Although they’ve gone their separate ways, Oneonta’s Space Carnival have shared video from their late night Wormtown Festival set from September 15. The combination of “Pleasure in Sin” -> “2001” -> “Moon Boots” come from Space Carnival’s first Wormtown show and the late night set after Lettuce was a packed cabin for the duration of their two and a half hour set. One of the final Space Carnival shows, guitarist Jeremy Kraus said “We went into it with zero rules and no plans for anything, as we always did.”
Category: The Northeast
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Walkin’ in the WinterWonderGrass
A weekend of walkin in the finest jamgrass around was made possible by the debut appearance in Vermont over December 14-16 at Stratton Mountain. WinterWonderGrass, now in its 7th year, has held events in Colorado and California since 2012, with founder Scott Stoughton and his team creating a musical village with a welcoming vibe at all turns.
Stratton was as idyllic a setting out east as WinterWonderGrass could have asked for. Located in south-central Vermont, the mountain is tucked away and has sprawling condos and chalets, a village that practically transports you to the Alps and world class skiing. This weekend added in 8 hours of bluegrass daily, with artists from across the country making the inaugural WinterWonderGrass at Stratton a rousing success.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman © WinterWonderGrass Festival All Rights Rerserved 2018 Scott spoke to Jambase earlier this month about the inception of the WinterWonderGrass: “The original idea for WinterWonderGrass came together because I saw a lot of different music festivals happening,” Stoughton explained. “I saw the beer culture expanding. I was also living in a mountain town at the time, and I saw corporatization of mountain communities, influx of people, everything was branded, and it wasn’t feeling right. It wasn’t authentic.”
The result of Scott’s strive for authenticity is a music village that could be found at any ski mountain – after a run down the slopes, take off your skis and head over to the sound of banjos, mandolins and dobros and take a break with a cold one (or some hot coffee, cocoa or yerba mate). Walking into the venue each day, you feel like a member of a larger family, one that is smiling, laughing and dancing, and most of all, welcoming and friendly to all.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman © WinterWonderGrass Festival All Rights Rerserved 2018 Friday kicked off with multiple sets from Pappy & Friends, Beg, Steal or Borrow, Fruition, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Pickin’ on the Dead and Vermont’s own Saints & Liars. With the three tent stages all close to each other, catching all three was as simple as strolling 50 feet away for a taste of something new. Headliners Jeff Austin Band and The Infamous Stringdusters had the crowd looking forward to the next two days, with powerhouse sets from both. Jeff Austin led a Yonder-style band with a set of speedy jammed out bluegrass originals and covers, capping the set with crowd favorite “Sideshow Blues,” while Stringdusters took spins on Phish’s “Possum” and “Bathtub Gin,” and invited up artist-at-large Bridget Law for Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” Late night sets featured more from Saints & Liars and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, as well as John Stickley Trio and Beg, Borrow or Steal.
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Keller Williams Celebrates Tom Petty with Petty Grass
“Petty Grass is bluegrass versions of Tom Petty hits. Sing-alongs that some people didn’t even know they knew. Tom Petty songs are like that and Petty Grass celebrates this.” ~ Keller Williams
Keller Williams and the Hillbenders performed Keller’s latest project, Petty Grass, at a new venue in Jersey City, NJ, White Eagle Hall. The recently renovated and restored historic theater has been “outfitted with the latest sound technology” and has two hand-crafted stained glass skylights.
Williams began the concept in 2015, for a local S.P.C.A benefit. After Petty’s recent death, Williams decided to take the concept on the road and add a band. The Hillbender’s couldn’t be a more perfect choice to fill this role.
The Hillbenders, a talented bluegrass band from Springfield, MO, are experienced with translating rock and roll into bluegrass and are the perfect compliment to Williams. They released a bluegrass version of The Who’s Tommy called Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry in 2015.
The show was indeed a big audience sing-a-long, with the crowd participation increasing during each song. Tom Petty had many fun loving hits. William’s sing-a-long version, combined with the Hillbender’s picking intensity, successfully showcases this. The band often came together as a group on stage, demonstrating their exemplary skills as a bluegrass band.
Notable songs included “Refugee,” the extended jam combined elements of William’s Grateful Dead roots with the Hillbender’s penchant for picking. “Even the Losers” had a great texture from the mandolin by Nolan Lawrence. “Last Dance With Mary Jane” was meant to be a bluegrass sing-a-long. “Running Down a Dream” has a harmonious melody from Gary Rea on guitar and Chad Graves on dobro.
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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!
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Tea Leaf Green Brings The Heat To The Northeast
Tea Leaf Green recently celebrated 20 years as a band and was greeted with an exceptionally warm Northeast welcome. This run was special because the San Francisco-based jam quartet hasn’t visited the area in two years. These shows notably mark the second time bass player Eric DiBerardino played with Tea Leaf Green in the New York City Metro region. DiBerardino replaced bass superstar Reed Mathis in 2016. Fans are excited to be more acquainted with his style.
StageOne in Fairfield, CT (11/16/2018)
Described as a “coffee shop stage,” StageOne in Fairfield, CT offered fans a chance to see the band up close with great acoustics. The venue has a 225 person capacity, with seating on both sides of the stage. Tea Leaf Green rewarded those in attendance with a classic set of favorites.
The set began with “5000 Acres” and “Ride Together,” which got the crowd on their feet and grooving. Next up were “Make a Connection,” “Innocence” and the electro-funk jam “Germinating Seed,” featuring notable guitar segments from guitarist Josh Clark. The set wrapped up on a high note with the perennial hit “If It Wasn’t For the Money,” featuring outstanding vocals and smooth solos by keyboardist Trevor Garrod.
Set II picked up where Set I left off, starting with the funky “These Two Chairs“ and an electrified “Don’t Curse the Night.” The high energy “One Reason“ got the crowd ready for the first jam of the night, “Gasaholic.” Garrod’s soulful vocals and funky keyboard execution combined with Clark’s guitar improvisation made this an unforgettable rendition.
“All Of Your Cigarettes“ brought a few chill moments before Jordan Giangreco of The Breakfast joined Tea Leaf Green on stage, playing organ next to Garrod for the high energy favorites “Give Me One More Chance“ and “Incandescent Devil.” Musical nirvana between all five musicians was reached during the second jam of the night and closed the second set on a high note.
The encore brought the energy down to earth for the melodic Garrod classic, “Earth and Sky.”
Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY (11/17/2018)
Tea Leaf Green has a rich history of high energy jamming at the Brooklyn Bowl, which features a bowling alley adjacent to the stage. Gadadu and Greg Humphrey’s Electric Trio opened and got the crowd on their feet.
The band was ready to rock and roll from the very first song, “Devil’s Pay,” including eloquent vocals from Garrod and mind-numbing guitar solos by Clark. The harmonica-fueled “Let Us Go“ was the perfect precursor for the jam of the night, “Red Ribbons” > “Garden III.” Both are classic Tea Leaf Green songs, and “Garden” included a unique rock infused jam, which delighted longtime fans.
Garrod’s vocals and keyboard skills shined in “Been So Long“ and “Cops Took My Weed“ followed by a Clark electric guitar clinic in “Space Hero“ and “Hot Dog.” There is no question how talented this band is.
The soulful Garrod tune “Kali Yuga” closed out the set, and included celebration confetti from the audience. The encore began with “Carter Hotel,” an inspiring ballad sung by Clark. The show ended on a high note with the electric “Vote on Tuesday,” including more audience confetti to close this memorable night.
The Northeast was jubilant after two fantastic Tea Leaf Green shows and awaits their return for more soulful, funky improvisational rock and roll.
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Rolling Stones make their long awaited return to U.S for 2019 ‘No Filter’ Tour
One would think after dozens of tours that the years of glory and millions of screaming fans would take a toll on a man. However, the Rolling Stones never cease to amaze us as they announce their 2019 “No Filter” U.S. stadium tour. The legendary English rock group have performed over an astounding 2,000 concerts and there doesn’t appear to be any signs of slowing down. This 13 show tour will include some of the largest venues in the world with multiple stops in California, Florida, and more. Tickets will officially go on sale for these events at 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 30.
Although the band has primarily played across Europe for the past two years, they hold a dear adoration for their American fans. Mick Jagger voiced his love and recognition for these loyal listeners by stating: “It’s a thrill when we play stadiums in the States…The energy is always amazing!” To which Keith Richards passionately contributed: “I’ve always loved playing in the states. It’s a great crowd.” It is true that their absence has been upsetting to classic rock enthusiasts and concert-goers but these 13 shows will be a refreshing reminder of the incredible music The Rolling Stones have always blessed us with. True to their intoxicatingly dramatic style, the heart of their performances will consist of timeless hits such as “Gimme Shelter,” “Paint it Black,” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” For more information on scheduled appearances, check the Rolling Stones’s website here. See tour dates below.
Fans hoping to catch a New York show on this tour will have to settle for stops in nearby Philadelphia, Foxboro or East Rutherford.
Rolling Stones “No Filter Tour” 2019
April 20 – Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
April 24 – TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville, FL
April 28 – NRG Stadium – Houston, TX
May 7 – State Farm Stadium – Glendale, AZ
May 11 – The Rose Bowl – Pasadena, CA
May 18 – Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, CA
May 22 – CenturyLink Field – Seattle, WA
May 26 – Broncos Stadium at Mile High – Denver, CO
May 31 – FedExField – Washington, D.C.
June 4 – Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
June 8 – Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA
June 13 – MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ
June 21 – Soldier Field – Chicago, IL -
Lucky Chops and Funky Dawgz Brass Band Turn the Heat Up in Ridgefield
On October 11, The Ridgefield Playhouse hosted two acoustic bands with a big sound. Lucky Chops, who are on a national tour, were joined by Funky Dawgz Brass Band for a double bill that made a Thursday night feel more like the start of a long weekend.
Funk Dawgz started the night with a high energy take on the New Orleans street band sound, mixing some funk and hip-hop elements into their arrangements and improv. Later in their set, Tommy Weeks (tenor sax) welcomed one of his younger music students on stage for a few minutes to shine during a traditional NOLA take on “When The Saints Go Marching In.”
Lucky Chops has been growing in popularity since getting a bit of attention busking in the NYC subway stations, so much so that they’ve gone on to play at packed houses on European tours. Though om a Thursday night with a small crowd, the band played with the high level energy they consistently bring to the sold-out clubs shows of Brooklyn and the outdoor summer festivals.
Lucky Chops debuted some new music from an upcoming recording project and dug a bit into their 2018 EP Virtue and Vice Sessions, Vol. 1. As a tribute to their high school band roots, they started off their encore with “For Connie,” a tune written in dedication to one of their music teachers.
Lucky Chops Setlist: Halfway to the Hudson, Best Things, The Dancing Babies, Ab Jam, Prisoner, Temple of Boom, Buyo, These Tears, Hoodoos at Sunrise, Familiar Places, Full Heart Fancy, Without You, Coco, Ska Ba, Danza
Encore: For Connie, Funkytown/I Feel Good
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Mike Gordon Announces East Coast Spring Tour
Mike Gordon and his band released plans for Spring appearances around the east coast. The rapid-fire March tour will bring Phish bassist Mike Gordon and company to several venues in up and down the east coast, beginning in Atlanta and finishing up with a four night run in Cambridge, MA. General Admission tickets went on sale on Friday.
New York fans of the rock group will be excited to see that Mike Gordon will be performing in Buffalo at the Town Ballroom during the March Tour. For more info regarding the tour and ticket purchases visit Mike Gordon’s website. Current tour dates are below.
Mike Gordon Tour Dates:
March 8 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
March 9 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
March 10 – The Basement East – Nashville, TN
March 12 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
March 13 – Harvester Performance Center – Rocky Mount, VA
March 15 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
March 16 – Asbury Lanes – Asbury Park, NJ
March 17 – White Eagle Hall – Jersey City, NJ
March 19 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
March 21-24 – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA -
Vermont’s first WinterWonderGrass hosts Grass After Dark series
A favorite feature of the Colorado version of the winter music celebration, WinterWonderGrass Stratton has finally introduced its own iteration of the Grass After Dark Series with one month until the event kicks off.
Bluegrass fans new to the festival should be aware that festival tickets are not required for the Grass After Dark series. All of the late night shows are 21+ and are a separate purchase from the WWG day festival tickets. Grass After Dark tickets are limited and expected to sell out quickly. You can secure your spot at the event by purchasing your tickets at the WWG website.
The night series opens on the eve of WWG Stratton day festivities, with An Evening with the Infamous Stringdusters on Dec. 13 at Grizzly’s. The GAD series is hosted between two intimate mountainous locations for four nights of bluegrass in the village. Dec.r 15 is the only night attendees will have to choose between Grizzly’s and the Green Mountain Room in Black Bear Lodge at the Stratton Mountain Resort. The full GAD late night show schedule is down below:
GRIZZLY’S:
Thursday, Dec. 13 – An Evening with the Infamous Stringdusters
Saturday, Dec. 15 – Keller Williams and Fruition
Sunday, Dec. 16 – Billy Strings and Lindsay LouBLACK BEAR LODGE:
Friday, Dec. 14 – Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and Saints & Liars
Saturday, Dec. 15 – The Kitchen Dwellers and Rumpke Mountain BoysTickets are still available for those interested in the full WinterWonderGrass community experience. Single day prices are currently $59 for Friday, $79 for Saturday, and $59 for Sunday. For the complete festival schedule and all ticket packages, visit the WinterWondergrass website for more information.
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String Cheese Incident Finish Strong in Worcester
After an incredible Suwannee Hulaween and Philly run, The String Cheese Incident finished their Halloween tour with two incredible shows in Worcester, Massachusetts at the Palladium on November 2 and 3.
Friday, Night One
With 7 Hulaween sets and 4 in Philadelphia under their belt in the week prior, fans were unsure how the boys would be feeling coming into the weekend. Starting the first set off with the southern rock hit “On The Road,” they quickly dove into an incredible jam-filled “Sometimes a River.” Michael Kang belted on an 11-minute “Come As You Are” straight into an epic cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie On Reggae Woman.” From Stevie, the boys continued this long string of non-stop jams to their salsa-inspired “Latinnismo,” last played in July of 2007 at Horning’s Hideout. They were really pulling out all the stops.
The second set continued the high energy of the first with just six songs. There are almost no words to describe how heavy and jam-filled these were, as there were very few words to be heard from the band. After a long “You’ve Got The World” to start, they began what would be close to 75 minutes of non-stop music. Cheese slowed down only slightly for one of Bill Nershi‘s bluegrass classics, “Windy Mountain,” and the set ending with a 20-minute, extremely heavy “Howard.”
Saturday, Night Two
There didn’t seem to be any way that String Cheese could match their intensity from night one. Everyone was sure they would have a very bluegrass-heavy night, which would still have been amazing, but they were wrong… very wrong. The first song was a powerful “Let’s Go Outside,” into The Who’s “Eminence Front,” then back into LGO. They began a long string of classic fan favorites with “Little Hands,” covering Bob Dylan’s “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues,” and ending the first set with yet another full fired rendition in “Rosie”.
There is a lot of disagreement among Cheese fans about what they’re best at. Many love them for their roots as bluegrass greats, while others can’t seem to get enough of their heavier, more electronic bangers. The final set of the Halloween tour was one that everyone could enjoy. It was almost comical when the band went from one of their heaviest songs “Rivertrance” into “Pretty Polly” and back into Rivertrance. What makes this so incredible is Polly has long been sought after by the bluegrass-friendly fans, as it had not been played since October of 2013. After the set was finished with an eardrum-bursting “Beautiful,” you could tell the band was in high spirits. With incredible jovial energy, they ended their Halloween run with one of their all-time greats, “Colorado Bluebird Sky.”
Fans old and new agree that these will go down as two of the best nights of Cheese in history, as would quite a few from this run, and a few more this year. The String Cheese Incident is one of the few bands that just continue to get better after 20 years together. They return to Colorado this New Year’s Eve to Broomfield. They also have their Jamaican Incident in January. They have yet to release any other information for 2019, but rest assured, each show and every set will be very Gouda, whether aged or smoked.
Check out the photos from both nights below by Zatchmo Lives Media!