Music
By Peter Aaron
Solid Sound (June 26-28)
Since 2010, with a year off here and there to keep things from becoming a businesslike grind, the Wilco-curated gathering at Mass MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts, has balanced timeless veteran acts with adventurously experimental ones. With two sets by the hosts, it boasts Real Estate, Parquet Courts, King Sunny Ade, Richard Thompson, Taj Mahal, Cibo Matto, the Expandable Brass band, the Charles Lloyd Quartet, NRBQ, Bill Frisell, comedy from John Hodgman, performances by sundry Wilco side projects, and more. Solidsoundfestival.com.
Tanglewood (June 19-August 29)
The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer retreat in the Berkshires is back in business for its 79th season, bringing, as usual, a lawn-friendly mix of pop, classical, jazz, and Broadway. Holding forth from the magnificent Koussevitzky Music Shed in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, this year’s lineup includes returning festival faves Garrison Keillor (6/27) and James Taylor (7/4) as well as Diana Krall (6/21), Huey Lewis and the News 6/28), Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (6/30), the Piano Guys (8/28), and Idina Menzel (8/29). Bso.org
Disc Jam (June 11-14)
This newer fest is in the rural Rensselaer County burg of Stephentown. Billed as “four days of live music, camping, and disc golf,” the jam-crammed soiree includes Lettuce, Electron, Dopapod, Twiddle, Kung Fu, Consider the Source, Cabinet, Phutureprimitive, Soul Monde, Pink Talking Fish, the Heavy Pets, Viral Sound, the Roots of Creation, Ikebe Shakedown, and more. Plus there’s the Silent Disco, which forgoes the usual pumpin’ PA for headphones worn by late-night dancers. Discjammusicfestival.com
Clearwater (June 20-21)
Also known as the Great Hudson River Revival and inspired by the conservationism of local legend Pete Seeger, Clearwater has been held since 1978 next to the river he held so dear. Once again taking place at Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, this installment offers another stacked roster: David Crosby, Citizen Cope, Neko Case, Guster, Ani DiFranco, Los Lobos, the Mavericks, Angelique Kidjo, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Kate Pierson, Betty LaVette, Shelby Lynne, the Felice Brothers, Todd Snider, the Lone Bellow, and more. Still staples of Clearwater are its numerous family-oriented attractions, storytellers, artisanal food and crafts, and sustainability/environmental components. Clearwaterfestival.org
Beacon Riverfest (June 28)
Back again after a one-year layoff, this daylong, indie-oriented, music-and-food festival happens at Beacon’s newly named Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park (formerly Beacon Riverfront Park). Headlined by West African collective Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, the event’s welcome return further promises the sounds of Tracy Bonham, Decora, Gato Loco, Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents, Breakfast in Fur, What Moon Things, Schwervon!, Shana Falana, Sidewalk Chalk, the M Shanghai String Band, Simi Stone, and others. Beaconarts.org
Bethel Woods (June 19-September 19)
Keeping the classic rock alive on the spot that basically birthed the genre, the site of the original 1969 Woodstock festival, Bethel Woods once again offers a full plate of FM favorites, along with mainstream country acts, family fare, and even the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (6/27). Among the hot hitters this time around are Bryan Adams (6/19), Train (6/26), Neil Young (7/17), Brad Paisley (7/24), the Zac Brown Band (8/23), Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire (9/1), Van Halen (9/6), and Jackson Browne (9/19). Bethelwoodscenter.org
Green River (July 10-12)
The 29-years-strong Greenfield, Massachusetts, fete mixes roots traditions with indie rock, kicking off for three days of top-tier acts next month. Set to appear for 2015 are Steve Earle and the Dukes, the Punch Brothers, tUnE-yArDs, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, J Mascis, Booker T. Jones, Rubblebucket, Polaris, the Milk Carton Kids, Eilen Jewell, Antibalas, Tony Joe White, Langhorne Slim, the Wood Brothers, Sean Rowe, Marco Benevento, Heather Maloney, Lydia Loveless, Red Baraat, Parker Milsap, Chuchito Valdes, and lots more. Greenriverfestival.com
Grey Fox (July 16-19)
The Northeast’s leading bluegrass festival, Grey Fox is alive and well at its second home, the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill. And, once more, bluegrass buffs couldn’t ask for a better lineup: the Del McCoury Band, the Sam Bush Band, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, the Infamous Stringdusters, the Gibson Brothers, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, the SteelDrivers, Greensky Bluegrass, Chatham County Line, Hot Rize, the Steep Canyon Rangers, the Stray Birds, Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys, Bill Keith, host band Dry Branch Fire Squad, and many others. Greyfoxbluegrass.com
Hudson Valley Jazz Festival (August 27-30)
Still a only a few seasons young, this Orange County occurrence is a godsend for resident and visiting jazz lovers. Held at various venues in Warwick, Monroe, Sugar Loaf, and elsewhere, the series is organized by drummer Steve Rubin. Performers are still being added, but the list thus far includes Wallace Roney, Jeff Ciampa, the Bobatoon Collective, Bill Pernice, Jason Miles and Ingrid Jensen, and the Russ Kassoff Trio. Hudsonvalleyjazzfestival.org
100 Years of Maverick Concerts
He called it his “music chapel.” No doubt the head-scratching locals, as well as many of the citified musicians he was hoping to attract, thought he was out of his mind. Chamber music in the middle of the woods? In Upstate New York? And yet there it is, still standing nestled amid the trees just outside of Woodstock: the rustic wooden hall built by Maverick Concerts founder Hervey White and his ragtag crew of devoted area music lovers/amateur carpenters not long after the turn of the last century. It’s the site of the oldest continuous summer chamber music festival in the United States, which this month opens its 100th season.
“Three things have kept Maverick thriving for the last 100 years,” says its music director, Alexander Platt. “Its utterly unique setting, the dedicated volunteers who have maintained and run the festival, and its emphasis on quality—to present ‘the best of the best.'”
In many ways, the Hudson Valley has the bearded, flamboyantly dressing White, a writer and one of the founders of the nearby Byrdcliffe Art Colony, to thank for creating the climate that led to the 1969 Woodstock music festival and the other outdoor concert series we enjoy today. Described as “Bacchanalian and raucous,” the early Maverick festivals drew throngs of costumed, proto-hippie revelers who are seen posing with flowers in their hair—both women and men—in period photos.
Fitting in with its founder’s pioneer spirit and the Maverick name itself, the festival has hosted a number of musical premiers over the course of the last century, most notably the 1952 debut of composer John Cage’s provocative 4’33”. In keeping with this innovative tradition, for its centennial season Maverick will present the debuts of three specially commissioned new works by area composers: Peter Schickele’s Percussion Sonata No. 3: “Maverick” in a season-opening performance by the percussion ensemble NEXUS (6/27); guitarist Frederic Hand’s Four Pieces for Flute and Guitar performed by the composer and flutist Paula Robison (7/7); and George Tsontakis’s String Quartet 7.5 (Maverick) performed by the American String Quartet (9/13). Further series highlights include pianists Simone Dinnerstein performing Bach’s Goldberg Variations (7/3) and Adam Tendler performing Cowell and Cage—including 4’33” (7/4); the return of the Miro Quartet to play Beethoven and Schubert (8/8); Europe’s fast-rising Danish String Quartet performing Nielsen, Ades, and Shostakovich (8/9); a solo set by jazz pianist Fred Hersch (7/1); and the popular, ongoing Young People’s Concerts.
“We’re constantly looking for new voices to present alongside the timeless music Maverick has always focused on,” says Platt. “I think Hervey White is smiling down with great pride that his chapel is still resonating with wonderful music.”
The Maverick Concert series begins with a preseason concert by Ars Choralis on June 13 and continues through September 13. Maverickconcerts.org.
Four Questions for Warren Haynes
It’s hard to believe, but Mountain Jam clocked its 10th year at Hunter Mountain Ski Resort last year. Originally a one-day occasion held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of sponsor WDST/Radio Woodstock, this year’s festival (June 4-7) features the Black Keys, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, the Alabama Shakes, Grace Potter, moe., Lake Street Dive, Big Gigantic, Rusted Root, the Budos Band, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams featuring Bill Payne of Little Feat, Railroad Earth, Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers, and a long list of others that of course includes perennial returners Michael Franti and Spearhead and Gov’t Mule (the latter performing a set of their own, as well as a Pink Floyd tribute set dubbed “Dark Side of the Mule”). For this year’s summer festival round-up, Gov’t Mule guitarist and festival cofounder Warren Haynes graciously answered a few questions.
You’re a longtime repeat performer at Mountain Jam. For you as an artist, what is it that most distinguishes Mountain Jam from other music festivals?
In addition to the fact that we hand-pick the artists and bands to create a “Mountain Jam vibe,” it’s a beautiful, unique location and we’ve learned from each year how to make it more “fan-friendly.” For example, several years ago we put the two stages side by side, sharing production. This way, the fans didn’t have to walk back and forth between stages.
In what ways would you say the festival has changed and grown since you co-founded it with WDST in 2005? Any new features this year?
It has grown organically. It is important to us that we keep the spirit of the original concept, but it is also important to expand the musical direction each year. This includes adding acts that are appealing to potential new “Mountain Jammers.”
What favorite memories do you have of past Mountain Jams? Any specific odd, special, or otherwise interesting anecdotes that come to mind?
Playing for Levon Helm’s 70th birthday was a highlight for me—having Donald Fagen, Steve Earle, Alison Kraus, Ray LaMontagne, and others on stage for that made for a magical evening. Also, playing with the Allman Brothers and Phil Lesh and Friends were both great moments.
Which acts are you most looking forward to sharing the stage with at this year’s festival? Anyone that’s new to you or any faves you haven’t seen play before, and why does their music appeal to you?
I’m really excited to have Railroad Earth there this year. We just finished recording an album together that I’m very proud of, and I’m looking forward to hearing them and to playing as much music together as our schedules will permit. Also psyched that we have Robert Plant, the Black Keys, and the Alabama Shakes—all for the first time. Mountainjam.com
This article appears in June 2015.
