Why not go a “little bit farther than you’ve gone before” on May 7, with the Grateful Dead cover band August West. Inspired by the character portrayed in Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia’s “Wharf Rat,” August West is more than just a five member cover band from Brooklyn.
Source: August West @ Thai Rock
Although 2015 didn’t turn out exactly as director Robert Zemeckis predicted in his hit film Back to the Future Part II, it was still quite an exciting year.
So, we haven’t exactly figured out how to manufacture flying cars or self-adjusting clothing, but we did celebrate 50 years of the Grateful Dead; we witnessed “The Killer” Jerry Lee Lewis embark on his final U.K. Tour; we watched the Foo Fighters perform despite frontman Dave Grohl’s broken leg; we scoffed as presidential candidate Donald Trump fought with artists such as Neil Young, Method Man, and R.E.M.; and laughed at the many different parodies of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” music video.
But, like every year, 2015 had both its “ups” and its “downs.”
Following the Nov. 13 terrorist attack on a Paris nightclub, which claimed the lives of 89 victims attending an Eagles of Death Metal concert, people all over the world came together in a show of solidarity for the victims and their families.
This year, we also said goodbye to such incredible musicians as legendary Blues guitarist B.B. King, New Orleans R&B icon Allen Toussaint, former-Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland and Motörhead founder and frontman Lemmy Kilmister.
Now, as we prepare to bid adieu to 2015, let us reflect one more time on some of the best new music that this year had to offer.
Here are my picks for the Best albums of 2015 (by genre):
Photo/WBAB.com
For the ninth edition of the annual Great South Bay Music Festival, promoters with J. Faith Presents decided to go all out – expanding the yearly music festival to a four-day family-friendly affair in the heart of Patchogue.
Since its inception back in 2007, festival producer James Faith has watched the popularity of the festival grow leaps and bounds, quickly becoming the largest celebration of music and arts on Long Island.
“I believe that this fest resonates with true music lovers,” Faith said in a statement. “Music lovers that can really appreciate all styles of music and are open to new sounds and musical experiences. I’ve gotten the best feedback from people who say: ‘I loved Carolina Chocolate Drops or Umphreys McGee or Martin Sexton. Thanks for turning me on to them.'”
Since the progressive bluegrass band’s last studio recording—The Show, which hit no. 1 on Billboard’s bluegrass charts back in 2009—the Yonder Mountain String Band has focused most of its time and energy on tour, performing at different music festivals and concert halls across the country.
Now, six years later, the five-member string outfit returns with the release of their sixth studio album Black Sheep.
Grab yourself a “Tall Boy” because Widespread Panic is coming to town, on April 24 and 25, for a two-night performance at Brooklyn’s newly restored King’s Theatre.
The five-member Blues-inspired jam rock band has been touring steadily since 1986, making their way as one the top 50 grossing acts touring for eight years straight, despite the assistance of radio play, television appearances or retail store promotions.
This Friday and Saturday night, the band will make one the most exciting stops of their spring 2015 tour, at the historic Loew’s Kings Theatre.
A New York City landmark, the theatre opened in 1929, as one of five “wonder theatres” in the Metropolitan area. After the decline of vaudeville, the 3,676 seat theatrical marvel was turned into a movie house, which showcased Hollywood blockbusters and feature films for thousands of Brooklyn movie-goers until it shuttered its doors on Aug. 30, 1977.
Fresh from their performance onboard the Jam Cruise, Illinois prog-rockers Umphrey’s McGee are heading to New York, from Jan. 16-18, for their first three-night performance since 2008.
“We’ve got a couple of special things planned for [the New York performances],” said Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins. “It’s always the highlight of the year for us.”
This story originally appeared on LongIslandWeekly.com on Jan. 5, 2015.
Roll away 2014 with the music of the Grateful Dead, on Dec. 30 and 31, when the Dark Star Orchestra crashes the Paramount for a two-night performance in Huntington.
“We really dig the Paramount. It’s a beautiful venue,” said Jeff Mattson, lead guitarist/vocalist for Dark Star Orchestra. “The people couldn’t be nicer. That is why we come back.”
What sets Dark Star Orchestra apart from any other cover band is how they have continued to recreate “classic” performances from the Grateful Dead’s more than 30-year history, typically song by song and in order.
This story originally appeared on LongIslandWeekly.com.
Festival producer James Faith said that when he first started the Great South Bay Music Festival eight years ago, in 2007, he started small, booking legendary folk musician Richie Havens as the headliner, growing little-by-little each year. Now, eight years later, headliners include such big name musicians as the legendary B.B. King, moe., Taking Back Sunday, Anders Osborne, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds to name a few.
The Great South Bay Music Festival 2014 @ Shorefront Park Runs July 18-20 and features over 50+ bands
Taking Back Sunday To kick off the eighth installment of the Great South Bay music festival, who better than Long Island’s own Taking Back Sunday? The five-member post-punk outfit led by guitarist Eddie Reyes and frontman Adam Lazzara will close off the first night of the festival, performing hits like “MakeDamnSure” and “Liar (It Takes One to Know One)”.While the band won’t actually perform on Sunday, this will be their only New York performance, making Taking Back Sunday a must-see for any festival-goers.
With the recent release of No Guts, No Glory, moe. has been busy with their international tour. Following its performance at the Great South Bay Festival, the band will be headed for Japan and then Germany for three performances before returning stateside for Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, Conn. less than a week later.
Musical icon Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner King is a blues legend who needs no introduction. On Sunday, B.B. King and his lovely Gibson guitar Lucille, will be performing at the Blue Point Brews stage to close off the final night of the festival with a performance guaranteed to rock the house down.
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Long Live The Smiths twitter.com/salute_mag/sta…
Happy Birthday in heaven @tompetty 👼 #RIP https://t.co/yLJ0yLAllp