NYS Music 20​17

Category: The Midwest

  • moe.’s Rob Derhak Cancer Free

    Rob Derhak, bassist and vocalist from moe., announced on Facebook through both his personal page and the band’s page that he is officially cancer free. He was originally diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in July.

    It has been about two weeks since moe. announced their return with two shows at Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre on Feb. 2 and 3. On Wednesday, Derhak announced that, following a visit with his doctor, he was given a clean bill of health and declared cancer free. The cancer diagnosis in July had the band on an indefinite hiatus that began back in August.

    Derhak’s statement:

    Hi Friends,
    I have some good news to post today. After being scanned, poked, and prodded my Dr.’s have given me a green light. Did I kick cancers ass? No, it beat me up pretty good. But I just didn’t have the sense to go down, and eventually the cancer grew tired and hit the mat. So essentially, I rope-a-doped the dam thing. Although I’ll need to continue the Dr.’s visits for the next 5 years, they’ve given me a clean bill of health and declared me cancer free, with only a minimal chance that it will return. So thank you to everyone that was pulling for me, the support I received was instrumental in helping me get through this. I am truly looking forward to seeing everyone when I hit the stage again this February, with moe.
    Thanks from Your Pal,
    Rob

    In addition to the shows at the Capitol Theatre, moe. will return to host their Summer Camp Music Festival along with Umphrey’s McGee over Memorial Day weekend and they will be playing a show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on July 12.

  • Rock on the Range 2018 Lineup Announced

    Rangers, the lineup is here. The 12th annual Rock on the Range has announced all of the artist that will appear at the three day festival starting May 18-20, 2018 in Columbus, OH, at MAPFRE Stadium.

    Nearly 60 bands will perform over three days headled by Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, and Alice In Chains. Tool frontman, Maynard James Keenen will not only appear with Tool, his other band, A Perfect Circle, will also appear sometime during the festival.

    Daily lineups are yet to be announced but other artists scheduled to appear among the three stages the include Godsmack, Stone Sour, Breaking Benjamin,Three Days Grace, Stone Temple Pilots, Bullet For My Valentine, Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, I Prevail, Greta Van Fleet, Trivium, 10 Years, From Ashes To New, Like A Storm, Shaman’s Harvest, and Stitched Up Heart to name a few.

    In a recent Blabbermouth article, Avenged Sevenfold frontman, M. Shadows, commented on headlining ROTR. He stated:

    Rock On The Range is the undisputed champion of American rock festivals. The team over there has done an incredible job of curating a potent mix of all the types of rock ‘n roll that any fan could ask for. It’s an honor to play at the top of the bill, and we cannot wait to see everyone in May.

    Several ticket packages have already sold out, with several options to choose from still available, but  they won’t last for long as ROTR seems to sell out quicker each year. Weekend passes include Field VIP – $349 plus fees, Field General Admission – $299.50 plus fees, and Stadium General Admission – $149.50.

    Uber Ranger camping packages are available while supplies last along with bronze, silver, gold, and diamond hotel packages. For more information, visit the festival website here.

  • Special Message From Rob Derhak Regarding Summer Camp 2018

    Hot on the heels of moe.’s recently announced, and now sold out, shows at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester Feb. 2 and 3, moe. bassist/vocalist Rob Derhak and his son put together a video to announce the 2018 Summer Camp in Chillicothe, IL.

    Summer Camp, now in it’s 18th year, will be held Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27) at Three Sisters Park with its traditional hosts, moe. and Umphrey’s McGee, co-headlining the event. Additional acts are yet to be announced. The 2017 edition of Summer Camp featured Primus, the Trey Anastasio Band, Gov’t Mule, Run the Jewels and the Disco Biscuits.

    Three-day general admission and Thursday pre-party tickets go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time (1:00 p.m. in the east). Also available will be specially discounted Loyal Summer Camper passes. Details are available at the Summer Camp website.

    The announcement alleviated concerns that the festival may be in jeopardy due to Derhak’s cancer diagnosis in July of this year. Speaking to that, Derhak took to social media Thursday to discuss his progress. He expressed appreciation for the support given him and his family since his diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer and throughout his subsequent treatments that put moe. on indefinite hiatus. He particularly addressed the comments from fans and well-wishers claiming he had beaten cancer or is now cancer free. In his statement, Derhak said, “I’m still in recovery, and I’m doing well, but I’m also waiting to hear from my doctors on the state of my diagnosis. I’m cleared to play our upcoming shows, and my doctors feel confident, but I️ still do not know if my cancer has been fully cured.” Read the full statement below:

    https://www.facebook.com/rderhak/posts/10156071568422216

  • Hearing Aide: Mistar Anderson ‘Mistar Anderson’

    Mistar Anderson, a Columbus, Ohio based ensemble, have released their self-titled album, which is currently available for streaming and for purchase. The vinyl, though not yet obtainable, will be up for grabs within the coming weeks.

    mistar andersonThe group was founded in 2012 by Andre Walker (drummer) and Eric Rollin (vocalist). As a larger ensemble, the musicians within the group change from time to time. However, Walker and Rollin are the two members that have remained a constant over the years. Guitarist Ryan Sullivan, trombonist Elaine Mylius, and saxophonist Jon Weisbrot are featured within the current line-up, as well. Though Mistar Anderson started as a cover band, the group has expanded throughout the years and has begun to release their own songs, all of which hold a unique sound.

    The album Mistar Anderson contains a total of 10 tracks, each of the tunes varying in length. “Alley Talk,” the 5th tune on the album, starts with an interesting melodic marriage between Rollin’s vocals and a groovy line played on the the flute. Rollin’s deep, raspy voice is brought to a short stop as the tune transitions. His sound is then presented in a different light through rap verses. This track teeters from short bars and back to the experimental hook introduced in the beginning, making the song a unique listening experience. The track gets a bit repetitive over the span of four minutes, without many new elements introduced aside from the hip-hop flair.

    “Need Love,” the 3rd song on the album, contains a deeper tone quality, the rich sound driven by a strong bass line and lightened up by the funky twang of guitar. Rollin can be heard singing the hook and rapping the verses on this track, similar to “Alley Talk.”

    This group combines funky jazz sounds with hip-hop elements, creating a style that is uniquely their own, and it shines through on this album. They have experience with performing live shows, having performed over 100 as a group to date. The members seem comfortable on stage, interacting with the audience to a degree, front man Rollin animated as he moves around the stage whilst the band plays, as seen in a clip below. They are a different listen, and it seems that they are a unique group to see live, as well. If you’re on the look out for a new type of sound to incorporate into your music library, then give Mistar Anderson a listen.

    Key Tracks: Need Love, Pure Bliss, Para Mi Brotha B

  • In Their Own Words: Freekbass

    On a sunny Friday evening on August 18, funk icon’s Freekbass and The Bump Assembly rocked the main stage at Nights Of Fire Music Festival in Franklinville, NY. Before the big performance, NYS Music was honored to sit down with Chris “Freekbass” Sherman in Freekbass and The Bump Assembly’s tour van. As we began,  Freekbass wittily commented, “It’s appropriate that we’re doing this in the van, because this is where we live.”

    Born, raised, and currently based out of Cincinnati, OH, Freekbass has released six full length albums and has collaborated with modern legends including Bootsy Collins, DJ Spooky, Mike Gordon, Buckethead, Bernie Worrell, and many others. His touring band, Freekbass & The Bump Assembly includes Razor Sharp Johnson (Bootsy’s Rubberband/P-Funk) on keys and synths and Rico Lewis (George Clinton & P-Funk) on drums.

    Whether he’s rocking the cover of Bass Guitar Magazine, playing upward of 150 shows each year, or working on his new album with Ropeadope records, Freekbass is one of the hardest working musicians in the funk business. NYS Music is humbled to present you this edition of “In Their Own Words.” Here we have a collection of bite size nuggets of knowledge, quoted directly from Freekbass:

    On Life On The Road:

    Living in the van, we play about 150 dates a year. I enjoy the road life. I always say you sorta have to have that trucker gene in you to really enjoy it. In James Brown’s autobiography, he explains how they started in a station wagon, then they moved to a van, then to a bus, then a plane, and then a private jet. It doesn’t matter if you’re in that private jet or that station wagon, the road is still the road.  You have to enjoy yourself.

    I like meeting new people all the time. It’s always exciting because you gain energy from new people, and the energy is always different in different places. The audience becomes as much a part of the music and the band as we are. I used to thank the audience at the end of the show. I’d say, “thanks for letting us play for you,” nowadays, i’m always saying, “thank you for letting us play with you.” It feels like our audience has become as much a part of the music as we are. We can play a song for 20 minutes long or the same song for 5 minutes. It all has to do with what the vibe is that night. A lot of our performance has to do with what’s happening with the audience.

    In the last few years, music streaming, illegal downloading, and torrenting has taken over the industry. Five to ten years ago, you recorded a record and then you played live to promote the record. Nowadays, it feels like it’s almost the opposite. A band records a record to help bolster their live show. For instance, when they first began, Pretty Lights gave all of their music away for free. Some people said, “oh wow this is a pretty odd business model,” but, the idea was to get inside everyone’s ears. All of a sudden, they created this huge live buzz, it was all about going to see them live. We have a brand new business model. I think it’s great. Nowadays, you have to be a really good live act. The one thing you can’t replace is a good live show.

    On Cincinnati Ohio’s Funk Music Scene:

    The Cincinnati music family is pretty tight knit. In the music industry, there already is just six degrees of separation between everybody, but, the funk community is even smaller. That’s one thing that’s great about being in Cincinnati. The history goes back to the days of James Brown and King Records; that’s how many great funk players such as Bootsy Collins got their start. There’s always been a strong community of funk musicians in the midwest. When there is a plethora of musicians playing the same kind of music, it’s easier to connect then it might be in other parts of the country.

    On Pre-Performance Rituals:

    We always get together and meditate and pray before a show. It’s something we do no matter what. This is nice because sometimes-at festivals especially-performing can be freaking chaotic due to changeovers and all sorts of things. I feel like prayer grounds us. Right before we go on, no matter how chaotic the day is, even if we have to run behind the back of the van and do it, we always pray.

    Fun Facts:

    I’m looking forward to the new Justice League movie…I also listen to a lot of superhero podcasts. My favorite one is called Holy Batcast. There is also Batmannews.com, Suicide Squadcast, Batman On Film, ect. I’m a big podcast fan. I also listen to WTF with Marc Maron quite a bit. I enjoy putting my headphones in and listening on long road trips.

    Listen To The Entire Freekbass Live at Nights Of Fire Performance:

  • Dark Star Orchestra Expands on Fall Tour to Include East Coast Dates, Including 20th Anniversary Show in Albany

    Dark Star Orchestra rolled out more 2017 tour dates. The newly added East Coast performances include a handful of shows in New York, including DSO’s 20th anniversary celebration on November 11 at the Palace Theatre in Albany. The fall dates lead up to a Cosmic New Year’s Run which includes three nights at Philly’s Electric Factory from December 29 through New Year’s Eve. Details and tickets are available at DSO’s website.

    dark star 20th anniversaryDark Star Orchestra Remaining 2017 Dates:

    Sept.21 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theatre
    Sept. 22 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Austin
    Sept. 23 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Dallas
    Sept. 26 – Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
    Sept. 28 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
    Sept. 29 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
    Sept. 30 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
    Oct. 2 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
    Oct. 5 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Cleveland
    Oct. 6 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
    Oct. 7 – Columbus, OH – Express LIVE
    Oct. 10 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
    Oct. 12 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic
    Oct. 13 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre
    Oct. 14 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater

    Dark Star Orchestra Fall Tour – Part 2 (Newly Announced Dates):
    Nov. 10 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater
    Nov. 11 – Albany, NY – Palace Theater
    Nov. 12 – Peekskill, NY – Paramount Hudson Valley
    Nov. 14 – Northampton, MA – Calvin Theatre
    Nov. 16 – Portland, ME – State Theatre, Portland, Maine
    Nov. 17 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
    Nov. 18 – Worcester, MA – Worcester Palladium
    Nov. 19 – Ithaca, NY – State Theatre of Ithaca
    Nov. 21 – Concord, NH – Capitol Center for the Arts
    Nov. 22 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
    Nov. 24 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
    Nov. 25 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
    Nov. 29 – Richmond, VA – The National
    Nov. 30 – Richmond, VA – The National
    Dec. 1 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVA
    Dec. 2 – Washington D.C. – The Anthem ( ** Recreating Grateful Dead’s 6/14/91 R.F.K. show **)
    Dec. 28 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater
    Dec. 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory – with Dirty Dozen Brass Band
    Dec. 30 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory – with Keller Williams solo
    Dec. 31 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory – 3 sets of DSO

  • Mike Gordon Announces ‘OGOGO’ and Fall Tour with Stop in Syracuse

    Mike Gordon is putting the final touches on his newest studio album, OGOGO, set to be released in September. He will head out on a fall tour with the current lineup of his solo band. The 17 night tour kicks off on Sept. 22 in Athens, Georgia and includes a stop at Syracuse’s Westcott Theater.

    mike gordon ogogo tourPhish bassist, Mike Gordon, has been keeping busy with the new lineup of his solo band. His fifth studio album, OGOGO, will be released on Sept. 15. The first track, “Steps,” is available for streaming now and can be heard in the video below.

    Gordon will also take his current solo band out on a 17 night tour that kicks off on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, Georgia. The tour makes a stop on Friday, Sept. 29 at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse. The only other stop in the Northeast is at New Haven, Connecticut’s College Street Music Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The tour closes out with a two-night stand at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14. Gordon’s band includes Scott Murawski on guitar, Robert Walter on keyboards, John Kimock on drums, and Craig Myers on percussion.

    Tickets for the tour are available now via a real-time pre-sale, which ends Thursday, July 13 at 5 p.m ET. The general on sale date for the tour is this Friday, July 14 at 10 a.m. ET.

    Mike Gordon Fall 2017 Tour Dates
    Sept. 22 – Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA
    Sept. 23 – Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC
    Sept. 24 – Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
    Sept. 26 – The National, Richmond, VA
    Sept. 27 – College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT
    Sept. 29 – The Westcott Theater, Syracuse, NY
    Sept. 30 – Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON
    Oct. 1 – St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI
    Oct. 3 – Bells Eccentric Cafe, Kalamazoo, MI
    Oct. 4 – 20th Century Theater, Cincinnati, OH
    Oct. 5 – The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN
    Oct. 6 – The Metro, Chicago, IL
    Oct. 8 – Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
    Oct. 10 – Slow Down, Omaha, NE
    Oct. 11 – Madrid Theatre, Kansas City, MO
    Oct. 13-14 – Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO

  • Photo Recap: Summer Camp Music Festival 2017

    Summer Camp 2017 was another fantastic year in the Midwest festival’s history. Amid powerhouse sets from hosts Umphrey’s McGee and moe., and alongside memorable performances from Trey Anastasio Band, Pretty Lights Live, Gov’t Mule, Turkuaz, TAUK, The Disco Biscuits and dozens more artists from across the country.

    Tributes to Gregg Allman, who passed away on the third day of the festival, poured out almost immediately, with Eric Krasno Band, Flaccid and Gov’t Mule all covering “Whipping Post” within hours of his death. Trey Anastasio Band followed suit the next day by covering “Midnight Rider,” just a small sampling of the immense influence and praise Greg Allman earned from nearly 50 years of performing. Watch Gov’t Mule’s star-studded tribute:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVt8ni18N50

    Buffalo’s Aqueous played three sets over the weekend, each one drawing a larger crowd than the last as they finally moved from the Camping Stage to the Starshine Stage. The following Aqueous has developed over the past decade is a testament to the band’s work ethic and connection with fans as far back as performances at Nietzsche’s. They welcomed moe.’s Vinnie Amico and Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee to the stage for a cover of Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne,” putting an exclamation point on their breakout weekend.

    Lettuce alums Break Science and Eric Krasno Band stepped out on their own for well received performances, as did Brooklyn’s Turkuaz, who blew the crowd away at the Campfire Stage late Saturday night with a powerhouse set, putting them head and shoulders above others in the funk world. Wild Adriatic and Intrepid Travelers performed at the Camping Stage, a stepping stone for the many rising bands that Upstate New York produces. Both bands dropped spirited covers to the Camping audience, with Wild Adriatic covering Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and Intrepid Travelers paying homage to Prince with “Electric Avenue.”

    Of course moe. performed five sets throughout the weekend, with one set being rained out on Friday afternoon. Their late night performance in the Red Barn with Everyone Orchestra was full improv, and a treat for all ticket holders. moe. later brought up Turkuaz horns for “Ophelia” and “Happy Hour Hero” and bringing a jaw-dropping opener “Battle Without Honor Or Humanity” from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill and was part of moe.’s Halloween performance last year. Turkuaz later came out in full for “Life During Wartime” in a show that featured a giant “Meat” sandwich of the entire second set on Saturday. Sunday’s performance closed out with pure moe. start to finish, including a “Chromatic Nightmare” sandwich of the second set and “Opium” featuring Allie Kral of Yonder Mountain String Band on fiddle.

  • 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

  • Summer Camp Music Festival Returns for 17th Installment this weekend

    Music Festival season gets underway across the country in May, and Summer Camp Music Festival has made a mark for being a destination event in the Midwest. Umphrey’s McGee, moe., Trey Anastasio Band, Pretty Lights Live and dozens more can be seen this weekend, May 25-28 at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL. New York State artists Aqueous, Break Science, Eric Krasno Band, Escort, Turkuaz, Intrepid Travelers, Wild Adriatic, and of course moe., will perform at the four-day festival, now in its 17th year.

    Summer Camp has a lot going on, making it tough to see it all, but far from overwhelming like mega-concerts and nowhere near the dumpster fire that is/was Fyre Festival. Check out the full schedule here, or create your own on the Summer Camp app (highly recommended).

    Listen to your Counselors!

    You should listen to your counselors. Seriously, these are the pros who know Summer Camp inside and out. They’re the best resource for Scampers of all ages and experience levels. Read the handbook, which covers virtually every detail and question about the festival, and if you still have questions, join the Facebook group where you can find answers to virtually any question that may arise over the weekend.

    When it comes to camping, unless you’re in an RV, NYS Music recommends the field between Sunshine and Camping (Area D in the map above). Why? Because you are proximate to five stages—Sunshine, Starshine, Vibe Tent, Camping and Soulshine Tent (very underrated, even late at night)—and although there is no shade, you’ll love being able to catch a set of music while chilling between sets of music. The Woods are a solid option as well if you have a smaller set up, but fear not—the sprawling area in the woods is one of the coolest areas to walk through at any festival, night or day.

    And while you are at Summer Camp, Make a Difference! there are so many ways to leave Three Sisters Park better than how you found it; clean up trash, cigarette butts, bring a reusable water bottle, recycle your waste and check out the Soulshine Tent to find ways to bring some of that positive energy from Summer Camp back home with you.

    Then, of course, what do you do when you want to relive a little bit of Summer Camp from your youth? You participate in Field Day! Yes, Field Day is an annual tradition at Summer Camp, one that has a rightful place in the history of the festival. Started in 2011, the annual event takes the cake as the most unique and most fun non-musical component of Summer Camp. Sign up online, and the first 100 get a free team bandana on Friday from noon–1 p.m. at the Vibe Tent. Come back Saturday at 3 p.m. and participate in capture the flag, arm wrestling, spelling bee, banana eating contest and much more, with a Champions ceremony at noon Sunday. Field Day is open to all, the smack talk is free and it has become a growing event everyone should check out, whether as spectator or participant.

    The Field Day staff shared a little insight into why you should take part in Field Day:

    The number-one reason why people should sign up is because of the amount of awesome people you’ll meet doing so, especially myself Ashley Pardy. What keeps me coming back is all of the memories, and the Red Team wins. I mean would you leave a team that has won almost every year?” – Ashley Pardy

    “You will meet amazing people, laugh your ass off and drink free beer. Participating in one of the many cool activities at Summer Camp will make your festival experience unique beyond just seeing shows.”
    – Jessica Coughlin

    “Bragging rights.” –  Elizabeth Cox

    What memories of past years keep these wonderful staff keep coming back, year after year?

    I come back year after year because the people are so amazing. Favorite memory is Sheppy nearly getting arrested by some serious looking state troopers for defacing an American flag, while simultaneously being hoisted on our shoulders raising the red flag after yet another contested victory.”
    – Anthony Piccirilli (Shep talked his way out of it and the cop came to our keg party.)

    “Mud Tug-o-War, Drunken Spelling Bees, Sheppy drunken walks with the cup.” – Elizabeth Cox

    “Drunken Spelling Bees.” – Anthony Piccirilli

    And while sunrise kickball isn’t an official activity, it has been the unofficial opening ceremony of the games for six years now. This is one of the highlights of Summer Camp; at 5:30 a.m. come to the Sunshine Stage for a game of kickball with faithful fans led by Ryan Stasik. There will be trampolines, bacon at second base and no apparent rules; it is the most beautiful and absurd shit-show ever witnessed, and one worth staying up for!

    There you have it; NYS Music gives you the ins and outs of Summer Camp 2017. Make sure to follow us all weekend on Twitter and Instagram to live vicariously if you can’t make the trip to the Midwest.