Six years after the fateful Curveball, Phish will once again host a summer music festival, this time in Dover, Delaware, on the grounds of Firefly Music Festival.
The news was broken on social media today, with a Save the Date for August 15-18, 2024.
The announcement – nearly 11 months before the event kicks off, included the following message:
“Save the Date for the next Phish festival! August 15-18, 2024 at The Woodlands in Dover, Delaware. More info about tickets, camping, Glen Close and travel packages coming later this fall. Make sure you’re signed up for the Phish Update to hear about it first (via email + our shiny new SMS list). Sign up at phish.com/update.”
Phish last held a festival in 2015 with Magnaball in Watkins Glen, their 11th overall music festival. Curveball in 2018 was cancelled just before the musics started, due to water supply issues, leaving many fans wondering if a Phish festival would ever return to Watkins Glen, or anywhere else. Today, Phish fans can rest assured as they plan for a unique music festival experience, featuring only Phish as well as plenty of unexpected surprises, art installations, and much more. Stay tuned for updates on Phish’s first shows in Delaware since 1994.
In a historic revival of Grateful Dead music culture, CEG Presents and Keeping the Dead Alive, are thrilled to announce the launch of weekly Grateful Dead night “Dead Country Tuesdays.”
This event marks the return of a weekly Dead Night to Manhattan after a hiatus of over two decades. The festivities are set to kick off Tuesday, Sept. 12 at Hill Country Live on 26th Street east of 6th Avenue in Manhattan.
The inaugural evening will feature a high-energy performance by the hot, up-and-coming Grateful Dead tribute band, Strangers Stopping Strangers out of Jersey City. Fans can expect a mix of classic Dead tunes and energetic interpretations from the group, whose commitment to capturing the lively essence of the Grateful Dead has garnered them a cult following.
Dayna Bauman, co-creator of “Dead Country Tuesdays,” expressed, “Memento Mori is remembering that things pass. The Dead taught us that when they do if we show up together, we can transmute them once again into something beautiful. That’s our hope here, to honor this legacy while supporting the birth of the next generation of music.”
Bauman founded Keeping the Dead Alive to introduce the musicians who have been inspired by the Grateful Dead, particularly the next generation of original musicians who are influenced by the group. She has worked tirelessly to preserve and promote the music and ethos of the Grateful Dead. “Dead Country Tuesdays” is a testament to her unwavering commitment to keeping the spirit of the Dead alive.
Tickets for “Dead Country Tuesdays” can be purchased online here.
“Dead Country Tuesdays” Schedule
September 12 Strangers Stopping Strangers 19 Shakedown Citi 26 Near Dead Experience October 24 Steely Dead 31 Bearly Dead November 7 tba 14 Workingman’s Jed 28 Knock ‘Em Dead
On the heels of a performance on the Rooftop at Pier 17, Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann will bring a mob of musicians, Billy and the Kids to the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester this October.
photo by Filip Zalewski
The pair of shows will take place on October 20 and 21, the only dates on the calendar for this talented group of musicians.
The announcement arrived in a late-Thursday tweet from Billy and the Kids’ official account:
So… we went pier to pier. Up next, we’re thinking of maybe pulling into a port and kicking up our feet for two nights…. But what port?
Then on Friday, the announcement was official as Bill Kreutzmann said “I had so much fun going ‘Pier to Pier’ with the Kids last month, but now it’s time to pull into port – Port Chester, NY, that is – and drop anchor for two nights at Peter Shapiro’s Deadhead Palace.”
Kreutzmann added “So I’m inviting all of you to my East Coast ‘Daze of the Dead’ parties. Please dress in costume (if the spirit moves). Billy and The Kids will be joined for both of these shows by some very special guests – I’ll keep you guessing for now, but I’m just over the moon about them.”
Later that afternoon, it was revealed that the Capitol Theatre run will include frequent lineup contributors Tom Hamilton, Aron Magner, Reed Mathis, and unnamed guests, although as Jambands.com points out, most recently on the road, Kreutzmann invited Kanika Moore and Daniel Donato to join as special guests.
Kreutzmann ended his message with a hint at future shows out west, saying “When we dance, we are all together, we are all one, and we are all very much alive. This ‘Daze of the Dead’ trick is for New York but don’t you worry California – stay tuned for a special treat.”
Presale for Billy & The Kids at the Capitol Theatre is now underway.
Organ Fairchild’s new album, Leisure Suit, was released on all platforms on September 8. The sophomore album from the Buffalo-based jam band, the group recorded, mixed, and co-produced the album in New York’s Hudson Valley.
An eclectic instrumental mix from the band’s three members, Joe Bellanti, Corey Kertzie, and Dave Ruch, Leisure Suit carries an ever-positive energy and displays the group’s technical skill and creativity. A stand out feature of the album is the guitar tracks as well as, of course, the ever-present organ throughout the record.
The title track and opening song on the record, “Leisure Suit,” has an earworm opening guitar track that captures the listener as it repeats throughout the song. This track especially highlights guitarist Dave Ruch’s laid-back yet technically impressive skills.
In addition, the group mastered a cover of the famed Grateful Dead’s “He’s Gone.” The beloved track with numerous live recordings, as per Grateful Dead usual, is a seamless fit with Organ Fairchild’s tone and musical presence. Instead of a vocal track, the band opts for a guitar playing the usual vocal melody. In addition, the group infuses an upbeat rhythm to the classic track.
A third track on Leisure Suit that stands out is the final “Rusty Barge.” The band shared that this track came as engineer Justin Guip played effects pedals on his hands and knees, coaxing the song from the musicians. An eerie yet invigorating opening echo, the song opens into a sci-fi-like mysterious tune with a constant organ tone.
Photo by Greg Meadows
Organ Fairchild is Joe Bellanti (organ/keyboard), Corey Kertzie (drums/percussion), and Dave Ruch (guitar). Leisure Suit was recorded and mixed by Juistin Guip at Milan Hill Studio, co-produced by the band and Guip, and mastered by Alan Evans at Iron Wax Studios.
This year’s annual end-of-the-summer celebration of music in Lake George at the Adirondack Independence Music Festival saw two evenings with moe. and a one evening with Dark Star Orchestra. The three-day festival held over Labor Day Weekend saw day-long music with bands alternating between two main stages.
photo by Allison Marie
The festival is always a smooth event, and as attendees we get to see the machinations of soundchecks and the work of loading and off-loading a stage, thanks to side-by-side stages. Emcee Jeff Morad from WEQX gave hourly hydration reminders as he thanked each band and announced the next act. The organization has it down, and it’s great to be there catching all the jams.
Photo by Derek Java
Day One saw a mix of regional and national acts. Standouts during the day were the always jammy Dogs in a Pile, a super fun band, and if you haven’t seen them, consider New Years Eve at Putnam Place. Keller Williams was blissful as always, starting his set with a great version of “Breathe.” Throughout a great loop-filled set (he is a master at building songs solo using loops), he dropped covers and originals, and standing out was a fun-filled “Freeker by the Speaker.” You can’t count any of the daytime bands out, though, as all day was filled with fun jams, people dancing, and bubbles floating through the air. Other daytime acts included Hilltop, Sophistafunk, Eggy, Lucid.
Photo by Derek Java
Headliners on Friday were the always incredible Dark Star Orchestra (DSO). Bringing an authentic sound to the date they reinterpreted, DSO channeled the Grateful Dead’s show on April 16, 1978 show from Huntington, WV, with clarity and wisdom. The sound was spot-on and the crowd danced and sang along all evening. We know the term “nostalgia act” gets some negative connotations, but for DSO, that is the mission, who make every show fun for spectators to guess the date of the show, and the more knowledgeable in the crowd can guess the direction the show is taking by the equipment being brought out by the players. Super fun evening with a classic Dead show performed by DSO.
Photo by Derek Java
Saturday of Adirondack Independence Music Festival saw more attendees and a continuation of killer music. Star-on-the-rise Karina Rykman brought the jams throughout her set, working off her new album, Joyride.
For listeners at ADK Fest, the first half of her 60 minute set saw only three songs, as she and her two bandmates, Adam November on guitar and Chris Corsico on Drums, set the festival alight, taking risks and diving deep into the jammy sections of her bass-led compositions.
Photo by Derek Java
Saturday also had a particular reggae vibe to it. Roots of Creation brought their fiery dub-ska, blending a mythos of Bob Marley-esque roots with Grateful Dead covers including “Row Jimmy” and “Fire on the Mountain,” lots of fun for all seeing this band.
Mihali brought his reggae vibe, too, bringing out a new tune or two, with Twiddle fans all smiles singing reggae-tinged Twiddle songs and Mihali’s own songs from his album Effection.
Photo by Derek Java
There was also a “foodie” aspect to the daytime bands on Ssaturday, with a blend of rock and jam by Creamery Station, Baked Shrimp, and stretching the metaphor, Melt. Fans of these bands and new listeners alike had a great day of music. Rounding out the daytime acts were Dumpstaphunk.
photo by Chris De Cotis
moe. has made ADK Fest the spiritual successor to moe.down, with a feel of Labor Day weekends spent in Turin at Snow Ridge Ski Resort throughout the weekend. Opening up with a pair of tunes usually played in reverse – “Okayalright” and “Wormwood” – moe. could have opted for “Not Coming Down” to complete the Wormwood trilogy, but shifted to “Downward Facing Dog” before inviting Ivan Neville from Dumpstaphunk to the stage for “Happy Hour Hero.”
photo by Dave Decrescente
Set 2 saw Mihali come to the stage for an intense and exploratory “Recreational Chemistry” (see video below), and moe. breaking out a set nearly full of old school songs, capped off with a classic “Jazz Wank” > “Buster.” For an encore, the addition of Nate Wilson to the lineup has led to the fresh covers making their appearance in the last two years, this evening including Traffic’s “Light Up or Leave Me Alone.”
Set 1: Okayalright > Wormwood > Downward Facing Dog, Happy Hour Hero^, Yellow Tigers -> Mar-Dema > Brent Black Set 2: Recreational Chemistry* > Sensory Deprivation Bank > Seat Of My Pants > Ups And Downs, Jazz Wank > Buster Encore: Light Up Or Leave Me Alone, Spaz Medicine ^ With Ivan Neville on keys. * With Mihali on guitar.
photo by Chris De Cotis
Sunday saw Jimkata keep the crowd swaying in the sunshine and get pumped up for moe. later that evening. What made Jimkata’s performance even more remarkable was the fact that they had performed in Virginia for a late night show the evening before, making the seemingly impossible journey from Virginia to Adirondack Independence Music Festival for a mid-day performance a testament to their commitment to their fans.
photo by Allison Mariephoto by Allison Marie
Neighbor graced the stage and dropped an instrumental cover of The Beatles/Joe Cocker’s “With a Little Help from my Friends. Prince Bowie featured Twiddle/Marble Eyes/Breakfast/Kung Fu drummer extraordinaire Adrian Tramontano on drums along with the Cool Cool Cool horns. Luke Bemand from lespecial joined the all star tribute group for Prince’s “Controversy.”
For moe.’s weekend closing sets, they opened up with “Water” as a nod to Lake George, and closed the set with “Meat” featuring Schleigho guitarist Suke Cerulo joining his one-time bandmates. Set two had no let up, opening with a slow burn of “Tubing the River Styx” > “The Pit”, a cover of Allman Brothers Band’s “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” – featuring Neighbor/Pink Talking Fish keyboardist Ricky James – followed by “Silver Sun” and a solid 1-2 punch of “George” and “Lazarus.” An encore of “Gone” and “Plane Crash” capped a fantastic weekend of music in Lake George, an annual affair made for a band like moe. and live music fans from across the Northeast.
photo by Frankie Cavone
Set 1:Water, ATL, Donâtcha Know, In Stride, Skrunk, Meat^ Set 2:Tubing The River Styx > The Pit, In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed2, Silver Sun, George, Lazarus Encore: Gone, Plane Crash ^ With Suke Cerulo on guitar * With Ricky James on keys
Pink Talking Fish has mapped out the rest of 2023 with an extensive December tour, that brings the band from the east coast, with shows in Port Chester and Buffalo, before heading west with a New Years run in Denver. A pair of shows in December will also feature the legendary Giant Country Horns for a pair of shows with Pink Talking Fish.
After a run of shows in September and October, Pink Talking Fish will kick off December by bringing Phish’s horn section “The Giant Country Horns” out for 2 shows in Burlington VT and Keene NH. The Keene show is at The Colonial Theatre which is home to one of the more famous performances during the 1991 Phish Tour with The Giant Country Horns and became a Live Phish release.
A Midwest run starts in Buffalo at Buffalo Iron Works on December 13, and will then move through Ohio and end in Chicago IL, and following a holiday break, Pink Talking Fish will close out the year with a two-show run in Denver, CO on 12/30 and 12/31.
Pink Talking Fish Fall Tour
9/08: Syracuse NY at The Westcott Theater
9/09: Bedminster NJ at Fiddlefest
9/10: Weatogue CT at Talcott Mountain Collective
9/16: Morrisville VT at Oxbow Riverfront Park – Keep On Growing
9/22: Plymouth NH at The Flying Monkey – Dark Side Of The Moon 50th Anniversary Celebration
9/23: Boston MA at The Paradise – 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
10/04: Washington DC at Pearl Street Warehouse
10/05: Waynesboro VA at The Foundry
10/06: Raleigh NC at Bowstring Brewyard
10/07: Charleston SC at The Pour House
10/08: Asheville NC at Salvage Station
10/14: Port Chester NY at The Capitol Theatre – This Must Be The Cirque
10/21: Ardmore PA at Ardmore Music Hall
10/27: East Greenwich RI at The Greenwich Odeum
10/28: Port Washington NY at Landmark On Main
Pink Talking Fish December Tour
12/01: Burlington VT at Higher Ground – w/ The Giant Country Horns
12/02: Keene NH at The Colonial Theatre – w/ The Giant Country Horns
12/09: Portland ME at The State Theatre
12/13: Buffalo NY at Buffalo Iron Works
12/14: Columbus OH at Woodlands Tavern
12/15: Covington KY at The Madison Theater
12/16: Chicago IL at Park West
12/30: Denver CO at So Many Roads Museum & Brewery
12/31: Denver CO at So Many Roads Museum & Brewery
Borderland Festival announces it will be returning for its 5th year to Knox Farm State Park, just 15 minutes from downtown Buffalo, featuring many well-known and legendary acts from Sept. 15-17.
Borderland Festival is one of the region’s most popular music and art festivals, taking place at Knox State Farm. The three-day experience will host more than 20 bands on two stages from Sept. 15-17. Festival goers can expect a diverse mix of music spanning the genres of rock, country, and Americana, along with performances from local musicians. Aside from the music, there will be a range of artisans, axe throwing, Kidsland, local chefs and food trucks, and alcohol from local breweries.
The 2023 lineup features Trey Anastasio with Classic TAB from the legendary jam band Phish on Saturday night. Anastasio is known as the co-founder of the band and the lead guitarist, receiving several Grammy nominations for his work and a Tony nomination for “Best Original Score” in 2013 for writing the music to Hands on a Hardbody. For the first time, the festival will host a Friday night headliner with jam band Goose, a four-piece indie groove band from Norwalk, Connecticut. The band is made up of members Peter Anspach, Jeff Arevalo, Ben Atkind, Rick Mitarotonda, and Trevor Weekz, recently closing out five nights at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.
One of Buffalo’s own favorite bands, moe. will also be closing out the weekend for a sunset performance on Sunday, Sept. 17. The band has had a lot of success and longevity since its creation due to its engaged fanbase, aka the fa.moe.ly which has led them to do headline tours, international festival sets, music-themed cruises, and sold-out shows alongside countless household-name artists. The artist lineup also includes Dawes, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sammy Rae & Friends, Neal Francis, Mighty Poplar, The 502s, Krasno/Moore Project, and a full weekend of local bands.
Tickets are on sale now, featuring three-day weekend passes, single-day “anyday” tickets, three-day VIP passes are sold out, camping passes, and more. Kids ten and under are free if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Vermont-based jam quartet Twiddle have announced The A-List: A Live Compilation of Music from April 2022-March 2023, releasing September 8th, their first live record since 2019’s Unplugged in Burlington.
Produced by Adrian Tramontano, mastered by Dave DeCristo, and recorded and mixed by Sam Johnson, the 24 live cuts were hand-picked by the band from some of their favorite shows over the past year, adding up to more than 4.5 hours of music from 14 different shows.
The first single from the record is now available on all streaming services – a beautifully extended “Jamflowman” from their 10/26/22 show at The Underground in Charlotte, NC.
The “Jamflowman” from Charlotte in October of last year was one of those moments of musical synchronicity that we aim for in our improv. We hope you dig this as the first cut from the A-List, and can’t wait for you all to hear the full thing in a few weeks!
Mihali Savoulidis
The 14-minute odyssey captures the band clicking on all cylinders during a period of significant growth, traversing peaks and valleys, showcasing the band’s technical skills, and capturing the magic of their live shows.
photo by Dave Decrescente
A limited edition Gatefold Double LP featuring 11 of the best live tracks from the record is also now available for pre-order on the band’s merch store. Pressed on clear wax with green and purple splatter, the LP’s artwork features the photography of longtime band-photographer, Dave Decrescente.
Twiddle The A-ListTracklist
1. Syncopated Healing (11/12/22 – Delmar Hall, St. Louis, MO)
2. Jamflowman (10/26/22 – The Underground, Charlotte, NC)
3. Gatsby the Great (2/26/23 – Crystal Bay Crown Room, Crystal Bay, NV)
Well, summer has come and it has gone. The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are getting cooler, but rest assured, the music scene in Syracuse is only beginning to heat up. Here are five can’t-miss shows in Syracuse in September.
Buffalo native Chelsea O’Donnell takes the stage at Funk ’n Waffles under her touring moniker Stress Dolls on Saturday, September 2. The alt/pop/rock artist has drawn comparisons to artists such as Lzzy Hale, Courtney Love, Fiona Apple, with one reviewer describing her sound as “Joni Mitchell meets Nirvana.. Avril Lavigne and Foo Fighters in a blender.” O’Donnell has recently released the single “Body,” which is available on all streaming music platforms.
New Jersey hardcore rockers Thursday make their long awaited return to Central New York with a performance at Song & Dance on September 7. The band have close ties to Central New York, having performed at the area’s famous Hellfest music festival in 2001 and 2003. The band are touring in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their album War All the Time. Gel, Pinkshift, and Vinnie Caruana open the show.
Rochester born singer-songwriter Kat Wright returns to Syracuse with a set at the intimate 443 Social Club on September 10. Wright, with her dynamic vocal range powerful stage presence, which she blends between styles of soul and rock ’n roll, has drawn comparisons to performers such as Amy Winehouse and Bonnie Raitt. She boasts an impressive touring resume, proving previous support to acts such as Grace Potter, Kacey Musgrave, and the Wood Brothers, and has also preformed at the Syracuse Jazz Festival, and the Peach Music Festival (Scranton, PA).
Take a short drive down Interstate 81 to Lafayette and you will find the enchanted concert grounds of Wonderland Forest. These picturesque grounds will be the home of jam-rock band Twiddle and their two day music festival, Tumble Down. The line up boasts an impressive undercard, with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Andy Frisco + the U.N., Dopapod, Mihali, The Breakfast, Baked Shrimp, and Mike Powell also performing. Twiddle will perform four sets over the two nights.
Weekend tickets start at $150 with camping and VIP packages available
Celtic punk rockers Dropkick Murphys return to Syracuse for a set at the Oncenter War Memorial on September 30. Known for their high energy live performances, the band have amassed a large and passionate following. They have an impressive 12 studio albums, and are currently touring in support of their 2023 release Okemah Rising. The Interrupters and Jesse Ahern open the show.
Levitate has announced the 2023 Flannel Jam lineup, celebrating the beauty of the fall season in New England. Taking place on Oct. 8 at Marshfield Fairgrounds in Marshfield, MA with a special island encore performance on Oct. 9 at Cisco Brewers in Nantucket, MA, the festival will celebrate fall in a unique style.
Photo credit Adam Straughn.
Levitate was founded in 2003 as a community-focused surf and skate shop that steadily grew through local support and grassroots marketing. Over the past 20 years, these original core values of community, creativity, and a connectedness to nature have been woven through all aspects of Levitate’s growth, from apparel lines, outdoor camps, music and events venues, and signature festivals.
Flannel Jam also serves as the official release party of Levitate’s 2023 Fall Line, including their signature Original Flannels, plus sweaters, fleece, jackets, and more built with recycled, organic, and eco-friendly materials. The team perfected a line of apparel built for New Englanders, inspired by the connection and passion for surf culture, music, art, and the outdoors.
Flannel Jam celebrates all things fall with a focus on creativity and community, mixing together live art and muralists, featuring an enlarged artisan village to celebrate New England Artists. The festival will also feature special seasonal fall-focused drinks and food, as well as a Kid’s Zone.
The lineup will feature Old Crow Medicine Show, Chadwick Stokes & The Pintos, Jackson + Mihali, Futurebirds, Melt, The Heavy Heavy, Ali McGuirk, and Birch Swart & Sesalia. Nantucket’s island encore edition will see a reprise from Old Crow Medicine Show plus Chadwick Stokes & The Pintos, Ali McGuirk, and Buckle & Shaketo.
One percent of each ticket sold will be contributed to the Levitate Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to cultivate vibrant communities by creating and conserving access to music, art, and the outdoors.
Tickets go on sale Sept. at noon EST via Tixr. Visit here for more information.
