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Candler Park Music & Food Festival Reveals 2018 Lineup April 3, 2018 19:02

Candler Park Music & Food Festival is all set for June 1st - 2nd at Atlanta's Candler Park, and festival organizers revealed yet another amazing lineup earlier today. This year will feature the likes of Gov't Mule, Lettuce, Keller Williams' PettyGrass ft. The HillBendersTwiddle, SUSTO, Larkin Poe, Busty and the Bass & more. Tier 1 ticket prices are on sale now until April 15. General Admission tickets for both days are available for just $25, while VIP (21+ only) are available for both days for just $60. Click here to secure your tickets today, and stay tuned for further preview coverage of one of our favorite annual festivals. 

The best festival value in the Southeast is brewed by Terrapin Beer Co. with special thanks to the sponsors: Old 4th Distillery | Virgil Kaine | Fontis Water | Sweet Auburn BBQ. Candler Park Music & Food Festival is produced by Rival Entertainment.

Check out the 2017 festival recap here:


The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival Returns This Weekend August 1, 2017 15:46

 

Photos by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

While festival season may be slowing down a bit, one of our favorite annual weekend lies ahead at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio. After finally making it up for The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival last year, we immediately knew that this would be a can't miss occasion moving forward. Host band The Werks put in countless hours preparing and planning for this weekend each year, and one can only imagine what's in store for this festival's eighth installment this weekend.

This year's lineup promises to satisfy cravings for a wide variety of genres, with many of the festival scene's hottest acts coming together for the weekend. Several elements of this year's Werk Out have us particularly excited, and that all starts with The Werks headlining the main stage on all three nights. This includes a special 'Werktronic' set on Friday night, which promises to bring a serious dance party and even a few special guests. There is absolutely no telling what these guys will do at Legend Valley, and this year should be no different.

Two of last year's Werk Out favorites, Dopapod and Twiddle, will both return this year for two nights each. While Dopapod has been a staple for several years, Twiddle made its debut just last year, and it's hard to imagine a Werk Out without them in the future. This year will also feature the second installment of Twerkapod: Tribute To The 90's, which will include a rotating cast from The Werks, Twiddle, and Dopapod. This set is scheduled for 2:15 AM on Saturday morning, and one can only imagine what these guys have planned for round two.

Watch highlights from Twerkapod here:

Fans of the jamtronic scene are in for a major treat this year, as Gramatik and Emancipator are both scheduled for late night sets, and The Floozies will be on the main stage before Friday night's 'Werktronic' set. Werk Out veterans Zoogma also returns for two nights, while Future Rock will be handling the final set of the weekend at 3:00 AM on Sunday morning. Friday night's SunSquabi set on the Side Stage also promises to be a wildly entertaining hour of music, while Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk will surely have funk-filled party planned for their set on Saturday.

One of our favorite elements of this festival is its focus on bringing in many of the hottest 'up-and-comers' from across the country. Between BIG Something, Reed Mathis & Electric Beethoven, Spafford, and CBDB, its tough to decide who we're most excited about. The Electric Beethoven lineup features some serious players with Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green / Billy & The Kids), Todd Stoops (RAQ), Jay Lane (Ratdog/Primus), and Clay Welch. The entire concept of 'classical dance music' and this band's reinterpretations of Beethoven's symphonies is mind blowing. BIG Something, Spafford, and CBDB have each had huge years thus far, and they have certainly been in heavy rotation on our personal playlists. The weekend's sleeper set could easily come in the form of Funk You on Saturday afternoon. There is a reason that the Georgia-based funk outfit is crushing the southeast market.

While we already touched on the Twerkapod tribute set, there are several other tributes worth checking out this weekend. Last year's Broccoli Samurai set was one of our weekend highlights, and this year's Lotus tribute will surely be a hot topic. Additional tribute sets will come in the form of Oh Kee Pah: Tribute To Phish, Bulls On Parade: Tribute To Rage Against The Machine, Any Colour: Tribute To Pink Floyd, and Arrows of Neon: Tribute To The Grateful Dead.

While the lineup never disappoints and the operations of this festival are first class, the true magic lies within the sense of community. Those who have attended know exactly what we mean, and those heading to Ohio this weekend will feel it as soon as they arrive. The Werks have created, maintained, and grown one of the best parties in the midwest today, while always keeping the focus on the fan experience. The band members make a point to roam around, speak with fans, and enjoy the experience themselves. The sense of community that surrounds this band is the main ingredient in this festival's success, and we look forward to enjoying the ride for many years to come.

Watch The Werks perform "Carry Me Back Home" at The Werk Out 2016 here:

 


Twiddle Reveals Lineup For 2nd Annual Tumble Down March 1, 2017 12:11

Twiddle will host their Tumble Down Festival at Burlington, VT’s Waterfront Park for the second year, with the host band playing four sets over the weekend and a lineup that includes Fruition, Madaila, Aqueous, Midnight North, Lucid, Strange Machines, Holly Bowling and more.

The festival will also offer up late night shows at Higher Ground and Nectar’s throughout the weekend. On July 28, Everyone Orchestra will hit the stage at Higher Ground with members of Twiddle, Fruition, Midnight North and Holly Bowling. Gang of Thieves and Backup Planet will perform at Nectar’s. The following night, Twiddle’s Mihali & Friends will play a show at Higher Ground while Lespecial and Pitch Blak Bras Band will headline Nectar’s. Tickets to the late nights will be sold separately.

Tumble Down is slated for July 28-29. All ticketing information is available here.

Tumble Down Lineup:

Twiddle (4 sets)
Fruition
Madaila
Aqueous
Midnight North
Lucid
Strange Machines
Holly Bowling
Teddy Midnight
Navytrain
The Mangroves


moe. and Twiddle To Play Red Rocks Show With Pigeons Playing Ping Pong February 13, 2017 14:35

Photo by Taylor Pack: Live & Listen

Moe. will be joining forces with Twiddle on August 13th at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre with special guests Pigeons Playing Ping Pong! This epic weekend will kick off at Boulder Theater with moe. and Twiddle trading off acoustic and electric sets on August 11th & 12th. Multi-day, VIP and GA tickets will be available Friday, February 17. Stay tuned for further details on this run of shows, as well as all of the latest updates on moe., Twiddle, and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong!

Watch moe.'s full performance from Red Rocks in 2016 here:

Watch Twiddle's full performance from Red Rocks in 2015 here:

Watch Pigeons Playing Ping Pong's full set from Toad's Place (10.27.16) here:


SweetWater 420 Fest Releases Final Lineup For 2017 January 18, 2017 20:07

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SweetWater 420 Festival has added 30+ performers to it's already stacked lineup, and fans of the jam scene have every reason to rejoice.  Joining previously announced headliners Trey Anastasio, Widespread Panic, Ween, Slightly Stoopid, and Dirty Heads will be moe., Talib Kweli, Dopapod, Twiddle, Jackie Greene, Anders OsborneThe Werks, Break ScienceSunSquabi, The Hip AbductionStop Light Observations, BIG SomethingCBDBFunk YouVoodoo Visionary, and many others. Previously announced performers include Dark Star OrchestraAnders Osborne, Lettuce, The festival also unveiled a comedy lineup that includes former SNL cast member Jon Rudnitsky as well as Jake Nordwind, Joe Pettis and others.

Headliners Widespread Panic will perform two nights of the festival for a total of four sets throughout the weekend, while Anastasio will perform two sets with his solo band. Sweetwater 420 Fest will kick off April 21-23 in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

Watch the official 2017 lineup announcement video here:


SweetWater 420 Fest Announces Massive Initial Lineup For 2017 September 20, 2016 09:33

The annual SweetWater 420 Fest in Atlanta, Georgia just made it's initial lineup announcement this morning, and this may be it's biggest splash yet.  The news seems to have generated so much traffic that the festival's website temporarily shut down.  Rounding out the top of the 2017 lineup is Widespread Panic (two nights/four sets), Trey Anastasio Band (2 sets), Slightly Stupid, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Dark Star Orchestra, Anders Osborne, Twiddle, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, and The Hip Abduction.  The announcement notates that the lineup will also feature over 45 additional artists.  Early bird tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased at the festivals official website.  Stay tuned for further updates on the 2017 420 Fest!

Watch the official 2017 lineup announcement video here:


Looking Back On LOCKN': A Weekend In Review September 4, 2016 14:20

Words by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
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Photos by Keith Griner: Phierce Photography
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Now that I have had nearly seven full days to digest what I witnessed last weekend, it only seems appropriate to attempt to explain my LOCKN' experience.  This was something I planned to do earlier in the week, before coming down with a mild case of what many have called the "wook flu."  My friends and I set out out on the journey from Alabama to Virginia just before sunrise on Thursday, August 25th, slightly apprehensive and anxious about a four day festival in the heat of summer.  With arguably the best lineup of bands I've ever seen (extra stess on "arguably," as it's all relative), excitement was certainly abound.  Luckily, some friends hooked us up with a few extra forest camping passes, which proved to be a total game changer.  We managed to set up camp just in time to head to the concert grounds for Vulfpeck's opening set, which served as a perfect intro to the epic weekend ahead.

Vulfpeck has been one of the hottest bands in the festival scene for nearly two years, and their live show speaks for itself.  What you see is what you get with Vulfpeck. They keep it as simple as possible, playing real instruments with essentially no effects. This making for a a very raw, natural outcome.  This set was highlighted by several of their hits, such as "Funky Duck," "1612," and "Put It In My Back Pocket," as well as a cover of Steely Dan's "Peg" that nearly lit the crowd on fire.  As they finished up, the massive crowd had its first glimpse at the infamous "turntable stage," which Umphrey's McGee took full advantage of.  Within three seconds of Vulfpeck stopping, Umphreys cranked into full effect with "Nipple Trix" as the stage rotated, which quickly segued into one of my personal favorites, "1348."  

The set continued with "Attachments" and "The Triple Wide," one of the bands biggest jam vehicles.  The "2x2" > "Speak Up" > "2x2" sequence moved swiftly into a raging take on "Puppet String," ultimately leading into "Roctopus."  At this time, Brendan Bayliss called upon none other than Gene Ween, who performed an entire set with Umphrey's last summer known as "God Boner."  Being that ole Gene has an uncanny resemblance to Billy Joel these days, the decision to cover Joel's "The Stranger" was well received.  With little time to spare, the band then segued back into "Puppet String," before "All In Time" closed things out in powerful fashion.   

Watch Umphrey's perform "The Stranger" with Gene Ween here:
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Next to take the stage was Ween, who was slated for the evening's headlining set.  It was clear early on that many in attendance did not know what to expect from these guys; myself included.  While I've casually listened to Ween over the last fifteen years, I never dove in deep, and I'd never had a chance to see them live.  While their were some very bizarre moments, I loved every minute of it.  These guys managed to pump out 26 total songs, including many I was familiar with such as "Transdermal Celebration," "Mister, Would You Please Help My Pony," "How High Can You Fly," "Beacon Light, "Baby Bitch," "Boys Club," "Fat Lenny," "Push The Little Daisies," "Ocean Man," and "Zoloft."  We've made it a full week since this set, and I'm still talkin' bout "Boys Club."  I can't help but think that Dean and Gene must be somehow related to Trey Parker and Matt Stone (creators of South Park), and last weekend further affirmed that assumption.  

After a truly exhausting two hours with Ween, there was just enough time for the first of many cool down sessions back at the car.  These sessions were critical, as we had a chance to turn up the A/C, charge the cell phone, and collect our completely scattered thoughts.  There wasn't much time to waste though, as Joe Russo's Almost Dead was up next at the Blue Ridge Bowl.  This was arguably my most highly anticipated performance of the weekend.  Like many others, I had been dying to see this band since its inception three years ago, but they don't tour extensively.  So, this was my first opportunity to catch their set, and I'll just say this.  JRAD uses the catalog of the Grateful Dead as a launching pad into something that is totally its own.  

I was absolutely blown away by my first JRAD experience, which kicked off with "Space" > "Truckin'," before moving into an absolute monster "St. Stephen."  "The Eleven" and "Brown Eyed Women" would follow, before "The Wheel" opened up another insane improv section.  The set continued with powerful takes on "Estimated Prophet," "Tennessee Jed," and "Viola Lee Blues," and a beautiful take on "He's Gone" would follow.  Right around 3:15 AM, the band busted into "Terrapin Station," and you better believe we got the full Terrapin Suite.  This was easily the best late night set I'd experienced at this point, and one of the best Dead sets I've ever witnessed.  Keep in mind that I'm a child of the late 80's.  

Watch JRAD perform "He's Gone" > "Terrapin Station" here:
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While it was already nearly 90 degrees upon waking up on Friday, the lineup ahead of us demanded our full effort and attention.  Turkuaz was scheduled for a 12:30 PM power funk lunch session, and that's something you just can't miss out on.  This is one of the most entertaining, high-energy bands in the festival circuit, and they've only scratched the surface.   These guys are incredibly tight, and the level of choreography that goes into each set can't go unnoticed.  The set ultimately closed with an amazing rendition of The Band's "Shape I'm In," to which the stage rotated with Vulfpeck in full effect.

As much as I hated to walk away from Vulfpeck, I knew that my next move was arguably my most critical decision of the weekend, and the "Infinity Downs" area had a live video stream of the main stage.  I made my way over to the almighty Vida-Flo RV, which treated me to an incredibly pleasant experience.  The fine folks at Vida-Flo spent their majority of time at LOCKN' helping others rehydrate and obtain a much needed second wind to fight through the outrageously hot and humid weekend.  "The LOCKN' Special" put me exactly where I needed to be, and I was able to enjoy Vulfpeck's covers of "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and "Tell Me Somethin' Good" during the procress.  I can't say enough about Jamey, Katie, and the rest of the Vida-Flo team for the service they provided to so many at LOCKN'.

The remainder of Friday afternoon was highlighted by performances from White Denim, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, and Peter Wolf (of the J Geils Band).  With my new found energy and hydration, I made it back to the concert grounds and enjoyed a seriously rockin' set from White Denim, who I'd been looking forward to seeing for several years.  While I definitely haven't given White Denim the attention they deserve over the years, I have loved everything I've heard from these guys.  Songs like "Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah)" and "At Night In Dreams" have been staples in my regular rotation for some time, and the entire Corsica Lemonade album is simply brilliant.  

One lifesaving factor to my LOCKN' experience that I have failed to mention thus far is the hospitality that we experienced at Starr Hill Brewery tent, which was located at the back of the concert grounds.  Starr Hill, a craft brewery based in Crozet, VA, is the official beer sponsor of LOCKN', and I'm not sure how we would've survived without it.  Fortunately, a longtime childhood friend works for the brewery and granted us access to the tent the entire weekend.  Shade, fans with mist, cool beer, and most importantly water, were made available to all of Starr Hill's patrons this weekend, as well as a distant view of the main stage.  The luxury of watching White Denim and part of Charles Bradley's set from the Starr Hill tent was a perfect way to continue the afternoon.  Star Hill Brewery probably saved our lives last weekend.

As the sun began to set, Ween returned to the stage for it's second set of the weekend.  While this set was closer to 80-90 minutes, it was an absolute scorcher.  One of my top highlights from the weekend came in the form of "Roses Are Free" > "Your Party" > "Bananas and Blow" > "Voodoo Lady."  Several other classics, including "Mutilated Lips," "Spinal Meningitis," "Piss Up A Rope," and "Buckingham Green" helped make this set one that I'll never forget.  

The stage was now set for a moment that so many were waiting for.  Phish was slated for two full sets as the Friday night headliner.  While the 90-minute break in music felt like an eternity, this was soon forgotten as the band took the stage and ripped into the opening notes of "Wilson."  Despite a few miscues in "Wilson," as well as the intro to "Down With Disease," this set was off to a really hot start.  "Free" and "Wolfman's Brother" would follow, before we were treated to a "Tube" which featured that extended jam that has been somewhat rare in recent years.  Next up was "555," which even went further than it typically does with a next outtro jam.  

"It's Ice" was probably the highlight of the first set for me, as it's just one of those songs that I tend to miss by one show.  "Wingsuit," which may be the most underrated song in the Phish catalog, slowed the pace and ultimately led into one of the most beautiful jams of the weekend.  The transition into "Simple" pumped a new life into the massive crowd, and just when you thought the set was over, the lights shifted to one particular mic stand, indicating an acapella performance.  I was lucky enough to witness the debut of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" at Wrigley Field in June, and I was elated to hear it again on Friday night.  There's nothing quite like their spin on that classic tune.

After a brief intermission, Trey wasted no time busting into "Punch You In The Eye," and he didn't let off the gas once.  "Blaze On" and "Fuego" were perfectly executed, and the "Ghost" that followed was easily the biggest jam of the night.  The segue into "Bathtub Gin" was seemless, and "Backwards Down The Number Line" provided an amazing, nostalgic sing-a-long, as it always does.  Any set that ends with "You Enjoy Myself" is a treat, and this was the case on Friday.  The trampolines came out, and Trey even gave us a little break dancing expo during Mike's solo.  The "Ass Handed" tease during the eventual vocal jam was icing on the cake.  You can only do so much with an encore after "YEM," and this was a night where "Character Zero" was the perfect choice.  Just like that, Phish's first LOCKN' set was over, and we couldn't have asked for much more.

I won't get too repetitive when discussing the second late night set from JRAD, but goodness gracious, it was amazing.  Just the fact that our evening included Ween > Phish > JRAD was hard to believe.  "Good Lovin" kicked off the set, and "Shakedown Street," "China Cat Sunflower," and "I Know You Rider" would follow.  The band welcomed Nicole Adkins to the stage to add a little Donna Jean flare to "Dancin' In The Streets," "The Music Never Stopped," and "Turn On Your Lovelight."  I was not familiar with Adkins prior to this set, but wow...she's got some serious pipes.  Her involvement in this set was something that will always stand out when thinking back on this one.  Fortunately, she stuck around for harmony vocals on the "Franklin's Tower," "Thowing Stones," and "Not Fade Away" which closed out night two at LOCKN'.  Joe Russo's ability to command and lead this band from behind the drum kit is absolutely remarkable, and I've never seen anything like it.  We are talking about one of the most talented drummers on the planet though, so I guess no one should be surprised.

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We were now halfway through our LOCKN' experience, and waking up knowing that there were two more days of this madness was hard to believe.  Just like every other day, the lineup was slam packed full of "must see" bands, starting with Keller Williams' Grateful Grass at the Blue Ridge Bowl, or at least what was left of it from the two nights of JRAD destruction.  The Grateful Grass experience features a rotating cast of bluegrass musicians.  It's gotten to the point that Keller looks at the Dead's catalog as it's own genre, similar to jazz, as musicians can simply jump on stage with very little experience playing with one another and just roll with it.  I'd highly recommend reading Live Music Daily's interview with Keller from LOCKN', where he goes in depth on the evolution of the Grateful Grass concept.  

Listen to the entire Grateful Gospel set here:
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Moon Taxi was first up on the main stage, and they had the farm rocking at an early hour.  It's been a true pleasure watching this band progress from the college bar scene to touring across the country playing many of the most prestigious venues.  Their ability to find a balance between jam and mainstream rock is brilliant, and I can only imagine the dividends that it is paying.  Twiddle was up next, and I can't say enough about this band.  I feel like I haven't stopped listening to Twiddle all summer, and I've been fortunate to attend two summer festivals (LOCKN' and The Werk Out) which featured two sets of Twiddle.  "Jamflowman" and "When It Rains It Pours" gave me my two favorite Twiddle originals, and Keller Williams' sit-in on "Best Feeling" was likely the top spontaneous collaboration of the weekend.  

Watch Twiddle and Keller Williams perform "Best Feeling" here:
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Thanks to the champions at SiriusXM JamOn, nearly every major set at LOCKN' was broadcasted live, which you wouldn't think would impact those of us at the festival.  You have to take a break at some point though, especially amidst the extreme heat and humidity last weekend.  While I didn't watch the Galactic set with Lee Oskar, I was able to listen live from my car, which was a major luxury.  Galactic has been an anchor in the jam/festival scene for as long as I can remember, and they delivered once again.  Hard Working Americans were next on stage, providing me with my first chance to see this super group in person.  

While I've been a huge Widespread Panic fan for 15+ years, my eyes were glued to Neal Casal's guitar playing.  This guy is one of the best in the business, and easily one of the "hardest working" musicians around.  He was easily the MVP of the weekend, performing with HWA, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Phil Lesh & Friends, and Circles Around The Sun.  Todd Snider's unique stage presence and style was a treat to watch, and it was a lot of fun watching Dave Schools and Duane Trucks jamming together with these guys.  

Saturday's Phil & Friends lineup was easily one of the most hyped moments of the weekend, and how could it not have been?  Who would have ever thought we would see Phil Lesh, Page McConnell, Jon Fishman, Joe Russo, Anders Osborne, and The Infamous Stringdusters play an entire set together?  How about adding Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi for two songs ("Mr Charlie" > "Sugaree")?  That is absolutely ridiculous, and yes, it really happened.  Seeing the stage rotate with this cast, while they busted into "Scarlet Begonias," was a memory I will always cherish.  I know I'll be listening to their renditions of "Dire Wolf," "Uncle John's Band," "Shakedown Street," and "Terrapin Station" (even if it wasn't the full Terrapin Suite) for the rest of my life.  

Most festivals would have probably featured that type of set as the night's headliner, but we weren't even close to that point.  The world class Tedeschi Trucks Band was up next for a super soulful ride into the evening.  Each night as the sun would go down, the crowd was able to breathe a little easier without the brutal sun beating down on us, and Tedeschi Trucks was a perfect way to ease into the night.  Joe Cocker's "The Letter", "Keep On Growing," and "Let Me Get By" rounded out this killer performance, setting the stage for the set that everyone is still talking about.

My Morning Jacket is no stranger to the festival scene, and it's no secret that they are one of the greatest rock-and-roll bands of our era.  That being said, I don't think anyone realized how dynamic this headlining set would be.  MMJ started in familiar territory with "Victory Dance," which flowed perfectly into a sequence of "Compound Fracture" > "Off The Record."  Next up was "Steam Engine," before a cover of Burt Bacharch's "What The World Needs Now" that had some true magic to it.  "I'm Amazed," "Spring," "Phone Went West, and Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved" would follow and keep this set alive.  "Magheeta" would precede another epic moment, as James led the band through a well executed cover of Prince's "Purple Rain."  The set's closing sequence of "Wordless Chorus" > "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream (Pt.2)," David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel" and "One Big Holiday" couldn't have been written up any better.  MMJ was headlining the jam scene's biggest festival of the summer, and they dialed up a list of songs that reflected that.  The hype surrounding this set is absolutely justified, and anyone who had already seen this band perform wasn't surprised in the least.  Is there a bigger modern rock star than Jim James?  

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Saturday's late night at Blue Ridge Bowl provided a much needed dose of funk as Lettuce took control of the party.  It's always a special occasion when Nigel Hall (keys/vocals) is on stage, adding an extra vocal element and opening up so many different options for this insanely talented group.  Prior to the set, drummer Adam Deitch and guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff promised fans the most psychedelic set of their career, and they delivered just that.  This set was specially crafted for LOCKN', and you can't help but tip your cap to these guys for such an appropriate approach.

For many, Sunday started off with a much needed church session, and luckily, Keller Williams was slated for his annual "Grateful Gospel" set.  Joining Keller on lead guitar was none other than John Kadlecick, who's known for co-founding Dark Star Orchestra in 1997, as well as joining Furthur in 2009. The female backing vocalists truly added a church-like gospel feel throughout the set, but I highly recommending watching the performance of "We Bid You Goodnight" below.  I can't imagine a better way to start your day at a festival than 90-minutes of Keller's Grateful Gospel.

Watch the "Moonlight Midnight" > "We Bid You Goodnight" sequence from Keller's Grateful Gospel here:
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I was unable to make it to the main stage for the afternoon's first two performers, The Dharma Initiative and Doobie Decibel System, but there was definitely a buzz about both performances.  As amazing as this year's lineup was, it can be painful when deciding which sets you have to take a break during.  Fortunately, our campsite was within listening distance for even these sets that weren't streamed live via JamOn.  I knew I couldn't miss Twiddle's encore performance.  It's amazing to watch this band continue to flourish and reel in new fans on the biggest stage.  Sunday's set started off with "Blunderbus, "Daydream Farmer," and "Beehop," before "Lost In The Cold" seemed to have the entire farm singing in unison.  "Carte Candlestick" and "Frankenfoote" ultimately closed out the short set, as the band was again slotted for just 60-minutes.  While most any band would kill for 60-minutes at LOCKN', you just want so much more once this band gets going.  I'll be shocked if we don't see these guys back on Oak Ridge Farm in 2017.

Watch Twiddle perform "Daydream Farmer" at LOCKN' here:
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Every music festival could use a nice dose of reggae, and who better to provide that than the band who taught us about this genre, The Wailers.  These seasoned vets took the stage and laid down literally every Bob Marley / Wailers hit that you've ever heard.  This music always generates a notable energy amongst a crowd, but it was something really special on Sunday afternoon. You've got to love the planning and attention to detail with the placement of each band on this lineup.  There is absolutely a science to it, and Peter Shapiro knows it as well as anyone in the game.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood took the stage fairly late in the afternoon, and they had their work cut out for them.  Not only were they slated for 90-minutes of originals, but they would then join Phil Lesh for the weekend's second set of Phil & Friends.  The CRB set was highlighted by originals such as "Leave My Guitar Alone," "Forever As The Moon," "New Cannonball Rag," and "Ain't Hard But Fair," while Jackie Moore's "Precious, Precious" and Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" rounded things out.  The band's latest hit single, "Narcissistic and Soaking Wet" would ultimately close things out.

Watch Chris Robinson Brotherhood perform "Narcissistic Soaking Wet" at LOCKN' here:
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While Saturday's Phil & Friends lineup featured the sexier lineup on paper, I personally thought Sunday's set had the true feel of a Dead set.  Perhaps it was presence of weekend MVP Neal Casal, who just knows how to play it like Jerry.  I've always been a fan of Robinson's vocals, and he really delivered for this one.  Just as the stage began to rotate, Phil, the boys from CRB, and Gary Clark Jr. began ripping into "Samson & Delilah."  "Good Morning Little School Girl" and "Wang Dang Doodle" were perfect choices, and the decision to play The Dead's version of Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle" was one of my favorite moments of the weekend.  This song might be the most commonly covered song in rock-and-roll, but hearing Chris Robinson sing it to The Dead's tempo was a fucking treat.  Do yourself a favor and watch the video footage below and see for yourself.  "Fire On The Mountain" and "New Speedway Boogie" opened things up for yet another monster "St. Stephen," and "The Wheel" wasn't going to slow down.  There aren't many songs in the Dead catalog better suited for a party than "Turn On Your Lovelight" (Bobby Bland), and Robinson crushed every note.  It was refreshing and reassuring to see Phil having such a great time, surrounded by so many world class musicians at LOCKN'  

Watch Phil Lesh & Friends perform "Hard to Handle" here:
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Gary Clark Jr. might have been the most intriguing act on the lineup entering the weekend.  While I've heard "Bright Lights" and "Don't Owe You a Thing" as many times as I can remember on JamOn, I just haven't given this guy the attention he deserves. I've been well aware of his reputation and status across the scene in general, but I was way past due for a Gary Clark Jr. set.  He and his band came out swinging as they opened with "Bright Lights," and swiftly moved into "Travis County," "Next Door Neighbor Blues," "Cold Blooded," and "BYOB."  The crowd continued filling in, and the set eventually closed out with "Don't Owe You A Thing," "You Saved Me," and "Shake.  The sound that this guy has is out of this world.  There are moments where My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, Jimi Hendrix, and White Denim all come to mind, except that Clark compliments the heavy riffs with one of the most soulful voices you've ever heard. 

Watch Gary Clark Jr. perform "Bright Lights" at LOCKN' here:
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The stage was now set for one final time, and you couldn't help but stand up and look around at the scene that awaited.  The energy at Oak Ridge Farm on Sunday night was impalpable, with 30,000+ fans riding high on four days of music with two more sets of Phish to come.  Each day as the sun would set, we experienced significant release as the temperature seemed to instantly drop fifteen degrees, and this held true once again on Sunday.  Phish took the stage right around 8:30 PM, and "Sample In A Jar" was first up to the plate.  Page then cued the now infamous vocal tracking of "Martian Monster," much to the approval of the LOCKN' faithful.  I really wish they would jam this one out more than they do now, and it feels like more appropriate in the second set (Ex: Atlanta, GA - July 31st, 2015), they're typically throwing it in early and keeping it fairly tamed.

 

The first set stayed super hot with "Axilla" and "The Moma Dance," before "Halley's Comet" provided that absurd, silly sing-a-long that very few are capable of pulling off.  We were then given a double-dose of the band's 1986 cassette tape release The White Tape with "AC/DC Bag" > "Fuck Your Face."  The sequence of "Fuck Your Face" > "46 Days" is about as heavy rock-and-roll as you can ask for from Phish.  "The Line" was a bit of a curveball, as it tends to be, but "Limb By Limb," "Possum," and "First Tube" would follow and wrap up a very, very solid first yet.  

There were high expectations for a wave of heavy hitters in set two, and they were exceeded, as usual.  "Carini" lit a fire across the farm and flowed nicely into the "Chalkdust Torture" that you knew was coming as some point.  "Twist" seems to be one of the jams of 2016, and I don't think anyone is complaining.  I've been a sucker for "Light" since the release of Joy in 2009, as this tune has become one of the bigger jam vehicles of the Phish 3.0 era.  The "Light" jam ultimately landed into "Tweezer," prompting a mildly concerning glow stick war on Oak Ridge Farm.  Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter" was next, prompting McConnell to guide us through the classic cover.  I'm assuming the guy next to me promised his friends that he would do a headstand if Phish was to play "No Quarter," because he went ballistic during the opening notes, and his friends proceeded to lift his feet to the sky as he hit the deck.  Truly remarkable.

From here, we went into full "space jam" mode, as Fishman dropped into the opening beat of "Also Sprach Zarathustra," aka "2001 (Space Odyssey)."  That's a dance party that never gets old.  It was apparently Fishman's moment, as he then dropped into the opening notes of "Harry Hood," which seemed to be a likely place for the set to end.  As I've said before...just when you think you know, this band proves you wrong.  They tacked on a "Tweezer Reprise" just for safe measure and made sure that this crowd was still on it's toes.  After a brief exit, the band returned and broke into The Rolling Stones' "Loving Cup" and closed out the festival with everyone screaming "What a beautiful buzz!"  While it might not have been a shocking encore selection, it felt extremely appropriate.  

Sitting down and reliving this unforgettable experience over the past few days has allowed me to fully comprehend the remarkable journey we took just a week ago.  It's easy to get caught up in the fatigue, anxiety, and pressure to "get back into a normal" rhythm after these huge musical weekends, but it's equally important to reflect and cherish the moment.  As much fun as it was, it certainly wasn't easy.  I've never dealt with that type of heat, humidity, and pure exhaustion without access to "going inside."  In the long run, that makes the experience that much more unique, and it definitely makes for better story-telling.  There were twelve different bands on this lineup that I have travelled to see play on their own, and some on multiple occasions.  Top that off with the fact that this marked my 30th show with my favorite band: Phish.  What's left to say?  My ability to continue embarking on these musical adventures with so many of the world's greatest friends is an element of life that I'll never take for granted.  Until next time, LOCKN'...

Special thanks to Keith Griner of Phierce Photography for capturing this weekend for us and allowing us to share it with you all.


LOCKN' Festival Announces Free Live Video Stream Schedule August 24, 2016 15:07

For those unable to make it to this weekend's LOCKN' Festival, we have good news just for you.  The festival has announced a free livestream this weekend sponsored by FANS.com and powered by nugs.tv and Qello Concerts, featuring sets by all of your favorite LOCKN' performers, including Phish (x2), My Morning Jacket, Ween (x2), Phil Lesh & Friends, Gary Clark Jr., Vulfpeck, Umphrey's McGee, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Joe Russo's Almost Dead (x2), Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Twiddle, Hard Working Americans, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, and many more. For information on where to watch, visit the LOCKN' website, and view the full livestream schedule below. 

Click Here: Official Details via LOCKNFestival.com


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LOCKN' FESTIVAL 2016 LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE:
All times are EDT, and subject to change.
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THURSDAY 
Vulfpeck – 7:30pm 
Umphrey’s McGee – 8:30pm 
Ween – 10:00pm 
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – 1:00am 
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FRIDAY 
Donna The Buffalo – 11:00am 
Moogatu – 12:00pm 
Turkuaz – 12:30pm 
Vulfpeck – 1:30pm 
White Denim – 2:30pm 
Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires – 3:30pm
Peter Wolf – 4:45pm

Ween – 6:00pm 
Phish – 8:30pm 
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – 1:00am 
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SATURDAY 
Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass– 10:30am 
DJ Williams Projekt – 12:00pm 
Moon Taxi – 12:30pm 
Twiddle – 1:30pm 
Galactic w/ Lee Oskar – 2:40pm 
Hard Working Americans – 4:10pm 
Brandi Carlile – 5:40pm 
Phil Lesh & Friends – 6:40pm 
Tedeschi Trucks Band – 8:20pm 
My Morning Jacket– 10:20pm 
Lettuce – 1:00am 
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SUNDAY 
Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel – 10:30am 
The Dharma Initiative – 12:00pm 
Doobie Decibel System – 12:30pm 
Twiddle – 1:00pm 
The Wailers – 2:00pm 
Chris Robinson Brotherhood – 3:00pm 
Phil Lesh & Friends – 4:45pm 
Gary Clark Jr. – 6:15pm 
Phish – 8:30pm


Twiddle Will Head West For 2016 Fall Tour August 15, 2016 14:39

Vermont-based jam sensation Twiddle has announced its 2016 fall tour dates, which kick off on September 28th in St. Louis, Missouri.  The band will then head west for a run of shows in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and California.  Kitchen Dwellers will provide support for each show on the run, with the exception of October 22nd - 23rd at Hangtown Fest in Placerville, California.  Futher details and ticket info can be found by visiting Twiddle's official website.

Twiddle, a Vermont based quartet, spins tall tales over an intricate soundscape of hi-def shred. Their fresh multi-genre approach conjures up jazz, classical, and bluegrass, but above all, masterfully blends reggae and funk. Obliterating laws of improvisation, their complex arrangements never fail to leave crowds lusting for more. With sage songwriting and unmatched variety, Twiddle’s thrilling infancy will surely exceed all expectation.

Watch Twiddle perform "Syncopated Healing" at Ram's Head in Baltimore here:


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


Watch Video of Twerkapod's 90's Tribute Set from The Werk Out Music Festival August 9, 2016 18:31

Over the weekend, Ohio-based jam band The Werks hosted its 7th annual Werk Out Music & Arts Festival at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio.  With headlining sets from STS9, Lettuce, Greensky Bluegrass, and The Werks, as well as amazing performances from Dopapod, Twiddle, The Motet, Earphunk (performing as 'Daft Phunk'), Turkuaz, CBDB, Backup Planet, and so many more, this year's Werk Out was wildly successful. 

The Werk Out has often been known for its unique tribute sets, such as The Werks, Dopapod, and Papadosio performing Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" in its entirety in 2014.  This year's tribute came in the form of Twerkapod, which featured The Werks, Twiddle, and Dopapod performing many of the greatest hits from the 90's from 2:30AM - 4:00AM.  Fortunately, select video footage has surfaced on YouTube via Izeoftheworldphotos and Amanda Siedner, which can be seen below.

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Green Day - "Basket Case" (Rob Chafin of The Werks on vocals)
Blink 182 - "All The Small Things" (Chuck Jones of Dopapod on vocals)
Sublime - "Date Rape" (Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle on vocals)
Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle on vocals)
Harvey Danger - "Flagpole Sitta" (Dan Shaw of The Werks on vocals)
Coolio - "Gangster's Paradise" (Dino & Rob of The Werks on vocals)
Rage Against The Machine - "Killing In The Name"  (Dino of The Werks on vocals)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Give It Away" (Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle on vocals)
Britney Spears - "Hit Me Baby One More Time (Chuck Jones of Dopapod on vocals)
Third Eye Blind - "Semi-Charmed Life" (Rob Chafin of The Werks on vocals)
Hanson - "Mmm Bop" (Scotty Zwang of Dopapod on vocals)
Spin Doctors - "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" (Rob Chafin of The Werks on vocals)
Blues Traveler - "Run Around" (Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle on vocals)
Radiohead - "Creep" (Eli Winderman of Dopapod on vocals)
Foo Fighters - "I'll Stick Around" (Scotty Zwang of Dopapod on vocals)
TLC - "Waterfalls" (Mihali Savouldis of Twiddle & Scotty Zwang of Dopapod on vocals
Encore: The Verve - "Bittersweet Symphony" (Chris Houser of The Werks on vocals)
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Watch footage of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana) here:

Watch footage of "Flagpole Sitta" (Harvey Danger) here:

 Watch footage of Gangster's Paradise (Coolio) here:

Watch footage of "Killing In The Name" (RATM) here:

 

Watch footage of "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (Britney Spears) here:

Watch footage of "Run Around" (Blues Traveler) here:

Watch footage of "Creep" (Radiohead) here:

Watch footage of "Waterfalls" (TLC) here:


Watch Page McConnell Of Phish Jam With Twiddle In Burlington July 31, 2016 13:17

Photo via JamBase

Vermont worlds collided on Saturday night in Burlington, as Twiddle welcomed Page McConnell of Phish to the stage early in their second set at Tumble Down.  After "tweener" piano set from Holly Bowling during intermission, Twiddle and Bowling worked their way through "Hatti's Jam" to open the second set.  The Burlington natives then shocked the Waterfront Park crowd by welcoming McConnell to the stage for an extended jam on "When It Rains, It Pours."  Aside from performing with Phish and The Meter Men, Saturday night's with Twiddle would be only the third band McConnell has performed with in the past five years (Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - 2012, Mike Gordon - 2014).

The second night at Twiddle's Tumble Down proved to be special, as the evening also included performance from Nahko and Medicine for the People and Cabinet.  Dopapod's Scotty Zwang even made an appearance, as he joined Twiddle late in the second set for "Lost in the Cold."  Additional performances this weekend came from power funk army Turkuaz and Kitchen Dwellers on Friday night.  Fortunately, footage from McConnell's sit-in has surfaced via youtube user TheKamherst and can be watched below.

Watch a segment from Twiddle and Page McConnell's jam on "When It Rains, It Pours" here:

Tumble Down continued the tradition started last year at the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival that included alternating weekend nights with moe. The weekend included various recreational activities, including a Charity Disc Golf Tournament supporting Twiddle's charity, The White Light Foundation, and late night sets around town with members of Twiddle.

Twiddle is a Vermont-based quartet formed in 2004 with members Mihali Savoulidis, Ryan Dempsey, Brook Jordan, and Zdenek Gubb. Their fresh multi-genre approach conjures up rock, jazz, bluegrass, and masterfully blends reggae and funk. The band recently played Red Rocks, sold out a 5 night run of Colorado shows, and played Bonnaroo


Twiddle Announces Headlining Spring Tour Dates January 27, 2016 15:51

Vermont four-piece, Twiddlehas announced headlining Spring Tour dates in the Southeast U.S. and Midwest beginning at the end of March. The band recently celebrated the release of their acclaimed album, PLUMP, with several sold out shows in Brooklyn, Boston and Burlington, as well as playing two sets on Jam Cruise.
 
Fans can also catch Twiddle in the Northeast as part of their Winter Tour, kicking off February 18th in Rhode Island, and in Colorado this June for their “Fox to the Rocks Colorado Tweekend.”

Head over to Twiddle's Official Website to listen to PLUMP 

Twiddle Tour Dates:
Thursday, February 18| Port City Music Hall Portland, RI
Friday, February 19 | Fete Music Hall - Providence, RI
Saturday, February 20 | The Westcott Theater - Syracuse, NY
Thursday, February 25 | The Town Ballroom - Buffalo, NY
Friday, February 26 | Upstate Concert Hall - Clifton Park, NY
Saturday, February 27 | Irving Plaza - New York, NY
Friday, March 4-6 | Okeechobee Music Festival - Okeechobee, FL
Thursday, March 10 | The 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
Friday, March 11 | TLA Philly - Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, March 12 | Toad's Place - New Haven, CT
Sunday, March 13 | Toad's Place - New Haven, CT
Tuesday, March 29 | Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC*
Wednesday, March 30 | New Mountain Theatre – Asheville, NC*
Thursday, March 31 | Terminal West – Atlanta, GA*
Friday, April 1 | Hogs for the Cause – New Orleans, LA*
Wednesday, April 6 | TBD*
Thursday, April 7 | – The Concourse - Knoxville, TN*
Saturday, April 9 | Euphoria Festival – Austin, TX
Tuesday, April 12 | Gabe’s – Iowa City, IA*
Wednesday, April 13 | The Caboose – Minneapolis, MN*
Thursday, April 14 | Majestic Live – Madison, WI*
Friday, April 15 | Miramar Theatre – Milwaukee, WI*
Saturday, April 16 | Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL*
Sunday, April 17 | The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI*
Tuesday, April 19 | Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH*
Wednesday, April 20 | Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH*
Thursday, April 21 | Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH*
Friday, April 22 | Rex Theater – Pittsburg, PA*
Saturday, April 23 | TBA*
Friday, June 3 | Fox Theater – Boulder, CO
Saturday, June 4 | Red Rocks Amphitheater
*New date
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Head over to  Twiddle's Official Website for all tour and ticket info!
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Twiddle Releases Third Studio Album: PLUMP Chapter 1 December 15, 2015 10:48

Twiddle: Terminal West - Atlanta GA: 04.16.15

Twiddle has released their highly anticipated studio album, PLUMP Chapter One, featuring 11 original songs including fan favorites “Lost In The Cold”, “White Light” and “Syncopated Healing”. The Vermont-based quartet recorded PLUMP in their home state using Kickstarter funding that reached their $20,000 goal in less than 24 hours, eventually doubling that total by the end of the campaign, thanks to their loyal and ever-expanding fanbase.

PLUMP captures the band’s fresh multi-genre approach that conjures up rock, jazz, and bluegrass, but above all, masterfully blends up-tempo reggae with deep grooves, funky baselines and powerful lyrics. PLUMP features guest keyboardist Todd Stoops on the danceable single, “Every Soul”, which can be heard on rotation on SiriusXM Jam On, and saxophonist Kenny Brooks on the lyrically driven track “Be There.”

Dismantling most notions of jam band culture, Twiddle is shooting up the rows of festival lineups and packing prominent theaters around the country. Stay tuned for PLUMP Chapter Two in 2016.

PLUMP Chapter One - Track List:
1. Complacent Race
2. Amydst The Myst 
3. Lost In The Cold
4. Every Soul ft. Todd Stoops  
5. Five
6. Syncopated Healing
7. Dusk Till Dawn
8. Polluted Beauty 
9. Be There ft. Kenny Brooks
10. Indigo Trigger
11. White Light 

Twiddle: Biography

Meeting in the fall of 2004, the founding members of Twiddle immediately recognized creative chemistry. By their second semester at Castleton State University, Mihali Savoulidis and Ryan Dempsey were carefully intertwining harmony and fantasy, birthing band staples like “Frankenfoote” and “Gatsby the Great". Twiddle took Castleton by storm, toured the northeast, and composed a catalog of original music before becoming upperclassmen. 2007 manifested Twiddle’s debut release, The Natural Evolution of Consciousness. This breakout album showcased the band’s eclectic inspirations, imaginative lyrical abilities, and superb instrumentation. Twiddle’s sophomore production, 2011’s Somewhere on the Mountain, delves into the human spirit, speaking to our ambition, grief, and love. Live at Nectar’s (2014), is a double disc live album recorded in August of 2013 at Burlington, Vermont’s Nectar’s. A clear hallmark of their career, Live at Nectar’s truly captures Twiddle in their element, the live experience.


Looking Back on Catskill Chill Music Festival: Night 2 September 23, 2015 10:30

Chuck Garvey and Rob Derhak of moe.

Photo by Paul Citone Photography

One of the year's most anticipated music festivals, Catskill Chill, occurred this past weekend for one last go-round at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY.  Due to circumstances out of their control. the sixth-annual festival served as "A Farewell to Minglewood," as they will be forced to find a new home in 2016. The festival will continue next year, and several amazing prospective locations have already been placed in the mix.  The year's lineup featured the likes of moe., Lotus, Zappa Plays Zappa, Lettuce, Electron,The Motet, Dopapod, Kung Fu, Twiddle, Turkuaz, The Werks, Particle, George Porter Jr. & Runnin' Pardners, and many many more.  Below you will find a collection of our favorite moments from the weekend, with photos and setlists courtesy of our friends at Brotherly Love Productions.  

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Photo by Patrick Hughes Photography

Turkuaz

Photo by Patrick Hughes Photography

Kung Fu

Photo by Patrick Hughes Photography

Tim Palmieri of Kung Fu

Photo by Chad Anderson Photography

Photo by Chad Anderson Photography

Hayley Jane & The Primates

Photo by Chad Anderson Photography

Hayley Jane & The Primates

Photo by Chad Anderson Photography

Twiddle

Photo by Chad Anderson Photography

Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle

Photo by Chad Anderson Photography

moe. feat. Diggy Lessard on guitar

Photo by Chad Anderson Photography

Al Schnier of moe.

Photo by Paul Citone Photography

Jim Laughlin of moe.

Photo by Paul Citone Photography

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Setlist: moe.

Seat Of My Pants > Recreational Chemistry, Billy Goat > Bearsong, Happy Hour Hero*^, Dr. Graffenberg*, Spine Of A Dog > Buster

{* w/ Mike Wilbur & Wenzl McGowen on horns
^ w/ Diggy Lessard on guitar}

Setlist: Kung Fu

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Prime Time Rib, Gold Coast, The Getdown, Joyride > Cars > Joyride, Paragon, Chin Music, Contusion, Daddy D, Bringing Up The Rear, S'all Good, Samurai, Cult Of Personality 
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Setlist: Twiddle
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Zazu’s Flight, BeeHop (with Wiley Griffin), Wasabi Eruption > The Box, Brown Chicken Brown Cow (with Todd Stoops), Jamflowman > Frankenfoote
 
Setlist: Hayley Janes & The Primates
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Creatures Bumpy, Road Madeline, Katrina, Mama, Make it Alright, More Interesting, To the Moon, Gasoline, Hey Mister

Looking Back on Catskill Chill Music Festival: Night 1 September 22, 2015 09:23

 Photo by Andrew Scott Blackstein - Blackstein Photography

One of the year's most anticipated music festivals, Catskill Chill, occurred this past weekend for one last go-round at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY.  Due to circumstances out of their control. the sixth-annual festival served as "A Farewell to Minglewood," as they will be forced to find a new home in 2016.  The festival will continue next year, and several amazing prospective locations have already been placed in the mix.  The year's lineup featured the likes of moe., Lotus, Zappa Plays Zappa, Lettuce, Electron, The Motet, Dopapod, Kung Fu, Twiddle, Turkuaz, The Werks, Particle, George Porter Jr. & Runnin' Pardners, and many many more.  Below you will find a collection of our favorite moments from the weekend, with photos and setlists courtesy of our friends at Brotherly Love Productions.  

 Photos by Andrew Scott Blackstein - Blackstein Photography

Erick "Jesus" Coomes of Lettuce

 

Eric Krasno of Lettuce

Jesus Coomes, Adam Deitch and Adam "Schmeeans" Smirnoff of Lettuce

Mike Rempel of Lotus

George Porter Jr. & Brint Anderson of the Runnin' Pardners

 

Borahm Lee and Adam Deitch of Break Science 

Mihali and Friends - "Dead Set"

Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle and Tim Palmieri of Kung Fu 

 

Mihali and Friends - "Dead Set"

Josh Dobbs of Cats Under the Stars (Keys), Ryan Clausen of Dead Set (Drums), Brook Jordan of Twiddle (Drums), Zdenek Parker Gubb of Twiddle (Bass), Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle (guitar) and Tim Palmieri of Kung Fu (guitar)

"Dopakuaz" Plays Studio 54

Featuring Members of Dopapod and Turkuaz

Josh Schwartz (Bari sax), Josh Sanderson (Tenor sax), Chris Brouwers (trumpet) of Turkuaz

 Dave Brandwein of Turkuaz

 

 Setlist: Lettuce
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Get Greasy, Bowler, The Force, Harmonics(major>minor), Slippin into Darkness, Phyllis, Lettsanity, Dread Zeppelin, Trillogy, Madison Square, By Any Shmeeans Necessary, New Reel, Squadlive, Makin My Way (Nigel Hall), Sounds Like A Party To Me (Nigel Hall), Do It Like You Do (Nigel Hall)
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Setlist: Lotus
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Suitcases, Tarot, L'immueble > Neon Tubes, Sid > Wooly Mammoth, Lead Pipe >  Arupa, Kesey Seed, Livingston Storm > Umbilical Moonrise, What Did I Do Wrong
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Setlist: Dopakuaz Plays Studio 54
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That's The Way, A Fifth of Beethoven, Bad Girls > Le Freak,  Bell, You Should Be Dancing, Get Down, Funky Town > Disco Inferno, I Feel Love, Give It To Me Baby, Heart of Glass > Good Times

 

Stay tuned for recaps of Night 2 and Night 3 on Wednesday and Thursday!