The Great South Bay Music Festival has announced that they will be postponing their event this year. Instead, this Long Island festival is rescheduled to July 7-10, 2022. With the loss of both the 2020 and 2021 festivals to the pandemic, this is a heavy disappointment. However, the health and safety of everyone are of utmost importance.
All 2020 and 2021 tickets will be honored for GSB 2022. No further action is necessary, and holding onto these tickets will also protect you from expected price increases next year. However, if this is not a viable option, GSB will offer refunds and provide information shortly.
Additionally, The Tedeschi Trucks Band‘s Wheels of Soul Tour has also been postponed and will now be performing at the Great South Bay Music Festival in 2022. The rest of the headliners for this event will be confirmed very soon, so stay tuned.
As an independent festival, GSB has acknowledged its lack of support and safety net compared to more prominent festivals. With close monitoring of lifted restrictions and a rise in the number of cases, GSB believes their decision will benefit everyone in the long run. The festival wishes to provide its audience with an authentic and lively experience, which would best take place next year.
Along with the rescheduled Great South Bay Music Fest dates, a “re-imagined” festival is in the works. This multi-day festival called EBB-Fest will take place October 1-3 at Shorefront Park. EBB-Fest is a tribute to the retreat and falling of this pandemic. This event will present a few national acts but be more focused on supporting local artists, serving as a celebration of the death of this virus and an opportunity to share live music!
Great South Bay Music Fest Shares:
I can honestly say that all of us here at GSB love and miss you, our fest family. We can’t wait to be walking through the crowd, hearing the music and seeing the smiles on all of your faces again, with the cool breeze and backdrop of the magnificent Great South Bay!
Borderland Music Festival is excited to announce their 2021 return to Knox Farm State Park on September 18th and 19th.
The two-day cultural festival takes place at the historical Knox Farm State Park in Erie County, New York. While the festival lineup has not been announced as of yet, past lineups have included a mix of country and bluegrass bands ranging from worldwide fame to local acclaim. Art, food and beer are also a focus of the festival, offering local varieties of each for people to partake in and enjoy.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Borderland Festival was cancelled. The music industry as a whole has been dramatically impacted this last year, however, Borderland continued to work hard to survive. They created a handful of music and farm-to-table experiences while feeding the local economy and supporting local musicians. The Borderland Broadcast acted as a stand-in for the usual festival, streaming audio from former festival performances over the two days when the festival would have happened. Borderland is looking forward to returning this fall with their annual festival, just on a smaller scale, at Knox Park.
Like many others, we were hit hard this past year and really miss that connection of community. I feel like we all could use this breath of fresh air. The power of music is so healing and we want to be able to bring that on whatever level we can.
Jennifer Brazil, Event Organizer
The festival is working closely with the State of New York and Erie County and will continue to operate under all social distancing and COVID guidelines. There will be an initial, limited amount of tickets for sale with hopes that things will continue to progress throughout the summer. Blind Faith Tickets are on sale now and Borderland will announce more information in the coming weeks. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival announces it’s 2021 lineup including big names like Megan Thee Stallion, Foo Fighters, Lizzo and many more. The festival will take place September 2nd through 5th in Manchester, Tennessee.
The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival has been around and kicking since 2002. The festival takes place on the Bonnaroo Farm sprawling across seven acres, located just 60 miles southeast of Nashville in Manchester, TN. The festivities sprawl out across 10 stages over four days and over 100 performances.
Some of the big names include Andy Frasco, Larkin Poe, Nubya Garcia, Foo Fighters, Megan Thee Stallion, Run The Jewels, Glass Animals, Deftones, Young Thug, Tipper, Lizzo, Tame Impala, My Morning Jacket, G-EAZY, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Phoebe Bridgers, Incubus, Seven Lions, Tyler, The Creator, Lil Baby, DEADMAU5, Leon Bridges, Young The Giant, Britanny Howard and more.
Festivals are slowly starting to creep back into existence. One of the main and real concerns with festivals coming back to life though is how they will handle the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival’s website they, “will continue to update Bonnaroovians with the important information needed to plan your[their] trip to The Farm, including any changes to policies and procedures you need to know before entering the festival and campgrounds. Updates will be shared on this page, through our social media channels and via our email list. If you haven’t already, sign up for our E-mail list to have the most current information sent directly to your[their] inbox.”
Any public space where people are present has an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with underlying media conditions are especially vulnerable. They state very clearly that by attending Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, people voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. In time the festival will release more information on the safety precautions people should expect.
Tickets for Bonnaroo went on sale on March 31, 2021 and can be found here. Options for tickets include General Admission (4-Day), GA+ (4-Day), VIP (4-Day), Platinum (4-Day), General Admission Camping & Parking, VIP Camping, Platinum Camping, and more. Bonnaroo is presenting an array of affordable options, with tickets starting at $35 down and accommodations available for as low as $99 per night. Car Camping Passes are priced at only $60 (plus fees) per car, not per person, allowing fans to both save money and reduce their carbon footprint by carpooling.
On July 28, Bonnaroo 2021 announced the lineup for its famed Campgrounds and Plazas, once again promising the most inclusive and original camping experience of any festival, anywhere in the world.
Strategically located and well-lit public places throughout the campgrounds, Bonnaroo’s communal areas, known as Plazas, include shade, free public Wi-Fi, showers, activities, charging stations, Clean Vibes Trading Post redemption centers, cooling stations, medical, safety stations, information, and portable restrooms. The 2021 Campground Plazas lineup features several returning favorites along with several all-new experiences:
CENTEROO For the first time ever, Bonnaroovians can say “I roo” at the House of MatROOmony. Produced by iamsound, Bonnaroo’s new House of Love will host romantic activities like Lovesick Karaoke Happy Hour, interactive photo booth installations, and daily wedding ceremonies where attendees can get hitched by very special guests. Registration is available now HERE.
PLAZAS & CAMPGROUNDS “Sanctuary Of Self Love,” curated by Hayley Williams in collaboration with iamsound and Conscious City Guide, will be back and better than ever. Bonnaroovians can relax and rejuvenate themselves through the weekend with mindful movement practices (including a newly expanded meditation forest, tea ceremony gazebo, and yoga space), hairstyling by the new Good Dye Young on-site Hair Salon, deep sound bath rituals, talks, and panel sessions offering powerful tools for mental clarity and personal transformation, and, for the first time ever, a healers village offering pre-booked one-on-one sessions spanning massage to aura photography and reiki.
Presented by BACARDÍ, the totally re-imagined and re-oriented “Where In The Woods” stage will feature DJs and surprise headliners in a new magical treehouse environment where Bonnaroovians can chill during the day and party all night on a spectacular dance floor that comes to life after dark with kaleidoscopic lights and sounds. New additions also include immersive cabanas and a massive conga line hosted by NPI and Puzzle.
Plaza 3: House of Yes and Little Cinema return in 2021, bringing Brooklyn magic to Bonnaroo with epic spectacles, immersive movie screenings, circus shows galore, and of course all-night dance parties for the weird, wild, and wonderful. In addition, House of Yes will host Bonnaroo’s second annual Pride Parade, a rainbow celebration of diversity, sexuality, and humanity this year presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Plaza 5: The all-new Groop’s Galactic Giddy-Up is where interstellar vibes meet rhinestone-ridiculous. Located inside the Groop Camping area in the GA Campground and presented by iamsound, Galactic Giddy-Up is the space cowboy dive-bar built to empower the awesome and wonderfully weird Bonnaroovian community via groop and community-oriented games, activities, parties, mixers, and more, including catch competitions judged by celebrity guests, talent shows, Bonnaroovian battles of the bands, line dancing and more. In addition, Galactic Giddy-Up will bring all the usual plaza amenities to Groop Camping, including bathrooms, showers, shade and chill spaces, fans and misters, food and beverage vendors, charging stations, info booth, medical, security, and more.
Plaza 6:Killer Mike’s Swag Shop will showcase a cool, casual, and artistic approach to self-care, offering good music, casual conversation, and a great haircut.
Plaza 7:The Grove is a fantastical wooded oasis, filled with mythical creatures by Brett Douglas Hunter and live harp performances by Yomí That Harpist.
Plaza 9:VEEPS House – Exclusive intimate performances from some of Bonnaroo 2021’s artist streamed live from the farm to the world.
The new Rootanical Garden invites fans to see the world through the lens of a bug as they wander into a spectacular maze garden, produced by iamsound.
Last, but very definitely not least, the newly revamped VIP Campground Plaza will feature air-conditioning, private bars, complimentary Wi-Fi, daily yoga classes, games, live video feeds of the festival performances, and some special surprises. The VIP Campground Plaza is available exclusively to VIP patrons.
For more information on the 2021 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival visit their website.
The Complete Bonnaroo 2021 Lineup:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Grand Ole Opry Featuring Special Guests 99 Neighbors Andy Frasco Big Something Briston Maroney Dabin Devon Gilfillian The Funk Hunters HE$H Joy Oladokun Larkin Poe Liz Cooper & The Stampede MIZE Nubya Garcia Scarypoolparty Spock Sweet Crude Taska Black Too Many Zooz ZiA
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Foo Fighters Megan Thee Stallion Run The Jewels Glass Animals Deftones Young Thug Tipper Jack Harlow Grace Potter Primus Nelly The Disco Biscuits Dashboard Confessional Big Wild TroyBoi Marcus King Band Lennon Stella Orville Peck Kim Petras Turkuaz w/Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew: Remain In Light SVDDEN DEATH Omar Apollo Lucii Waxahatchee The Weather Station Resistance Revival Chorus LP Giobbi ATLiens Mija Detox Unit Rome In Silver Jac Ross Mdou Moctar Tripp St. NotLö
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Lizzo Tame Impala My Morning Jacket G-Eazy Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Phoebe Bridgers Incubus Seven Lions Superjam: Sylvan Esso Presents “WITH” Kevin Gates Marc Rebillet Goose Subtronics Surfaces JID Jon Batiste The Band Camino Ashnikko Yaeji Ekali Tate McRae Pinegrove Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats Remi Wolf Wooli Dr. Fresch William Black Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Flamingosis Hero The Band Level Up DJ Mel Almost Monday Lick
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Tyler, The Creator Lil Baby deadmau5 Leon Bridges Young the Giant Brittany Howard Flogging Molly Boombox Cartel Greensky Bluegrass The Struts CAAMP Oliver Tree PEEKABOO Julien Baker LSDREAM Colony House Flo Milli Breland Niko Moon Jamila Woods Bill Frisell: Harmony featuring Petra Haden, Hank Roberts & Luke Bergman LUZCID Elderbrook Makaya McCraven
Trumansburg’s Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival has made the decision to postpone the planned 30th annual event until 2022.
Noting that we are not yet at the end of the pandemic tunnel, and factoring in increasing vaccine distribution and decreasing COVID-19 rates, the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will postponing the planned 30th Annual festival until July 21-24, 2022. The preceding fifth Annual Culture Camp will also be postponed, with new dates of July 17-20, 2022.
Admission and camping tickets for 2021 will be honored and automatically transferred to 2022. If a ticket holder cannot attend the 2022 event, they may fill out a Ticket Transfer Request to transfer their tickets to any future GrassRoots Festival in either the Trumansburg, New York or Shakori Hills, North Carolina locations at GrassRootsFest.org.
As a 501(c) not-for-profit organization, this first ever year of no GrassRoots festivals has been a challenge, but the organization is poised to make it through. Donations are always welcome and may be made at GrassRootsFest.org/donate.
Tickets for the 30th Annual Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance are on-sale now at GrassRootsFest.org/tickets.
A GrassRoots Call to Action:
In the year 1990, as we headed into the last decade of the 20th century, the world faced a new crisis: AIDS. Mysterious, unheard of and deadly; people were scared and dying! Donna the Buffalo and friends, The Horse Flies and Neon Baptist, responded with a sold out benefit show at the State Theatre raising over $10,000 for AIDS Work of Tompkins County. I remember so clearly the feeling of peeking out from the door of the dressing rooms beneath the stage and seeing the packed house of heroic Ithacans, also responding to the call to be there and support a community that a Government was appearing blind to, a joyful mob!
To create joy in the midst of crisis is a powerful thing and brings magic to the table. The wonderful event and its success led to the creation of GrassRoots and 25 years of raising consciousness and funds for organizations that support Arts, Education and the fight against AIDs, both locally and globally.
Love, New York, a virtual concert fundraiser will take place on the one year anniversary of New York City declaring a shelter in place for the COVID-19 pandemic. Featured musicians include Rich Medina, Paris Monster, and James Casey. It will stream live on March 20th, 2020 at 7 PM EST.
A year later, the end of pandemic is far closer, yet music still needs relief and artistic outlet. Love, New York is comprised of creatives, visionaries, musicians, street performers, dancers, Broadway artists, and lovers from New York.
The festival is organized by Sound Mind Collective, a Brooklyn based community organization founded in 2017 by Katherine Powell (KP Artist Management), Chris St. Hilaire (musician, The London Souls, Sinkane, Doyle Bramhall II) and Nikhil P. Yerawadekar (musician, Nikhil P. Yerawadekar & Low Mentality). Sound Mind Collective’s goal is to connect independent artists with local communities to encourage growth through social justice advocacy, policy change, and much more.
The proceeds from Love, New York will be allocated amongst the performers and independent music venues that are at risk of closing indefinitely as the virus continues to keep doors closed.
Summer Camp Music Festival has announced the lineup of artists who will join together at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL over August 20-22, 2021. Sticking closely to the original lineup from May 2020, the majority of artists are all confirmed and ready for the festival’s 20th Anniversary celebration (take four).
Festival management weighed in on the lineup and rescheduled festival:
It’s been an exhausting year, but the excitement of again welcoming an amazing list of artists to join us for our 20th anniversary celebration has our spirits soaring. We are thankful to share the artists that will be moving to our new 20th Anniversary celebration, taking place August 20-22, 2021 at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL.
We welcome back long time hosts moe. and Umphrey’s McGee plus headliners, Ween, Billy Strings, Three Six Mafia, GRiZ, Rezz, STS9 and Tipper among others. Although we are disappointed that not all previous artists could make it, we are excited to get to share the joy that everyone’s favorite pre Summer Camp ritual brings – new artist announcements!! Stay tuned for additional announcements in the coming weeks.
Together, we’ll make this an unforgettable weekend, SCampers… We are currently working hard to elevate this already stellar lineup by adding new artists & activities.
Jay Goldberg Events
Summer Camp Music Festival started in 2001. Since its beginning, Summer Camp has been known for its spacious, open fields for shows, trademark late-night events, pristine campgrounds, and amazing lineup of eclectic artists and bands.
2020 will mark the 20th anniversary of the festival which has hosted a wide array of talent over the years, including (but not limited to) Umphrey’s McGee, moe., Trey Anastasio Band, Primus, Tom Petty’s Mudcrutch, Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Zac Brown Band, Steve Miller Band, Big Grizmatik, Jane’s Addiction, Diplo , The Roots, Widespread Panic, The Flaming Lips, Cypress Hill, Willie Nelson, STS9, Jason Isbell, Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers, Excision, George Clinton, Skrillex, Zeds Dead, Violent Femmes, and many, many more!
More details and refund information for those who cannot make the August dates can be found here, with additional information on the festival available at the Summer Camp 2021 festival website.
Umphrey’s McGee, Ween, Three 6 Mafia, GRiZ, Rezz, Billy Strings (2 Sets), STS9, Tipper, Dirty Heads, Subtronics, Shpongle [Simon Posford Live set], The Wood Brothers, Houndmouth, The Floozies, Lettuce, Cherub, Manic Focus, Emancipator, CloZee, Boogie T, Twiddle, ScaryPoolParty, LSDream, Whipped Cream, Spafford, Yonder Mountain String Band, Here Come the Mummies
Andy Frasco & The U.N., Aqueous, Banyan [feat. Stephen Perkins, Willie Waldman, and more], Big Something, Boogie T.rio, BoomBox, Break Science, Cycles, Death Kings [Ryan Stasik, Mike Gantzer and Mikey Carubba], Detox Unit, Doom Flamingo, Dopapod, Everyone Orchestra, Ghost-Note, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Karina Rykman, Keller Williams, KellerSquabi, Lawrence, lespecial, Maddy O’Neal, Maggie Rose, Marvel Years, MonoNeon, Monophonics, Mungion, Papadosio, Ryan Montbleau, Saxsquatch, Southern Avenue, Sunsquabi, The Werks
Aaron Kamm & The One Drops, Chicago Farmer & The Field Notes, Chomppa, Cofresi, Consider the Source, DOGMA, Family Groove Company, Fate Nite, Filibusta, Funk You, Goodsex, Hot Buttered Rum, The Jauntee, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Jon Stickley Trio, Kitchen Dwellers, Lee DeWyze, LTX, Marcus Rezak’s Shred is Dead, Mike Dillon and Punkadelic, Mize, Old Shoe, Porn and Chicken, Red Wanting Blue, Rev Jeff Mosier, Sicard Hollow, Steady Flow, Sun Beard, Tropidelic
Alison Hanna Band, The Althea Grace Band, AP010, Audiodacity, Backyard Tire Fire, Badman, Barefuzz, Berth, Biomassive, BluePrint Metro, Bones Jugs, Brainchild, Chemical Safari, D Webb, D’Arcy, Daniel Rodriguez, Dark Moon Hollow, The Dawn, Dizgo, DJ Belly, DJ Tim Williams, EGi, Electric Orange Peel, Fall Classic, Fletcher’s Grove, Float Like a Buffalo, Funkstatik, FUX, Guerrilla Theory, The Iceman Special, IFDAKAR, Jack Cloonan Band, Joslyn and the Sweet Compression, JUULS VERNE, Kadela, KVZ, Levity, Little Stranger, Magnolia Boulevard, Medusa, MK Ultra, MO & WWP
Nicholas Gerlach, The North 41, Positive Vibr8ions, Pushing Daisy’s Band, The Ries Brothers, The Rockstar DJ Tre, Since JulEYE, Still Shine, Stormy Chromer, Sugar Lime Blue, The Textures, Thee Delinquents, Timmy Two Times, Travers Brothership, The Tripp Brothers, Trouble Chasin’, TruFeelz, Undercover Organism, Victoria Canal, Vine, Vintage Pistol, WokeZan, Yam Yam, ZOSKA
It’s been a year without live music, but there are signs of life coming this spring. Looking to the South as the weather breaks, socially distanced shows and festivals are starting to pop up. Suwannee Rising will welcome Umphrey’s McGee, Lettuce, Goose, Eric Krasno’s Chapter 2, Andy Frasco and the U.N., Big Something and many more to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL – April 8 – 10, 2021.
Suwannee Live produced two drive-in podded events earlier this year – Larry Keel/Grass Is Dead and the Funky Mardi Gras Masquerade – serving as successful test runs for the return of Suwannee Rising, which is set to be one of the first multi-day music festivals in the US since the pandemic.
For this event, they will offer P.O.D.S. (Personal Outdoor Dance Space), providing a safe and socially distanced setting for fans to enjoy live performances, including Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Mark Lettieri Group, Magnolia Boulevard, Melody Trucks Band, and Anthill Cinema.
When we cancelled Suwannee Rising 2020, we never imagined the challenges it would present to society and especially the live music industry. We viewed the situation with a glass half-full attitude, realistic but hopeful. No one wanted to accept a world without the live music experience.
After producing two intimate post-Covid shows at the park and attending other drive-in events, we learned that while no one can eliminate 100% of risk from their lives, it is possible to produce a great show that fans, staff, and artists can attend and still dance and feel safe. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our musical community over the last year through the twists and turns of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Suwannee Live’s Paul Levine
Although the 800-acre park is home to multiple permanent stages including its famous amphitheater, Suwannee Rising will feature two stages side by side that are located in one of their vast fields, allowing plenty of space for socially distanced P.O.D.S. When one stage ends, the other will start. Large video screens allow every guest to easily view the performances from any of the spacious P.O.D.S., which offer a safely spaced area for family and friends to enjoy the live music, with each including four weekend tickets and primitive camping. P.O.D.S. owners can add up to two extra tickets for a maximum of six people per P.O.D.S. Guests are also allowed to bring their own food and drinks to the show.
And yes, there are still safety measures in place. Masks are required when festival goers aren’t in their P.O.D.S. and additional safety measures will be in place giving fans peace of mind to relax, let go, and soak in the healing power of live music. To learn more about these initiatives and the safety squad please visit the FAQ page.
Tickets and P.O.D.S. go on sale Wednesday, March 3 at 10am EST on Suwannee Live, with Suwannee Rising 2020/21 ticket holders having the first access to the P.O.D.S. starting March 2. For cabins, RV hook ups and golf cart rentals please visit MusicLivesHere.
Summer Camp Music Festival will plan to celebrate its 20 year anniversary this summer over August 20-22, and promoters are expecting it to be “truly special.”
2020 was the first year in over 20 years that the festival has taken a long break from their patrons. Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment created the festival back in 2000. Since their first year, the festival has always held its place at Three Sisters Park. COVID-19 protocols forced the festival to reschedule their original dates, which was Memorial Day weekend.
We realize that Memorial Day Weekend isn’t going to be feasible, but we’re excited to look towards the future and gather once again in late August to celebrate life, love, and music. We are again happy to say that the vast majority of our lineup is able to join us in August for our 20th anniversary celebration.
The festival’s lineup includes three days of moe. and three days of Umphrey’s McGee across various stages. The camp is known for its spacious fields for shows and late night events with eclectic artists and bands. In 2001, the festival was able to bring in around 1,000 fans. Now, they have thousands of attendees who enjoy the welcoming aspect of the camp grounds.
Through the years, the festival has held performances from big names like The Flaming Lips, Primus, Umphrey’s McGee, Moe. and more. The festival’s website will announce more performing bands and artists over the next coming weeks. Any tickets bought for the previous date will roll over and additional information on new tickets and refunds will be announced soon.
Moe. performing at Summer Camp Music Festival in 2018.
Just as we were losing hope in live music and festivals, it looks like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Rochester International Jazz Festival is in the planning stages for their nineteenth edition which will be hosted on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus.
Planning is a challenge when we don’t know what the future will bring. We do know that this year’s Festival cannot go on as usual. The way we work and how we live has changed. We are very encouraged that vaccines are becoming more available. And if public health guidelines allow us to proceed this summer, we must adapt to this new environment, which will require a more flexible and spacious festival footprint. The RIT campus meets that criteria.
Marc Iacona, Festival Producer and Executive Director
The original date for the festival was June 19, 2020. Unfortunately COVID-19 brought upon a nationwide shutdown of crowded concerts. Because of this, Iacona and his partner John Nugent had to postpone the festival a few times until their latest decision, July 30 through Aug. 7. Over 200,000 people attend the annual nine day festival, but this year Lacona and Nugent are orchestrating a safe way to go about the event.
Nat King Cole at 100 with Paul Mariano.
“With Covid-19 and health consequences squarely on the minds of all event-goers around the world, we again find ourselves at a crossroads,” said Iacona and Nugent. “We are deeply grateful to our loyal patrons and sponsors and for countless messages of support as uncertainty prevails. Early February now brings us to a critical junction as we explore how to potentially present a festival, secure programming, and put together the plethora of logistics.”
Throughout the course of the global pandemic, musicians have resorted to a different method of live performances. Live-streaming took to the internet in 2020 to provide a safe haven for those yearning to attend a live show. The Jazz Festival is the beginning to a new chapter for live music.
The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival was founded in 2002, with performances by over 1500 artists from all over the world. Through the years, those artists have performed more than 350 shows at 20 venues. Lacona is a community and business leader, while Nugent is an experienced tenor sax player and the artistic brains of RIJF, but their goals for the festival are the same.
“The essence of our Festival has always been to bring our community together, drawn by the majesty of creative improvised music and celebrating as one entity,” said Nugent. “While this new location will be a change for us all, and the first time we are not downtown, we will still shine the musical spotlight on greater Rochester. We are committed to making every effort to include the City of Rochester and many of our downtown-based partners at this new location. We will create a festive atmosphere including a Jazz Street, assure the ability to walk between venues, and offer a shuttle service.”
Anyone can buy tickets from the RIJF website and club members can use their passes.
The music is starting to return… LonCon, a two-day music event to be held in the Southern Tier of New York’s scenic Catskills will feature national touring acts at the legendary Arrowhead Ranch over August 27-28, 2021.
In 1991, music producer Bill Graham brought a vision to Arrowhead Ranch, making the summer of 199 legendary, with acts including Phish, The Band, Richie Havens, Billy Preston, Hot Tuna, Blues Traveler, Widespread Panic, and many more. 30 years later, LonCon will hold its inaugural weekend at the historic venue over Friday August 27 and Saturday August 28, 2021.
“The event is going to be so humbling to all three of us in Baked Shrimp. Being younger and going to outdoor music concerts in the mountains has been something we’ve all been doing for much of our lives, and we’ve always dreamed that one day Baked Shrimp would do something similar and keep it going for years to come. Now that we can finally announce that we’re helping put together what will be a beautiful two-day event at such a historic venue, it’s really a dream come true. The lineup is also filled with artists who we have looked up to over the years, so we are unbelievably excited to share the stage with them.”
Jared Cowen, Baked Shrimp
Cowen also shared his thoughts on putting the event together in honor of Lon Conscious.
“The Live for Lon stream was so humbling in it’s own way. Where we’re at in the world is something no one could really prepare for. When Lon left us, we had to think of a way despite these hectic times to honor his incredible legacy and spirit. The stream was the best way we could have thought to do this. The night had a true sense of community, like we were all together, Baked Shrimp, our fans, family, friends, and so many of Lon’s hundreds of friends who he meant so much to. The performers were incredible, and we were able to raise over $2,700 for a really great cause, the White Light Foundation. The stream was our way to honor Lon, to reminisce, to laugh, to cry, and everything in-between. LonCon is our way to continue the Lon Gellman legacy. LonCon is how we will make sure Lon is always remembered, and we’re brainstorming things to include over the course of the two days and hopefully make traditions.”
Jared Cowen, Baked Shrimp
Health and safety are the number one priority for attendees at LonCon. Promoters are dedicated to ensuring all proper COVID-19 restrictions in New York State that are in place at the time of the event are followed.
