Category: Beyond NYS

  • Mt. Joy Heads To Madison Square Garden on Upcoming Tour

    Indie rock band Mt. Joy have announced their 2024 headline tour throughout North America and Europe, with support from Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan. The five-piece band will make their debut at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 28.

    Mt. Joy Madison Square Garden

    With the tour set to kick off on April 6 in Teton Village in WY, the Alt-rock band will headline in their hometown of Philadelphia on Sept. 20 at the Mann Music Center. After the success of their 2023 shows at the Mann, Mt. Joy including Sotiris Eliopoulos on drums, Jackie Miclau on keyboards, and Michael Byrnes on bass, Matt Quinn vocals and guitar with guitarist Samm Cooper will once again partner with Philadelphia’s Sharing Access to host a non-perishable food drive before making their stop at the Madison Square Garden on September 28, marking the first time Mt. Joy has headlined MSG.

    Sharing Excess (SE) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that uses surplus food as a solution to scarcity. While over 40 million people in the US face food insecurity, nearly 40% of the nation’s food supply is going to waste. The organization’s mission is to bridge the gap between excess and scarcity by partnering with grocery stores, restaurants, wholesalers, and farmers to deliver surplus food to a network of nonprofits, food banks, and community organizations to alleviate local food insecurity. The organization also works with over 200 food businesses to deliver 10 million meals annually to over 330 organizations and 38 pop-up distribution locations across 66 zip codes in Mt. Joy’s hometown Philadelphia.

    Founded in 2016 by vocalist/ guitarist Matt Quinn with guitarist Samm Cooper, the band first released their debut single “Astrovan” which led to the massive success of the band as they went to perform at festivals and on tour throughout North America and Europe. After their tour with Lumineers was cut short due to a pandemic, Mt. Joy released their second studio album Rearrange in 2020, and then their third album, Orange Blood in the summer of 2022. 

    The band will continue their worldwide tour throughout 2024 and ticket for all Mt. Joy shows, including Madison Square Garden, can be purchased here.

    Mt. Joy on Tour In 2024

    April 6 – Rendezvous Music Festival – Teton Village, WY

    May 3-5 – Lovin’ Live Music Festival – Charlotte, NC

    May 31– Oakland Alameda Co. Coliseum –Oakland, CA *

    June 4 – Melkweg – Amsterdam, NL

    June 6 – Le Trabendo – Paris, FR

    June 8 –  CHALK – Brighton, UK

    June 9 –  SWX –  Bristol, UK

    June 10 – O2 Ritz Manchester – Manchester, UK

    June 12 – The National Stadium – Dublin, IRE

    June 13 – SWG3 Studio Warehouse – Glasgow, UK

    June 15 – Roundhouse – London, UK

    July 4 –  Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI

    July 5 – TBA –  Marshfield, MA

    July 10 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON

    July 12-14 – Under the Big Sky Festival – Whitefish, MT

    July 18 – Fenway Park – Boston, MA ^

    July 19 –Fenway Park – Boston, MA ^

    July 20 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD

    Aug 6 – Surly Brewing Festival Field – Minneapolis, MN

    Aug 8 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

    Aug 9 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

    Aug 10 – Dillion Amphitheater – Dillion, CO

    Aug 13 – Granary Live – Salt Lake City, UT

    Aug 15 – Idaho Botanical Garden: Outlaw Field – Boise, ID

    Aug 17 – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre – Vancouver, BC

    Aug 19 – Alaska State Fair – Palmer, AK

    Aug 21 – Remlinger Farms – Carnation, WA

    Aug 23 –  Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR

    Sept 13 – Moody Center – Austin, TX

    Sept 15 – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, GA

    Sept 17 – Firefly Distillery – North Charleston, SC

    Sept 20 – Mann Center – Philadelphia, PA   

    Sept 24 – Ascend Amphitheatre – Nashville, TN

    Sept 28 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

    Oct 3-5 – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL

     * w/Zach Bryan

    ^ w/ Noah Kahan

  • Music From Copland House Ensemble to Celebrate the Sound Of Living This February

    The internationally acclaimed Music from Copland House ensemble will bring their dazzling program to the Elebash Hall at The Graduate Center, CUNY on February 6.

    Copland House

    Aaron Copland was one of the most celebrated and profoundly influential musical figures in American history. The composer lived and spent most of his time on a rocky hill atop three acres of woodland in the lower Hudson River Valley hamlet of Cortlandt Manor, less than one hour north of New York City. After his death in 1990, a coalition of local townspeople launched a genuine grassroots movement to preserve and restore this historic residence as the living, enduring embodiment of his seminal artistic and personal legacies and lifelong advocacy of American composers, hence Music from Copland House was formed. 

    Copland House officially became operational in 1998 following an extensive physical renovation. Ever since the not-for-profit creative center for American music was built, the house has provided support for composers with different opportunities that further advanced their careers. 

    The Copland House offers public programs throughout the country, the infamous house also provides recordings, broadcasts, webcasts, film screenings, visual exhibitions, and an annual performance series at its vast new satellite venue at the historic Merestead estate in nearby Mount Kisco. 

    The bold and adventurous ensemble will be performing at the Elebash Hall at The Graduate Center, CUNY on February 6. The free for all program aims to celebrate life and the sounds of living. 

    The program will then be followed by a lively post-performance conversations and Q&A with the ensemble and audience. Tickets are free, and reservations are strongly advised, and may be made online or by calling Copland House at (914) 788-4659.

  • LaMP Spring Tour Swings through Northeast, Mid Atlantic and Southeast

    LaMP, featuring Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger and Ray Paczkowski has announced a 10-date Spring tour across the East Coast with stops in the Northeast, Mid Atlantic and Southeast.

    Kicking off in April, the run is in addition to two previously announced March shows in Denver and Boulder.

    LAMP Spring Tour

    LaMP formed in 2018 for a handful of one-off performances in Vermont. The chemistry between the three was immediate, resulting in a heavy groove, soul jazz sound with plenty of deep funk and technical prowess to spare. During the pandemic, they’d record and release their first studio album. It wasn’t until 2023, however, that the organ/guitar/drums trio found time in their busy schedules to focus energy on LaMP as a priority.

    LAMP Spring Tour

    The trio’s musical commitments are far reaching: Metzger is an in-demand studio guitarist and member of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, while Lawton and Paczkowski have their own duo Soule Monde and are original members of the Trey Anastasio Band. With both live and studio albums in the works and 12 shows planned for the Spring, LaMP five years from their inception is clearly just getting started.

    We hit the Northeast pretty hard last Fall and the response was just incredible, lots of big crowds and sold out shows. So we decided that in the Spring it would be fun to play more around those same parts, but to instead find cool rooms outside of the big cities and bring the music to the people in spots a little more off the beaten path.

    Scott Metzger

    Tickets are now on sale here.

    LaMP 2024 Spring Tour Dates

    3/22 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
    3/23 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Other Side
    4/10 – Byfield, MA – Byfield Community Arts Center
    4/11 – West Yarmouth, MA – The Music Room
    4/12 – Bridgeport, CT – Park City Music Hall
    4/13 – Elkton, MD – Elkton Music Hall
    4/14 – Morristown, NJ – Homestead Bar & Kitchen *no The
    4/23 – Baltimore, MD – The 8×10
    4/24 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
    4/25 – Roanoke, VA – 5 Points Music Sanctuary
    4/26 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall
    4/27 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre

  • Extreme Brings Their Thicker Than Blood Tour to Foxwoods Casino

    Between gamblers playing slot machines and Black Jack, fans crowded into the sold-out Great Cedar Showroom at Foxwoods Casino for the veteran rock band Extreme. The band is on the Thicker Than Blood Tour, supporting their new record, Six. This is the second show for the band after the tour kicked off at the Bergan Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.

    Extreme was founded in 1985 in Malden, Massachusetts and is made up of Gary Cherone on lead vocals, Nuno Bettencourt on guitar,  Pat Badger on the bass guitar and Kevin Figueiredo on the drums. 

    Prior to Extreme taking the stage, the New York City native band, Living Colour warmed up the crowd for a 45-minute set. Like Extreme, Living Colour was founded in the mid-1980s and has produced classic hits like “Cult of Personality,” and “Glamour Boys.”

    Living Colour is comprised of guitarist Vernon Reid, Doug Wimbish on the bass guitar, and Will Calhoun from the Bronx, on drums with fellow New Yorker, Corey Glover on lead vocals.

    For the entire 45 minutes, Living Colour produced a powerful and memorable set that included eight songs. During the last song of the band’s performance, as they blasted into the aforementioned “Cult of Personality,” Glover hopped off the stage and walked into the crowd while belting out the lyrics to the song. The crowd erupted as Glover walked up and down each section of the theater, stopping for photos with fans and high-fiving concertgoers. Living Colour did a phenomenal job getting the crowd ready for Extreme.

    As the clock ticked to 9 p.m., the houselights dimmed as the Extreme banner raised behind Figueiredo’s drum kit. With the blue spotlights on them, the band jumped right into “It (‘s a Monster)” off of the band’s most successful record, 1990’s Extreme II: Pornograffitti.

    Throughout the entirety of the band’s set, they incorporated music from their entire discography starting with their self-titled debut record up until their most recent record. While storming through each song, Figueiredo was a man possessed on the drums. His kit didn’t stand a chance as he belted away throughout each song providing chest-thumping beats. 

    Fans who came to the show on the chilly Friday night were certainly in for a treat as Extreme played for two whole hours. At one point of the set, Figueiredo brought out a mini drum kit as the band embarked on a mini, two-song acoustic set that featured the beautiful ballads “Other Side of the Rainbow,” and “Hole Hearted.”

    Even during the band’s acoustic set, there was still so much energy. Throughout the night Cherone slithered and stretched his way around the stage as Badger plucked at his bass guitar during Bettencourt’s shredding solos. It’s widely known that one of Bettencourt’s heroes was the late Eddie Van Halen and Bettencourt paid homage by playing the intro to Van Halen’s “Women In Love…” while saying “Happy Birthday Eddie.”

    It was extremely impressive how each band member was able to work off one another and how they each complimented the other. The band’s stage presence and their comradery were visible from the stage and the smiles they had and the laughs they shared were heartwarming.

    Each song that Extreme played was magical in its own way and it felt like the band was taking you on a career-spanning journey throughout the show. In between songs the band interacted with fans, joked around and overall gave the fans their money’s worth. 

    As the doors flew up at the end of the show and the sound of chips hitting poker tables and slot machines rang in the halls, fans left happy and smiles were shared all around as one of the most hard-working bands in rock and roll right now performed another mind-blowing show.

    Living Colour Setlist: Middle Man, Leave It Alone, Ignorance Is Bliss, Open Letter (to a Landlord), White Lines (Don’t Do It)/Apache/The Message, Glamour Boys, Love Rears Its Ugly Head, Cult of Personality

    Extreme Setlist: It (‘s a Monster), Decadence Dance, #Rebel, Rest In Peace, Hip Today, Teacher’s Pet/Flesh ‘n’ Blood/Wind Me Up/Kid Ego, Play With Me, Other Side of the Rainbow, Hole Hearted, Drum Solo/Money Maker, Cupid’s Dead, Am I Ever Gonna Change, Thicker Than Blood, Midnight Express, Hurrican, More Than Words, Banshee, Take Us Alive/That’s All Right, Flight of the Bumblebee, Women In Love… (intro) Get The Funk Out, Small Town Beautiful/Song for Love, Rise

  • DJ Anastazja Returns to NYC with Rhythmic Mixes

    On January 19th, Anastazja touched down in Manhattan to perform, as she calls it, “her favorite mix” at SOB’s. Having been a firsthand witness to this event, the crowd’s energy was expected. As their favorite tunes resonated, it motivated some individuals to leap onto the stage and break into dance.

    anastazja with headphones on covered in purple hue
    DJ Anastazja 1.19 at SOBS – photographed Jordyn Britt

    I had the privilege of securing a brief interview with this talented young artist, who currently resides in LA. She attends the University of Southern California where she will be earning with a Bachelors in Media Arts and Practice

    Anastazja was born and raised in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, her father is from Los Angeles and her mother is a Polish immigrant. Her initial inspiration to pursue a career as a DJ stemmed from an underground EDM event. It was a go-to spot for college students and was known for being grimey. Anastazja recalls one of those wild nights:

    I witnessed a guy climb onto the DJ table, surrounded by a group of men. The men and everyone within the crowd became so excited. In that surreal moment, I felt a strong desire to experience the joy of sharing music, especially as one of the few women in the music industry. I vividly recall a distinct high school memory, driving through the school parking lot, thinking of the idea of being a DJ despite my limited knowledge. The universe and timing aligned, leading me to USC which completely altered my course.

    Anastazja
    DJ Anastazja 1.19 at SOBS – photographed by Jordyn Britt
    DJ Anastazja 1.19 at SOBS – photographed by Jordyn Britt

    Anastazja continues to gain her inspiration from all around her and within. From other DJs, Pinterest, her friends that send her music, simply walking in a grocery store and hearing a classic. Grandparents playing music from their own memories, and the resonance it carries, adds a unique and distinct touch to the experience.

    One thing that Anastazja hopes to gain from being a DJ is the experience. “I look forward to being able to travel the world and explore music from different backgrounds. While DJing may appear mostly social to many, for me, it’s about chasing this specific feeling in my stomach when I witness the profound impact music has on people. Experiencing music from various parts of the world has the potential to change the way I perceive sound and life. In a sense, that would be my “gain” – the wealth of diverse musical experience.”

    anastazja focused on her set and moving the sliders on her dj roundtable
    anastazja covered in orange and red lighting as she looks down on her dj round table
    anastazja eyes closed, only her face illuminated with blue and purple light, smiling

    The highlights that make up these experiences start in those first few minutes of Anastazja’s sets, when she can get a sense of the crowd catching the groove. “When I play that one song everyone wants to sing along to, it becomes a moment of pure joy and peace – dancing and singing with a group of strangers. It’s truly incredible to witness how music can move and bond people, bringing emotions that are visible in this type of setting, ultimately bringing everyone together.”

    As for her favorite mix to date, that honor goes to a recent NYC show at SOB’s on January 19. “While my boiler room experience was great, there was still a small sense of catering to the space. At SOB’s I had true creative freedom to explore anything I wanted – literally ANYTHING. I took my sound in various directions, and it resonated the best. The addition of live saxophone made the performance even more incredible, shout out to Kobie Dozier!”

    Check out Anastazja Soundcloud below, and discover more here.

  • Joshua West to Celebrate 30 with 3 Shows, 3 Bands in 3 Cities

    January is in full swing and while the month is quiet for live music, drummer and multi-talented musician Joshua West has a few shows around the state that are well worth checking out, including a run of shows around his 30th birthday in Albany, Plattsburgh and Burlington.

    joshua west

    A singer, songwriter, guitarist and percussionist born and raised in Upstate NY on the shores of Lake Champlain, surrounded by the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains to the south and the Green Mountains of VT to the east.

    From a young age, Joshua began studying an array of instruments and musical mediums ranging from orchestral percussion to vocal performance, rhythm guitar to world music. He has performed with numerous bands across the United States and internationally and shared stages with The Wailers, O.A.R., SOJA, Black Uhuru, Michael Franti, Rusted Root, Goose among others.

    With a blend of reggae, hip hop, folk and soul, meshed with conscious lyrics that question the state of our world today, West will be celebrating his 30th birthday with stops in his ‘hometowns,’ starting at Lark Hall on January 25th, performing with Quantum Cosmic, then heads up to Burlington for a show at Nectar’s the next night to perform with Annie in the Water, then closes out the weekend at Olive Ridley’s in Plattsburgh with West’s new band on January 27.

    That new band – the Joshua West Band – integrates West’s original music that hasn’t found it’s way into his other groups where he is a drummer or percussionist. West’s vocals will be front and center with his eponymous band, stepping out as a guitarist, vocalist and percussionist. The lineup features Jack McChesney (Satyrdagg) on drums, Mowgli Giannitti (Satyrdagg, The Reflexions, Heavy Nettles) on bass, Ty Miller (The Reflexions) on guitar/vocals, Van Garrison (All Night Boogie Band) on keys, and Connor Dunn (Let’s Be Leonard) on saxophone.

    Coming up in February, Annie in the Water will kick’s off Winter Carnival at The Waterhole in Saranac Lake on February 2, prepared to warm up the crowd even if the temperatures are below freezing outside.

    joshua west

    West has also recently released Let Your Voice Be Heard, and is back in the studio, currently recording “Something in the Water,” inspired by the pocket of roots reggae music that has come out of the Finger Lakes (John Brown’s Body, 10 ft. Ganja Plant, Thunderbody, Mosaic Foundation, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad, Root Shock). West shares that his collaborators include an all-time favorite rhythm section of Tommy Benedetti (John Brown’s Body, Dub Apocalypse) and Nate Edgar (The Nth Power, John Brown’s Body) along with members of Giant Panda and featured vocalists. 

    joshua west

    Joshua West’s recent debut album Let Your Voice Be Heard is now available on all major streaming platforms. 

  • Phish Announce 4-day Festival this August – Mondegreen

    Phish has announced the details on their first four-day festival – Mondegreen – and their first in more than nine years. The festival will take place at The Woodlands in Dover, DE over August 15-18, 2024.

    mondegreen phish

    What is a Mondegreen? Webster defined the word as “a misunderstood or misinterpreted word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of the lyrics of a song.” One example from Phish would be “Read Icculus” being heard as Ridiculous. If there was ever a more fitting name for a Phish festival, it hasn’t been named yet.

    Phish will perform multiple sets over the four days of the festival, with a great number of interactive fan experiences yet to be announced, as well as curated regional food and drink, art installations and much more in store.

    Magnaball photo by Brian Ferguson

    Mondegreen marks the first live performance in Delaware stage for Phish in over two decades, and the latest festival from a band who can be credited with influencing a resurgence of music festivals in the 1990s. Phish’s most recent festival, 2015’s Magnaball, was held at New York’s legendary Watkins Glen International and was widely considered among their best festivals yet.

    Centrally located with easy access from all points in the northeast and mid-Atlantic, the festival site will feature an abundance of on-site camping, with many nearby hotel options also available.

    Delaware’s picturesque Woodlands is conveniently located within driving distance from major metropolitan areas on the East Coast, including Philadelphia (under two hours), Baltimore (under two hours), Washington, DC (under two hours), and New York City (under three hours). Fans can also take advantage of Amtrak service to Wilmington, DE as well as SEPTA regional rail.

    Magnaball Photo by Steve Olker

    Travel packages will go on sale this Thursday, January 18, at 11AM ET, with Weekend passes and Camping passes on sale Friday, January 19 at 11AM ET.

    For complete details on passes, car and RV camping and parking options, on-site glamping accommodations, travel packages, and more, please visit phish.com/mondegreen.

  • “Fantasies Don’t Cry” in Latest Release from JOSCH

    Fresh for 2024, and fresh off the release of his first two singles, emerging Miami-based indie soul artist JOSCH (A.K.A. Josh Schwartz) showcases his musical palette with the funk and soul-filled track, “Fantasies Don’t Cry.”

    Fantasies Don't Cry

    Drawing from a wide pool of inspirations ranging from funk, R&B and electronic music to soul, pop and lyrically-based folk music, JOSCH spent 2022 touring with Zac Brown Band (on their “Out In The Middle” stadium tour) and currently tours with rock and roll legends Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew (on their “Remain In Light” tour) as well as disco funk band Cool Cool Cool, and of course indie funk band Turkuaz.

    Fantasies Don't Cry

    “The song “Fantasies Don’t Cry” combines bombastic horns by The Horn Section, funky 70’s clavinet from keyboardist Swatkins (Allen Stone, Scary Pockets), a driving back beat and Schwartz’s soulful vocals dripping with attitude. “Fantasies” is the frustrated confessions of a scorned lover who gets kicked to the curb without warning, replaced by someone else.

    “The concept that one’s reality, the model of their universe they put together in their mind, can be shattered instantly by getting broken up with, that has always fascinated me. Whether it’s getting dumped, losing a friendship, getting fired from a job, we’ve all experienced some kind of event that makes us question our perception of others, of ourselves, even our own sanity. It makes you wonder if you can really trust your senses and your gut. My aim with “Fantasies” was to channel that heavy mass of emotions in a way that brings a bit of levity to the situation. I think having me sing the vocal melody in unison with myself but an octave higher lends some Scissor Sisters-esque sassiness and humor to what could other wise have been a pretty dark song.”

    Josh Schwartz

    The opening query, “Did I miss the meeting when you decided to dust me off the shelf?” moves quickly into the accusatory “your heart is fleeting, your mind will mirror someone else.” So begins the journey into the mind of the heartbroken and confused protagonist that waffles between deep hurt, bitter resentment, and a begrudging acceptance of the fact that “romance, to me, can die.”

    While he recorded the song during the pandemic, Schwartz wrote “it “Fantasies” while in college, around 2007, for acoustic guitar. He says of the song: ““Fantasies” is one of the few songs I’ve written that’s stuck with me for years. When I showed it to [then-bandmate] Dave Brandwein, who was producing my album, he loved the soulful, R&B style choruses but hated the verses. On the demo, I played the song on acoustic guitar and swung the rhythm slightly, which Dave rightly pointed out sounded a bit cheesy, kind of 90’s pop rock. The verses just didn’t match the vibe of the chorus, or of the other songs for that matter. But I wasn’t ready to give up on the song.” So Brandwein and Schwartz put their heads together and realized that with a few tweaks to the chords, beat and instrumentation, they could transform the song into a 70’s-inspired funky strut. That’s what it would’ve remained were it not for the insistence on Schwartz’s part that they add horns.

    “Dave suggested I shy away from adding a ton of horns, since our funk band at the time, Turkuaz, was horn-heavy and this album was my chance to show another side of me. While most of the other songs I recorded don’t have horns, I knew in my gut that this song needed a powerful horn arrangement to musically portray the depth of emotions the lyrics deal with.”

    To make that happen, Schwartz tapped his longtime bandmate Chris Brouwers, who masterfully arranged the 6-piece horn arrangement heard on “Fantasies.” The horns you hear are courtesy of The Horn Section, which in addition to Brouwers on trumpet and Schwartz on baritone sax, includes Greg Sanderson on alto and tenor sax as well as Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated trombonist Quinn Carson. “I was worried it was going to be too much with six horns, but Chris’s arrangement beautifully dances around the guitar line and vocals and doesn’t get in the way. It was the final element the song needed to really pop.”

    Fantasies Don't Cry

    Mixing all the myriad elements of “Fantasies” was no easy feat, but mixing engineer Kyle VandeKerkhoff was more than up for the challenge, and mastering engineer Joe Bozzi made VandeKerkhoff’s mix shine. Rob O’Block, as with Schwartz’s first two singles, was heavily involved in the production of the song. His menacing, synthetic-sounding guitar playing evocative of The Black Keys soars in the instrumental sections, and he added other guitar and electric bass parts along with drum-replacing and other production elements that helped the song go from demo to done. Dave Brandwein, former leader of 9-piece funk band Turkuaz of which Schwartz was a part, produced “Fantasies.”

    JOSCH has previously released “Icarus In Motion” and the chilled-out “No Beginning, No Conclusion,”

    “Fantasies Don’t Cry” one of the many powerful songs featured on JOSCH’s forthcoming full-length album, Ethereality. Listen below.

  • Jam Cruise 20 Schedule Drops, with Superjams and Special Sets

    Cloud 9 Adventures dropped the music schedule for Jam Cruise 20, sailing from Miami, visiting ports in Montego Bay and Grand Cayman. moe. headlines, along with Medeski, Martin & Porter, and Cory Wong. Jerry Harrison & Andrian Belew will play Remain in Light, backed by Cool Cool Cool. Lettuce commences the Sail Away Toast, ending the cruise with Lotus on the main Pool Deck stage, Galactic in the Pantheon Theatre, and Marc “Brownie” Brownstein of the Disco Biscuits with Chali 2na in the Jam Room.

    jam cruise 20

    Reggae legends Steel Pulse return after 9 long years, with Keller Williams starting the evening we’re in Jamaica. New to Jam Cruise, Cimafunk is one of the most anticipated new bands, along with The Magic Beans, Eggy, The Hillbenders, Diggin’ Dirt, Próxima Parada, J & The Causeways, with sync-funksters Franc Moody all making debuts on the boat. The New Mastersounds return triumphantly, along with Chali 2na & Cut Chemist and other fan favorites. Dan Lebowitz’s superband, Yacht Rock, also returns.

    jam cruise 20

    Jam Cruise Lifers, KDTU and Galactic will return. 3-time Grammy winner Eric Krasno* will join Galactic’s drummer Stanton Moore in their recent Krasno Moore Project.

    There are eight or nine official stages on the massive MSC Divina, one of its largest ships. The largest main stage is on the Pool Deck, with a smaller Brews at Sea stage facing it, and the Garden Pool stage all the way aft, next to the infinity pool where fans can watch bands perform while swimming. At the front of the ship is the majestic Pantheon Theatre, which is the other largest stage. The famous Jam Room is hosted in the Black & White Lounge. Special piano sets by Ivan Neville and others, bluegrass, and other musical styles are performed in the Atrium, the multistory central lobby with an opulent $3M Swarovski Crystal Staircase.

    jam cruise 20

    A formerly-unofficial “secret stage” on deck 7, The Spot, created by Nathan Moore, is now hosted by The Sweet Lillies. The Spot’s acoustic mayhem is one of the many surprises fans find while exploring the ship. A “Purple Party” superjam will tribute Prince in the theatre on the night we leave Grand Cayman.

    jamcruise 20

    GMP Live hosts the Jam Cruise 20 Official Pre-Party on Feb 24, with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Cool Cool Cool, and Electric Kif & DJ Logic spinning DJ sets.

    Only a handful of cabins remain – the Jam Cruise 20 booking deadline is Jan 26.

  • 2024 Northlands Music & Arts Festival Complete Lineup Announced

    The 2024 Northlands Music & Arts Festival complete lineup has been announced, featuring the return of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Big Something, and Cool Cool Cool.

    The 2024 Northlands Music & Arts Festival lineup boasts a wide array of talent, featuring internationally acclaimed touring ensembles. the festival will again feature nonstop music on two adjacent stages facing a massive concert ground and some of the region’s top acts on a bustling campground stage. Those camping onsite will be treated to late-night silent disco performances, with music going into the early morning.

    Northlands 2024 will include indie-jam sensation Goose, the rustic harmonies of Greensky Bluegrass, and jam band icons moe. Festival alumni Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, will return to the stage as a headliner, while Big Something and Cool Cool Cool also join the fantastic list of performers. Further adding to the roster are Krasno & Friends, Mihali, Sierra Hull, Dopapod, Spafford, TAUK, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, and Magic Beans. The festival again welcomes the all-star, all-female group Super Sonic Shorties, whom Nikki Glaspie leads. Other special guests include Kanika Moore (artist at large), Jennifer Hartswick, and Natalie Cressman.

    We’re so excited to welcome Pigeons back to Swanzey for another year, as well as their amazing community of fans. Big Something and Cool Cool Cool are putting together special sets for their inaugural appearances- fans, new and old, will love it. As always, we are proud to showcase rising stars in the scene on the Camp Stage. Stay tuned.

    Northlands Co-Founder Seth McNally

    Northlands continues to lead the way in sustainability, committed to the adage “Enjoy Life. Do Good”. Following the elimination of single-use plastics in 2023 and the introduction of industry-leading recycling and composting programs, the festival will continue to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

    Tickets for the 2024 Northlands Music & Arts Festival are on sale now.