Phish Goes Acoustic

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

For those of you lucky Phish phans going to Festival 8, you might be pleased to know that the band has officially announced its plans for setlists. The festival is three days long and there will certainly be no shortage of music. The band plans to play eight different sets during the three days.

Here is what seems to be shaping up as the official lineup:

Friday (10/30/09)

• 4 pm: Concert field opens
• 7:30 pm: Set 1
• 10 pm: Set 2

Saturday (10/31/09)

• 12 pm: Concert field opens
• 3pm: Set 1
• 7:30 pm: the Halloween Set (please don’t pick Thriller as your cover album)
• 10 pm: Set 3

Sunday (11/1/09)

• 10 am: Concert field opens
• 12 pm: Acoustic Set
• 5:30 pm: Set 2
• 8:30 pm: Set 3

I know what you’re thinking. Did I read right? Are they really doing an all acoustic set? Yup, you got it. For the first time ever in the history of Phish performances, they have decided to go unplugged for the masses. They are starting the set at the crack of noon on Sunday, so make sure you still have energy left after your first two days of partying.

And yes, the Halloween Set usually includes some fun costumes and a good time. Phish picks one album from another artist and covers many songs from it during that time. There has been quite some speculation that this year, they will go with Thriller. I think that might be a bit much.

Phish performing at Saratoga Springs, NY. Photo by Dave Vann.

Check out the Phish Blog for more Phish news, ticket availability, and other important information.

Read Full Post »

Bethel Woods Hosts Harvest Festival

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

Be sure to check out the free festival this weekend. Photo from bethelwoodscenter.org.

Even though it’s still summer, it certainly feels more like fall. Many autumn changes have begun to take place everywhere. The leaves are beginning to change colors, farm stands now have pumpkins, gourds, and apples for sale, and you can even see your breath on cold nights.

I’d say it’s a good time for a nice Harvest Festival.

This upcoming weekend, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will be having their Harvest Fest on Sunday from 11 to 4 pm. (To reiterate on previous blog posts, Bethel Woods is the original site of Woodstock 1969.) The venue will be calling their celebration the Mountain Music Festival, as they will be hosting various bluegrass and old time American music performers throughout the day.

The musicians providing free music are: Jesse Kitzmiller, Anne Loeb and Mike Baglione, Two Steps Back, North Country, and D.R.E.A.M Tank Tub Band.

This is actually the 11th annual Harvest Festival for the town, and it also includes a farmers market (which happens to be open every Sunday). Besides that, there are arts and crafts, pony rides, scarecrows, corn mazes and various workshops.

This FREE festival certainly is offering a lot. It would be silly not to go! I’ll follow this up with a review when I get back this weekend.

Read Full Post »

32nd COTA Festival Held in Delaware Water Gap

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

Well, first thing’s first….I’m back! After a long month away from a computer, I have finally re-emerged from the darkness and have seen the light of the wonderful internet. (Funny how we rely so much on technology to live our lives, huh?)

Anyway, I will get right into the next post. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Delaware Water Gap’s 32nd annual COTA Festival, or Jazzfest, as known by the locals. Each year, surrounding local musicians get together and put on a three day festival in the heart of the Poconos, right next to the beautiful Delaware River.

The great thing about this festival is that there is so much talent in it. The local jazz musicians in the Poconos are not just any musicians — many of them are known worldwide for their great musicianship and virtuosity. Take, for example, Phil Woods, famous saxophonist who has played with many known musicians. He is also the co-founder of the COTA Festival.

Or what about Bob Dorough? You may not know his name, but you’ll know his music…conjuction, junction, what’s your function? That’s right. He wrote all the music for Schoolhouse Rock. And what a great performer he is!

Dave Leibman hits a high note at the COTA Festival. Photo by Kate Langenburg.

And I also want to mention Dave Leibman, a very talented, often obscure jazz saxophonist who played with many performers throughout the festival.

Perhaps two of the most interesting performances came from a local drummer named Bill Goodwin and a well-known singer named Nellie McKay. Bill Goodwin and his group performed several interesting Thelonius Monk songs, while Nellie McKay danced and dazzled her audience with her cute singing and daydreamy lyrics.

While all that music was happening, local artists gathered their best works and put them on display in tents just outside the stage area. There were photos from previous years at the festival, beautiful pieces of handmade jewelry, and even lamps made out of antique instruments. If you got tired of sitting on the hillside, you could just wander down the street to the artisans and check out their goodies.

And the food — oh! The falafel sandwiches, ice cream, and black beans with chicken and rice. Mmmm.

All in all, this year’s festival was a musical success. It may be slowly losing money, but jazz lovers in the Pocono Mountains will never let this festival die. Thanks to all the contributors throughout all three days!

Read Full Post »

40 Years Later, Woodstock Reunion Satisfies

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

Over this past weekend, the 40th anniversary celebration of Woodstock was held at the original grounds of Max Yasgur’s farm. Except these days, it’s called the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

These two prove that the spirit of the 60s never died. Photo from nytimes.com.

Instead of Max, his son Sam Yasgur was there to make an announcement to all the old hippies and younger peace-lovers. He was very happy to be able to see such a reunion take place.

The concert went on long into the night, lasting for a total of about eight hours. Also, many of the performers grouped together to sing not as separate groups, but as many talents in one.

Apparently, a wedding even took place on stage last weekend. Lead singer Leslie West of the group Mountain was married to his bride Jenni Maurer. The two were wed underneath electric guitars that were held up above them.

View a slideshow of pictures from the reunion concert, courtesy of the New York Times.

A cool thing about the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is the they have now opened a Museum dedicated to the spirit of the sixties and Woodstock. It houses exhibits, a theater, several galleries, a shop, cafe, outdoor theater, and classrooms for workshops. Find out more about it at the Museum website.

If you want to read a great review of the concert, visit the New York Times.

Read Full Post »