StrangeCreek Campout, a music and camping festival, returns to Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield, MA May 26-28, for a 14th consecutive year at the summer camp.

 

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This year’s headliners include returning mainstays Max Creek, Ryan Montbleau and Zach Deputy, as well as new additions The Machine, DJ Logic, Marco Benevento, Pink Talking Fish, and the John Kadlecik Band, featuring the former lead guitarist of Furthur. The festival features over 70 bands on multiple stages over three days and three nights, along with food and craft vendors, family activities, a community bonfire, and roaming musicians.

“StrangeCreek has become a long-running tradition for many people now, so we try to mix in some new sounds along with our many annual performers,” says Wormtown founder Mark Blanchette. “So far feedback has been great on this year’s lineup.”

Live Music News and Review.com has advanced tickets for sale, so if you’re interested, email us at lmnandr@gmail.com 

Llama Lasagne Live@StrangeCreek – May 24, 2015

A number of Western Massachusetts bands are regular participants in the festival, including local sensations Bella’s Bartok, the Alchemystics, DPR, rice – An American Band, and bluegrass stalwarts Appalachian Still.  Llama Lasagne, a rotating collective of Pioneer Valley musicians who concoct thematic concerts featuring a mix of musicians from local bands are putting on a special “theme” set for the second straight year.

Though early entry is available on Thursday for an additional fee, gates formally open on 9am on Friday the 26th; campgrounds clear by noon on Monday the 30th. Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; kids 15 and under are free.

Camp Kee-Wanee is an inclusive summer day camp with an emphasis on the arts. Wormtown’s music festivals provide a key source of funding for the camp’s summer programming; the camp has been home to Wormtown’s StrangeCreek Campout and their fall show, Wormtown Music Festival, since 2003.

Additional event details, as well as rules, directions, and a list of ticket outlets, are available at www.strangecreekcampout.com.

 

Max Creek

Max Creek are true pioneers of the electric rock jam, with four decades of experience launching musical adventures max creekwith a rich repertoire of originals and uniquely interpreted gems. Each set is a journey for audience and band alike, chasing muses without a net and bringing it all back home to the roots again.

Roots of Creation

Roots of Creation from New Hampshire have taken New England into their hearts and in turn won the love of regional reggae and jam fans- their next target, the world. Their unique mixture of jam, roots and Cali influenced reggae, and a little bit of rock and electronic elements thrown in, have illustrated that they have a vision that extends from their own musical roots out to the branches, leaves and sky. Their new triple album has been released to major acclaim, and recently took the #1 spot on the Billboard reggae albums chart. Check out the article on that achievement here.

 

The Machine

THE MACHINE, America’s top Pink Floyd show, has forged a 26 year reputation of excellence, extending the legacy of Pink Floyd, while creating another legacy all their own. Over the years, The Machine has touched the hearts and souls of many, selling out large clubs and theaters across North and Central America, Europe and Asia. They have also appeared at renowned music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Riverbend, and Germany’s Rock of Ages.

DJ Logic

The theorem of turntablist as musician has been long proven in the capable hands of DJ LOGIC, whom with jazz as his foundation has become a wax innovator by crossing genres and sprinkling his sound across the map. As one of the world’s most accomplished turntablist’s, DJ LOGIC is widely credited for introducing jazz into the hip – hop realms and is considered by most as a highly respected session musician and an innovative bandleader.

Marco Benevento

For more than a decade pianist Marco Benevento has been amassing an extensive resume of composition and collaboration. His albums set forth a vision that connects the dots between MGMT and Tortoise on one side, Brian Eno and Brad Mehldau on the other. In the live setting, his performances reverberate with pulsating dance rock energy, which has led to numerous high profile appearances, ranging from Carnegie Hall to Celebrate Brooklyn, Newport Jazz to Bonnaroo. Benevento has been invited to open for The Books, Ben Folds and Rubblebucket, while headlining shows from coast to coast.

The John Kadlecik Band

John Kadlecik is a singer, songwriter, and musician who can play most string instruments but is primarily known for being a guitar-slinging sideman to Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir in the band Furthur. Also an original co-founder of the group Dark Star Orchestra, John has been performing improvisational music regularly since the late 1980’s and touring nationally for the last 20 years. His work also includes several studio releases of original music, and he is currently touring with his own group, The John Kadlecik Band.  The John Kadlecik Band is a mix of his musical friends playing both original music and fan favorites in a format that is a sheer pleasure for festival audiences. The band includes Nathan Graham on drums and old Worm friend Klyph Black on bass and other friends who join.  The band took the West coast by storm in the month of April including a sit in by Hall of Famer Bob Weir at their recent show in Mill Valley.  (Check the article on that night here.)

Pink Talking Fish

Pink Talking Fish is a Hybrid Tribute Fusion Act that takes the music from three of the world’s most beloved bands and creates a special treat for fans of the music.  Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads and Phish are all more than just bands… they are Phenomenons. Their creations have artistically inspired people and their mindblowing live performances have brought people together to form a special sense of community around the love for their favorite band.  Although the music from each act is different, Pink Talking Fish has discovered that fusing the material together creates an amazing story. The epic emotion of Pink Floyd…. The funky, danceable layerings of The Talking Heads…. The multitude of styles, unique compositional structures and pure fun of Phish…. to merge these three into one gives music lovers a special experience.

Freekbass

Freekbass isn’t just another funk artist who regurgitates traditions. Despite growing up in the same Cincinnati/Dayton funk hotbed that produced James Brown’s pioneering King Records catalog and Bootsy Collins and the Ohio Players, he’s produced a 21st century style over the course of six releases that meshes traditional elements of funk with decidedly more modern soundscapes.

Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan

If the fabled Dr. Funkenstein set out to make a two-headed, ivory tickling, guitar ripping, gut busting, crowd slaying monster and a catastrophic disaster in the lab went perfectly wrong, Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan would be the byproduct. Beau has assembled dueling guitarists, Danny Mayer (Alan Evans’ Playonbrother, On The Spot Trio) and Justin Henricks (Groovestick), Bill Carbone on drums (Max Creek, Z3), as well as the lovely vocalist, Mary Corso, to craft a perfect brew of organ driven, hard-hittin’, boogaloo rooted power funk with a rock ‘n’ roll spirit. This Northampton, MA based 5-piece funk machine is a happy accident that has come out of the lab with a mission and won’t be stopped anytime soon.

Bella’s Bartok

To understand Bella’s Bartok, imagine what you would get if Salvador Dali and Toulouse Lautrec were fronting the Moulin Rouge’s house band, and you have the exuberant spectacle that is Bella’s Bartok. Described as “about as much fun as you can have with your pants on” (Dan Wolovick, Two Way Monologues), this 6-piece powerhouse melds Bohemian Klezmer Punk with pop sensibilities into an eminently danceable party. The diversity of musicians that make up Bella’s Bartok, combined with their boundless energy on stage, not only compels you to dance, but has been known to break a dancefloor, or two (or three, but who’s counting?).

There will be many other bands on many stages and this year’s Strangecreek will help to cement it’s legacy as the spring coming out party for festival fans.  Everything you want in a festival is at Strangecreek.  Live Music News and Review.com has advanced tickets for sale, so if you’re interested, email us at lmnandr@gmail.com 

You can expect that Live Music News and Review.com will be at Strangecreek and keep an eye on the facebook page for live footage, and an eye on this page for a review to include photos and audio of the weekend.

To Submit a review or story for consideration hit us at lmnandr@gmail.com

Check out the Live Music News and Review.com Facebook page for updates and announcements.

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