The Farming Man Fest returns to Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont on Saturday, July 16, from 2 pm to 11 pm.
The celebration paused due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but is back and better than ever, offering attendees hours of live music and craft beverages. The fest will celebrate with 28 breweries, 4 distilleries, 7 bands, and 4 DJs over the course of 9 hours.
Farming Man, formerly known as Bottle Share, began in 2014 with about 10 breweries with the aim to help the industry grow and network. After just a few years, the fest has successfully grown after being first opened completely to the public in 2018.
Visitors can take in the scenery of the century-old Indian Ladder Farms orchards as they make their way to the back of the farm where the fest will take place overseeing views of the Helderberg Escarpment. Producers from all over New York State will meet them there with brews and ciders to enjoy as they take in the live music.
This year’s featured bands include The Jagaloons, Televisionaries, The Abyssmals, Bruel County Bad Boys, BattleaXXX, Mystery Girl, The College Farm, and DJs Big Ed, Ritz Carlton, and Spacewolf with Masterpeace.
Another highlight of the festival will be the premiere of “Farming Man the Beer,” which Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery Head Brewer, Scott Veltman, will taste on the day of the festival. Multiple breweries collaborated with Indian Ladder Farms, including Common Roots Brewing, Plan Bee, Wayward Lane, and others.
Tickets for those who wish to just enjoy music and food are $25. General Admission for those 21+ are $30, and includes a commemorative pint glass. Kids under 13 years of age are free. For more information and tickets, click here.
The full list of participating breweries and distilleries can be found below.
Arrowood Farms Brewery, Artisanal Brew Works, Big aLICe Brewing, Bolton Landing Brewing, Bound By Fate, Brewery at CIA, Brooklyn Cider House, Browns, Common Roots Brewing, Community Beerworks, Creature Comforts, Frog Alley, Helderberg Mountain Brewing, Mixed Breed Brewing, Nine Pin, ONCO Fermentations, Paradox, Rare Form, Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company, Rockaway Brewing, Saint James Brewery, Single Cut Beersmiths, Strong Rope Brewery, Unified Beerworks, Wayward Lane, Whitman Brewing Company, Woodstock, and The Warbler Brewery, Albany Distilling Co., Four Fights Distillery, Kings County Distillery, and New Scotland Spirits.
The 10th anniversary of Peach Music Festival took place at Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA over July 4th weekend. The festival began in 2012 by the Allman Brothers and Live Nation. Throughout the years, the music of the Allman Brothers has remained a focus with the evolving cast of musicians. The Montage Mountain Ski resort transforms into a water park in the summer months, and the Pavilion hosts concerts. The water park is a unique aspect to a music festival that makes this festival appealing to a wide range of guests.
Day 1: Billy Strings Closes Out the Opening Day
While some people began arriving on Wednesday, most guests arrived on Thursday, June 30. It was a beautiful day to set up camp and get ready for the music to begin in the late afternoon. Billy Strings, Keller Williams, Samantha Fish, Midnight North, Yam-Yam, Consider the Source were among the acts kicking off the festival.
There was a noticeable air of excitement for Billy Strings, with a consistently long line at his merch tent. Keller Williams delivered a late afternoon set full of classics with the aid of an array of pedals, but mostly just his trusty acoustic. Samantha Fish was a delightful surprise. Beginning the day unaware of her music, her set filled with powerful vocals, rocking guitars, and a striking stage presence. I became a fan. The evening headliner, Billy Strings, played to a packed pavilion and lawn. A full day of anticipation exploded into a sea of fans swaying and singing along to his blend of Bluegrass and Jam. Speaking with fans over the course of the weekend, Billy’s set was constantly a fan favorite. Consider the Source, the New York City trio, closed out the Grove Stage for Thursday with their unique blend of Sci-Fi Fusion. Steeped in Middle Eastern influences, their cosmic sound set the perfect tone to bookend a truly great day of music.
Day 2: Weather Doesn’t Dampen Spirits
Friday, day two of the festival, included another full day of music and enjoying the venue. Before the music began, the fans enjoyed the art displays in the lodge and utilized the water park. A sober group of music fans also held their morning meeting at the lodge, making the Peach Festival at Montage Mountain a welcome place for all fans.
Music began mid-day with Eggy, The Jauntee, Marco Benevento, Eric Krasno, The Kitchen Dwellers, The Motet, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, Andy Frasco & The U.N., Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. The late afternoon sets were affected by a severe weather event that had fans sheltering under the spacious pavilion. The house speakers kept fans happy while heavy rains descended on the grounds. The event staff were extremely helpful and efficient about keeping people safe.
Once the all clear was given, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening brought fans to their feet transporting the crowd to another time and place. The blend of voices and instruments was eerily close to the CDs on which I grew up.
Andy Frasco & The U.N. put on one of the most kinetic performances I’ve ever witnessed. Frasco’s shows are legendary for the band’s energy and crowd interaction. Entering the stage with a baby carriage that was home to an opossum, and raising it to the crowd like Raffiki did with Simba set the wheels in motion for his memorable set. Performing a mix of songs from his new album, Wash, Rinse, Repeat, the crowd was singing along with their favorites. One of several highlights from this set was when Andy had the entire crowd doing the Horah dance with the crew quickly adding extensions to his microphone wire as he waded to the center of the whirling crowd.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong closed out the night with a late night set to a packed pavilion. The rollicking set was cut short with another severe weather event that caused the festival to cancel the rest of their set, out of an abundance of caution for everyone’s safety.
Day 3: Trey Anastasio and Goose
Day three of the festival began with some residual rain, which quickly gave way to a perfectly sunny sky. Karina Rykman, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Jaimoe & Friends, Pixie & The Partygrass Boys, Neighbor, Rayland Baxter, Celisse, The Revivalists, Cordovas, Trey Anastasio Band, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer & Friends, and Goose filled the day with music.
A new artist known to those that attended the festival last year was Celisse. She played the festival on the Grove Stage in 2021 and had Trey Anastasio sit in with her. This year she owned the Peach Stage, belting out songs filled with power and emotion.
The Revivalists were up next on the main stage. David Shaw, the lead singer, brought his voice even closer to the crowd venturing off the stage to stand atop the large speakers. Singing directly to those lucky fans at the rail, Shaw sang crowd favorites with those in the pavilion singing along. As darkness descended on the festival grounds, light-up outfits, hula-hoops, and totems could be seen under the pavilion. The Trey Anastasio Band delivered a packed set which included several Phish covers including “Blaze On,” “Everything’s Right,” and “Gotta Jibboo.” One of the many highlights came towards the end when, in a twist of fortunes, Celisse sat in with Trey. Together they performed three songs: “The Moma Dance, “A Life Beyond The Dream,” and “Rise/Come Together.”
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer closed out the Mushroom Stage, while Cycles closed out the Grove Stage. Goose was the final act of the night with a special late night set. Anticipated all day by fans, Goose did not disappoint. With their ever upward trajectory, the band has amassed a following that is staggering when you consider their brief time together.
Day 4: Black Crowes Close Out Peach
Like all good things, even the Peach Music Festival must come to an end. The fourth day represented the last day of the 10th Anniversary of Peach Music Festival at Montage Mountain. The day began with a sense of melancholy, until the music started. Then fans rejoiced in the waning hours together.
Duane Betts, Daniel Donato & Friends, Maggie Rose, Dogs in a Pile, The Wailers, G. Love & The Juice, TAUK, and The Black Crowes were among the acts rounding out the weekend. Daniel Donato Brought a little county to the festival with Allman roots. At the Mushroom Stage, Dogs in a Pile are with fans enjoying their energetic set of psychedelic fusion. G. Love & The Juice, a band put together by Philly-based G. Love, and, as he describes them, the most exceptional musicians he’s played with. The hip-hop and blues influenced music was perfect companion to the jam-centric sets, which got fans to their feet.
Long Island-based TAUK brought their instrumental, EDM influenced beats to the Mushroom Stage. Their unique sound filled in a void of electronic funk music. The wordless instrumental music gave fans an opportunity to shake the cobwebs off of the weekend and become lost in the beats. To fill in your own emotions and experiences to a song is a special trait of instrumental music.
The final act of the Peach Festival was The Black Crowes. The Rock band fronted by Chris Robinson has been at it for over 30 years. They have continued to be a true rock band that fans flock to. They were a fitting bookend to a truly great weekend of music.
A Grateful Finale
At a special place, like the Peach Festival on Montage Mountain, you can look around at the sea of gyrating bodies, moving together and appreciate the collective experience you’ve just gone through. Smile at the friends that ventured to the festival with you, or the new ones made over the weekend. Having the space to be grateful for the music, the comradery, for all that awaits once we pack up and head home is an incredibly precious gift. As life becomes more entangled and busy, a music festival is truly just what the doctor ordered.
The Battery in New York City announced its lineup for the River and Blues series on Thursdays in July at Wagner Park. Located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, this event is set to featurre fabulous singers including Nicole Atkins, Eljuri, Cha Wa, Lady Wary, Cedric Burnside, and Maggie Rose to enjoy the summer sunsets.
River & Blues at The Battery
The Battery, formerly known as Battery Park, is a 25-acre (10 ha) public park bounded by Battery Place on the north, State Street on the east, New York Harbor to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. The park contains attractions such as an early 19th century fort named Castle Clinton; multiple monuments; and the SeaGlass Carousel.
Nicole Atkins – July 7th at 6PM
Nicole Atkins
Born in New Jersey, Nicole Atkins started playing piano at nine years old and taught herself to play guitar at 13. Now as a soul singer and songwriter, Nicole Atkins blends disco, folk, and country rock on her latest release, Memphis Ice.
Eljuri & Cha Wa – July 14th at 6PM
Elguri
Touted as one of the top Latina guitar players in the world, Eljuri is a genre-fusing artist that blends the sounds and rhythms of her life experiences into her song-writing and guitar playing.
Cha Wa
The New Orleans based Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa had an infectious music and stage show when they were nominated by Grammy. The name Cha Wa is a slang phrase used by Mardi Gras Indian tribes, meaning “we’re comin’ for ya” or “here we come.” Cha Wa has been described as “funk with feathers” – a sound rooted in traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian music mixed with funk and soul, a non-stop groove machine.
Lady Wary – July 21st at 6PM
Lady Wray
Virginia-born artist Nicole Wray shows off her dexterous range of singing and songwriting, infusing hints of soul, R&B, and hip-hop into head-nodding, funky stories with the power to heal.
Cedric Burnside & Maggie Rose – July 28th at 6PM
Maggie Rose
Cooperated with multiple bands, Maggie Rose has learned great experience in music. She also recorded two songs that were featured in episodes of the Disney Channel’s Shake It Up and Good Luck Charlie television series. After years of honing her chops and making her name as a force-of nature vocalist, the Nashville-based singer/songwriter Maggie Rose has dreamed up her own unbridled collision of rock-and-roll, soul, folk, funk, and R&B.
Cedric Burnside
Cedric Burnside, an American electric blues guitarist, drummer, singer and songwriter born into a prominent family of North Mississippi Hill Country legends. These sensibilities are reflected across his work and impeccably showcased on his 2022 GRAMMY™- winning release, I Be Trying. Burnside’s vocals, recorded in Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios in Memphis, focus on romantic reverses and tenacious love with complete understanding.
After two years off, the heavily anticipated Electric Forest Music Festival made a renowned comeback in Rothbury, Michigan. Musicians in various genres gathered on this 4-day event from June 23 to June 26 alongside people from all around the world.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Electric Forest goes beyond so-called norms that other music festivals are known for. In the seemingly middle of nowhere a sense of community is built. This festival has countless activities, events, and secret rewards that feel endless. It’s impossible to experience every single thing Electric Forest has to offer. Every hour of the day has something going on. From DJs playing until 6am, meditation sessions during the day, and secret sets popping off if you’re lucky enough to find them. The Forest does not disappoint and that’s why we compiled a list of some of the top things it has to offer.
Top 10 Things at Electric Forest
1. Saturday Night The String Cheese Incident Signature Shebang
The String Cheese Incident are no strangers to the event as they have been major contributors since Electric Forest was first beginning. It is because of this epic reputation they have built that they continue to play multiple sets throughout the weekend. However, it is their Saturday Night set that always draws the biggest crowd due to their signature “Shebang.” For EF 2022 they brought out other artists on stage, had lasers, giant inflatables, confetti, and fireworks. As if that already wasn’t enough, this year the band had a massive disco ball be lifted over the stage with a crane. This group definitely lives up to their reputation!
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
2. The Brainery Events
All weekend a designated event center called the Brainery compiled a list throughout each day where numerous experiences were available to partake in. These included, crafts, yoga sessions, mediations, sound baths, CPR training, sharing circles and much more. This provided a great space to re-center and connect with others.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
3. The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree is located inside the festival where people get the opportunity leave and take various gifts of your choosing. From jewelry, to lighters, to whatever treasure you can find surrounding the area is open to communal sharing. This tradition has been around for a while and seems to be a popular one as individuals are constantly gathered around the tree.
4. The Outfits
Walking around the forest feels as if you entered a new world! People are dressed in such cool outfits that it makes it feel like a constant party. Performers walk around in groups as well, some even on stilts. The funny coordinated group outfits are a great addition too.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
5. Exploring the Forest at Night
Electric Forest lives up to their name but specifically at night. The lighting, buildings, lasers, and art installations are overflowing throughout the woods. Walking around during the day compared to the night is two different experiences. Night time brings a sense of magic into the air as the colors fill the skies and trees. Even laying down in your hammock is entertaining as you stare up into the fairy oasis of lights.
6. Carousel Club
Various musicians performed at Carousel Club which was a fun stage surrounded by entertaining stands. The walkway to Carousel Club was filled with a golf course, massage areas, a hairstyling room, and a tattoo shop. Seeing a set inside the Carousel Club made for even more fun due to the hot air balloons going up around it and sand filling half of the venue.
RKS at EF Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
7. The Scavenger Hunt
Every year the forest has a secret scavenger hunt. People get to explore the performance stages, phone booths, secret fairy houses, and hush rumors to figure out the puzzles. Collaborative teams can go around trying to find the missing pieces which honestly is a lot harder than it sounds, but it makes for a fun time.
8. Statues
Each year of Electric Forest has a designated statue. These sculptures are massive and beautiful to look at. A new one comes every year but they still display the ones from past years throughout the woods you just have to find them.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
9. DJ Sets at the Observatory
The observatory is a festival and environment stage located in the middle of the lit-up forest. This makes it a prime spot to catch new artists whether your dancing on top of the tall stairs beside it or swinging in your hammock next to it. The stage is built like a castle and is surrounded by art installations. The visuals in this area are a must see.
GRiZ at EF Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
10. The Community
The forest brings so many people from different walks of life and perspectives together in one place. The way this environment is able to strip stresses from real life away and open the door for connection is unlike no other. Everyday presented new experiences and significantly those where you’re always interacting with strangers. Electric Forest is a place for love and connection to flourish. The community it is able to establish is incomparable to any other and really unexplainable. But it’s something that keeps drawing people back every year.
All Photos by Maddie McCafferty
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Brooklyn-based alt-rock artist Moon Walker has released his newest single, “The Price of Life Itself,” off of his upcoming sophomore album, The Attack Of Mirrors, set for release on October 21, 2022.
Photo credit: Madison McConnell
With reverberated vocals, electric guitar, and gritty lyrics, the new track sheds light on injustices in American society. Moon Walker, also known as Harry Springer, wrote the track in the midst of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 after seeing first-hand the militarized response to a peaceful protest.
Moon Walker shares that the track is one of his most proud moments lyrically. The music video, directed by returning Madison McConnell, conveys an uneasy sense of reality to its viewers, channeling the themes of Alice in Wonderland. Taking place in a house covered in ivy, with warm outfits, hazy lighting, and a fish-eye lens, the music video combines groove and defiance into one.
It was a moment where I really realized how much my sense of safety, freedom and protection was a facade. Our country’s institutions are all so deeply broken and flawed, that not only do none of them actually accomplish what they set out to, they likely have the opposite effect. The entire ethos of the song can be summarized in one of the final lyrics: ‘We can stay above the water, while still lending a hand to those who sink.’ That is the price of life itself.
– Moon Walker
Harry Springer coined Moon Walker at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, passing the time by selling songs to various sound libraries. All of his music is composed, produced, and performed in his bedroom, but the sound is fit for much more than that.
Photo Credit: Madison McConnell
After sudden success on the viral video-making app Tik Tok, Moon Walker’s first seven-track album, Truth to Power, rose to light. Artists such as Justin Hawkins praised Moon Walker for his work, and he is back with his sophomore effort on The Attack of Mirrors out early this fall.
The second album from Moon Walker will see a more maximalist, experimental approach than compared to his previous work. With powerful, thought-provoking lyrics and a unique sound, the new album is sure to have success.
Brooklyn-based indie-rock band Wilder Maker released their newest single, “A Professional” on June 27 from their upcoming album, Male Models, out on July 29 via Western Vinyl. The single features guest lead vocalist Felicia Douglass of Dirty Projectors and Ava Luna.
Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz
Made up of musicians Gabriel Birnbaum, Nick Jost, and Sean Mullins, Wilder Maker began with a series of self-releases and home recordings before debuting music such as “New Streets” (2017), and Zion (2018) to much acclaim. Their upcoming Male Models album was live-recorded over several days and includes an impressive lineup of guest vocalists.
The track, “A Professional” is one of twelve songs on Male Models. Although the lead vocalist and songwriter of Wilder Marker, Birnbaum, does not sing on the track, Douglass’ vocals shine right in the start. Her voice carries the song’s message of isolation with feeling. With simple chords eventually overlaid with drum beats and other instrumentation, the track blends together beautifully.
’A Professional’ dips into the feeling of digital isolation … the way the physical world has become less real and more ghostly, less mysterious and more quantifiable. It’s inspired by this recurring experience I have, usually traveling, where I’ve been alone all day and I suddenly want to connect very badly with people I care about. I fire off several texts and sit there waiting for the phone to light up, with this strange feeling that everyone I know might have vanished. As soon as I imagined Felicia singing this song, I knew she’d be perfect for it, and she was. I’m so happy and grateful she was able to do it.
– Songwriter Gabriel Birnbaum
The upcoming Male Models features more guest lead vocalists, including an impressive line-up of Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), Katie Von Schleicher, Felicia Douglass, Alex Schaaf (Yellow Ostrich), V.V. Lightbody, and Mutual Benefit. Across the 12 songs on the album, audiences will find electrified soul, heartfelt folk songs, indie rock, and more.
Birnbaum drew from a wide array of inspirations for the album, including everything from American novelist James Salter, the NBA playoffs, to Thin Lizzy and the topic of masculinity. After making music for nearly a decade together, Wilder Maker is set for the release of yet another energetic album – stay tuned for July 29.
The 2022 Summer at the Plaza Festival lineup has been announced. The festival will be at the Empire State Plaza in Albany and it will feature family-friendly concerts, movies, and festivals, starting with the annual July 4 celebration.
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy announced the lineup and spoke about the festival in a statement.
Thousands of people come to our free Summer at the Plaza events each year with their family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy the great entertainment, delicious food, and beverages, and the amazing fireworks at New York State’s Independence Day celebration. We have an exciting lineup of concerts, festivals, and movies this year with something for everyone. I want to thank our generous 2022 sponsors whose support makes it all possible.
Summer at the Plaza 2022Events
July 4, 5 – 10 P.M. New York State’s 4th of July Celebration Presented by Price Chopper/Market 32 with a performance by Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas.
This annual event features live music and fun for the whole family, including a fireworks show. Each year more than 20,000 people gather on the Plaza and in the surrounding neighborhoods to enjoy the day, which includes a naturalization ceremony, dozens of food and craft vendors, activities for kids, and an evening of live entertainment leading up to the big pyrotechnics show.
Starship featuring Mickey Thomas.
July 16, noon – 5 P.M. Kids Day Presented by MVP Health Care featuring “Dino Ranch”
Kids Day is a day dedicated to activities that kids can do. There will be live music, face painting, horses, rock wall, balloon twisting, and more. Kids Day will feature characters from the animated series “Dino Ranch” and will be held in the parks on the east and west side of the state Capitol.
August 6, 2 – 7 p.m. Black Arts & Cultural Festival Presented by UpState New York Black Chamber of Commerce featuring SWV
The Black Arts and Cultural Festival is an updated take on a classic celebration of the traditions and cultural contributions of the Black community through music, art, dance, and more. The celebration will feature a performance by R&B group SWV, one of Billboard’s “Top 40 Female Groups of All Time.”
SWV
August 17, 11 A.M. – 9 P.M. New York State Food Festival featuring the Eli Young Band
The annual Food Festival pairs a wide variety of delicious food and beverages with an exciting lineup of free entertainment, featuring a country music performance by the Eli Young Band.
Eli Young Band.
September 14, 5 – 9 P.M. Hops & Harvest Festival
The Hops and Harvest Festival was first held in 2018, and it celebrates the best of what autumn has to offer in upstate New York. Headline performer to be announced.
September 24, 5 – 9 P.M. Hispanic Heritage Celebration featuring Charlie Cruz, Amarfis, & Fulanito
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the state’s annual cultural celebration, featuring live music and dancing inside the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. This year’s celebration will feature performances by musical acts Charlie Cruz, Amarfis, and Fulanito.
Amarfis.Fulanito (Photo by Brian To/FilmMagic)Charlie Cruz.
The Capital Concert Series presented by Miller Lite and DeCrescente Distributing Company offers four Wednesday evening concerts free to the public. Each performance starts at 5:30 P.M. with a list of award-winning and diverse artists.
Rock band moe. is the first act to kick off the Capital Concert Series Lineup. They formed at the University of Buffalo in 1990, and are known for their unique sounds and epic concert performances. They have played with well-known bands, like the Allman Brothers Band, Robert Plant, members of the Grateful Dead, and more.
Grammy-award-winners Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will headline the July 13 date of the concert series. Benatar and Giraldo, whose hits include “We Belong,” “Invincible,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” “Promises In The Dark,” “We Live For Love,” “Heartbreaker,” and “Hell Is For Children,” have created two multi-platinum, five platinum, and three gold albums, as well as 19 Top 40 hits.
Grammy-award-winning Jamaican-bred quintet Inner Circle has had a long string of successes stretching back to the 1970s. The King Yellowman Show won a contest and then went on to play reggae for crowds all over Jamaica and the rest of the world.
Inner Circle.The King Yellowman Show featuring K’reema & The Sagittarius Band
Melle Mel and Scorpio were members of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five which was the first rap group inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Sugar Hill Gang has released hits such as “Rapper’s Delight,” “Apache,” “8th Wonder,” and “Living in the Fast Lane.”
Melle Mel and Scorpio with The Sugar Hill Gang
The lineup for the Lunchtime at the Plaza Concert Series Presented by M&T Bank has been announced. The free outdoor concert series provides live music from noon to 1:30 P.M. on Wednesdays between June 1 and July 27 at the Empire State Plaza. New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy spoke about the lunchtime events in a statement.
The lunchtime concert series provides an excellent opportunity for state employees and the public to get outside and enjoy a live performance while eating lunch from one of the Plaza food trucks or shopping at the weekly summer farmers market. We want to thank M&T Bank for their generous sponsorship of this Summer at the Plaza event
Lunchtime at the Plaza Concert Series Presented by M&T Bank
The last set of events happening at Summer at the Plaza 2022 are the outdoor move nights in West Capitol Park starting at 8 P.M. for three Wednesdays, featuring classic films.
Capitol Park After Dark Movies Series in West Capitol Park
August 24 — “The Wiz”
August 31 — “Sunset Boulevard”
September 7 — “The Philadelphia Story”
All events for the Summer at the Plaza 2022 celebration are free. For more information on the events, go here.
Navigating relationships as a young adult is akin to walking a maze blindfolded, often never knowing where you truly stand. While the term “dating” remains a pseudonym for two people getting to know one another, Gen-Z has developed its own distorted relationship standing, where the two parties are neither “just friends,” nor committed, yet are dependent on one another. On the single “Breadcrumbs,” Piper Page brings transparency to a messy situation.
The song came right from a personal experience with my ‘ex-who-wasn’t-really-my-ex.’ We had an on-again, off-again relationship for several months and it inspired me to write about the concept of ‘breadcrumbing’ which I had just come to learn about.
Breadcrumbing is defined by Urban Dictionary as “the act of sending out flirtatious, but non-committal text messages in order to lure a sexual partner without expending much effort.” The song “Breadcrumbs,” is a soulful ballad that sees the 21-year-old Brooklyn native cleanse herself of her situation-ship. Remaining brutally honest about her standing within this cycle of ambiguity.
Piper Page’s songwriting paints a vivid picture as she recounts a common tale within the current social media based dating scene. While infidelity has alway played a part in relationships, Piper Page captures the essence far less desirable role of “best-friend, with a little romance and flirting in the DMs.”
The meanings are supposed to be completely obvious and relatable. Navigating dating is recognizing that at a certain point, you just have to say what you mean. Instead of always thinking someone is going to know what you mean.
The record is one in a slew of singles from the songstress in anticipation of her upcoming album, Based on True Events. Singles like “Do You Want Me Or Not?” and “Risk” follow similar themes of “experiences with dating and exploring relationships as a young adult for the first time.” Yet, Piper Page’s polished vocals gives each record a mature feel.
New York City-based pop-punk band Baby Got Back Talk debuted their latest single and music video for “Model Minority” off their upcoming Wiretap Records debut EP, Existential Shred, due out in September.
The band was originally formed in 2017, consisting of G’Ra Asim (vocals/bass), Rhiana Hernandez (keyboard), and Jake Lazaroff (guitar/vocals). After years of sharing bills with acts like Choked Up, Universe Ignore Her, and Gibbons, Wes Ruiz (drums) was eventually brought into the band’s fold.
Baby Got Back Talk likens this new single to Keri Hilson’s “Pretty Girl Rock,” – where “Model Minority” is a rallying cry for queer people and people of color. The accompanying music video directed by Carla Troconis is a homage to My Chemical Romance’s “I’m Not Okay (I Promise) with a more modern twist. The band also teamed up with producer John Naclerio and Nada Recording Studios for their latest EP.
We’re what punk looks like in the 2020s: driven by a DIY ethic, conversant with social issues–especially as they pertain to gender and race, enabled by inter-web, bankrolled by day jobs, powered by a rad like-minded community, resonant with the most venerable iterations of rock ‘n’ roll but firmly committed to injecting some new flavor into the mold.
– Baby Got Back Talk
Previously named one of AfroPunk’s Top 8 Punkest Bands on the Planet, some of the band’s performances include the AfroPunk Festival in 2019 and Punk Island the year before. Their full-length album, Genre Reveal Party, was mixed by Paul Leavitt who has worked with All Time Low, Senses Fail, and Yellowcard in the past.
To keep up with the band, you can find them on socials @babygotbacktalk across platforms and at babygotbacktalk.com.
The unique event features craft beer accompanied by live musical performances throughout the day and evening – topped off with a massive firework finale.
Over 50 NYS craft breweries will travel to share their unique brews with festival-goers, many of who had participated in the NYS Craft Beer Competition.
Heritage Hill sits on 300 acres of protected farmland and resides on one of the highest points and center of New York State. Nine counties can be seen from the venue, creating the perspective of being “top of the world.”
Heritage Hill
Dan Palladino, Owner of Heritage Hill Brewhouse, spoke about the excitement of hosting the BriteVibes Beer and Music Festival.
Our family is excited to be the new host of the BriteVibes Festival and we cannot wait for you to experience the beauty of our farm and location. As host of Empire Farm Days, we know how to host a great event and by partnering with NYSBA we are going to collectively give you a full-day experience you will never forget.
