Lonesome Preview: Glastonbury Apple Harvest Festival – Sunday, October 19

The Glastonbury Apple Harvest Festival celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year from October 17-19.  This annual event is the last and one of the best fairs of the season.  But this year it has become a genuine music festival as well, with the addition of three stages featuring 40 local, original musical acts throughout the weekend.  We at Lonesome Noise are very pleased to offer a preview of all the music that will grace the Festival stages.  We hope you’ll join us in a three-day celebration of some of the finest musical talent CT has to offer (while also enjoying Fireworks, amusement rides, excellent food, over 120 vendors, and craft beer & wine, etc.).  Today we look at the performers for Sunday, October 19.

Canyon (10:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Welcome Stage) – The artist known simply as Canyon is one of the few that can stop the room cold with just a voice and an acoustic guitar.  Her blend of pop-infused folk is equal parts catchy and soothing.  The perfect way to kick off a Sunday morning of music.

 

The Dress-Ups (10:30-11:00 – Village Stage) – There aren’t a ton of pure pop bands in CT these days but the Festival has one of them in The Dress-Ups.  Led by singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Julie Beman, The Dress-Ups are helping bring indie pop to a whole new audience.

 

 Tuesday Saints (11:00-11:30 – Welcome Stage) – Down-home and soulful in their delivery, Tuesday Saints are an Americana version of the power trio, featuring acoustic guitar, fiddle and upright bass to go along with a fantastic male-female vocal dynamic.  It’s pretty much the perfect Autumn in New England on a Sunday morning music.

 

Heather Fay (11:30-12:00 – Village Stage) – One of the sweetest voices you’ll hear the entire weekend comes from singer/songwriter Heather Fay.  Her most recent album, Cherish The Broken, has been one of our favorites over the last few months.  She writes poignant and introspective songs about life, love and loss and delivers it all to you with aplomb.

 

Run Jenny (12:00-12:30 – Welcome Stage) – The all-female rock outfit known as Run Jenny is the all originals version of the immensely popular Sister Funk.  With their debut album of all original material, Run Jenny takes a more radio-friendly, pop-oriented approach to their sound.  That’s great news for anyone looking for catchy tunes you can dance to on Sunday.

 

Kerri Powers (12:30-1:00 – Village Stage) – One of the best songwriters of the entire Festival hits the Village stage mid-day on Sunday.  Kerri Powers alternates between folk, country and blues influences, playing each genre with ultimate style and precision.  Her live performances have the power to be absolutely mesmerizing.

 

Them Damn Hamiltons (1:00-1:30 – Welcome Stage) – With one of the more unique takes on indie folk, Them Damn Hamiltons are not your typical American act.  While all the moving pieces seem to be there – guitar, banjo, cello, bass, drums, etc. – the way they put it all together is phenomenal and a sound they can call their own.  Another act that’s simply exceptional on the live stage and not to be missed.

 

The Meadows Brothers (1:30-2:00 – Village Stage) – Ian and Dustin Meadows are jack-of-all-trades instrumentalists who have come together to create a truly amazing musical experience.  Their sound is a throwback to all of the great folk/country/bluegrass/blues that was kicking around both prior to and shortly after World War II, as well as the great folk revival of the 60’s.  Oh, did we mention they aren’t even old enough to drink yet?

 

Rusty Things (2:00-2:30 Welcome Stage) – You honestly may not see a set filled with more energy than what New Haven’s Rusty Things brings to the stage.  Their punk enough to be considered a finalist in the Best Punk category at the 2014 CT Music Awards, but their sound is really a whiskey and gin soaked brand of rock-a-billy that’s completely accessible to anyone who likes to move their feet to the music.

 

I Anbassa (2:30-3:00 – Village Stage) – Speaking of bands that bring a high energy show, Bridgeport’s I Anbassa fill every venue they play with positive vibes and love through some of the best reggae music that CT has ever produced.  There is a reason this band has been nominated three straight years for Best Reggae at the CT Music Awards (winning in 2012), and that’s because, simply put, they are.

 

Andy Wakeman (3:00-3:30 – Welcome Stage) – Singer/songwriter Andy Wakeman is an old soul and that’s reflected in his writing.  Thoughtfully written songs are delivered with an indie folk bend to them.  Wakeman’s songs are the type of tunes that could be performed with a full backing band, or (as he will on Sunday) performed with just the man and his guitar.

 

Mission Zero (3:30-4:00 – Village Stage) – New Haven’s Mission Zero are a throwback to the days when pop music was laden with synths and written with almost the sole intention of filling the local dance clubs on a Friday night.  In this case it’s a Sunday afternoon and Mission Zero will be closing out the Festival with a set of songs sure to have you dancing one last time before they wrap up shop for the weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

Lonesome Preview: The 2014 Willie Nelson Birthday Bash

To say that Willie Nelson is a legend is a bit of an understatement.  Songwriter, performer, actor, activist, Nelson is a true American icon.  On Friday, May 9, nine CT musicians come together at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford to celebrate his music and one of his causes.  The 2014 Willie Nelson Birthday Bash is not only a celebration of the life and times of Nelson, but of his work with local, independent farmers.  Nelson, of course, is one of the founders of the Farm Aid franchise that’s raised millions of dollars to help independent farms stay afloat in the face of the dreaded factory farm system.  All proceeds on Friday night from The Willie Nelson Birthday Bash will benefit the Connecticut chapter of NOFA – the Northeast Organic Farmers Association.  Great music for a great cause indeed.  If you need any other reason to be there that night here’s nine of them:

Krizta Moon –  Phenomenal singer/songwriter from the burgeoning Northwest corner of CT.  Check out her cover of one of Willie’s dear friends…

 

Andy Wakeman – Wakeman is a young guy with an old soul and that’s reflected in his brand of country-infused folk.

 

Hannah Fair – One of the best young voices to come out of CT in a long time.  Hannah Fair has already performed at the CT Music Awards and done a Daytrotter Session and we’re not even positive she’s old enough to drink yet.

 

Frank Critelli & Mark Mirando –  Critelli and Mirando are CT music vets whose collaborations never get stale.  Critelli has a new album due out soon and advanced listens have been very, very promising.

 

The And Band – You fancy your country mixed with a little punk rock?  Then you’re in for a treat because these “cowpunks” are going to light up the stage.

 

Lys Guillorn Band – Her Winged Victory album was one of our favorites last year.  Now Lys Guillorn is hitting the stage with a full backing band and fresh off a killer performance at the Meriden Daffodil Festival.

 

The Backyard Committee – Big things are brewing for this band and for good reason.  In a state littered with some truly amazing alt country/Americana acts, The Backyard Committee are one of the best around.

 

Them Damn Hamiltons – Connecticut’s masters of the new American Gothic.  Their brand of Americana is a dark, noir brand of influences that coalesce into something rootsy yet ethereal.

 

Elison Jackson – Fresh off being nominated in multiple categories for this year’s CT Music Awards (including song of the year for “2009” which will be performed at The Bushnell on June 10), Elison Jackson cap the night off with an electrifying blend of what they have dubbed “stoner soul” and “Garage folk.”