The Peach Music Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend, with performances by Trey Anastasio Band, The Black Crowes, Billy Strings, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Goose, the Revivalists, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and the reunion of The Word. The daily streaming schedule has just been announced for Peach Festival this weekend, free for Nugs.net subscribers.
Inspired by the legendary Allman Brothers Band, Peach Music Festival will feature founding member Jaimoe with Jaimoe and Friends, as well as Friends of the Brothers, and Brother & Sister (featuring Butch’s kids, Melody and Vaylor). Check out the daily Peach Festival schedule below!
Beyond the four days of live music featuring over 50 artists, this one-of-a-kind experience features food and craft vendors on the grounds and access to the scenic Montage Mountain Ski Resort’s large water park, zip line and ski lift rides.
Buzz among attendees this year centers on if Trey Anastasio will invite a member of Goose to join his band’s headlining set on Saturday night, following Goose inviting Trey on stage at Radio City Music Hall this past week.
The 10th anniversary celebration of The Peach Music Festival will conclude with a spectacular Independence Day Weekend fireworks display on Sunday, July 3.
Attending festivals can have lasting positive impacts, a new study found, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, University of California Los Angeles, University of Denver, and the University of Bath in the UK.
Post Malone at Gov Ball 2021. Photo by David Reichmann
New York State has a lot of festivals going on throughout the year for people to attend, including The New York State Fair, Gov Ball, ADK Fest, and dozens more. All of these festivals bring in thousands of people each year, and this new study shows that going to these mass gatherings are benefital to a person’s life.
Researchers found that people had higher rates of transformative experiences the longer they were at the festival, and these transformative experiences persisted for at least six months following the event. These transformative experiences let people feel more connected to humanity, and be more willing to help strangers, something called moral expansion.
On average, 63.2 percent of participants reported being at least “somewhat” transformed by an event, and 19.5 percent indicated that they felt “absolutely” transformed.
gpointstudio / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Daniel Yudkin, a postdoctoral researcher and first author of the paper spoke about the findings of the study in a statement.
We’ve long known that festivals, pilgrimages, and ceremonies make people feel more bonded with their own group. Here we show that experiences at secular mass gatherings also have the potential to expand the boundaries of moral concern beyond one’s own group.
New York is fortunate enough to have plenty of opportunities to go to festivals and concerts due to the many different cities and the size of the state, therefore people can have more transformative experience going to different mass gatherings around the state.
The Festival celebrates the music of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, who teamed up with jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli to create the Quintet of the Hot club de France which went on to become one of the most important jazz partnerships in history. Jimi Hendrix named his “big band of gypsies” in tribute, and Willie Nelson adopted his influence in “country-swing.”
Django Reinhardt.
Described by Downbeat Magazine as “sensational… standout performance… hardest swinging band at the Newport Jazz Festival,” the All Star Band, with top players from Europe combined with America’s great jazz stars, will play swing music as a tribute to Reinhardt.
Starting on Sept. 30 and ending on Oct. 2, the Bacchanalia Arts & Music Festival will grace the streets of downtown Troy. People can look forward to music, art, and good food and drinks for the entirety of the new festival.
The owners of Whiskey Pickle, James and Erin Kehoe, came up with the idea last year as they enjoyed Troy’s vibrant downtown scene and remembered their years attending SXSW in Austin, Texas. Their wish was to bring a similar spirit to the people of Troy.
The Bacchanalia Arts & Music Festival will host multiple bands, food trucks, art showings, and more throughout the three-day event. People exploring downtown, and music fans eager for some new sounds, will surely enjoy this debut festival.
The event will have two outdoor stages, one on Fulton St. in front of the Whiskey Pickle, and one near the live music venue No Fun. Other venues will also hold live music during the festival, including Rare Form, The Ruck, Slidin’ Dirty, El Dorado, Brown’s, and The Bradley.
Currently, the Whiskey Pickle is working with Guthrie/Bell Productions to book the musical acts, and artists can also place submissions by clicking here. The organizers hope to hold a diverse lineup of acts, interesting selections of art, and other attractions so the festival sees patrons from all over.
The first round of artists coming to the festival will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets will soon be available for the full weekend, with day passes at a later date. There will also be individual tickets to certain venues as their respective capacities allow.
To keep up with festival updates follow the event on Instagram at @bamf.party and sign up for the mailing list here.
Today we look back at perhaps the most memorable and influential music festival of the 21st century, the first Bonnaroo. Held June 21-23, 2002 in Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo has helped pave the way for the success of the modern day music festival. The original 2002 edition skewed jam band-heavy when compared to the contemporary version, but the communal vibes and appreciation for live music that the festival has fostered over the years have only gotten stronger. Discover how the first Bonnaroo Music and Art festival came to fruition, the memorable musical offerings that weekend, and how the festival laid the groundwork for successful music festivals in the years and decades that followed.
photo by Pete Mason
Origins
Bonnaroo, in name alone, is steeped in musical culture. The word derives from the French words “bonne,” meaning “good,” and “rue” which means “street.” This was done out of respect for the music tradition of New Orleans, a spirit the founders of Bonnaroo were looking to carry over into their next venture. And even more fittingly, “bonnaroo” also serves as Creole slang for a “really good time,” the very essence of any successful music festival.
Not only that, Angola Prison was located on Bonnaroo Avenue. To be on that street, and not in prison, was naturally, a good thing. The cajun expression “desitively bonnaroo” came to mean “better than the best,” originating among the inmates of the South Louisiana prison, for if you were on that street and not in the prison, it was “desitively bonnaroo.”
Not only that, Angola Prison was located on Bonnaroo Avenue. To be on that street, and not in prison, was naturally, a good thing. The cajun expression “desitively bonnaroo” came to mean “better than the best,” originating among the inmates of the South Louisiana prison, for if you were on that street and not in the prison, it was “desitively bonnaroo.”
The closing of Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park in 1999 unknowingly got the ball rolling for the creation of Bonnaroo. The park had been the yearly home of the Hot Summer Nights music festival until construction forced concerts to no longer be held there. Festival founders AC Entertainment were forced to pivot and look elsewhere and from there the seeds of Bonnaroo were hatched.
The closing of the World’s Fair Park for concerts precipitated getting creative and trying to find, ‘OK, if we can’t do this anymore, how can we still participate in the summer outdoor concert business,’ and it was from that that Bonnaroo was ultimately launched.
Ashley Capps, co-founder AC Entertainment
Bonnaroo seemed like a natural name for the massive new venture on a giant farm in Manchester, TN. Not only for the aforementioned translations, but the term itself wasn’t completely foreign either after being introduced to pop culture through Dr. John’s 1974 release Desitively Bonnaroo.
Superfly, who produced shows during New Orleans Jazz Fest in the late 90s, had experience in staging 28 shows over 8 nights at various New Orleans venues, typically late-night and catering to jam band fans. Superfly founders Kerry Black, Rick Farman, Richard Goodstone and Jonathan Mayers had attended Glastonbury and Coachella Festivals in years prior, and used these experiences to frame their vision for Bonnaroo Music and Art Festival.
The Superfly team brought in Coran Capshaw, who managed Phish and Dave Matthews Band, among others, to assist with financing, and worked with regional promoter Ashley Capps (AC Entertainment), based out of Knoxville. Working together, Superfly, Capshaw and AC Entertainment combined resources and dove in feet first, creating America’s most successful multi-day camping music festival since the original Woodstock.
Farman spoke to Relix in April 2002 noting that the first task was to establish bonafides to the fans:
The first thing that I think is important to let everybody know is that we have an extremely experienced and professional crew behind this event. I know many people know Superfly from the events we’ve done at Jazz Fest and other things. And I know people know AC for the events he’s done. But what I really wish to emphasize is that we have hired the best people in the camping festival business to help us put on this event. We have a lot of experience between AC and us in putting on concerts and concert promotion but we certainly understand that our experience is limited in putting on an event of this size.
Our basic plan has been to make the learning curve zero. Most of the people that we’ve hired were also key players in putting on the big Phish events- everything from our project manager, site coordinator, vending consultant, production manager, parking company, business manager, the head of security and the different security companies that were hiring. We’re going to have Clean Vibes out there, which I think people know through many events, including the big Phish events. So in terms of the quality of the people putting on the event and the quality of the facilities, its really going to be top notch.
The location the team would choose was found in Central Tennessee, in the small Coffee County town of Manchester. Located an hour drive southeast of Nashville, the town of less than 9,000 at the time had previously served as host to at least one previous music festival, Itchykoo.
Named for the Small Faces song “Itchykoo Park,” the festival was held only once, from August 12-15, 1999, featuring 40 bands over four days and nights. The event sold 20,000 tickets, but the event did not repeat, something apparent before the weekend concluded, with event staff reportedly departing mid-shift when it became clear their work would not be paid.
The classic rock-centric festival featured Dave Mason, Survivor, Rick Springfield, Blue Oyster Cult, Sammy Hagar, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Iron Butterfly, Leon Russell, Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz (performing separately), Starship and the Wilson sisters from Heart. The lineup, while ambitious, did not have a true headliner, but instead a list of classic rock bands with no clear connection between the artists.
Itchycoo not returning to Manchester for additional installments, coupled with World’s Fair Park closing for construction, made the perfect conditions for Bonnaroo to arrive in 2002. Of course, the two festivals would have a similar sounding name, and an ambitious first year endeavor like Bonnaroo needed to establish their brand as distinct from the predecessor, at least to all who were aware of Itchykoo. With a name that signified a ‘good time,’ was the name of a street in New Orleans as well as a Dr. John album, confusion with the 1999 festival was not a factor.
The location in Manchester, a 700-acre farm with access roads left over from Itchykoo gave it perfect location next to I-24, something that was a necessity for any major music festival to ensure easy access for arriving fans. The farm was purchased in 2007, and a permanent power source was added shortly after, so as not to use the TVA hookup that accounted for 70% of all power, with the rest coming from generators.
On March 13, 2002, with little advertising, tickets for Bonnaroo went on sale, at an initial cost of $100, eventually sold for as much as $170. Tickets were sold exclusively through the Bonnaroo website, with 10,000 tickets sold the first day. Within the first week, 70,000 tickets were sold, and the festival announced a sell out on March 24. Within 11 days, and mostly by word-of-mouth, Bonnaroo had sold out their first year with a lineup and vision that fans agreed with.
There was of course another failed festival in 1999 that also had an impact on Bonnaroo, and music festivals in general. Woodstock 99, which quite publicly showed Baby Boomer greed meeting Gen X angst, in full view on MTV. While Itchykoo failed due to lack of headlining acts and lack of funding, Woodstock tarnished a brand permanently, with founder Michael Lang unable to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Woodstock with a festival 20 years later.
Celebrating its 11th anniversary, Governors Ball Music Festival took over Flushing, Queens for the weekend of June 10-12, 2022. Returning to Citi Field for a second year, the lineup featured headliners Kid Cudi, Halsey, and J. Cole, as well as a slew of other talented acts across three stages. NYS Music contributors David Reichmann and Joseph Buscarello were on the grounds covering the three day event. Full festival coverage and photo gallery below.
Governors Ball in a Nutshell – Iconic Festival Returns to Citi Field
Each year fans are treated to performances by some of the biggest names in music. The 2021 Festival was headlined by Billie Eilish, A$AP Rocky, and Post Malone while other notable acts from included, Rüfüs Du Sol, Future Islands, J Balvin, Megan Thee Stallion, Phoebe Bridgers, and Carly Rae Jepsen. Before the pandemic, Governors Ball was always held on Randall’s Island. It was moved to Citi Field for the first time last year, following 2020’s pandemic-related cancellation. The new festival location offers fans easier accessibility via mass transit; a welcome change for those familiar with traveling to and from the old location.
This year’s production boasted a three-stage setup in the parking lot of Citi Field, dozens of local food and drink vendors, smaller experiential booths, lounge areas, and a space for intimate acoustic sets from artists on the bill. Governors Ball has always highlighted diverse local food vendors that represent the melting pot of New York City. NYC born and family-owned Doughnuttery was at the festival this year serving their iconic, coarsely sugared mini doughnuts and cold brew coffee.
Performances encompassed a wide range of genres across the festival’s three stages, some highlights including: Black Pumas, Jack Harlow, Channel Tres, Flume, Joji, Chelsea Cutler, Playboi Carti, Clairo, Japanese Breakfast and 100 Gecs.
This year’s festival started strong, with a warm and sunny Friday leading up to Grammy Award-winning headliner Kid Cudi’s main stage performance. Fans traveled from both near and far to come to the festival, with one fan telling staff contributor David Reichmann, “I came in from Chicago for the weekend today! I asked around, ‘What’s there to do for a weekend in New York City?’ I saw a post about the festival and bought my ticket!” Other fans came from throughout the Tristate Area and beyond, representing the typical “melting pot” experience New York is known for. The first day ran smoothly, and fans enjoyed dozens of their favorite artists during this action packed weekend event.
Crowd at Governors Ball at Citi Field, Photograph by David Reichmann
Earlier in the day on Friday, the mainstage was dominated by indie rock. Plastic Picnic opened the day, followed by Julia Wolf, New York City native Samia, and Beabadoobee with her indie pop stylings. Over on the GoPuff Stage, punk bands Ultra Q and Aly & AJ kicked off the day before the stage transitioned over to hip-hop and EDM with Channel Tres, Skepta, and Louis The Child. Experimental rap dominated the Bacardí Stage with Coi Leray, Paris Texas and JPEGMAFIA.
About a week before the festival began, Migos announced they would no longer perform and were replaced by Lil’ Wayne. Only a few hours before his set, the festival announced that Weezy would not make it due to “flight delays” and would be replaced by Harlem native A$AP Ferg. Joking with the crowd during his set, A$AP Ferg said he was on his couch when Governors Ball called, asking him to save the day. He did not miss a beat, delivering a fiery performance to a packed crowd eagerly awaiting Kid Cudi.
Black Pumas are a soul and psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas. The group found immediate, worldwide success with their self-titled debut EP released back in 2019. The band has since won three Grammys, including ‘Best New Artist’ in 2020, and ‘Best Rock Album’ in 2022. Only a couple days after their mainstage set at Governors Ball, the group are heading out on a lengthy European tour. Barely a minute into their show, frontman Eric Burton leapt from the very tall stage into the pit, posed for the cameras, and walked the center aisle while singing and greeting fans from the front all the way to the back of the crowd. The future is extremely bright for Black Pumas, whose sophomore record will be one of the most highly anticipated rock albums when it comes to be.
The Bacardi Stage hosted Between Friends, Paris Texas, and Coi Leray before JPEGMAFIA went on to deliver a powerful set. The crowd went wild for each track in his set, and he interacted with them frequently. He joked before playing his song, “BALD!” that he sees “lots of beautiful heads of hair,” but “this one is for the bald” people in the audience. New York founded electronic duo The Knocks delivered the next hour of music before Jack Harlow closed out that day for the stage with massive pyrotechnics.
Jack Harlow at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
Channel Tres Continues Meteoric Rise
Hip-hop and house music have a long history of coming together to create dance floor anthems spanning different generations. Channel Tres leverages that relationship and creates a hard-hitting yet cool and laid back sound. Thunderous bass and house beats provide the backdrop for his equable vocal delivery, all while dancing flanked by a crew of backup dancers. Channel Tres has collaborated on songs with the likes of JPEGMAFIA, Tyler, The Creator, Tinashe, and Robyn all while climbing the ranks and becoming more and more popular with each new song he releases.
As the daylight began to fade leading up Kid Cudi’s mainstage set, fans at the Gopuff Stage were treated to a special sunset. The sky glowed red, pink, and orange over the festival as Louis the Child played and fans reveled in both the increasing prominence of the light show and the gorgeous sunset. Fans still enjoyed a few more hours of music even after night fell, but this picturesque sunset came as the perfect way to punctuate a great first day of Governors Ball Music Festival 2022.
Louis The Child Sunset Set, Governors Ball. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Kid Cudi Plays Classic Hits, A New Single, And A Live Debut
Although there were plenty of great acts spread across the three stages, diehard Kid Cudi fans waited by the mainstage for nearly the entire day, to secure a spot as close to the front as possible. With frequent hydration reminders displayed between sets on the stage screens, security and paramedics onsite worked constantly to distribute free water throughout the festival grounds, focusing on fans who were stuck waiting at the very front of the crowds. Kid Cudi closed out the first night with a powerhouse performance of tracks spanning his expansive Grammy Award Winning, seven-album catalog. His set featured a number of hit singles, deep cuts, pyrotechnic fireballs, and waves of emotion from his devoted fans in attendance.
Kid Cudi has just announced the premiere date for his new Netflix animated series Entergalactic. The show follows the story of a young artist (voiced by Cudi) as he finds love and success in New York City. He also played the new single “Do What I Want,” which saw its official release earlier that day and serves as the lead single for the album accompanying the series. Entergalactic premieres on Netflix later this year on September 30th; no official release date for the album has been set.
His setlist included fan favorite tracks, “Memories (David Guetta cover),” “Mr. Rager,” and “Surfin’.” Cudi brought out King Chip (a.k.a. Chip Tha Rapper) mid-set to join him for a performance of their track, “Just What I Am.” Cudi also treated fans to the live debut of his Travis Scott collaboration “THE SCOTTS.” Kid Cudi closed out the first night of the festival by playing, “Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare) – Steve Aoki Remix.” You can Listen to his latest single here.
Kid Cudi walked off-stage to a thunderous applause and a fully-satiated fanbase. Now that Governors Ball takes place in the heart of Flushing, fans were able to exit the grounds and hop on the subways, buses and ride shares that awaited them. Local food trucks and vendors were eagerly awaiting the departing crowd, offering an authentic array of the rich Latin food from the neighborhood.
Saturday – Halsey Can’t Resist Playing “Running Up That Hill,” Debuts New Single
The second day of the festival started strong, with another sunny day and some weather reports of minor scattered showers and thunderstorms. Festival staff were on alert in the event of a sudden storm, to maintain crowd safety and all costs, but thankfully only a few light raindrops dared to rain on the festival goers. And the second day went off without a hitch, with numerous excellent acts leading up to Halsey’s incredible and jaw-dropping headlining performance.
The Mainstage featured standout acts, Benee, Tove Lo, and Still Woozy. Tove Lo wished the audience a happy Pride Month during her set, and played a number of her hit tracks, including “Bikini Porn” and “Habits (Stay High)”
There is little NBA legend Shaquille O’Neil is not involved in after retiring from basketball. The CEO of Papa John’s and ubiquitous spokesperson has cultivated a second life and a cult following as a dubstep producer and DJ. DJ Diesel just released “Welcome To The Playhouse,” a collaboration with EDM giant Steve Aoiki, and is curating (and headlining) two weekends of Shaq’s Bass All Stars which features surging names in the underground bass music scene.
It’s hard for a 7 foot NBA hall of famer not to cast a big presence in everyday life, but behind the decks at Governors Ball, DJ Diesel took on an even larger persona with his hard hitting musical style and frequent cries of “where’s my mosh pit” into the microphone. Drawing one of the largest crowds of the weekend on the second stage, DJ Diesel dropped a wide palate of crowd pleasing favorites and underground bangers. Jerseys from the Lakers, Heat, and Magic littered the crowd, and many were brought onto stage for Shaq to sign and return to his fans.
Roddy Ricch had been scheduled to perform on Saturday, but apparently was forced to cancel at the last minute. A few minutes before he was scheduled to begin his set, a message displayed on the screens alerting the crowd of the cancellation. There was a momentary upset among the crowd, but they picked up from their spots and went on to enjoy the other upcoming sets, Joji, Ashnikko, and Flume. Flume put on an amazing set, with stunning visuals and lighting as the sun went down. Towards the latter half of his set, he brought Tove Lo onstage to join him for a song. The crowd loved it.
Halsey took the stage to a packed crowd of fans who had waited for hours to get the best possible spot. During her set, she mentioned having attended Governors Ball 8 years ago, on the day she signed her record label deal. She told the audience how much of an impact that moment had on her life, signing the deal with her Governors Ball wristband on.
Halsey debuted a new single, “So Good” towards the end of her set. As she began to wrap up, she thanked the crowd again and began a cover of the trending Kate Bush song, “Running Up That Hill.” The song recently made it to the top of the charts for the first time in decades thanks to its inclusion in Netflix’s fourth season of Stranger Things. At the end of the song, she laughed and said, “I couldn’t resist.”
She ended the set with her powerhouse single, “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God.” Fans once again exited the festival in an excited buzz, talking with friends about the long and full day of performances. With the second festival day over, only one more day remained. And fans would have to savor it. Weather reports looked mixed, and there was no telling whether New York would have clear skies or daylong thunderstorms for Sunday. Fans would just have to wait until the morning to find out.
Sunday – J. Cole and Playboi Carti Close Out Governors Ball with a Bang
Despite some ominous weather reports and a passing storm overnight, fans enjoyed mostly sunny weather and moderate heat for the festival’s final day. J. Cole and Playboi Carti were set to close out the festival, with fans in eager anticipation of what was to come on the last day of 2022’s Governors Ball Music Festival. Although many fans complained of sore feet, lack of sleep, or responsibilities they had been shirking all weekend, they all did so with gleeful smiles and laughs.
Clairo’s mainstage set featured some technical issues with her microphone, but she played it off very well with her charming laugh and smile, to huge applause from the audience. The rest of her set went off smoothly, with fans packed to the front of the barricades, singing along for every song. She apologized to fans for the technical difficulties as she exited the stage, but the audience didn’t seem to mind, cheering and thanking her for the moving set.
Clairo checking her mic at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
JID Takes One for the Team, Breaks Wrist Onstage
Atlanta-born rapper JID filled a mid-day slot on the main stage on Sunday. At this point in the day, fans were packing into the main stage grounds to claim their spot for J. Cole. JID is a relative newcomer to the scene, releasing his debut LP The Never Story back in 2017, but the fans who were there to see him were quite familiar with his music and rapped along with him throughout his set. Towards the end of his set, he brought out Kenny Mason for an energetic performance of fan-favorite “Stick.” Unfortunately, JID fell and fractured his wrist while moshing onstage during his performance, but continued on despite the minor injury. It wasn’t made clear the extent of the injury until he was brought onstage for a guest spot during J. Cole’s performance where he admitted he “went too hard, don’t be like me!”
JID also treated the Governors Ball crowd to the live debut of his just released new single, “29 Freestyle.” JID’s flow is as cohesive and vibrant as ever on the new song, which is being teased as a lead up to a new album, The Forever Story. The single and music video were officially released Friday, June 17th.
Japanese Breakfast Returns to Citi Field – the “Scene of the Crime”
Twice-Grammy-Nominated artist and New York Times Bestselling author of Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner and her band performed to a dedicated audience of her most hardcore fans. Japanese Breakfast had played Governors Ball once before, and a huge crowd of adoring fans came to their set to cheer and sing along through nearly every song. “I didn’t know if you would all come today,” Michelle told the crowd, “but you came through, New York. As you always do.”
Japanese Breakfast at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
Michelle threw out the first pitch at Citi Field just a few weeks prior. She joked, “We’re from Philly […] I know I am returning to the scene of the crime, where I threw out the first pitch here for the Mets.” Japanese breakfast recently featured on SNL as the final music guest of the year for season 47. They also released a two-song EP for Spotify Singles this year, featuring a cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” and an acoustic rendition of Japanese Breakfasts’ hit single, “Be Sweet.” During their set, a newly-turned fan was overheard saying, “Wow, they’re amazing. This is amazing, I have to check them out later.”
Japanese Breakfast at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
Playboi Carti Moves the Earth
Playing opposite J. Cole on the GoPuff Stage, Playboi Carti brought his signature staging and rap style and offered a fiery closing to the weekend. Some fans lamented having to choose between the J. Cole and Playboi Carti, but both acts drew impressively large crowds. Playboi Carti spent a good portion of the show rapping from atop a tall pyramid while a singular guitar player patrolled the stage. Featuring constant pyrotechnics and a rabid, near heavy metal-like performance, the set was one of the most chaotic and in-your-face moments of the weekend. Carti’s fans were raging, causing a noticeable bounce in the parking lot of Citi Field while screaming along to the lyrics.
J. Cole took the mainstage for the final performance of the festival’s 2022 year. He came out swinging, starting the opening track, “95 South” from his latest LP, “The Off Season” without wasting a second to introduce himself or greet the crowd, which he only took the time to do before moving into his next song, “Amari.” The crowd let out massive cheers and their dancing literally shook the ground beneath their feet throughout the set. He also included classic tracks “G.O.M.D.,” “Wet Dreamz,” and “No Role Modelz” in his expansive setlist.
J. Cole took on a more wistful tone between songs, pausing for a moment to listen to the sound of a nearby passing 7 train. He then talked about living in Queens writing songs “just down the street from here,” listening to the sounds of the trains while looking out his window. He thanked the audience and said, “New York is like a second home to me.”
J. Cole and JID at Governors Ball, Photograph by David Reichmann
JID and Kenny Mason joined J. Cole on stage to perform “Stick.” Before they started, JID told the crowd, “I want you to be safe out there.” He held up his hand, wrapped in bandages, and said, “I broke my hand earlier during my set because I was raging too hard. Don’t be like me.” He asked the crowd if they felt comfortable with some mosh pits, and told any fans who weren’t comfortable or interested to move back from the pits before they began. “I see fun. I see mosh pits. I see safety.” He held up his hand one more time, “Listen, I’m serious, don’t be like me. Have fun.” The crowd obliged, and a massive wave of movement took over the excited crowd. The three artists flew around the stage.
J. Cole at Governors Ball with JID and Kenny Mason, Photograph by David Reichmann
J. Cole played a few more songs before walking off to an instrumental version of “Hunger on Hillside.” He thanked the audience once more as he walked off. As the fun of the weekend came to a close, fans shuffled off from Citi Field in a happy daze of exhaustion and excitement. They told stories of their day to each other as they found their way to the buses, cars, trains, and bikes that would see them home. Although each fan had their own unique experience, with their own mix of artists and activities, they all shared in this singular one moment that was Governors Ball Music Festival 2022.
Another year of the Governors Ball music Festival has come and gone. Fans were treated to dozens of massive acts who may not typically share a stage together, and were – hopefully – exposed to plenty of new styles, genres, and artists as a result. Governors Ball has and always will be a definitive New York experience, and although New York concert-goers may have to wait another year for the upcoming 12th installment of the festival in 2023, music fans in the Tristate area will have plenty of great options until then. Summer concerts and festivals continue strong in New York City, with Rolling Loud Music Festival, Central Park’s Summerstage Concert Series, and Celebrate Brooklyn’s Summer Concert Series just to name a few.
You can listen to all artists mentioned wherever music is streamed, and see the full photo Gallery featuring coverage from David Reichmann and Joseph Buscarello below.
HalseyJ. ColeKid Cudi at Governors BallJPEGMAFIAJPEGMAFIAJPEGMAFIAJPEGMAFIAGovernors Ball Hydration StaffBlack PumasBlack PumasBlack PumasA$AP FergJack HarlowJack HarlowJack Harlow Kid Cudi takes the mainstage at Governors BallKid Cudi Kid CudiKid CudiKid CudiKid Cudi Kid CudiTove Lo Tove Lo YGYGDenzel Curry backstageDenzel CurryDenzel CurryDenzel CurryFlumeFlume FlumeFlumeHalseyHalseyHalseyHalseyHalsey Halsey Halsey singing Kate Bush cover with Stranger Things inspired lightingHalsey HalseyHalseyHalseyHalseyHand held up during J. Cole’s setJ. Cole ClairoClairo checks her micJ. ColeJ. ColeJ. ColeJ. ColeJapanese Breakfast backstage portraitJapanese Breakfast Japanese Breakfast Japanese BreakfastJapanese BreakfastAudience for Japanese Breakfast cheeringJazmine Sullivan performsKaytranada KaytranadaKaytranadaBeneeBeneeDJ Diesel (Shaq) BackstageDJ DieselChelsea CutlerRoddy Rich Cancelled!Soccer MommyJIDCoin100 Gecs100 GecsPippin!Glass AnimalsGlass AnimalsSamia
The 19th edition of the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival returns to Rochester’s East End June 17 to 25. For Rochester’s music fans there’s no better way to welcome summer. After two years bereft the best nine days of live music of the year, this year’s festival is going to feel extra special.
The festival producers are constantly tweaking the formula every year, and this year is no different. The Hyatt Regency Ballroom joins as the new Club Pass venue this year and the Little Theater and Theater at Innovation Square (nee Xerox Auditorium) return after renovations. But the biggest change this year is the headliner program. Usually ticketed events held at the gorgeous Eastman Theater, this year they will be provided for free at Parcel 5. While we still maintain the best way to enjoy the festival is with a Club Pass (available in both 9- and 3-day options), we won’t fault anyone from going the free route this year. There are many great options, a whopping 130 free shows across five stages, ranging from fresh local talent to seasoned international megastars.
But as you head out to enjoy your free concerts, stick some cash in your pocket, say $30 or $60, and sneak in a club show or two. Tickets for the Club Pass concerts are $30 (or $35 for Kilbourn Hall) and can be purchased at the door right before showtime. Here are some can’t-miss artists you can catch before (or after) hitting the big outdoor shows.
All headliners are at the Midtown Stage at Parcel 5, unless otherwise noted.
Friday June 17 Chris Botti at 9pm, CMD at 7pm
Recommended club shows:
Giveton Gelin Max of Eastman Place, 6:15pm & 10pm
Young self-taught Bahamian trumpet player Giveton Gelin is a rising star, one of those you saw-em-when Jazz Fest stories you’ll be telling in a couple years to anyone that will listen.
The Cookers Kilbourn Hall, 6pm & 10pm
Just across Gibbs Street, the exact opposite show will be happening, but no less riveting. A supergroup of well-seasoned players, Billy Harper, Cecil McBee, George Cables, Eddie Henderson, and Billy Hart, will present one of the most impressive collective resumes of the festival.
https://youtu.be/Gh-PL6OWfks
Saturday, June 18 Devon Allman Project (with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band) 9pm, Samantha Fish 7pm
Recommended club shows:
Ranky Tanky Kilbourn Hall, 6pm & 10pm (also at the Hyatt Regency Rochester Ballroom Sunday June 19, 7:45 & 9:45pm)
This South Carolina-based quintet actually channel the music of West Africa adding in some American roots elements for a lively and infectious sound that is spiritual and uplifting.
Kind Folk Wilder Room, 6pm & 10pm
A young group with no defined leader, this Brooklyn-based quartet fuses styles and melds their talents to create a four-headed monster of jazz.
Sunday, June 19 Tommy Emmanuel 9pm, Andy McKee 7pm
Recommended club shows:
Bill Frisell Temple Theater 7pm, 9:15pm
Despite returning for his festival-leading 9th time, he, his magical guitar, and whatever group he brings, will never not top our list of must-see shows. This year his trio will include Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston.
Under the Surface Glory House International 7:30pm & 9:30pm
Heavily improvised and full of that mystical ethereal quality that seems to always emerge from the Global Jazz Now Series year after year, this multi-generational trio of Danish musicians is going to turn some heads at this year’s festival.
Monday, June 20 Spyro Gyra 9pm, Bill Tiberio Band 7pm
Recommended club shows:
Sammy Miller and the Congregation Kilbourn Hall 6pm & 9pm
Drummer Sammy Miller leads this septet that plays what they appropriately call, “joyful jazz.” If you want to leave a set with a smile on your face, this is your place.
Ana Egge Little Theater 7pm & 9:15pm
Egge is a singer-songwriter that has lived a life and isn’t afraid to sing about it, with some honest and rich folk tunes that will stick with you. She’ll round out her trio for these shows with Alison Shearer on sax and the RT’s Alden Harris-McCoy on guitar.
Tuesday, June 21 Robin Thicke 9pm, The Dip 7pm
Recommended club shows:
Oskar Stenmark Trio Glory House International 730pm & 930pm
Music is in his blood, literally tracing back to 1762. Trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn player Stenmark leads his trio fusing sounds of his native Sweden with those of his adopted home of New York City.
Jeremy Beck and the Heavy Duty Horns RIJF Big Tent 8:30pm & 10pm (also on Monday at Montage 6pm & 10pm)
Keyboardist Jeremy Beck brings an eight-piece horn-heavy band that blends gospel, soul and rock into a funky stew. The Big Tent will be jumping.
Wednesday, June 22 Sheila E. 9pm, Sy Smith 7pm
Recommended club shows:
Arturo O’Farrill Quintet Kilbourn Hall 6pm & 9pm
Grammy winner and founder and director of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, O’Farrill most often plays with his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, he brings his smaller Quintet to the festival, but we still imagine there will be plenty of chair dancing.
Stephane Wrembel Theater at Innovation Square 6:30pm & 8:30pm
A Rochester favorite, Wrembel is one of the leading curators of Gypsy jazz guitar and other than just plumbing and recreating it’s history, he also redefines it with incredible guitar wizardry. If you seen him before, you won’t miss it, if you haven’t, here’s your chance get aboard.
Thursday, June 23 Booker T Presents: A Soul Stax Revue 9pm, Soul Stew 7pm
Recommended club shows:
Big Lazy Montage Music Hall 6pm & 10pm (also on Friday at the Little Theater 7pm & 9:15pm)
A trio of guitar, bass and drums, Big Lazy has honed their craft in the small spaces of New York City, arriving at a sound that overextends their number and instrumentation, simultaneously noir and pastoral, gothic and modern.
Itamar Borochov Quartet Wilder Room 6pm & 10pm
Israeli-born trumpet player blends influences, both religious and secular, from the Middle East and North Africa with more traditional jazz for a uniquely satisfying sound.
Friday, June 24 New Power Generation 9pm, Con Brio 7pm (also at MLK Park: The Bacon Brothers 9pm, Julia Nunes 7pm)
Recommended club shows:
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra Montage Music Hall 6pm & 10pm
Has there been a steel pannist at the festival before? Regardless, Jonathan Scales will be the best to have played it, and it won’t be a mere novelty act either. This might be your favorite discovery of the festival.
The Huntertones RIJF Big Tent 8:30pm & 10pm (also on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Rochester Ballroom 7:45pm & 9:45pm)
The Huntertones return to the festival with their horn-heavy big sound funk party that seems custom built to fill the RIJF Big Tent.
Friday, June 24 G. Love and Special Sauce 9pm, Danielle Ponder 7pm (also at MLK Park: Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors 9pm, Ward Hayden and the Outliers 7pm)
Recommended club shows:
Immanuel Wilkins Temple Theater 7pm, 9:15pm
Wilkins’ debut was named the #1 jazz album of the year by the New York Times, and his 2022 follow-up with the same quartet was described by Pitchfork as “ocean-deep jazz epics.” This is a young saxophonist with a lot to say and contribute to the jazz world, an apt artist to close out the festival with.
Kurt Elling “Super Blue” with Charlie Hunter Kilbourn Hall 6pm & 9pm
Seasoned and renowned jazz vocalist Kurt Elling will be featuring his new blues-based project, Super Blue, featuring none other than Charlie Hunter on his custom bass/guitar.
The Chelsea Music Festival 2022 in NYC has announced its 13 season and the theme is “Not Without You,” which explores the deep bond between Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn on the 175th anniversary of their passing. It will run from June 23-26. then finally on the 28.
The Chelsea Music Festival celebrates the creativity of one of New York City’s most dynamic neighborhoods and brings together world-renowned performers to celebrate great music. Since 2010, festival has established itself as a critically-acclaimed, accessible and interactive gateway to chamber music in non-traditional concert spaces like art galleries, churches, and more.
The 2022 festival theme reflects on the need to be with and encourage one another, especially due to the forced distance after the pandemic.
Chelsea Music Festival 2022 Lineup
June 23- Exhibition Reception- How To Operate in a Blue Room
Resident artist Jonathan VanDyke created the exhibition How to Operate in a Blue Room, which features the artist’s sewn paintings, a selection of the amaryllis flowers that the artist raises in his studio, sculptures, and scraps from his studio projects.
June 24- Festival Opening Night: Not Without You
The festival’s opening night concert includes music by J.S. Bach, V. Silvestrov, and a New York Premiere of a new work by Misato Mochizuki, as well as music by the people being celebrated in the theme, Fanny & Felix Mendelssohn.
June 25- Das Jahr: Twelve Months Personified at 7 P.M.
The evening features pianists playing “Das Jahr” by Fanny Mendelssohn. It is one of her most sparkling compositions, as it is a twelve-part piano suite based on the months of the year.
Later in the evening, award-winning string duo ARKAI Music will be performing a mix of original and classic songs, as well as a special premiere of their latest single release, “Patchwork.” They are known for their infusion of classical and rock music.
Pianist & composer Carmen Staaf joins the Festival for a matinee jazz performance and will be joined by the Ensemble-in-Residence Ulysses Quartet as they play Staaf’s own compositions and Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite.
The Ensemble-in-Residence Ulysses Quartet have been described by The Guardian as “emotively and dynamically astounding,” as they perform music that ties into the theme “Not Without You,” and to the artwork of Jonathan VanDyke.
Ulysses Quartet.
June 28- Festival Finale— Siblings & Soulmates
For the final day of the festival, the concert will tie together the Mendelssohn siblings lives through song, as well as through poetry and chamber music.
For more information and to buy tickets to the Chelsea Music Festival, go here.
Governors Ball Music Festival wrapped up its third and final day on Sunday, June 12. Narrowly avoiding passing thunderstorms, the weekend was punctuated by a headlining performance from J. Cole, who performed a career-spanning set, including songs off his 2021 LP The Off-Season.
J. Cole has lived much of his life in New York, and reminisced about writing some of his most influential music in the city. “It’s so crazy to be here, with the train going by…I used to live right down the street, writing songs as the trains go by.” J. Cole opened his set with a fiery performance of “95.South” and also brought out J.I.D. and Kenny Mason for “Stick.” J.I.D. broke his hand moshing during his set earlier in the day, and pleaded to the crowd: “Don’t be like me; safety first!”
Kaytranada, Governors Ball, 6/12/22. Photo by Buscar Photo
As with all three headliners over the weekend, a majority of the bands on the lineup are celebrating releases dating back to 2020. With a complete year and a half hiatus in the live music industry as a result of the pandemic, 2022 is jam packed with artists touring off releases a couple years old as well as albums that are hot out of the studio. Soccer Mommy is only two weeks away from her highly anticipated fourth LP Sometimes, Forever while Coin are only a few months into the life of their fifth LP Uncanny Valley. Clairo is also still touring behind her strong sophomore LP Sling, released last year.
Stay tuned later in the week for our full coverage of the entire Governors Ball weekend. In the meantime, check out more photos from Sunday from NYS Music photographers David Reichmann and Joseph Buscarello in the gallery below.
KaytranadaKaytranadaJazmine SullivanJapanese BreakfastJapanese BreakfastJapanese BreakfastJapanese BreakfastClairoJ. ColeJ. Cole and J.I.D.J. Cole and J.I.D.100 GecsCoinGlass AnimalsGlass AnimalsGlass AnimalsJ.I.D.Soccer Mommy
Governors Ball Music Festival continued on Saturday, June 11th, outside of Flushing Meadows in Queens. Saturday featured a triumphant headlining set from Edison, New Jersey native Halsey who is still running strong off her fourth LP If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power released in 2021.
Halsey had a setback earlier this week when her show on June 8th at Merriweather Post Pavillion had to be abruptly cancelled due to severe flooding at the venue. Unfazed by the heartbreak, Halsey delivered a powerful performance for the Flushing crowd. Governors Ball will always be a special occasion for Halsey; she attended the festival in 2014 (the day she signed her record deal), played an early evening set in 2018, and headlined on Saturday.
Halsey, Governors Ball, 6/11/22. Photo by Buscar Photo
During Halsey’s set, she admitted she “couldn’t resist” playing a cover of Kate Bush’s timeless classic “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” and also treated fans to the live debut of her just-released new single, “So Good.” Other performers included Flume, Denzel Curry, DJ Diesel (Shaq), Tove Lo, and Dehd. Photos from day two of Governors Ball by David Reichmann and Joseph Buscarello are below.
Denzel Curry, Governors Ball, 6/11/22. Photo by Buscar Photo
Day two was not without it’s hiccups. With a packed main stage waiting for Roddy Rich, the festival announced halfway through his set-time that Roddy Rich would not be performing. The disappointed crowd flooded over to the other stages and packed in for Joji and Denzel Curry.
Flume, Governors Ball, 6/11/22. Photo by Buscar Photo
The third and final day of the festival is today and features a headline performance from J. Cole. Other bands NYS Music are excited to see include Kaytranada, Japanese Breakfast, 100 Gecs, Soccer Mommy, and J.I.D.. Check back tomorrow for photos from the Governors Ball finale.
