NYS Music 20​18

Category: Festival News

  • Original Woodstock co-creator closer to an Official Anniversary Announcement

    Days after the announcement of the Bethel Woods joint venture with Live Nation and INVNT to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock, original Woodstock co-creator Michael Lang quickly reminded fans that the “real” anniversary show will be announced soon.

    Labeled as the Music and Arts Festival celebrating the golden anniversary of Woodstock, the Bethel Woods event takes place Aug. 16-19 on the original grounds where Woodstock was born in 1969. Having the backing of Live Nation for the Bethel event could be a huge advantage when trying to secure big name artist to appear at the event.

    Producer and co-founder Michael Lang stated in an recent email that he “is producing the official anniversary, but not at Bethel Woods.” He also stated through his publicist that “While the original site in Bethel remains close to our hearts, it no longer has the capacity to hold a real Woodstock Festival. I’m delighted that Bethel Woods is doing events in the coming year to celebrate what we brought to life in 1969, and I encourage people to visit the museum and concert venue.”

    Lang also stated that in the next few weeks, he will announce “plans for the real Woodstock 50th Festival to bring back the much needed spirit and energy of the 1969 original.”

    With the date for Bethel Woods confirmed, speculation that the Lang anniversary festival will compete with  the Bethel event, which is slated close to the original weekend the festival took place in August 1969. Placing Lang’s show close, or the same weekend as the Bethel event could be troublesome for both events. Fans don’t want either show to be a watered version of the original, and are looking for both events to exceed their expectations.

    Live Nation may restrict artists performing on their show, from appearing at Lang’s, especially if the dates are close together. There could also be performance clauses restricting artist from appearing in the same 100 mile radius within 90 days of each show. Guitar legend Carlos Santana, who appeared at the original Woodstock festival has stated that he will be part of the Bethel event and also expressed interest in playing Lang’s.

    Fans can stay updated about Lang’s Woodstock festival at the official Woodstock site. 

  • Bethel set to commemorate 50th anniversary of original Woodstock Festival

    Bethel Woods Center for the Arts has announced plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival Aug. 16-18.

    Woodstock Festival

    Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will be the home of the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival Aug. 16-18. The Sullivan County venue is the site of the original festival produced by Michael Lang in 1969 which drew an estimated 400,000 people to the secluded Catskills town.

    Music acts have not been announced, but the weekend is being billed as a pan-generational event that will feature live music from prominent and up and coming talents and TED-style talks from leading futurists and technology experts.

    In December of 2017, Bethel Woods was awarded nearly $700,000 through the New York State Regional Economic Development Council to be used towards a 50th anniversary celebration.

    As the stewards of this historic site, we remain committed to preserving this rich history and spirit, and to educating and inspiring new generations to contribute positively to the world through music, culture, and community.

    – Darlene Fedun, CEO, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

    Michael Lang, who produced the original Woodstock as well as the ensuing anniversary concerts in 1994 in Saugerties and 1999 in Rome, has hinted at plans to put together his own commemoration of the historic festival though no details have yet emerged. He will not be involved with the Bethel event, which is being presented by Live Nation Concerts and INVNT, a branding and live storytelling agency.

  • Monster Energy Outbreak Tour Announces first tour of 2019 featuring A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie

    The Monster Energy Outbreak Tour is coming out of the gates strong in 2019. The prestigious touring brand just named multi-talented rapper, singer and songwriter, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, as the headliner for their upcoming winter and spring tour. The tour kicks off February 20 in Austin, TX and will make stops in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and other major cities across the U.S.

    Monster Energy Outbreak

    Bronx native Artist Dubose, aka A Boogie, rose to stardom when his major label debut, The Bigger Artist, reached #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart and cracked the top 5 of the Billboard Top 200. Named by The New York Times as “the most promising young rapper the city has produced in some time,” and nominated by BET for 2018’s Best New Artist award, A Boogie is poised to prove that his accolades are well-deserved in 2019.

    Amidst all the acclaim, A Boogie remains humble. Describing his excitement to connect with fans, A Boogie stated, “Partnering up with The Monster Energy Outbreak Tour marks a milestone moment in my career. I can’t wait to create memories with the fans that will live with them for a lifetime.”

    Tickets for the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour will go on sale on Friday, December 7th at 10am local at www.outbreakpresents.com and www.aboogiehbtl.com, with pre-sale schedule as follows:

    TOUR DATES:
    2/20/19 AUSTIN,TX – EMO’S
    2/21/19 DALLAS, TX – HOUSE OF BLUES
    2/23/19 HOUSTON, TX – HOUSE OF BLUES
    2/25/19 TAMPA, FL – THE RITZ
    2/26/19 ATLANTA, GA – TABERNACLE
    2/28/19 CHARLOTTE, NC – THE FILLMORE
    3/1/19 RALEIGH, NC – THE RITZ
    3/4/19 BALTIMORE, MD – SOUND STAGE
    3/5/19 SILVER SPRING, MD – THE FILLMORE
    3/7/19 NEW YORK, NY – TERMINAL 5
    3/10/19 BOSTON, MA – HOUSE OF BLUES
    3/12/19 TORONTO, ON – REBEL
    3/13/19 CLEVELAND, OH – HOUSE OF BLUES
    3/15/19 GRAND RAPIDS, MI – INTERSECTION
    3/16/19 DETROIT, MI – THE FILLMORE
    3/19/19 INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DELUXE
    3/22/19 CHICAGO, IL – HOUSE OF BLUES
    3/23/19 MINNEAPOLIS, MN – VARSITY THEATER
    3/26/19 DENVER, CO – SUMMIT
    3/28/19 LAS VEGAS, NV – HOUSE OF BLUES
    3/29/19 PHOENIX, AZ – THE VAN BUREN
    3/30/19 SAN DIEGO, CA – HOUSE OF BLUES
    4/1/19 ANAHEIM, CA – HOUSE OF BLUES
    4/2/19 LOS ANGELES, CA – THE BELASCO THEATRE
    4/4/19 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – THE FILLMORE
    4/5/19 SACRAMENTO, CA – ACE OF SPADES
    4/8/19 VANCOUVER, BC – COMMODORE BALLROOM

  • 2019 Newport Folk Fest Sells Out, Begins Lineup Announcements

    2019 Newport Folk Festival tickets went on sale last Thursday and completely sold out all three days within a matter of hours. This news is not particularly surprising as the festival has been selling out with increasing quickness over the past few years. But it is no less incredible, particularly since not a single artist had been announced. You can read our review of last year’s festival to get a sense of why it is a special event that garners such fervor among it’s fans new and old, old and young.

    If you missed the on sale, don’t fret, there’s still a chance. In one of many moves the organizers have employed to fight the ever present threat of scalpers, the festival set up its own fan-to-fan resale site, hosted by Lyte. Sign up for a spot in line and hope for the best. It might seem like a long shot, but it has proven to be a very successful system in the past, so sit tight. And definitely be wary of any other resellers. Since tickets haven’t even been issued yet they are most definitely not real.

    Newport is a festival of surprises, and in a pleasant surprise, soon after the sell out they revealed the festival’s finale set. Entitled “If I Had a Song,” the set will celebrate what would have been festival co-founder Pete Seeger’s 100th birthday with a singalong.

    This set will surround hate, and force it to surrender. In what would have been our co-founder’s 100th year, we could think of no better way to celebrate Pete’s spirit in a time where we need each other now more than ever, than to do so with a celebratory sing-along. We’re stronger when we sing together, so we intend to do just that for this year’s festival finale.

    The festival also announced that on behalf of every artist playing this year, the Newport Festivals Foundation will make a donation to a music education charity of the artist’s choice. In honor of this set, the festival will be making a donation to Beacon Advocates for Music in Seeger’s hometown of Beacon, NY.

    Dear Folk,

    This is an important day for the festival and the foundation because we are sharing our vision for 2019 and beyond with you, our folk family.

    Sixty years ago, our event defined the modern day festival paradigm, which is so prevalent today. Yet we feel that our own understanding of what it means to be a festival needs to be reexamined. Are we empowering artists? Are we supporting the next generation of musicians? Are we inspiring our fans? In short, can we be doing more?

    While we’ve laid the groundwork as a non-profit in recent years, it has become clear that the increasing burden to sustain music education in America is falling squarely on communities like ours.

    Therefore, we are making a commitment to partner with every artist playing Newport Folk this summer on donating to a music education cause of their choosing. That’s right, EVERY ARTIST.

    Yes, it’s going to be a challenge, but together we’re confident we can make a difference, because that’s what families do for each other.

    Grateful,

    Jay Sweet, Executive Producer

    Usually the lineup would start trickling out starting in January or February, but the festival just announced the second artist for the 2019 lineup. Gregory Alan Isakov, the indie-folk musician from Colorado will return to the Fort after his last appearance in 2014. He is slated for an appearance on Saturday, July 27 and in his honor the Foundation will be making a donation to the Columbine High School guitar class.

    Stay tuned for more lineup announcements!

  • Sonic Temple Begins Where Rock on the Range Left Off

    Sonic Temple, the new art and music festival that has replaced one of rock, and metal’s biggest annual festivals in Rock on the Range in 2019, has announced the weekend lineup for their inaugural event May 17-19, 2019 in Columbus, OH.

    Since it’s debut in 2007, Rock on the Range’s fan base grew bigger with each passing year, along with the star studded headliners and supporting bands that helped make the festival feel special and unique every year. Sonic Temple continues that trend.

    Foo Fighters, Disturbed, and System of a Down are the scheduled headliners for each night of the festival.

    Also included in the three day lineup are Bring Me the Horizon, The Prodigy, Ghost, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Chevelle, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Cult, In This Moment, Gojira, Meshuggah, Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, Black Label Society, Beartooth, Avatar, Pussy Riot, Bad Wolves, Fever 333, Badflower, the Glorious Sons, Issues, Yungblud, H09909, the Black Dahlia Murder, Don Broco, Wage War, Hands Like Houses, While She Sleeps, Palaye Royale and several more.

    Andrew Dice Clay, Henry Rollins, and Pauly Shore will headline the Sirius/XM Comedy and Spoken Word Tent.

    Rock on the Range co-founder, Danny Wimmer, and his promotion/production company Danny Wimmer Presents, have now turned their attention to Sonic Temple. Wimmer stated:

    I am so proud of what we accomplished with Rock on the Range, and with the debut of Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, we’re excited to bring our devoted rock fans and the city of Columbus a one-of-a-kind, world-class event that expands on the festival experience. The idea behind Sonic Temple is walking into something bigger than yourself, where YOU belong, or where you were always meant to be. The crowd is unparalleled, and the energy is electrifying, like going to a place of worship. We want this festival to be a temple of rock n’ roll. We want this to be the ultimate rock experience for the true fans who love the genre as much as we do.

    Tickets go on sale to the general public Nov. 30. Packages include Weekend VIP: $379.50 plus fees, Pillar Premium VIP Package: $1,949.50 plus fees (accommodations for 2), Weekend Field General Admission: $199.50 plus fees, Weekend Stadium General Admission: $99.50 plus fees, and RV Camping: $250.

    Sonic Temple Online: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

  • Definite plans underway for Woodstock 2019

    There will be a Woodstock festival in 2019, fifty years after the iconic 1969 affair. Michael Lang, promoter of the festival for the past five decades, spoke with the Poughkeepsie Journal on Friday, November 16, confirming that plans are shaping up. While the date, lineup, and other details are not ready to be revealed, Lang told the Poughkeepsie Journal that the 50th anniversary will come full circle to the original themes of sustainability, activism, and social justice.

    We’re hoping to inspire people to speak up and get involved and get out and vote and help us save the planet. We are in trouble and it seems like we’ve been brought back in time in a lot of ways. It’s eerie how similar a lot of things are to the way it was in the late ‘60s. Lessons we thought we learned seem to be coming back, unlearned. The progress we learned in social justice seems to be going backwards.

    – Michael Lang, Woodstock Music and Arts Festival Promoter

    During a Q&A at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame ceremony earlier this month, Lang was asked, “Plans for 50?” He responded, “Coming. I can’t yet, but coming. Definitely coming.”

    Last December, New York State’s Regional Economic Development Council awarded the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts — a performing arts center located on the grounds of the original Woodstock — $689,063 for a three-day festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

  • WinterWonderGrass comes to Vermont in December

    WinterWonderGrass arrives this weekend at Stratton Mountain Resort from December 14-16 in Stratton Vermont. Locals introduced to this traditionally Colorado music festival can expect craft beers, tasty treats, outdoor winter fun, and the intimate family atmosphere that WWG is famous for fostering. At the popular mountain resort located just a short drive from both Boston and New York City, concert attendees can enjoy a perfect winter backdrop for WWG’s inaugural New England appearance.

    Here’s this weekend’s schedule including ‘Grass after Dark’ shows held nightly.

    WinterWonderGrass vermont Single day tickets are currently $59 for Friday and Sunday, while Saturday tickets are $79.  The best priced ticket package is the three-day ticket ($149). On top of three days for WWG musical offerings, three-day tickets include three hours of beer, cider, tea and Switchel samplings each day.

    After each day’s main headliner, fans are welcome to attend special performances at the Soapbox featuring Pickin on the Dead on Friday, Rumpke Mountain Boys on Saturday, and the Jon Stickley Trio to wrap up on Sunday. Committed to community engagement, WWG is also hosting free afternoon meetings for WWG artists and local musicians interaction. Bring your own instrument, refreshments will be provided.

    Be on the lookout for more bluegrass events at the festival, more is still to come for the evening.  WWG is preparing to announce ‘Grass after Dark’ late night shows on Nov. 13. The late shows will bring guests to more intimate peaks and settle the concert into a more casual vibe. Connecting artists with the local community, these events bring you up close and personal with bluegrass icons as they improvise musical conversations with ease.

    WinterWonderGrass is a low-impact event with music throughout the day. Get to know the lay of the land, what beers will be available for sampling (daily from 2-5p), what food trucks will be on hand, where the Kids Zone is and more.

    If you still need lodging options, WinterWonderGrass has partnered up with a few local options to ensure maximum comfort during your visit. Shuttles will run from select properties in Manchester as well.

    In 2018 alone, WinterWonderGrass diverted more than 23,000 lbs of waste from landfills due to their composting, recycling and food donation program. WWG has long been a partner with Waste-Free Earth out of Burlington. Get to know their company and how big of an impact they’ve made on our festival community.

    Check out the dining options around the resort outside of the festival grounds and for more info, check out WWG’s additional FAQs with anything and everything you need to know to have the best possible WWG experience. From what to wear, what not to bring, what’s allowed and so on. See you in Stratton!

  • Winter WonderGrass Music Festival set to Make Northeast Debut in Vermont this December

    The WinterWonderGrass Music Festival has been an exciting treasure of Colorado and California for several years. Being an all-ages, community-centric event, with a variety of craft beer, cider, and local foods, it has earned the love and admiration of many who have attended. Not to mention that it features world-class bluegrass and roots artists who add musical entertainment to the mix. However, what was once thought to be an event almost entirely composed of local residents, WWG has made its first steps to expand its amazing winter lifestyle celebration to the east coast. After an impressive seven years in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and five years at Squaw Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, Stratton, Vermont will be the first Northeast destination to experience this thrilling combination of high-quality artists and authentic partners/vendors from December 14-16.

    Founder of WinterWonderGrass, Scotty Stoughton wished to make his vision of community, family, philanthropy and leadership into a fantastic display of music, craft beer, and cuisine appreciation. When asked about what WWG truly stands for and the motivation to create such an immensely popular communal event, he responded:

    The inspiration behind WinterWonderGrass is to recreate the magic of ending your snow day at the base of the hill surrounded by family and friends, reminiscing about the days turns, while sipping a beer and listening to acoustic music. I learned to ski at Bromley, and those moments and memories are never far from my spirit. Living in the West, I have observed the expansion of ski towns and mountains, and I have a deep desire to recapture the true essence of the sport and communities that were built around mountain adventure!

    Out of the 20+ bands performing on four stages over the course of three days, Railroad Earth and The Infamous Stringdusters have already been announced to kick off the extravagant grassroots festival. The layout of the event itself is conveniently designed to accommodate all attendees, music lover or otherwise.

    The outdoor main stage is flanked by three heated beer halls, where side stage acts deliver inspired performances, often joined by guest musicians. The audience then has a variety of delightful options to move from the main stage, to the toasty beer halls, to the coffee bar, kids zone and to on-site sponsor activities. This journey of winter music and spectrum of drinks is shaping by the day to include more attractive performers and contributors to make it an event you do not want to miss.

    For further information on General Admission, VIP, and Ski Pass details, check out the WinterWonderGrass Music Festival website here and be set for the Northeast and Vermont’s very own December debut of this iconic celebration.

  • A Music-Lover’s Guide to Rochester Fringe Festival 2018 Opening Weekend

    The seventh year of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival is underway. Now the largest multi-genre festival in New York State, the 2018 Rochester Fringe Festival offers more than 500 performances and exhibits across dozens of venues. Offerings include theater, comedy, art exhibits, multidisciplinary shows, and live music. Here’s the NYS Music Guide to what music-lovers can look forward to this opening weekend.

    https://youtu.be/f2WL6Gy329o

    The main attraction this weekend is the outdoor spectacle on Friday and Saturday, featuring the US debut of Massaoke. The UK sensation is sweeping the festival circuit world-wide, playing everyone’s favorite sing-along hits. Catch the act at Parcel 5 on Main Street. Massaoke starts at 8:30pm each night, but live music starts at 5pm. Opening on Friday night are The Crooked North (Americana), La Muralla (salsa), and Vanishing Sun (funk/soul). Saturday night features Chris Eves and The New Normal (rock), EightFingers (country/blues), and Cold Fronts (garage rock from Philadelphia). Parcel 5 events are free and open to the public.

    For the night owls, the party continues long into the night at the Immersive Igloo 3D sound experience at Spiegelgarden at 9:30 and 10:30 and the Silent Disco in the Spiegeltent. These two events are ticketed, and sell out quickly. Check ticket availability: Immersive Igloo and Silent Disco.

    Silent Disco photo by John Schlia

    Looking for something a little more laid-back? Settle in and enjoy some refreshments at local coffee shops and enjoy some free live music.

    Java’s Cafe on Gibbs Street hosts eclectic rock/folk band Paxtor at 7 p.m. on Friday. Then on Saturday, they feature acoustic trio The Genesee Three on Saturday at 5 and the eclectic musical stylings of Leah and the Upheaval at 7 p.m.

    Around the corner the Little Theatre Cafe has plenty to offer music-lovers, starting with local cover bands B2 and Sad Bastards on Friday night. A full bill on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. includes RIT Surround (a capella barbershop), Proof of Purchase A Capella, The Annual Bill Destler and Rebecca Johnson Show (folk), Norm and The Outliers (jazz), Desert Rhythms (belly dancing), and Howie Lester (international/folk). And the fun continues with interactive shows on Sunday with Music and Visuals with Motion Capture at 1:30 and Virtual Karaoke at 5:30.

    Eastman School of Music will be hopping this weekend. Friday night features two performances by the University of Rochester’s Institute for Popular Music: a performance of The Yes Album at 7 p.m. and Led Zeppelin IV at 9 p.m. Dave Rivello’s ensemble performs Saturday Night. And Sunday brings the return of the popular Gospel Sunday at 2 p.m. Gospel Sunday is free, but the room fills to capacity quickly, so arrive early. Tickets are on sale for the other shows at Eastman School of Music’s Killbourn Hall.

    U of R Institute for Popular Music

    Fans of contemporary dance troupes will want to check out the schedules for PUSH Physical Theatre and Garth Fagan. And if you’re in the mood for a musical, there’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch at 7 p.m. all this weekend or next Thursday and Friday at Lyric Theatre (click here for tickets).

    If you’re already looking ahead to next week’s events, you may want to consider heading out on Wednesday night to catch a rare live performance of Instrumental, the soundtrack to the comic of the same name. Author and composer Dave Chisholm released the set last year, and this will be the first time it will be performed with the comic pages projected as the backdrop. More information and tickets are available here.

    This is just a taste of what this weekend has to offer in Rochester. A comprehensive list of events can be found at the Rochester Fringe website rochesterfringe.com.

    Several events are already selling out. If you plan to attend a show, purchase tickets in advance. 
    Online: rochesterfringe.com
    Phone: (585) 957-9837 (additional fees apply)
    Box Office: One Fringe Place (corner of Main & Gibbs Streets)
    In Person: Venue door one hour before start of show (subject to availability)

  • Adirondack Independence Music Festival Closes Out Summer in Lake George

    Just in time to close out the summer, Adirondack Independence Music Festival snuck in a final taste of carefree living and beaming sunshine with a two-day jam in Lake George. Tucked away in upstate New York, the cozy site with two alternating stages backdropped the Labor Day Weekend everybody needed with familiar faces and top-notch talent across the early September lineup.

    Ready to launch festival goers into two straight days of live music, The Melting Nomads took the stage as the opening act. Featuring members from Annie In the Water’s last lineup, the fresh-on-the-scene artists played about an hour set. Next up was Jen Durkin & the Business on the Improv Stage. Steal your Peach band entertained in classic fashion with covers of The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers over two sets. Keller Williams brought a real blue grass, jazz vibe to the entire grounds while Twiddle’s Mihali brought out his guitar to jam alongside Keller. Following Keller Williams was the renowned Sublime cover band Badfish. Twiddle closed out the night for the second year in a row, with an outstanding performance that had everyone on their feet. The band brought out special guests such as Joshua West of The Melting Nomads and Lowell Wurster. Attendance was nearly double of what the festival brought in the year prior, reaching nearly 3,5000 attendees.

    Ready to follow the kinetic atmosphere of day one with high energy, Let’s Be Leonard jump started Sunday funday and got the crowd moving in the early afternoon. Their laid back personalities and welcoming sound are the first to reel you in but their individual talents bring an extra flair to their live performance as a whole. The quintet played a few tunes from their sophomore release, Static, among the zany crowd favorite, “Brad Paisley.”

    Back to School Special followed punctually on the adjoining stage of the 25-acre Charles R. Wood Park. The first-time super group crafted by Turkuaz drummer Mikey Carubba, laid down the funk as they offered up impressively tight playing and fun splashes of covers throughout the hour set. With a highly skilled lineup consisting of Carubba, Beau Sasser (Kung Fu keys), Craig Brodhead (Turkuaz guitarist) and Sam Kininger (former Lettuce Sax), the experienced quartet instantly blended together to create quality tunes and a professional sound you’d think they’ve been crafting for years.The first double set at AIM Fest was taken on by Lucid, who draws a familiar and devoted crowd from Plattsburgh NY.

    Bringing Woods Rock to the forefront of the ADK stage, the North country musicians tapped into an eclectic selection of genres including harmonica solos throughout their two-hour gig. Previously introduced to Lucid or brand new to their sound, their catalogue and live performance is equipped with something for everyone. Right in the middle of a Lucid sandwich, Swift Technique came as a fresh pop of flavor delivering Philly funk with charisma, booming voices and a horns section demanding to be heard. Stellar crowd engagement from all band members and light-hearted messages to take care of one other truly reaffirmed what the upstate festival setting was all about. The entertaining outfit ended their set with Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” and passed the mic back to Lucid for their final set, which found a performance of “Backwoods,” featuring Lowell Wurster’s father and Scott Hannay (Mister F, Wild Adriatic).

    Stepping on stage as if they were walking in the front door of their childhood homes, Pink Talking Fish comfortably let loose and connected with the vibrance of their musical predecessors. Momentum kept rolling through a seemingly sped up version of Phish’s “Cities,” giving phans who missed out on Curveball a reason to groove and shake about. A dive into Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” surely found bodies swaying in unison, with the song’s lyrics acting as a reminder to cherish the final moments of festival season. The Allman Brother’s Band “Whipping Post” made a surprise set-list appearance, acting as a bookend to a drum heavy “What’s the Use?” with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong drummer Alex Petropulos dropping by for a tasty breakdown.

    Lespecial hit the stage at dusk, taking the setting sun as an opportunity to bring the hard hitting funk metal and entrancing beats. The multi-talented trio has a way of mesmerizing festival goers with their gritty, unique sound. They loop their live performances and indulge in genres from electronica and house to progressive rock and dark metal. Known for their musical parallels and tendency to cover Primus, Lespecial took on “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver” to begin closing out their set in style with drummer Rory Dolan nailing the Les Claypool vocals.If there was any comfortable space around you, it was instantly absorbed by the time 8 o’clock rolled around. Bodies quickly assembled and flocked towards the front of the stage as Saturday night headliners Pigeons Playing Ping Pong closed out the fest with high spirits and optimal animation. With two sets of straight funk, the unstoppable touring machines pulled out all the stops, including a “Funk E. Zekiel” opener, a number of hits from their latest album, Pizazz, and two sit-ins from the Swift Technique horns on “F.U.N.K.” and Pink Talking Fish keyboardist Richard James on “Cliffs”> “Once In A Lifetime”> “Cliffs.” Always at the top of their craft with wacky facial expressions, in sync jamming and polished dance moves, the quartet have perfected their stage presence. With a tune self explanatory of the entire weekend, PPPP appropriately shut down AIM Fest with fan-favorite, “Fun in Funk.”

    Mirroring a similar feel that the tight-knit Disc Jam community gives off and what has been missing since Catskill Chill shut down, AIM Fest continues to emerge on the scene at the right place and time. It’s fourth year in operation proved to be the best yet and a fitting, colorful sunset to a noteworthy summer of live music.