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Back Forty Birmingham Confirms Lineup for Inaugural Music Festival February 4, 2020 11:27

 

Click Here: Purchase Tickets to Back Forty Social

Appearing national touring acts including North Mississippi Allstars, Keller Williams, Spafford, The Soul Rebels, The Motet, Kitchen Dwellers, Ryley Walker and Little Raine Band.

Back Forty Beer Company Birmingham and Big Spring Entertainment are proud to announce the full lineup for the first year “Back Forty Social”, to be held at Back Forty in Birmingham, Alabama. This one-day, all ages music festival will feature eight acts on one main stage and includes multiple genres spanning Bluegrass, Folk, Funk, Americana, Jam Band, and Southern Rock. Tickets start at $40 for the all-day event, and children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a paying adult.

Officially joining the lineup for the all day event are Jam Band staples Spafford. Spafford is known for their astonishing improvisational ability, which they’ll use to play live off the cuff extended jams. Each song is a blank canvas, and Spafford paints a picture in real time each night with a musical palette known only to each other. It’s a private language comprised of their talent as musicians, and of their formidable catalog of influences - ranging from Steely Dan, electronic acts like The Crystal Method, to 90’s alt rock radio hits. Every show is a sonic pilgrimage – the journey of a team of musicians so in tune with each other that a single note communicates intent and purpose.

Even though the band thrives off the electric pulse of live shows, the same energy also translates into their studio efforts. Their 2018 release “For Amusement Only” hits to the heart of Spafford – tight, inventive, and dexterous musicianship coupled with clever retro-pop inspired songwriting. Songs like “Leave The Light On” highlight their influences – from the melodic styles of Alanis Morissette to the rhythmic bounce of Bob Marley. Other tracks like “Ain’t That Wrong” and “Slip and Squander” are rich with other signature Spafford signs: vibrant vocal harmonies, complex and catchy arrangements, and sparkling, powerful performances.

Artists appearing at The 2020 Back Forty Social include, in order of appearance: Little Raine Band, Ryley Walker, Kitchen Dwellers, The Motet, The Soul RebelsSpafford, Keller Williams, and North Mississippi Allstars.

Admission: Tickets for the Back Forty Social are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and BackFortySocial.com, with prices ranging from $40 General Admission to $85 VIP. Information about site layout, lineup schedule, and more will be released on the event’s website and social media channels over the next few weeks. 

About Back Forty Beer Company Birmingham: In 2018, Back Forty Beer Company joined Birmingham's thriving craft beer scene with the opening of its new 16-tap microbrewery at Sloss Docks. Freshly brewed beers include Naked Pig, Truck Stop Honey and other core recipes, plus a steady rotation of new experimental beers available only in the local market: Beers like "Crow Point" - their juicy New England IPA, "Hike Out Hefe" - their popular, traditional German Hefeweizen and “Hop Tosh” a perfectly balanced Northwest Coast IPA. Back Forty has a full restaurant with amazing dishes like the Back 40 Cheeseburger, Pizzas and the napinducing Poutine. Customers are invited to grab a beer and a burger and enjoy the dramatic views of Sloss Furnaces at Back Forty Beer Company. Learn more at backfortybeer.com/Birmingham.

About Big Spring Entertainment: is a full-service concert and entertainment promotion company based in Huntsville, AL with offices in Nashville, TN and Birmingham, AL. BSE buys, promotes, and produces events across the South, Southeast, and Midwest specializing in music halls, clubs, theaters, performing art centers, arenas, amphitheaters, and festivals. Big Spring Entertainment is also the owner-operator of The Druid City Music Hall in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Here's a look at what you can expect from this year's lineup!

North Mississippi Allstars

 

Keller Williams

 

Spafford

 

The Soul Rebels

 

The Motet

 

Kitchen Dwellers

 

Ryley Walker

 

Little Raine Band


Waterloo Music Festival Just Confirmed A Massive Inaugural Lineup June 12, 2018 12:37

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Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography
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Just over a month ago, organizers of Waterloo Music Festival made quite the splash with the initial lineup for their inaugural festival on September 7th - 9th. The three-day event, which will be held at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, TX, would feature The String Cheese Incident (x3), as well as Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Railroad Earth, The Motet, Boombox, TAUK, Marco Benevento, and many more to be announced. Earlier this morning, the festival rolled out the complete lineup, and this looks to be one of the hottest jam festivals of the summer.
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The latest additions include the likes of Oteil & Friends (Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, Scott Metzger, John Kadlecik, Jay Lane, and Alfreda Gerald), Leftover Salmon, Perpetual Groove, BIG Something, Everyone Orchestra, Tea Leaf Green, and many more. The complete lineup can be found on the graphic below. Waterloo is presented by Heard Presents, Havin’ A Ball Productions, and Unknown Entertainment. Various ticket and camping packages are available now via the festival's official website. Make sure to follow Waterloo on both Facebook and Instagram for all of the latest updates!
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Candler Park Music & Food Festival Releases Daily Schedule May 23, 2017 12:20

Photo by Keith Griner: Phierce Photo

Candler Park Music & Food Festival recently announced arguably its most exciting lineup to date, which will feature Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Railroad Earth, The Motet, MatisyahuLake Street DiveThe Marcus King BandPigeons Playing Ping PongRipeWebster, and Chelsea Shag on June 2nd-3rd. Yesterday, the festival revealed it's official daily lineup, which is headlined by Railroad Earth on Friday and Joe Russo's Almost Dead on Saturday.  In addition to the music, Candler Park will feature an array of food options including 20+ food trucks, a local artist market and the running of a 5K. General admission tickets cost $25 and can be purchased today via the festival’s website. VIP tickets can also be purchased for $80 by clicking here.  Stay tuned for future updates on what is sure to be an amazing weekend of music in Atlanta!

Watch highlights from the 2016 Candler Park Fest here:


Dominican Holidaze Reveals Stacked 2017 Lineup May 9, 2017 13:27

Host bands Umphrey's McGee, STS9, and The Disco Biscuits have revealed the lineup for The 11th installment of Cloud 9 Adventures’ Dominican Holidaze destination concert event in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This year's festivities are scheduled from December 1st - 5th. Along with the host bands, this year’s Holidaze will feature GRiZ, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Lotus, The Motet, TAUK, Spafford, Sunsquabi and Wolf + Lamb, plus a poolside set from Umphrey’s McGee’s Brendan Bayliss.

All-inclusive packages for returning Holidaze guests go up for grabs on May 17. If rooms remain following the pre-sale, there will be a public on sale on Thursday, May 18 at 12 p.m. ET via Dominicanholidaze.com. Head to the festival’s website for additional details.

Watch the Dominican Holidaze (2016) official aftermovie here:


Candler Park Music & Food Festival Announces Killer Summer Lineup March 24, 2017 12:42

Photo by Keith Griner: Phierce Photo

The summer festival lineups are continuing to roll out, and the Atlanta music scene has dropped another killer lineup. Candler Park Music & Food Festival has just announced arguably its most exciting lineup to date, which will feature Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Railroad Earth, The Motet, MatisyahuLake Street DiveThe Marcus King BandPigeons Playing Ping PongRipeWebster, and Chelsea Shag. In addition to the music, Candler Park will feature an array of food options including 20+ food trucks, a local artist market and the running of a 5K. General admission tickets cost $25 and can be purchased today via the festival’s website. VIP tickets can also be purchased for $80 by clicking here.  Stay tuned for future updates on what is sure to be an amazing weekend of music in Atlanta!

Watch highlights from the 2016 Candler Park Fest here:


Fool's Paradise Releases Complete Weekend Schedue March 17, 2017 09:31



Photos by Keith Griner: Phierce Photo

Fool’s Paradise is just around the corner! We’re gearing up for a weekend with Lettuce x2, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (with Jeff Chimenti), The Floozies, The Motet, Manic Science (Manic Focus x Break Science), The Main Squeeze, Organ Freeman, and Oteil Burbridge & Antwaun Stanley as artists-at-large. On March 31 & April 1, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre will transform into a funk-fueled dance party – with so many surprises in store. 
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In addition to the main lineup, a number of late night shows will be hosted by some of the most talented musicians in the industry! On Friday, March 31, there will be performances from Jaw GemsEric Krasno Band, and the “Infinity Jam” hosted by Eric Krasno and Oteil Burbridge. On Saturday, April 1stDumpstaphunk will bring their unique brand of down-and-dirty New Orleans funk to the Elk’s Lodge for a very special late night set, their only performance at Fool’s Paradise. After Dumpstaphunk finishes up, they’ll join forces with members of Lettuce to form this year’s “Fools For Funk” super group.

There’s more to look forward to than just musical adventures. Fool’s Paradise is also offering exciting Florida excursions with your favorite artists! Whether it’s mini-golf with Lettuce’s Jesus Coomes, The Motet’s Lyle Divinsky, and Vulfpeck’s Antwaun Stanley, or ping-pong tournament with Adam Deitch and Adam Smirnoff, or a sailing adventure and DJ set at sea with Ryan Zoidis and Eric “Benny” Bloom, you’ll be rocking your Saturday alongside the best.

There will also be music at the Elk's Lodge on Saturday afternoon, from 1PM-4PM with performances from AjevaThe Groove Orient, and Ben Strok & The Full Electric. More information can be found here.

With so much to choose from, St. Augustine will be crawling with adventurous opportunities. The oldest city in the United States and fabled home to the Fountain of Youth, St. Augustine’s unique scenery and historical presence sets the city apart from any other in the country. With over 42 miles of beaches, incredible restaurants and bars, jetskiing, kayaking, fort tours, parasailing, and its own distillery, attendees will have plenty to explore.

For more information on VIP packages, hotel packages, camping options, or other recommendations, click here. See you at Fool’s Paradise!

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Check out the official 2016 Fool's Paradise aftermovie here:
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Fool's Paradise Adds The Motet, Antwaun Stanley, And Much More February 3, 2017 01:00

Photos by Keith Griner: Phierce Photo by Keith G

The forecast for the upcoming Fool’s Paradise just got a little sunnier with some very exciting lineup additions and late-night announcements. In addition to the previously announced lineup, the Florida destination event has added funk/dance powerhouse The Motet to the bill, and announced frequent Vulfpeck vocal collaborator Antwaun Stanley as an Artist-At-Large.

On Friday March 31st, Lettuce will kick off their first night with premier Grateful Dead tribute band Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, a special Manic Science set featuring Manic Focus & Break Science, LA-based groove masters Organ Freeman, along with Dead & Company bassist Oteil Burbridge and Antwaun Stanley as Artists-At-Large.

On Saturday April 1st, Lettuce will close the celebration with electro-funk duo The Floozies, The Motet, and contemporary funk ragers The Main Squeeze, with Antwaun Stanley as an Artist-At-Large.

Fans can expect various cross-collaborations by the artists in attendance.

When the music at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre comes to an end each day, fans will have the option of continuing over to the Elk’s Lodge for additional late night after shows. The intimate venue will host a series of separately ticketed shows from Jaw Gems, Eric Krasno Band, and the “Infinity Jam” hosted by Eric Krasno and Oteil Burbridge onFriday, March 31st along with performances by Dumpstaphunk and the “Fools For Funk” featuring members of Lettuce, Dumpstaphunk, and more on Saturday, April 1st.

St. Augustine is roughly one hour from Jacksonville, one hour from Gainesville, and two hours from Orlando. The oldest city in the United States and fabled home to theFountain of Youth, St. Augustine’s unique scenery and historical presence sets the city apart from any other in the country. With over 42 miles of beaches, incredible restaurants and bars, oceanic activities, and historical adventures galore, attendees will have plenty to explore during their stay. Stay tuned for artist excursion announcements coming soon!

Brought to you by Lettuce, Purple Hat Productions, Live for Live Music, and Silver Wrapper, Fool’s Paradise is set to return to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre for the second year in a row. The state-of-the-art performing arts venue is nestled in a beautiful 16-acre section of Anastasia State Park. Campgrounds and beach shores make up this perfect Florida landscape.

The entire venue is General Admission, with the exception of minimal reserved seating. VIP packages will include reserved seating in front of the soundboard, priority access to the pit area, artist happy hour, discount alcoholic beverages, event poster and t-shirt. Hotel/Camping packages include lodging, transportation, VIP tickets to the event, and late-night tickets.

If guests are craving the ultimate outdoor experience, there are two nearby campsites with availabilities at Anastasia State Park and KOA Campgrounds. The city also offers a variety of lodging options.

Tickets for two-day passes are currently on sale, with single day and late night tickets going on sale this Friday, February 3 at 10am ET! For more information, visit www.FoolsParadiseFL.com

 


Fool’s Paradise Lineup:

Friday 3/31:
Lettuce
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
Manic Science (Manic Focus x Break Science)
Organ Freeman
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Saturday 4/1:
Lettuce
The Motet
The Floozies
The Main Squeeze

Artists At Large:
Oteil Burbridge
Antwaun Stanley

Friday 3/31 Late Night:
Jaw Gems
Eric Krasno Band
Infinity Jam (Eric Krasno & Oteil Burbridge plus special guests)

Saturday 4/1 Late Night:
Dumpstaphunk
Fools For Funk (Members of Lettuce, Dumpstaphunk & more)

Watch the official 2016 Fool's Paradise recap video here:
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A Weekend In Review: The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival August 12, 2016 13:08

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Words by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Year in and year out, music fans can count on summertime presenting an overwhelming variety of options to satisfy their musical appetite.  The vast majority of national acts pack their schedules with gigs from coast to coast, and it seems as if there is a major music festival every weekend.  Last weekend was the quintessential example, as Ohio-based jam/rock band The Werks hosted it's annual "homecoming" weekend: The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival.   

The Werk Out began in 2010 at Zane Shawnee Cavernsan indian reservation with underground crystal caves in Bellefontaine, Ohio.  The festival quickly outgrew that area and relocated to Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, where it has now been held for the past five years.  After hearing the rave reviews over the past few years and diving deep into The Werks' catalog, I knew that this was the year for a summer journey from Alabama and Ohio.  This ended up being easily one of my best decisions in recent memory.

From the moment we arrived on Thursday afternoon, the positive vibes were flowing from every angle.  An enthusiastic, welcoming staff directed our group to a prime camping spot, and we made at least 10 new friends before the campsite was even completed.  While there are numerous elements of The Werks that I have come to love, it's the positive culture that surrounds the band really seals the deal.  

Upon entering the festival grounds for the first time, Chris Houser (lead guitar - The Werks) was playing on the main stage with his very first band, Cheezcake, who set a perfect tone for the weekend.  Shortly after, we had the pleasure of catching several tunes from Sassafraz, a super talented group from Columbus which produced The Werks' newest band member, Jake Goldberg (bass).  Our first journey to the "Big Tent" led us to Mister F, who provided some serious funk prior to Dopapod taking the main stage.

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Dopapod has quickly become one of the jam/festival scenes hottest acts, and their success is justified with every performance.  Watching those guys perform, with a beautiful sunset in the distance, made for a very special moment early on.  We even got to sing "Happy Birthday" to the bands audio engineer/light designer Luke Stratton, as the band called him to the stage for a cake presentation.  Shortly after sunset, the crowd shifted just a matter of feet to the "Side Stage," where America's favorite power funk army Turkuaz ignited one of the biggest dance parties of the weekend.  It's truly amazing to witness the production and chemistry of this band in person.  They advertise "power funk," and they absolutely deliver "power funk."

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

The main stage was now set for the weekend's first set from The Werks, who took the stage fully participating in the evening's "track suit" theme.  The band came out firing with classics such as "For Today," "For You," and "Fire Eater," and even debuted a cover of Elton John's "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King.  A classic duel on the keys between Dan Shaw and special guest Todd Stoops occured during "G-Funk," before a massive "Hard to Find" > "Cloud Hopper" > "Hard to Find" would close out the set.  This was particularly satisfying, as my last Werks festival set was cut short when a nasty thunderstorm hit during "Cloud Hopper" at AURA earlier this year.  Another cover was debuted for the encore when the band busted out "Carry On My Wayward Son" by Kansas.  Somehow or another, Lettuce was up next for a late night set in the big tent, and night one at The Werk Out couldn't have been much hotter.

Watch The Werks perform "G-Funk" with special guest Todd Stoops here:

Video by izeoftheworldphotos

Photos by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Day two at Legend Valley picked up right where Thursday left off, and the party was alive and well in The Big Tent by early afternoon.  The Big Damn Jam served as a touching tribute to Norman Dimitrouleas, the former keyboardist of The Werks who tragically passed away in January of this year.  Norman had always wanted the band to play The Beatles' Abbey Road in it's entirety, and his brother Dino, Todd Stoops, and many others performed the album in epic fashion.  Next up was an early afternoon dose of heavy funk courtesy of Kung Fu, a band that always brings the party and never disappoints.  

Anyone that has been to a music festival understands that you have to be strategic; often leaving one set earlier than you would like to in order to catch one of those "must see" bands.  This was the story of Friday afternoon, but that's definitely not a bad problem to have.  It was now time for CBDB to kick off a 60-minute set it in The Big Tent.  These guys never cease to amaze me.  This would be the band's first performance with bassist Mike Sinopole, and you would've thought he'd been with the band for years.  The highlight of the set came in the form of two debuts: a cover of the Grateful Dead's "Loose Lucy" followed by a brand new original, "She's Mobile."  I can't help but predict very big things to come for CBDB in the near future.

Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

We quickly made it back to the main stage as Twiddle kicked off their set with the classic "Jamflowman."  It had been way too long since I had seen these guys, and I was quickly reminded why they have really blown up recently.  Fortunately, they were scheduled for an additional set on Saturday, which allowed me to scoot back over to The Big Tent just in time for Backup Planet, one of the most promising young bands I have seen in years.  I was introduced to this band earlier this year at AURA Music & Arts Festival, when they delivered one of my favorite sets of the weekend.  These guys managed to exceed some very high expectations.  Backup Planet is the real deal, and they might have the best cover of "Whipping Post" that I've ever heard.

Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Dopapod was now back on the main stage for another amazing sunset performance, only to be followed by a wildly energetic set on the side stage from live electronic act Zoogma.  I've had the pleasure of watching Zoogma work their way up from the college bar scene to the national festival scene, and I couldn't be happier for their success.  You get everything from electronic blues/rock to hip-hop with Zoogma, and how could you not get down to that?

The stage was now set for one of the weekend's biggest moments: two full sets of STS9.  There was a significant number of the Tribe faithful who came to The Werk Out specifically for this moment, and they were rewarded with a stellar festival performance.  The first set had two extremely unfortunate moments; the first of which involved a fan hopping on stage, climbing on drummer Zach Velmer's kit, and taking a trust fall onto the drummer mid-song.  Velmer handled the situation like the true professional that he is, and the band picked up right where they left off.  The set was then cut short due to technical/power issues, but the band returned for it's second set and gave Legend Valley an absolute gem.  The "Hubble" > "Orbital" > "Hubble" segue was as tight as anything I've heard from this band.  "World Go Round" made for an epic dance party to close out the set, and the "Breathe In" encore was simply perfect.  I couldn't have more respect for this band's response to a few unfortunate issues that were out of their control.

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

It was now time for The Werks to continue the party in the big tent, which some might have seen as a difficult task after two powerful sets of STS9.  The boys kicked things off with a bang as they worked through the powerful instrumental "Lights Out," followed by the first "Transformational" since November of 2015.  They even finished the "Cloudhopper" from Thursday night.  Dino Dimitrouleas returned to the stage for an extended jam on "Rollin," and two of my personal favorites, "Find Your Way" and "You're Not Alone," closed out the set in heavy fashion.  

You would think this had to be the end of the evening, but the most unique moment of the night was yet to come.  The stage was now set for Twerkapod, a one-time 90's tribute set featuring a rotating cast of members from The Werks, Dopapod, and Twiddle.  What proceeded after 2:30 AM was nothing short of beautiful, epic, and hilarious.  For a more detailed recap and video footage of the Twerkapod set, click here.

Watch Twerkapod perform Blues Traveler's "Run Around" here:

Video by Charles Izenstark: izeoftheworldphotos

As we entered the final day at Legend Valley, the positive energy was contagious, and we were faced with yet another killer lineup.  Broccoli Samurai kicked things off early on the main stage, and these guys blew my mind.  The Cleveland-based four-piece held down a ridiculously melodic groove from start to finish, and they have some of the best song titles I've ever heard of.  I'm really looking forward to following this band moving forward.  

Members of The Werks, Twiddle, and Greensky Bluegrass joined forces for the Matt Butler's Everyone Orchestra, which opened things up for some truly amazing improv jamming.  I had heard a lot about this project over the years, but this was my first time witnessing it in person.  The constantly rotating cast always brings something new to each stage, and watching this collection of musicians in this capacity was a definite highlight.  BIG Something proceeded to absolutely crush the side stage, while The Werks headed over to the VIP tent for a three-song acoustic set which included Neil Young's "Cortez the Killer," "Fall," and "Better Than Before."  This was my first time seeing these guys in an acoustic setting, and it only further affirmed how diverse this band can be.

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Greensky Bluegrass was next up on the main stage for one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend.  We took advantage of the grass hill back toward the vendors to enjoy the set full of all of the Greensky classics.  It had been quite some time since I'd had the pleasure of seeing these guys live, and damn...they were amazing.  They even brought out Mihali Savoulidis from Twiddle for "Last Winter in Copper County."  As soon as Greensky finished, Twiddle would take the side stage by storm for their second set of the weekend, which featured many of my favorites, such as "Be There," "Lost in the Cold," Syncopated Healing," and "Frankenfoote."  

Watch video footage of Greensky Bluegrass w/ Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle here:

Video by Charles Izenstark: izeoftheworldphotos

The main stage was now set for what you could easily call the weekend's main event.  The Werks were slated for two sets, and they took the stage in full tuxedos.  "Alive" kicked off the set and bust outs of "Give or Take" and "Cruel Stone Blues" would follow.  The always powerful "OG" ultimately led into a cover of Edgar Winter Group's "Frankenstein" which closed out the first set in epic fashion.  "Drop" kicked off the second set, which has to be one of the most clever songs in recent history.  An extended "Werk Out Jam" moved into an "Immigrant Song Jam," and things truly took off from there.  

The sequence of "Finding Destiny" > "Galactic Passport" > "Finding Destiny" > "Galactic Passport" > "Finding Destiny" was on another level.  A raging rendition of "Onslaught" provided a classic Werks rager to close the second set.  The decision to encore with "Carry Me Back Home" came as no surprise, as the emotional tune had not been played since prior to the passing of Norman Dimitrouleas.  Dino returned to the stage for this one, which was an emotional, touching tribute to say the least.  Midway through the song, Rob Chafin addressed the audience and invited the entire Werk Out crew to the stage for the song's closing chorus. 

Watch the "Finding Destiny" > "Galactic Passport" sequence here:
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Watch The Werks' perform "Carry Me Back Home" here:

Videos by Charles Izenstark: izeoftheworldphotos

As many readers will understand, you're just never going to make it to every set that you plan for over the course of a weekend festival.  After three full days and two very late nights, I didn't have it in me to make it back over to The Big Tent for the two remaining sets from The Motet and Earphunk (Daft Phunk).  This was defintely my biggest regret of the weekend, but as the old saying goes, "You can't make 'em all."  There was a noticeable buzz amongst the campground surrounding both late night sets, and it sounds like Earphunk went above and beyond, with a set that went far beyond the time they were obligated to play until.  This came as no surprise, as that's the type of performance that those guys are known to give.  

As I wrap up what is easily one of the longest articles in the history of this website, I can't help but wonder if there is anyone who has actually continued reading to this point.  For anyone who has, thank you for reading through my memories of this amazing weekend.  There is no brief or concise way to justifiably recount this experience.  When thousands of fans come from every corner of the country to gather in the spirit of music and art, it is truly a beautiful thing.  The Werk Out was circled on my calendar for several months, and the anticipation which surrounded it was very real.  My expectations couldn't have been much higher, and they were exceeded each and every night.  I can't say enough about the job that Rob Chafin and the entire Werks crew has done in building and growing this festival into what it has become.  The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival was an experience that I will never forget, and I can't wait to return in 2017.

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions


The Motet Announces Frontman Jans Ingber's Departure From The Band December 15, 2015 12:39

The Motet has announced that longtime frontman/vocalist Jans Ingber has decided to leave the powerhouse funk group. Ingber's last shows will be December 31st (Atlanta) and January 1st (NYC: Post-Phish). We were honored to work with The Motet in October (Fairhope, AL) and wish Jans and the band nothing but the best in their future endeavors.

Founded and led by drummer Dave Watts, the group began over ten years ago and hasn't let up since. Featuring complex compositions written and arranged by Watts himself, the music tells a story through syncopated rhythms and melodies. As music and technology evolve at an astounding rate, so too has The Motet pioneered their unique sound while continuing to defy categorization. With roots in Jazz, Afrobeat, Funk, Salsa and Samba, The Motet keeps their audiences in a dancing frenzy by layering House and Techno rhythms into a style that is uniquely their own.

See below for statements from both The Motet and Jans Ingber, released earlier this morning.

Statement from The Motet:

2015 has been an amazing year. Huge thanks to our community for being such an incredible part of it!

As we prepare to embark on another exciting year ahead, we must first deliver the news that our brother Jans Ingber has decided to leave the band. Read Jans’ letter below.

NYE in ATL and Jan 1st at BB King’s in NYC (Phish aftershow) will be Jans’ last gigs as a member of The Motet. While this news has not been easy for any of us, we wholly respect and support Jans’ decision to make more time for those things that are important to him. We wish him nothing but happiness and success.

The Motet is no stranger to change. We also know that the magic of music happens because of the sum of its parts – and when we do our thing, we feel the magic.

We are pumped for this next phase of our journey. We’re inspired by the music and the love, and know 2016 will be our most epic yet!

Onward and upward. It’s what we do! Expect some amazing vocalists – old friends and new – to join us for upcoming shows. We’ll keep you posted on the details.

YOU all are an important part of that magic; Thanks for being part of the adventure.

Funk on and on,

Dave, Gabriel, Garrett, Joey, Ryan & Matt

The Motet

Statement from Jans Ingber:

BIG, LIFE-CHANGING UPDATE:
To all my music loving people,

This is a tough message to deliver to all of you who have filled my cup, year after year.

After months of deliberating, I have decided to part ways with The Motet.

It has been an honor to have played and facilitated so many epic dance parties and joyous celebrations of life. (I’m looking at you Colorado)
I am incredibly proud of the legacy and music we’ve created.
The Motet are my brothers, and I wish them nothing but success and awesomeness on their journey.
I’m excited to hear the great music that comes from the evolution of this band.

The plain truth is that my desire for a balanced life of creating music and being a father, a husband, an outdoorsman, and a conduit of positive change in my community, has outweighed my desire to be a full-time touring musician in an ascending band.
I love singing. I love playing. I love writing music. I love dancing and entertaining. And I love sharing energy on stage with all of you. My plan is to continue doing all of these things with various projects all over the country.
My Motet homies deserve to dream big and go fulfill their dreams.
Dave, Garrett, Joey, Ryan, Gabe and Matt, thank you for this incredible ride, and keep on don’t stoppin’.

I can rest my head easy knowing how much love and support I have from my family, friends and fans.
I will continue my lifelong journey of spreading positivity and authenticity through music.
I look forward to seeing you all at the next show, party, festival or collaboration.

Motet 4 life…..

Thank you all for supporting me to be the best Jans I can be.

your guy,
Jans

For more information and all of the latest news on The Motet, stay tuned to their Facebook page and official website.


Blueberry Jam Sessions: Sunday 10/18: Weeks Bay Plantation: Fairhope, AL August 12, 2015 09:24

Live & Listen is pleased to announce the details and lineup for our latest series of events, The Blueberry Jam Sessions.  The Blueberry Jam Sessions will be held on Weeks Bay Plantation in Fairhope, Alabama on Sunday, October 18th and Sunday, November 22nd at 2:00PM.  On Sunday, October 18th, we are thrilled to welcome The Motet as our headlining act, as well as The Locust Fork Band, New Madrid, and The Gate Band.  Each session will feature four bands, offering a wide variety of musical talent while crossing into multiple genres, creating the feel of a one-day music festival.  Both events will benefit The WISP Foundation, aimed at raising awareness for safe and organic farming.

The Blueberry Jam Sessions will serve as our two initial events at Weeks Bay Plantation, with firm plans for a full weekend festival in 2016.  General admission and VIP tickets for both events will go on sale on Friday, August 21st and can be purchased right here at liveandlisten.com.  Kids 12 and under will be admitted for free.

Weeks Bay Plantation is currently home to LA Berry Farms, a pick-your-own blueberry farm where you can come enjoy a rejuvenating outdoor experience while nabbing some amazing little-blue-fruit packed with anti-oxidants and touted as one of the top ten healthiest foods we can eat. Not only are the berries 100% organic, they are grown with proprietary high nutritional methods. The results?  Some of the sweetest, most delicious blueberries in the south.

Click Here: Purchase Tickets Now

Our 1st Annual Oyster Roast kicks off at high noon, as a special food offering held lakeside in the Oak Hammock between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.  One of Alabama's finest chefs, Randall Baldwin, will fire up 300 dozen fresh oysters on a steamy, hot steel plate.  Oysters will be served on raised wooden skiffs for shuckers to enjoy cooked oysters the old fashioned way - all you can eat!  Music will be provided by the legendary singer/songwriter Gove Scrivener.  

Attendance to the Oyster Roast requires the additional purchase of a $20 ticket in advance or $25 during the week prior and day of the show.  VIP ticket holders can choose this as their food option at the event.  

Click Here: Oyster Roast Details and Tickets

 

-The Motet-

Hailing from Colorado, The Motet is a world-class improvisational funk band that has dedicated more than a decade to the healing powers of funky dance music. Although the early years of the band saw a constantly revolving cast of musicians, the most recent incarnation has been touring the country for the last several years developing a new and unique style with roots in funk, afrobeat, disco, electronic music, and soul. This new Motet has quickly gained a reputation for throwing infectious dance parties everywhere they go, creating a deep rapport between band and audience.  

All bands have their influences, and the Motet is no different. The band has a long-standing tradition of putting on a musical costume each Halloween, playing consistently sold-out shows along the front range of Colorado while performing the music of groups like Earth Wind and Fire, Parliament Funkadelic, Tower of Power, and Jamiroquai. The careful study of these bands has had an undeniable effect on the creative direction of the Motet. As bandleader and drummer Dave Watts told the Boulder Weekly, "We realized how effective a great song is on a crowd. Instead of just the energetics we're used to bringing with improvising, soloing, and extended arrangements, we really decided to focus on tunes, because we understand how powerful a great song is."

A great song needs a great band to play it, and the Motet proves to be more than adequate in that regard. In addition to Watts, Joey Porter (keys), Garrett Sayers (bass) and Ryan Jalbert (guitar) form a core rhythm section that has been playing together for nearly a decade. This time together has led to their characteristic deep rhythmic pocket, and has created the musical bonds that allow them to take their collective improvisation to heights bordering on precognition. The Motet horns consist of Matt Pitts (sax) and Gabriel Mervine (trumpet). Although deeply rooted in jazz, their time with the Motet has made them into one of the funkiest horn sections on the scene. Front man Jans Ingber rounds out the lineup with his soulful singing, welcoming stage presence, and "Soul Train" dance moves which inspire concert goers to boogie like no one is watching.

These seven musicians form what is undoubtedly the strongest, most cohesive incarnation of the Motet to date. Whether you've loved the Motet for years or you're just tuning in, listen up. You haven't heard the Motet like this, and you won't be disappointed.

Members:
Dave Watts (drums)
Joey Porter (keys)
Garrett Sayers (bass)
Ryan Jalbert (guitar)
Gabe Mervine (trumpet)
Matt Pitts (tenor sax)
Jans Ingber (vocalist & percussion)
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-Locust Fork Band-

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The Locust Fork Band formed in 1974 based out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama playing Southern Rock, Rhythm and Blues, and Western Swing music.  After 40 years, the band is still playing with original members Bill Marshall and Kent Peterson on guitars, Dwight Williams on bass, Rick Byrd on pedal steel and vocalist, Nida Threet.  The popularity of the band is still strong perhaps due as much to the combined talents of this group of musicians as the desire of their fans to recapture their youth in the memories of the songs.  The level of entertainment is always superb and greatly appreciated by the loyal fans of these veterans of honky-tonkin’ blues.  

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-New Madrid-

From the southern wilds of Athens, GA comes young four-piece, New Madrid. Their music is a dynamic mixture of underwater-psych-rock that engages the listener in fully textured aural landscapes, both on record and live. Their acclaimed 2012 independent debut, Yardboat - engineered by David Barbe (Deerhunter, Drive-By Truckers) at Chase Park Transduction- displayed the band's inherent talents and introduces a distinctive sound budding with sonic energy. In their ever-thriving music- mecca hometown, Yardboat garnered "Album of the Year," and the band's formula of constant touring and creative restlessness earned them "Artist of the Year" at the Flagpole Music Awards. In the summer of 2013, New Madrid signed to local start-up Normaltown Records, and entered the studio to record what would become Sunswimmer. Their second full-length finds New Madrid further exploring depths of psychedelia and textured noise.

The new record presents a New Madrid audibly settled into itself. Focused into a collection of collaborative songs, the band delves into a more experimental soundscape. Recorded solely on analog tape during a cool, wet July – once again under the direction of David Barbe - Sunswimmertelegraphs a newly confident self-knowledge, from the assertive opening riff of the churning “Manners” to the infectious driving beat behind “Forest Gum.” The tracks here are more concentrated than Yardboat’s offerings, but fans of New Madrid’s expansive tendencies will be sated by the record’s final 25 minutes, which are characterized by two linear compositions (“Homesick” and “And She Smiles”).

The album's body of music was conceived as a singular piece and is best consumed that way. In a digital age, when song snippets skip cross-country on the backs of  broadband, Sunswimmer is a testament that making music for shared space still remains. With their sophomore album, New Madrid continues to redefine.

-The Gate Band- 

The Gate Band, formed in Montgomery in the mid 60's, has been a staple in the Alabama music scene ever since. They were influenced early on by singing cowboys, Hank Williams, Everly Brothers, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, and the British Invasion. A heavy influence of Texas music was acquired once introduced to Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Doug Sahm, and Delbert McClinton. During the summer of 1974 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, The Gate Band began playing 4 to 5 nights a week for several years.  The band quit touring in the early 1980s on a regular basis, but has continued to play several special events throughout the year ever since.

For all press related inquiries, contact Jordan Kirkland

Stay tuned to liveandlisten.com, as well as our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for all future updates on The Blueberry Jam Sessions!