Music Fest season
Area music festivals attracting younger fans and providing more than music
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As music fests gear up for the summer season, many have both returning and new performers for this year, as they've had in years past. But with changes in music, a number of festivals are now targeting a younger demographic, booking younger artists to perform. In addition, they are offering more than just music to attract young families and children.
BILLTOWN BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL
Throughout its 32-year history, the Billtown Blues Music Festival's (BBMF) three-day music extravaganza continues to be one of the area's premier music events. From June 10 – 12 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, several thousand loyal fans will return this year. Now the Billtown Blues Association, the organization responsible for the fest, is turning its attention to a younger and growing demographic using social media.
"Several of our performers this year are young musicians in their 20s and early 30s who have chosen a path of devotion to the blues art form, with the hope of demonstrating to younger music fans that, despite its stigma of old, sad, predictable music, it is just the opposite," says Bonnie Tallman, executive director of the Billtown Blues Association and events producer for the BBMF. "Blues music is fun, exciting, meaningful and challenging to play, whose cultural and historical significance is part of the American fiber and transcends all modern-day music."
Because this fest is all about the music and the musicians, the selection of artists plays a key role in attracting audiences.
"Great care and thought goes into presenting a showcase of variety designed to keep the program entertaining, interesting and educational," Tallman says. "Often, we hear patrons say, 'We don't know who is next, but we know they will be great!' So, I have to say feedback from past attendees always indicates it is the music quality and variety that brings them back."
Equally important to the fans is atmosphere - the "vibe" attendees feel from the entrance gate throughout their entire stay, making them feel like they are part of the special Billtown Blues family.
The festival's staff is a small group of non-paid volunteers, whose focus is on ensuring all attendees leave feeling their time and money was well spent, while attending the BBMF. "Our core staff of volunteers who undertake all the planning and preparation are united in our service to the arts community, the musicians, and the celebration of the blues art form," Tallman says. "Many long-standing friendships have been born at the Billtown Blues Festival with folks coming in to reunion year after year."
Although it is small by design and needs certain numbers every year to stay afloat, the BBMF focuses more on the quality of music and production.
"We recognize we have a small staff of people and try not to extend beyond our capability to deliver a great event," Tallman says. "Many repeat attendees tell us they enjoy the ease and family-feel of our event. As festivals go, we are on the smaller end of the scale. The saying, 'less is more,' applies."
Tallman says the BBMF always strives for a smooth, comfortable, and stress-free operation. Being an all-volunteer, non-paid group, they are limited to some extent but are defined by a united cause of presenting and honoring this significant blues art form. "Many of our volunteers have been part of the effort for 20 years or more," she says. "There is a consistent and dependable flow to our event, again by design."
Tallman says maintaining an affordable event sets them apart from other fests, as they try to keep admission prices as low as possible to ensure families, especially kids, can afford the blues festival experience. In order to do this, they invest time and effort all year long on securing funding from grants, area businesses and corporate donations. "Without the financial aid of our partners, we could not survive with our current low admission fee system," she says. "Additionally, we invite kids under 16 as our special guests, we offer free parking, we offer free bus service to and from Williamsport, and we provide affordable camping on-site over the three-day event."
billtownblues.org
SMOKED COUNTRY JAM
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
The Smoked Country Jam Bluegrass Festival at Quiet Oaks Campground in Cross Fork was named after a New Jersey/Maryland based bluegrass band of the same name that was very popular in Central PA in the 1970s. Originally a traditional bluegrass festival, it has in recent years evolved into a "roots to branches" bluegrass festival, featuring the past, present, and future of the genre.
Founded by Ron Kodish and his wife Teresa, the first festival took place in 2004 as a benefit for the Lupus Foundation, after Teresa was diagnosed two years earlier with systemic lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease. Seventeen years after it began, the festival has raised over $35,000 through their annual Lupus Auction and several other festival fundraisers.
The growth of the festival has required three venue changes, from McElhattan to Sugar Valley, and in 2011 to their present location at the Quiet Oaks Campground.
Many artists have become regular performers at Smoked Country Jam, returning to the festival each and every year, including Van Wagner, a prolific songwriter from Danville who has played all but four festivals (for more on Wagner check out page 10).
"His songs are all about Pennsylvania," Kodish says, "the state's people, natural resources, environment, traditions, and history."
Held from June 16 – 18, Smoked Country Jam attendees can expect to find any number of activities and events at the festival to spark their interest, including 10 hours of free workshops where attendees learn to play instruments, write songs, read music, or listen to their performers play in an intimate setting. There are also 10 hours of supervised children's activities, and free play activities.
"An organized bluegrass jam is held each day in the workshop tent, for those who play to pick and sing, and for those who do not play to listen and enjoy," Ron says. "There will be jamming that takes place around campfires throughout the day and all through the night. There are many bluegrass festival goers that spend most of their time jamming with other musicians and going to the stage shows for only a couple bands."
The midway offers between 12-15 vendors selling food & drink, crafters and merchants selling festival wear, jewelry, and other handcrafted items. The Lupus Auction is a two-day event where items that have been donated are bid on by attendees, with all proceeds given to the Lupus Foundation of America.
Ron says Smoked Country Jam is very laid back,where folks come to enjoy the company of festival friends they have made through the years. "It has always been a very family-friendly festival through the years, as we have gone to great effort to attract families through the type of music we present, to the way the festival is promoted," he says. "Smoked Country Jam is also pet-friendly, and golf cart/ATV friendly. The natural beauty of the PA Wilds is also a point that we have made to bring people to the festival. I have often said, the journey through the PA Wilds is as beautiful as the destination. Just relax and enjoy the trip."
Ron says he, Teresa, and the staff make Smoked Country Jam the most enjoyable festival experience possible by paying attention to the details. "The peaceful, easy feeling we have created is what people have come to expect," he says. "If we have succeeded in creating that feeling, our attendees want to return the next year."
smokedcountryjam.com
ENDLESS MOUNTAIN
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Now in its 16th year, the Endless Mountain Music Festival (EMMF) in Wellsboro will be held this summer June 22 – August 7. The 17-day music celebration brings world-renowned musicians to Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York to enrich the cultural, economic, and educational life of the Twin Tiers region.
Cynthia Long, executive director of the EMMF says it is all about the experience. "On Friday and Saturday nights, you have a full 62-piece orchestra performing," she says. "And during the week, there are intimate chamber concerts in unique venues giving the audience an up close and personal experience."
Those attending the EMMF feel the timeless beauty interwoven with nature and music. "The Endless Mountain Music Festival experience brings the passion of classical orchestral performances and chamber ensembles decorated with blues and jazz," Long says. "Then blend in spectacular mountains, the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, carved by the ice age, sparkling blue-green streams, forests teeming with wildlife, and quaint towns, where staying in one of the many bed & breakfasts is a treat for visitors."
The EMMF offers two concerts with film played on two large screens with the orchestra playing in between. Their POPS concerts are free and open to everyone.
"We offer a free chamber concert at the Cherry Springs State Park (Dark Skies)," Long says, "where at dusk, the park rangers bring out telescopes with a science lesson on our galaxy."
endlessmountain.net
LHJAMS
LHJAMS Music and Art Festival will expand to three days this year.
The Clinton County Arts Council’s premier music and arts festival will be held Aug. 11, 12 and 13.
“We are busy pulling together a great schedule of vendors, artists and musicians to the 7th annual LHJAMS summer festival. As the COVID pandemic still seems to be part of our lives, we are working with forward positive thinking,” said Steve Getz, who co-founded the event with CCAC President Carol Cillo.
"The primary focus of LHJAMS is to bring exceptional musicians with national an international notoriety to our community. We also bring the visual arts to the street festival by including en plein air painters and juried fine artists and fine craft vendors," Getz added.
He called the festival a "spectacular infusion of music and creativity in a block party atmosphere."
LHJAMS will feature an indoor ticketed event as a fundraiser on Aug. 11.
Playing from 7 to 9:30 p.m. that night in the Roxy Theatre on Main Street will be Desert Highway, an Eagles tribute band. Ticket information can be found on www.lhjams.org.
The other concerts are either on the outdoor stage at Main and Grove or the Elks Lodge patio.
On Aug. 12, McCloskey and the Hi-Fi’s will play from 6 to 8 p.m. Velveeta will play from 8 to 10 p.m. that Friday night.
Aug. 13 will kick off with Eric Ian Farmer and Ady Martinez, featuring Bob Hart and Elizabeth Webb, on the stage from noon to 1:30 p.m.
That will be followed by La Cuchina from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on the Elks Lodge patio. And then Mulebone plays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on the stage. The Edgardo Cintron Band will takeover from there at 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Culminating LHJAMS will be the sensational Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band, Coast 2 Coast, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on the Elks Patio (barring any encores).
That performance is part of the summer-long Lock Haven Free Summer Concert Series, which began June 3. The series is the first and third weekends in Lock Haven.
Go to www.lockhaven.com for the entire series schedule.
LHJAMS lineup can be found online at www.lhjams.org.
lhjams.org