimal nutrition, and how to build with recycled materials. The event itself will be held in a field, between the village’s garden and orchard.

    In 1997, James and Krista Juczak, created the eco/self reliance village known as Woodhenge. The mortgage free community is set in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains along the outskirts of a large forest, complete with a stream and waterfall set between a pond and an orchard. The off the grid solar and wind powered sustainable community practices upcycling, using environmentally friendly materials along with alternative building techniques.

    The village grows and cans most of their own fruits, berries, nuts and vegetables in their community garden and raises their own ducks and honey bees for honey and eggs. The community also hosts several workshops throughout the year on building a tiny house, living off the grid, and renewable energy.

    Known as the “King of Scrounge,” Juczak took 5 years to build his 3000 square foot home, set on 50 acres, out of recycled material including beams salvaged from an old bowling alley, and a two-story concrete column made out of scrapped manholes. Windows, doors, sinks, tubs, and other items were bought cheap, or salvaged for free from renovated buildings. The mortar holding the walls is made from 80% paper sludge waste from a nearby mill. The other 20% is made of masonry cement. Juczak has also buried a 10,000 gallon fuel tank used as a guest home buried into the side of a hill.

    Woodhenge has also hosted other music festivals in the past including Summer Solstice Campout in 2016, and the Halloween Costume Fiesta.

    Fans who purchase full weekend passes to the festival online will save some cash. The online pass costs $50 for all three days, and $60 at the gate on Friday, June 23. Other passes range between $20-$40. Camping is available in the field, and in the forest close by.

  • Albany’s Alive at 5 Concert Series Begins June 8 with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Let’s Be Leonard

    Alive at 5 is heading into its 28th season, starting off on June 8 with performances by Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Let’s Be Leonard. The summer series takes place at Jennings Landing from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays (with the exception of July 4). A partial lineup for other dates has been announced, including performances by Average White Band, The Funky Meters, Marian Hill, and King Yellowman & the Sagittarius Band. Regional support for these headliners comes from Victory Soul Orchestra, Wurliday, and Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets.

    Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe  is a funk soul band from California. Frontman Denson also plays saxophone for The Rolling Stones, and just wrapped up a tour with them. Primed to release a new album this year, KDTU will be performing some of their new songs at Alive at 5.

    Saratoga’s jazz fusion phenoms Let’s Be Leonard will open the show. Renowned for their improvisational style, the band just released Live at Gug’s, a session recorded in Glenn’s Falls earlier this year. Read the NYS Music review.

    2017 Alive at 5 Dates (Full Schedule Will Be Announced Soon):

    June 8 – Karl Denison’s Tiny Universe / Let’s Be Leonard
    June 15 – Average White Band / Victory Soul Orchestra
    June 22 – TBA
    June 29 – TBA
    July 13 – The Funky Meters / Wurliday
    July 20 – TBA
    July 27 – Marian Hill / TBA
    August 3 – King Yellowman & the Sagittarius Band / Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets

    For more information and updates, visit www.albanyevents.org.

  • Intrepid Travelers Drop First Leg of Summer 2017 ‘Everyday is Your Birthday’ Tour Ahead of Summer Camp Festival

    With a name based around the ideology of fearlessly hitting the road and even other dimensions, Intrepid Travelers have set their sights on their latest voyage– the first leg of their Summer 2017 Everyday is Your Birthday tour. With a stacked, 20-date tour launch, the Buffalo-based quartet of Donny Frauenhofer (vocals/keyboards), Brian Calisto (vocals/guitar), David Naimanis (vocals/bass) and Jon Fohl (vocals/drums) will kick off at Summer Camp Festival in Illinois and bring the birthday celebration mentality through the midwest and back home to the Empire State.

    IT will tackle notable gigs in the very near future, with their first summer tour date doubling as a Sunday, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Camping Stage festival slot at this weekend’s Summer Camp. From there, the funky, psychedelic rockers will bring their explosive improvisation, stockpile of musical elements and interwoven catalog, to the second annual IT Fest in Alden, NY from June 9-10. Last year, fans were delighted with three IT sets–one of those being a full cover of MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular from front to back.

    After notching their very own second festival, the group will keep the celebrations going at Woodhenge Music Festival for a weekend of sustainability-centered workshops and solar powered music. Fellow NYS 87/90 bands sit on the bill such as headliners Formula 5, as well as Boogie Low and Space Carnival. The boys will head to familiar territory at Buffalo Iron Works on June 29 for an official, Everyday is Your Birthday EP release party, giving them one specific night to relish in praises of their latest accomplishments. Among their summer tour dates and the peppered festival stops throughout, Intrepid Travelers have tacked an electric and acoustic set at Rochester’s Three Head’s Brewing as well as a set at Cobblestone Live! Festival in Buffalo onto the end of leg one, giving an abundance of veteran and potential fans a chance to see their receptive musical relationship.

    Through eclectic musicianship, stellar improvisation and quick evolution through an evident jazz-funk fusion outer shell, nods to reggae, bluegrass, classical and electronic tendencies by Intrepid Travelers are sure to take you through a cerebral journey of your very own.

    Summer 2017 Everyday is Your Birthday Tour Dates:

    5/28 – Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp Music Festival
    6/9-10 – Alden, NY – IT Fest II
    6/24 – Adams, NY – Woodhenge Music Festival
    6/29 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works **EP Release Party**
    6/30 – Canton, OH – Royal Dock’s Brewery
    7/1 – New Philadelphia, OH – Bud and Tootie’s
    7/2 – Greenwood, IN – That Place
    7/3 – Louisville, KY – Magnolia Bar
    7/5 – Lawrence, KA – The Bottleneck
    7/6 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Dick’s Tap & Shake
    7/7 – Racine, WI – George’s Tavern
    7/8 – TBA
    7/9 – Madison, WI – The Wisco
    7/11 – Ann Arbor, MI – Club Above
    7/12 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
    7/13 – TBA
    7/14 – Youngstown, OH – Suzie’s Dogs Drafts
    7/15 – Rochester, NY – Three Heads Brewing ** Acoustic and Electric Set**
    7/16 – Buffalo, NY – Cobblestone Live! Festival

  • Hearing Aide: Let’s Be Leonard ‘Live at Gugs’

    After planting their musical seed in Saratoga Springs, Let’s Be Leonard sprouted rather quickly into a jam-jazz fusion powerhouse with all intentions of climbing the jam community ladder. Just a few short years after their formation and quitting their jobs, they’ve become a prized outfit in the Capital Region and beyond. Following the debut of their 2015 debut Cow., LBL put forth four live recordings on Bandcamp, this time, releasing the fifth, Live at Gugs in Glens Falls.

    The 5-piece, led by Karl Bertrand (vocals and rhythm guitar), Matt Griffin (guitar), Connor Dunn (saxophone), Chris Cronin (bass) and Paul Guay,
    (drums) took on their Thursday night gig at Gugs on March, 23.      The 14-track live recording displays the group’s organic and majestic improvisations, whether they’re taking it slow and steady with poppy lyrics and sing-a-long choruses or bringing back the blues with suave, seductive saxophone solos.

    The gathering at Gugs was treated to a debut opener of “Spit it Out,” a fresh track with buttery-smooth jazz from start to finish and soft vocals to match. “Kindergarten Blues” follows as a well-known LBL track off of Cow. If you’re a previous fan, you’ve probably heard the blues-referenced track, as well as “Frisbee,” the third execution of the night, on radio stations like WEQX. The back-to-back hits ended with attention honed in on Dunne’s tickling of the saxophone, a busted drum pedal and verbal rant by Mike Rios. “Jump Ship” comes next with a switch-up in musical approach. Vocals take precedence in this easily accepted track with a story to tell, while the band acts as support on this Bertrand-led venture.

    In relation to their debut album, Bertrand described them as “generated by feelings you have at the best time in your life: childhood.” It’s safe to say that the material played at Gugs drew from that same care-free mentality. Other highlights of the night include a blues-heavy “Young Sprite,” which bears a slight, yet pleasant sounding comparison to the Dead’s “Sugaree” at moments, as well as unmistakable insight to the groups comfort with one another and stage banter, regardless of the time span they’ve officially been Let’s Be Leonard. If all that wasn’t enough to be wrapped around their fingers, the sensationally executed guitar solos mark a personal favorite milestone in the set.

    A surprise “Brad Paisley” cover ended the night with unconventional onstage vocal motif between the guys, extremely comparable to Phish’s “David Bowie.” All members repeatedly sing and spew out the country star’s name over and over in a mimicked care-free manner as the jam icons. The light-hearted song acted as an engaging way to close out a set that was so obviously and mutually enjoyed by band members and the crowd alike.

    While Saratoga Springs is no stranger to celebrity strolls down in its perfect weekend-visit city with SPAC just round the corner, it’s hard for residents not to get excited when Brad Paisley is spotted in a local coffee shop. In town for his summer show at SPAC, a local mentioned the group’s own “Brad Paisley.” I wonder if he ever found his way to track of his namesake.

    Bertrand and company recently snagged a headlining spot for Glenn’s Falls 2nd annual GEM Festival held on July 29 and sits among local artists on the newly announced trio of Sunday afternoon concerts on SPAC’s gazebo stage. From their youngest hours as a group, they’ve gained fast and hard earned notoriety. With signing on as one of the founding bands on NYS Music 87/90, it’s safe to say things will keep moving with the same onward energy and hunger to get their next gig booked and festival played.

    Key tracks: Spit it Out, Young Sprite, Brad Paisley

    Live at Gug’s Set list:

    Spit It Out,  Kindergarten Blues,  Frisbee, Jump Ship, “Salvation”, Balloons, Most Days > How Do You Fall In Love?, Open Your Eyes,  Channel 2, Young Sprite, Comet > High n Dry, Birdsong > Rocky Road, Sad Town
    E: Brad Paisley

  • Packed Lineup Highlights Strangecreek’s 15th Year

    There are few things in life that are certain, and the Strangecreek Campout festival has become one of those things.

    This weekend at Camp Kee-Wa-Nee in Greenfield, Mass., the Wormtown Trading Company will celebrate the 15th iteration of the beloved Western Massachusetts festival, headlined every year by Connecticut mainstay Max Creek.

    Festival founder Mark Blanchette sees this year as being one of the stronger lineups he’s put together.

    “We’re getting a lot of great feedback on this year’s lineup and it looks like it will be a very festive gathering indeed,” says Blanchette. “It looks like we’re going to celebrate 15 years of StrangeCreek with a whole lot of friends this year.”

    Other headliners include Badfish: A Tribute To Sublime and The Eric Krasno Band, who will join returning mainstays Max Creek, Ryan Montbleau and Zach Deputy, as well as The Machine, Pink Talking Fish and more than 70 other bands on multiple stages over three days and three nights, along with food and craft vendors, family activities, a community bonfire, and roaming musicians.

    If you have a weekend pass in hand, you can arrive on Thursday and pay only $30 for early entry. If you purchase tickets before Friday, it will cost you $145, but be prepared to spend $160 if you buy at the gate. And honestly, there isn’t a better deal in the Northeast festival circuit than Strangecreek.

    Gates formally open Friday at 9 a.m., and guests need to be packed and on their way home by noon on Monday. In between, it’s fun, sun, jams and, literally, magic. New to family camping this year is the addition of a magician, who will add to the wonder of a highly celebrated weekend. There will also be guided stargazing.

    Another new and anticipated feature is the Holistic Village, a place where revelers can go “nurture body, mind and soul in natural, healthful ways.” Jeff Bujak will be hosting a silent show, where fans will listen to him perform through headphones. Think Silent Disco style.

    Camp Kee-Wanee is an inclusive summer day camp with an emphasis on the arts. Wormtown’s music festivals provide a key source of funding for the camp’s summer programming; the camp has been home to Wormtown’s StrangeCreek Campout and their fall show, Wormtown Music Festival, since 2003

    In addition to Max Creek, Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime and The Eric Krasno Band will be making their debut appearances. Ryan Montbleau and Zach Deputy are back on the bill along with hybrid cover band Pink Talking Fish and The Machine.

    New York progressive wizards Consider the Source will be thumping the main stage, along with the Werks, David Gans, who is celebrating the life of Grateful Dead keyboardist and crooner Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and area favorites Hayley Jane and the Primates.

    Western Massachusetts grown The Alchemystics, Dead cover band ShakeDown, Albany area favorites Gang of Thieves, The Z3, Beau Sasser Trio and Skeleton Keys are other notable bands on the bill with ties to the state of New York.

    Llama Lasagne, a rotating collective of Pioneer Valley musicians who concoct thematic concerts featuring a mix of musicians from local bands are putting on a special “theme” set for the third straight year.

  • NYS Music Launches 87/90

    Every band was a local band once. Today, we launch NYS Music 87/90, reflecting the highways artists travel upon to reach markets across The Empire State. 87/90 brings together 8 New York State born and raised bands that have strong potential to make it big. We will bring news and coverage of these bands to you on a regular basis, highlighting what we see as the next wave of bands to come out of New York State. These are just the first wave of bands that we will be bringing to your attention – there are plenty more artists in every corner of the state from all genres. As we discover them, we’ll bring them to you and beyond.

    nys music 87/90The 8 artists we launch with include: Space Carnival, Cousin Earth, Formula 5, Folkfaces, Boogie Low, Intrepid Travelers, Let’s Be Leonard and Gowanus. These artists were selected for potential, work ethic and appeal to a wider audience. They include jam bands, bluegrass/folk, psychedelic rock, electronic and a mix of everything. We will expand in the future with bands that we see strong potential in – this is a select group we launch with and we will keep it reserved only for bands that pass muster.

    The bands we are reaching out to as founding artists are bands that we have highlighted on our pages in recent years, see a strong future in and have shown that they are committed to making a name for themselves well outside of New York State. This is not an open invite – the initial roster includes only bands that are on the rise and have developed a following through their music.

    Every band was once local.

  • We’re hEAR For You, NYS Music, HEAROS and Nimbleslick Entertainment Join Forces for Hearing Protection Campaign

    An often overlooked aspect of seeing live music is hearing protection – we want to hear it loud and don’t want to let anything come between us and hearing our favorite band’s unfettered sound. And rightly so! Live music fans are ardent supporters of bands and artists and want to see them every chance they can! But your ears aren’t invincible and can be harmed if you listen to music too loud for too long a time.

    NYS Music is proud to announce a partnership with We’re hEAR For You, HEAROS Ear Plugs and Nimbleslick Entertainment to bring ear protection direct to fans across the country. The campaign kicks off with 10 artists: Cousin Earth, Earphorik, Mister F, Electric Love Machine, McLovins, Eminence Ensemble, Gowanus, Greener Grounds, Let’s Be Leonard and Space Carnival who will have HEAROS earplugs available for free at their shows at the merch table in a bin with the campaign’s logo on it.

    hearing protectionOur goal is to have earplugs available to fans at all shows across the country, promoting hearing protection and bringing to light an overlooked issue in the enjoyment of live music, ensuring years of future listeners. This is just the start of a campaign that will grow and expand over the next few months and years.

    In the near future, artists will be featured in a video detailing reasons why wearing ear protection at concerts is important to them and should be a priority for their fans.

    Hearing protection is something that should concern all live music fans – if you can’t hear properly, you can’t enjoy music to its fullest! Check out We’re hEAR For You, a 501(c)(3) charity and support their efforts to bring earplugs to shows nationwide! If you want to support this campaign through a donation, visit this link and help get earplugs in the hands (and ears) of live music fans across the country!