NYS Music 20​18

Category: Festival News

  • The NYS Music Guide to the 2018 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival

    During the seemingly unending winter, Rochesterians yearn for a glimpse of the warming sun. As soon as the summer hits however, a large number of them start ducking in and out of dark halls, churches theaters and clubs, now yearning for a glimpse of some of the greatest musical talent the world over. From June 22 through 30, 2018 Rochester Jazz Fest will once again become one of the hottest destinations for live jazz, and music in general. The 17th edition of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest is bringing 1500 artists from 20 countries to play over 300 shows in 20 different venues. 214 club pass shows, 97 free shows and 5 headliner shows all happening over a 9-day stretch inside 1 square mile. That’s a lot of numbers to crunch, and you just want to see some music. Thankfully we’re here to do the math, calculating the perfect slate for any music lover. Whatever you’re pleasure, there’s a number that fits. Check out our picks below, and don’t forget to also read our tips for the best way to enjoy your time at the fest.

    1 Voice

    These are the singers we’ll have our eyes on:

    https://youtu.be/JJYzPOYHOao

    Songs of Freedom
    Drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. originally put together this show for a special gig at Lincoln Center. It features not just one, but three amazing voices singing songs from not just one but three iconic singers. The show explores the 1960s through through the music of Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell and Abbey Lincoln and will feature the singers Theo Bleckmann, Alicia Olatuja and Joanna Majoko.

    June 27, Kilbourn Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $35 or Club Pass

    Zara McFarlane
    An award-winning singer from the UK with roots in the Caribbean, McFarlane’s sound adds reggae and soul to a jazz base, but it doesn’t stop there in breaking down new barriers in music. She’s in the thick of a new and young British jazz renaissance and is joined on her latest release by XRIJF alums Moses Boyd, Binker Goldings and Shabaka Hutchings. This won’t be your typical jazz vocal set.

    June 25, Christ Church, 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    The Suffers
    We could easily throw this Houston band into the next category because they’ll certainly get you moving with their big band Gulf Coast soul music, but it all comes back to Kam Franklin and her big time pipes. They’ve wowed at many a festival all around the world, but now it’s Rochester’s turn.

    June 28, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Also check out:

    Liz Vice
    June 27, Montage Music Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Deva Mahal
    June 30, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    2 Feet

    In the mood to dance? Here are some artists that will get your body moving:

    St. Germain
    An innovator of house music, St. Germain is the stage name of Frenchman Ludovic Navarre. He combines jazz, blues and African music with electronic music. Even if you’ve never heard of him, you’ve likely heard him, his songs like “Alabama Blues” and “Rose Rouge” were widespread hits. Even his music that is now decades old sounds fresh and new today.

    June 29, City of Rochester East Ave and Chestnut St Stage, 9:00 p.m.; Free

    Tower of Power
    Going further back, Tower of Power have been blasting their tunes for 50 years and are celebrating as such all year. As appropriate a name in a band as you will find, this horn-based funk and R&B band is truly a towering power, with charting hits like “You’re Still a Young Man”, “So Very Hard to Go”, “What Is Hip?”, and “Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)”.

    June 30, City of Rochester East Ave and Chestnut St Stage, 9:00 p.m.; Free

    Moon Hooch
    Moon Hooch resides somewhere in between St. Germain and Tower of Power, the up-and-coming three piece combines bombastic saxophones with eclectic drumming to arrive in an electronic music space via a more organic path. It’s unique and will make your mind spin, but it’ll also get your feet moving.

    June 24, Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
    June 25, Montage Music Hall    , 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Also check out:

    Ghost-Note with Mononeon
    June 27, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
    June 28, Squeezers Stage at Anthology, 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Mwenso and the Shakes
    June 23, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    6 Strings

    Here are some musicians that will be lighting fires with axes:

    Scott Sharrard
    You may have caught Sharrard a couple of years ago as a part of the late Greg Allman’s band when he headlined at the Eastman Theatre. Sharrard was a long-time member and musical director of Allman’s band, but he also has a long solo career of his own. Now he’s fronting his Brickyard Band, playing raw and vital blues rock. They’ll be bringing material from their forthcoming album, Saving Grace.

    June 22, City of Rochester East Ave and Chestnut St Stage, 9:00 p.m.; Free
    June 23, City of Rochester Jazz St Stage, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; Free

    Stephane Wrembel
    The mantra of the festival might be “It’s not who you know, it’s who you don’t know,” though after 17 years it’s tough not to have return visits. Wrembel is coming back for the 5th time, and has been a fan favorite every year. He returns almost yearly for non-festival shows and even recorded a live album in town at the Lovin’ Cup a few years ago. We probably don’t need to tell you, but you won’t want to miss his set this year either.

    June 29, Max of Eastman Place, 6:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Ron Artis II and the Truth
    If you’re looking for a fresh-faced axe slinger to blow you away, look no further than Ron Artis. This Hawaiian band oozes soul and backs it with exhilarating instrumentation. They’ll bring material from their recently released debut album, Soul Street, and will leave town with a whole bunch of new fans.

    June 22, Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
    June 23, Montage Music Hall    , 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Also check out:

    Jack Broadbent
    June 23, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
    June 24, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Torben Waldorff
    June 27, Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    50 Stars, 13 Stripes

    That’s the flag we’re referencing there, and these are acts steeped in Americana:

    Pokey Lafarge
    Another returnee, Pokey Lafarge is coming back to the festival after six years away. In our review of his Lilac Festival set a few years back, we noted “his music does pull from many early music influences like Western swing, ragtime, old-time country and jazz, it manages to rise above a simple throwback.”

    June 29, City of Rochester Stage at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 9:00 p.m.; Free

    Alison Krauss
    Grammy-winning bluegrass, folk and country singer Alison Krauss comes to the festival behind  her critically-acclaimed new album Windy City, her first without Union Station in a decade. Her smooth-as-silk voice will be even more front and center than usual and the show will be as captivating as you’ve come to expect.

    June 27, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 8:00 p.m.;$115/$105/$85/$70 or Club Pass

    Dustbowl Revival
    One of our favorite finds from last year’s fest, Dustbowl Revival, “a string band with a horn section, used each of its eight pieces to their advantage, moving from swing to ska to folk to blues to funk to rock and everything in between.” Anyone who caught them last year will certainly be on their way to see them again.

    June 24, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Also check out:

    Junior Brown
    June 26, Squeezers Stage at Anthology, 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    VickiKristinaBarcelona Sings the Music of Tom Waits
    June 26, Montage Music Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    88 Keys

    As always there’s plenty of piano talent to go around, these are the ones we’re most excited to check out:

    The Bad Plus
    Genre-bending trio The Bad Plus premiered material from a forthcoming album featuring singer Wendy Lewis at the festival in 2008. It was quite the surprise at the time. Ten years later they finally return, and again have a lineup change. Pianist Ethan Iverson left the band at the end of last year, and was replaced by Orrin Evans. The band promptly released a new album, Never Stop II, and we’ll get a peek at some of that material and a lot more.

    June 23, Temple Building, 7:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Pilc Moutin Hoenig
    Heavily improvised and inventive, this trio out of New York featuring Jean-Michel Pilc, Francoise Moutin and Ari Hoenig. Each brings their individual instrumental prowess together to form something wholly unique. For the full experience, you can also catch Pilc perform solo piano at the Hatch Hall on the next night (at 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.).

    June 28, Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Gogo Penguin
    They played their first ever North American gig in Rochester when they nearly topped our list of the 10 best sets of the 2015 festival. They’ve expanded their reach and have been winning fans the world over. “The music is thoroughly melodic, not veering into traditional solos, and taking cues from both classical and pop music for a unique sound that isn’t immediately identifiable as jazz.” Our most anticipated returning artist is a toss-up between Gogo Penguin and The Bad Plus. We wouldn’t miss either!

    June 28, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Also check out:

    Django Bates Beloved
    June 23, Christ Church, 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez
    June 22, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    ∞ Possibilities

    The skies the limit with these artists who push the boundaries of music:

    House of Waters
    It’s your one chance to see the hammered dulcimer at the festival, so thankfully it’s a player, Max ZT who NPR calls the “Jimi Hendrix of hammered dulcimer.” Forget everything you know about the instrument as ZT has all but reinvented the sound. With jazz bassist Moto Fukushima and South American drummer Ignacius Rivas Bixio, House of Waters creates a musical blend unlike any you’ve ever heard.

    June 26, Max of Eastman Place, 6:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Matt Wilson’s Honey and Salt Band
    Wilson’s latest project, the Honey and Salt Band, plays music inspired by, and including the words of the poetry of Carl Sandburg. It is off-beat and quirky, funny and fun and will have you smiling ear to ear for the duration of their set. You kind of just need to go see it.

    June 30, Kilbourn Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $35 or Club Pass

    Beats and Pieces Big Band
    A big band for the next generation, bandleader Ben Cottrell conducts this 14-piece outfit out of Manchester, England. Their music is equal parts rocking, jazzy and ethereal. The band’s lineup hasn’t changed much in ten years making for a supremely tight group that has incredible agility for a band of this size. Expect the unexpected.

    June 24, Christ Church, 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Also check out:

    Trail of Souls
    June 25, Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Shake Stew
    June 27, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass

    Be sure and check out the full schedule and download the app at rochesterjazz.com to construct your own nightly schedule.

  • Big Mean Sound Machine Announces Summer Tour

    Central New York funky big band, Big Mean Sound Machine announced summer tour dates through June and July throughout New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts. The stretch of shows leads up to the fourth annual Big Mean BBQ festival in August.

    big mean summer

    The festival is set to take place in Trumansburg, just outside Ithaca. Curated by Big Mean the festival has extended to a two-day weekend, featuring over 22 bands and two headlining performances by the band themselves.

    Weekend camping and RV passes are on sale now, to purchase passes head to the festival’s website. It l kicks off on Saturday Aug. 24 and features bands Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad, Driftwood, the Blind Owl Band, Marco Benevento and Kat Wright. For the full list of participating acts and ticket information, visit the festival website.

  • Curveball Announces the First Annual Runaway Jim Memorial 5K Road Race

    Phish fans can start stretching now. Dubbed the 102nd Running of the the First Annual Runaway Jim 5K Memorial Road Race, it will take place at the Watkins Glen International Raceway on the Saturday of Phish’s Curveball Festival.

    Runaway Jim Memorial 5K

    Pre-registration is open now at this link and is free to any ticket holder. The race begins at 11:11 am trophies will be awarded to the fastest men and women in the race and medals will be awarded to the top finishers in certain age groups. The race is free to all ticket holders attending the festival.

    Curveball is the eleventh festival to be curated by the band. This is the third festival at the Watkins Glen International Raceway. Phish will be performing a series of unique performances throughout the three-day fest.

    Curveball starts Aug. 17 and goes through Aug. 19. Tickets are on sale now.

  • Taste of Syracuse 2018 Kicks Off Friday

    The Salt City’s annual rite of summer, Taste of Syracuse, kicks off Friday June 1 and runs through June 2, 2018. The annual free festival pairs the region’s foods and music in Downtown’s Clinton Square. This year’s headliner is ’90s alt-pop icons, Smash Mouth.

    The fest’s claim to fame is the $1 food samples from the various eateries set up in the square. You can find the full dollar menu here.

    Other than the food, Taste of Syracuse also provides a great free look at the wealth of musical talent from Syracuse and surrounding areas. With three stages, there is no shortage of music to be found. Things get going at noon Friday with Just Joe on the Clinton Square Stage, Peg Newell and Robyn Stockdale on the Erie Boulevard Stage and Max Scialdone on the Main Stage.

    https://youtu.be/1X0BB-61s6Q

    Music continues throughout the day with soul being the theme on the Clinton Square Stage. Tanksley performs at 6:30 p.m. followed by Israel Hagen’s Stroke at 7:45 p.m. Prime Time closes out the night at 9:30 p.m.

    The Erie Boulevard Stage gets funky Friday night with a double shot of Root Shock and Sophistafunk. The two Syracuse bands recently paired for a mini-tour together called the Salt City Shakedown that also included Syracuse’s Skunk City. Root Shock won the 2017 SAMMY award for Best New Artist and also captured the NYS Music March Madness title that year.  Country Swagg and Hard Promises close out the Main Stage Friday night.

    Saturday gets started at noon with Lori Ann singing the oldies on the Clinton Square stage. Syracuse’s master of the slide guitar, Colin Aberdeen will get funky on the Erie Boulevard Stage at the same time.

    Colin Aberdeen performing at the Dinosaur BBQ in April 2017

    The Main Stage on Saturday will feature Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at at 1:30, followed by the folk rock stylings of Poor Tim, featuring Shawn “Big Sexy” Smith, a former contestant on NBC’s The Voice and Justin Smithson, who has performed at Carnegie Hall.

    Chris Eves and the New Normal follow Poor Tim. The New Normal’s single “Green and Blue” was recently included on Relix magazine’s June Digital Sampler. You can listen on Spotify below:

    Country act, Grit and Grace and the latest “Vinyl Albums Live” set, “The ’90s Mix Tape” follow. Closing out the main stage and the festival is ’90s pop group, Smash Mouth.

    Other acts performing on Saturday include Grateful Dead tribute act Dark Hollow, hip hop from Joe Driscoll and the Brownskin Band, Americana from the Old Main, and funk from Skunk City on the Erie Boulevard Stage.

    The Clinton Street stage features the soulful alt-rock of the Black River, Tim Herron and Great Blue, Soul Risin’ and the Barndogs DELUXE.

    Attendance to the two-day festival is free. For the complete schedule, see below.

  • Formula 5 Gets its Own Ben & Jerry’s Shake, Hosting Rock the Dock Fest in Lake George

    Albany-area jamband, Formula 5 has lent its name to a new shake in Capital District Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops. The band is also set to host its Rock the Dock Music Festival in Lake George on July 13.

    formula 5 shake

    The Formula 5 Flavor Shake combines the iconic Cherry Garcia, Totally Baked and Phish Food ice creams with mini M&Ms and milk. It is available throughout the summer at scoop shops in Saratoga Springs, Albany and Lake George. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the shakes will benefit the FUND for Lake George and Friends of Five Rivers.

    Albany scoop shop co-owner Mike Sperduto said of the shake

    “Bringing Ben & Jerry’s and Formula 5 together to mix up a shake just made sense. From The Grateful Dead and Phish to Willie Nelson, we keep our eyes on the smile, music and ice cream, so taking this to a local level made sense, and especially with the commitment of a band who embraces our values really solidified it for us.”

    Watch the Formula 5 commercial advertising the new shake below:

    The band is also set to host its second annual Rock the Dock Festival on the dock of the Lake George Steamboat Company in Lake George on July 13. In addition to the host band, other artists performing at Rock the Dock include, Soule Monde (Featuring Ray Paczkowski & Russ Lawton of Trey Anastasio Band), Strange Machines and Let’s Be Leonard.

    Luke Dow, event manager for Rock the Dock, shared background on bringing the event to the docks on Lake George:

    “Rock the Dock was started as a way to celebrate the Lake George Steamboat Company’s 200th anniversary by doing something that the company has never done in its history, hold a concert on the pier. The free concert was a way of giving back to all the loyal patrons as well as showcase the talents of local artists and food trucks. This year’s festival will also be focused on giving back, with 25% of all ticket proceeds benefiting the FUND for Lake George, to help with their efforts to keep the lake clean and pristine for years to come.”

    Tickets for this year’s festival are $7 and available at the Rock the Dock website.

    Formula 5 recently covered the Rush classic, “La Villa Strangiato” at the Hollow Bar and Kitchen in Albany. This performance marks the first time the band has covered Rush in a live setting.

  • Night Lights Music Festival 2018 Full Lineup Announced

    This year’s Night Lights Music Festival will feature music on three stages on the weekend of August 23-26, 2018. For the eighth year in a row, The Heron in the town of Sherman will be transformed into a spectacle of lights and sounds. The lineup includes the music of Lotus, Motet, Aqueous and more. Several tribute sets are also scheduled: Wild Adriatic (Led Zeppelin), Space Junk (Disco Biscuits) and Psychedelic Jukebox (paying homage to the history of psychedelic rock).

    Among the other acts are Wild Adriatic, Intrepid Travelers, Root Shock, lespecial, Folkfaces, and Danielle Ponder & the Tomorrow People. In addition to music, festival-goers will be able to enjoy camping, yoga, hiking, swimming and other outdoor activities. Local food and beverages and arts & crafts vendors will be on site. Early bird tickets are on sale now through the festival website. 

    The complete lineup includes: Lotus, The Motet, Aqueous, Octave Cat featuring Jesse Miller (Lotus), Eli Winderman (Dopapod), Charlie Patierno,  Anomalie, Tropidelic, Bumpin Uglies, lespecial, Pappy (of Cabinet), Wild Adriatic (Led Zeppelin Tribute), Upstate Rubdown, Boss Tweed and the Carpetbaggers, Gatos Blancos, Funktional Flow, Danielle Ponder & the Tomorrow People, Dynohunter,  Root Shock, Space Junk (Disco Biscuits Tribute), Holy Hand Grenade, Lazlo Hollyfeld, Intrepid Travelers, Folkfaces, Cold Lazarus, Psychedelic Jukebox, Cypher, Kaleidoscope Sky, The Good Neighbors, Able Footing, and Neon Veins.

  • Blues Music Awards Honor Chenango Blues Festival Performers

    The Blues Foundation held its 39th Blues Music Awards on Thursday, May 10, in Memphis, Tennessee. Several award winners have appeared recently in Central New York, most notably at the Chenango Blues Festival. Victor Wainwright took home the prestigious Pinetop Perkins Best Instrumentalist – Piano Award, and Jason Ricci was named Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica. Both Wainwright and Ricci delivered jaw-dropping, show-stopping performances at the 2017 Chenango Blues Festival, reviewed by NYS Music’s Mike Kohli here.

    Jason Ricci

    Other winners that have appeared at Chenango through the years include Curtis Salgado, Soul Blues Male Artist; Southern Avenue, Best Emerging Artist Album; Ronnie Earl, Best Instrumentalist – Guitar; Samantha Fish, Contemporary Blues Female Artist; Mike Ledbetter, who won with Mike Welch for Traditional Blues Album for Right Place, Right Time on Delta Groove Records; Mike Zito, Rock Blues Artist; Rick Estrin, who won Band of the Year, Traditional Blues Male Artist, and Song of the Year, for “The Blues Ain’t Going Nowhere;” and the late, great Luther Allison, Best Historical Album for Luther Allison – A Legend Never Dies, Essential Recordings 1976-1997 (Ruf Records).

    Other BMA nominees that have appeared at Chenango include Paul deLay, Guy Davis, Shemekia Copeland, Janiva Magness, Mitch Woods, Chris Cain, John Nemeth, Upstate New York’s own Tas Cru,  (whose latest release, Memphis Song, was recorded at SubCat Studios in Syracuse), Anson Funderburgh, Savoy Brown, Vanessa Collier, Sugaray Rayford, Anthony Geraci, and the North Mississippi All Stars. 2018 Festival performers Toronzo Cannon, The Cash Box Kings, and Elvin Bishop were also nominated.

    Emerging Artist nominees Larkin Poe, quickly gaining followers and national attention, will headline opening night of the NYS Blues Festival in Syracuse on June 28.

    Some of this year’s Blues Music Award winners can be seen throughout New York State this summer. Here is a partial list:

    Mike Zito is at The Tralf in Buffalo on May 17.

    Keb Mo plays at the Tarrytown Theater on May 25.

    Jason Ricci can be seen in Ellicottville on June 2, and in Lima, NY on June 3.

    Samantha Fish can be seen June 2 in Rochester at Flour City Station, June 7 at Daryl’s House in Pawling (already sold out), June 12 at Funk ‘n Waffles, Syracuse, and will return to Chenango on August 18. A NYS Music review of her appearance at the Westcott Theater on February 9, 2018, can be viewed here.

    Robert Cray stops in Vestal on June 13, and in Geneva on June 15.

    Victor Wainwright will perform at Funk ‘n Waffles Syracuse with an early 6:00 p.m. show on July 6.

    Beth Hart is on the bill with Kenny Wayne Shepherd at Albany’s Palace Theater, July 27.

    Trombone Shorty visits Bethel, NY on August 11, and Lewiston, NY on August 14.

    Rick Estrin & the Nightcats are scheduled to appear at Wakely’s on Varick, in Utica, NY on August 11.

  • Field Day at Summer Camp Music Festival Returns for 8th Annual Games

    Summer Camp is almost upon us and that means it’s time to sign up for Field Day! Every year as Summer Camp becomes a must-attend for festivarians, the Field Day games keep getting bigger and better, and now enters its 8th year!

    On Saturday afternoon of Summer Camp, right in the middle of all the music, favorites like dodgeball, capture the flag and tug-o-war are played between the Purple, Blue (current champions) Yellow, and (total cheaters) Red teams. Having competed over the years, Field Day is a great way to add in extra fun to your weekend while making new friends and having a ton of laughs. Check out photos from the last 7 years of Field Day.

    Event times on Saturday, May 26th have been announced, so plan for an afternoon on the field between the Vibe Tent and Starshine Stage – perfect for all to enjoy music all afternoon while battling it out for glory. Sign up and bring your friends along for Field Day – score a free bandana and enjoy a free pizza and a keg from Lagunitas on Sunday for the winning team. Register for Field Day here – registration is free!

    field day summer camp games

  • Disc Jam Music Fest 2018 Announces Daily Schedules

    Disc Jam organizers released the daily lineups for this year’s festival, being held June 7-10 in Stephentown, NY. Daily headliners include Aqueous and Moon Hooch (Thursday), The Motet and Galactic (Friday), Beats Antique and Lotus (Saturday) and Tom Marshall’s Amfibian All-Stars (Sunday). Late night acts include Gubbulidis and solo sets from Ryan Dempsey and Brook Jordan, all of Twiddle (Thursday), DJ Logic & Friends and Barber Acoustic (Friday), and Electron and Tom Hamilton & Holly Bowling (Saturday).

    Tickets for the festival are available now. Attendees can purchase full weekend passes or daily passes. Information on ticketing can be found at the Disc Jam website.

    Artists at Large

    Once again, Disc Jam will have some of the biggest names in the jam scene performing throughout the festival, collaborating with artists and bands each day. Artists at Large for Disc Jam 2018 include Eli Winderman and Rob Compa (Dopapod), Michelangelo Carruba, Shira Elias, Craig Brodhead, Chris Brouwers, Greg Sanderson, Josh Schwartz (Turkuaz), DJ Logic, and Honeycomb. Experience the collective nature of the Disc Jam community as these incredible musicians join more than 100 artists this June 7-10 in Stephentown, NY.

    Woods Stage Artists

    This year, Disc Jam has four of the hottest promoters in the Northeast taking over the Woods Stage for themed electronic dance music takeovers. Thursday night will be produced by Rezinate, well known for promoting some of the sought after underground parties and events in Boston. Friday’s duties go to Minus Zero Festival co-producers, NV Concepts, who will be presenting an entire night from the top house music artists off the Dirtybird Records Label, including Christian Martin, Kill Frenzy, Golf Clap and Ardalan. On Saturday, Brooklyn-based Sermon will host a night of bass music with U.K. producer Joker topping their list of wompy artists. The Wook of Wall Street will be hosting nightly curated Silent Disco Sets that go until sunrise.

    Disc Jam Flow Tribe

    Disc Jam Flow Tribe performances at Disc Jam are a staple for attendees and will once again include a renowned team of well rounded performance artists who have been a major part of the Disc Jam family since 2012. The featured flow artist for 2018 is world renowned Hula Hooper Rachael Lust. Rachael will be hosting flow arts workshops for beginner to expert levels, with multiple sessions each day. A variety of workshops will be offered to broaden the mind, body and spirit. Choose from Wellness, Flow Arts, Yoga, Painting, Disc Golf, and Permaculture classes available daily.

    Visual Artists

    Visual artists, including live painters and artists, will create massive murals and art installations throughout the site all weekend long. Featured artists Gabriel Welch, Stephen Kruse, Andy Reed, Raf Mata and many more will be creating murals, as well as curating an art gallery tent where attendees can view and buy artwork from all of the artists.

    Disc Golf Tournaments

    Disc golf is a game for experts, beginners, and everyone in between. Playing at least one round is a must for Disc Jam enthusiasts and the course encourages both the avid and first timer players to try their hand, all at no additional cost to play (outside of tournaments), with discs provided free of charge for those interested in playing.

    Disc Golf Tournaments for men and women are held on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with cash and prizes from Innova Disc Golf, Grassroots California, Vibram Five Fingers shoes, Native Eyewear, Suspended in the Trees Hammocks, The Earth Ship Tents and more going to the top finishers. Nationally ranked and touring Team Innova Disc Golf Pro Gregg Barsby will be hosting the tournaments as well as playing rounds, hosting workshops and clinics all weekend long.

    Road to Disc Jam Tour

    Having kicked off in April, more than 20 Disc Jam artists will perform at 11 venues across seven states including New York, New England and Pennsylvania, with free Disc Jam tickets given away as a door prize at each show.

    April 27 – Funky Dawgz Brass Band, Congo Sanchez and Honeycomb – Jewel Music, Manchester, NH
    April 28 – Formula 5 and Space Carnival – The Hollow Bar and Kitchen, Albany, NY
    April 28 – Congo Sanchez – Strange Brew Pub, Norwich, CT
    May 4 – Strange Machines and The Clock Reads – Electric Haze, Worcester, MA
    May 10 – Marbin and Swimmer – Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY
    May 11 – Swimmer and Goose – Nectar’s, Burlington, VT
    May 11 – The Wook of Wall Street Pre-Jawn – Sprout Music Collective, West Chester, PA
    May 17 – Borg Party (members of Dopapod, Turkuaz, Giant Panda) – Flour City Station, Rochester, NY
    May 17 – Consider the Source – River Street Jazz Cafe, Wilkes-Barre, PA
    May 17 – Kung Fu – Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center, Greenfield, MA
    May 18 – Harsh Armadillo – Arch Street Tavern, Hartford, CT
    May 18 – Funktional Flow and Swimmer – Funk n Waffles, Syracuse, NY
    May 19 – Bella’s Bartok and Cousin Earth – Funk n Waffles, Syracuse, NY
    May 24 – West End Blend and Craig Brodhead (Turkuaz) – Fete Music Hall, Providence, RI

    See the daily schedule and the 2018 Disc Jam announcement below:

  • Adirondack Independence Music Fest 2018 Initial Lineup Announced

    The Adirondack Independence Music Fest 2018 is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing festivals in the Northeast. This year’s festival is taking place Sept. 1 and 2 at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George and features two sets from both Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Lucid along with a host of other national and regional acts.

    Additional artists scheduled to perform at the 2018 festival include Keller Williams, Pink
    Talking Fish, Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime, Lespecial, Formula 5, Jen Durkin & the Business,
    Steal Your Peach Band, Gratefully Yours, Swift Technique, Goose, Let’s Be Leonard, Root
    Shock, the Melting Nomads and LDF (Ladies Drink Free), with more bands to be announced
    soon. The festival also plans to announce a big headliner in late July.

    Music runs from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00pm each day on 2 alternating main stages at the festival
    grounds, followed by late night performances each night at local venue, King Neptune’s until
    3:00 a.m.. Goose, LDF (Ladies Drink Free) and Gratefully Yours have currently been announced
    for late night performances at King Neptune’s. Additionally, there will be a free kick-off party
    on Friday, August 31, with performances scheduled for both Shepard Park in downtown Lake
    George and King Neptune’s. So far, The Funky Dawgz Brass Band have tapped for the kick-off
    party, with additional bands still expected to be announced.

    Early bird tickets for Adirondack Music Fest 2018 are on sale now and are priced at $70 for the weekend or $170 for weekend VIP tickets. More information can be found at the festival’s website.
    Meanwhile, check out the Mirth Films promo video for this year’s event below.