A great opportunity for band exposure in Conn can be found in the copious variety of summer festivals they have to offer.
Whether you’re in a genre specific band or just a laid-back we’ll-play-anything group, you can find a spot for yourself in one of CT’s several summer band festivals. At the Lebanon Fairgrounds, in Lebanon, CT, they hold a concert called Festivus each summer. This year it will be held July 21st through the 23rd. They welcome campers, and it’s not uncommon to see people lugging in tents, grills, and food supplies for all three days. They always have locals offering up “breakfast burritos or grandma’s world famous iced coffee,” but they also caution that you try them at your own risk It’s probably best to bring your own munchies and be able focus on the music as opposed to chancing the burrito and worrying all day about E-coli.
The Pipes in the Valley is another summer music festival that is held in East Hartford, CT. As you may have guessed from the title, it’s a Celtic festival. They gather together to celebrate music, food, and fine beer. This is a perfect venue for any of those obscure bagpipe bands out there. I know, it sounds funny to think of a regular rock band (guitar, bass and drums) with a bagpipe thrown in the mix, but it’s actually not that uncommon, and it’s a fairly well-received genre. My brother was actually in a Celtic Rock band for a few years, and they performed successfully at several different battle-of-the-bands festivals, but never The Pipes in the Valley. I think it would have been a great setting for them. It’s a one-day festival taking place this year on September 29th at the Riverfront Plaza. Their website, www.PipesInTheValley.com, actually offers some links to other local Celtic festivals if you’re interested in checking out something new and different.
The line-up for this next one is already secured, but it’s something that’s worthwhile just to go check out. The Green Apple Music & Arts Festival actually takes place in NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco, but if you get a chance to make it to NYC (come on, it’s not that far…), you’ll get to witness the biggest Earth Day celebration in the nation. It runs from April 19th to the 22nd, with a huge line-up of bands including such big names as Edwin McCain, Tower of Power, Piebald, Brand New, Umphrey’s McGee, and American Idol’s Taylor Hicks. Most shows are only $10, and they’re at a variety of venues. This really is a huge event and a great opportunity to check out a lot of big names and names that will be big very soon.
This is just a small initial sampling of what’s out there for band festivals. Some others will be featured at a later date. But these are definitely a good start to get your feet wet and consider what’s available.
Kara Nielsen, Editor (3/22/07) www.BandSpace.Fm
