Through Aug. 3
Gathering of the Vibes Music Festival @ Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Conn. Fri., 10:00 a.m. -?; Sat., 11 a.m.-?; Sun., 10:00ap.m.-? VIP Weekend Camping Pass: $530; Weekend Camping Pass: $270; VIP Kids Weekend Camping Pass: $60; RV Parking Pass: $250; Friday only: $160 (VIP), $95 (GA), $40 (Kids VIP); Saturday only: $160 (VIP), $95 (GA), $40 (Kids VIP); Sunday only: $120 (VIP) & $110 (VIP/Conn. residents), $60 (GA), $50 (GA/Conn. residents), $40 (Kids VIP);. 203-908-3030 www.gatheringofthevibes.com
Going into its 19th year, Gathering of the Vibes is a four-day event where music, camping and the arts are celebrated on the southern shore of Connecticut. Past years have featured a wide range of artists performing including Funk, Bruce Hornsby, moe., Branford Marsalis, Damian Marley and Nas, and more.. This year is no exception as the bill features myriad performers including John Fogerty, Widespread Panic, The Disco Biscuits with Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, Dispatch, moe., Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, Slightly Stoopid, Ziggy Marley, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Maceo Parker, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Rusted Root, Leftover Salmon featuring Little Feat’s Bill Payne, Stanley Jordan and Deep Banana Blackout with Wavy Gravy once again returning to MC the whole shebang.
John Fogerty
Dating back to his days leading Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty always had an affinity for the working class that resulted in the fine protest anthem, “Fortunate Son.” Fogerty’s leanings haven’t diminished over time. His most recent studio effort, last year’s Wrote a Song for Everyone, found him revisiting his catalog and joining forces with the Foo Fighters on the aforementioned “Son.” Other artists he enlisted were My Morning Jacket (“Long As I Can See the Light”), Bob Seger (“Who’ll Stop the Rain”) and Kid Rock (“Born On the Bayou”). Having seen Fogerty shake the rafters in Radio City Music Hall back during the 1997 tour for Blue Moon Swamp, be assured that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. The old man down the road hits the Main Stage on Friday, Aug. 1 at 8:30 p.m.– Dave Gil de Rubio
moe.
Returning stateside after playing to crowds in both Japan and Germany, the five-piece jam band Moe. looks to make its triumphant return to Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Conn. for the 17th installment of the Gathering of the Vibes music festival. One of the ten original acts to headline the very first Gathering of the Vibes festival, back in 1996, moe. promises to rock the house when they take the Main Stage on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m.
Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes
Despite the feuding between bandmates and the fear of cancellation from anxious ticket-holders awaiting to see Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, the band has said they will continue to tour without frontwoman Jade Castrinos. While many fans are adamant that the band will sound different without Castrinos’ presence, the nine active members of the group have been hard at work. The band just recently released a new music video “life is hard” and are in the process of compiling tracks from their concerts for a new live record, expected to come out later this month. You can catch Edward Sharpe and the Magenetic Zeroes at the Main Stage at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2.
The Disco Biscuits Featuring Mickey Hart And Bill Kreutzmann
Perhaps one of the most anticipated performances on the Gathering of the Vibes lineup, the Disco Biscuits plan to take the stage at midnight on Saturday, alongside drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead-fame. During the biscuits most recent tour of the New York-Metropolitan area, the band shocked fans with a rendition of the Dead’s “Viola Lee Blues,” an early classic as any true Deadhead would tell you. One could only guys what Brownie, Magner and Barber got planned. You’ll want to be around at 11:45 p.m on Saturday, Aug. 2 when these headliners hit the Main Stage.
Rodrigo y Gabriela
In the past decade-plus, street musicians Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero have made a name for themselves by using a dichotomy as a creative operating mandate. The duo may play classical guitars but the manna they produce draws inspiration from a wide array of sources ranging from Slayer to Paco De Lucia. Rod and Gab’s new album, 9 Dead Alive, is the duo’s first in five years and finds them casting a wide net for inspiration ranging from abolitionist Harriet Tubman to poet Gabriela Mistral. The dynamic duo will be hitting the Main Stage on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 3:45 p.m. – Dave Gil de Rubio
Deep Banana Blackout
Hometown heroes Deep Banana Blackout, a four-member funk outfit from right in Bridgeport, Conn. who has been gracing the bill 16 out of the last 17 years of the festival’s existence, will be performing late night following Lotus on the Late Night Stage, at 1:30 a.m.
Ziggy Marley
Being the son of Bob Marley is one of those weighted burdens. While on the one hand, winning the gene pool crapshoot means Ziggy probably got a slightly easier pass through life, as a musician he’ll always be unfairly matched up to the old man. His solo career away from the Melody Makers has resulted in a string of albums (including last year’s, Wild and Free), that find him sounding more like Ben Harper than Buju Banton. Marley has also expanded into children’s music, recording three albums including 2009’s celebrity-packed outing Family Time. His latest album is the recently-released Fly Rasta. The man born David Nesta Marley hits the Main Stage on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 4 p.m. – Dave Gil de Rubio
Widespread Panic
Originating in 1986, this six-piece All American jam band from Athens, Geo., has released nine studio albums, selling more than 3 million records worldwide, all while establishing their name on the festival circuit. Don’t miss Panic as they play the Main Stage on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 9:30 p.m.
Maceo Parker
Now that the new James Brown bio-pic Get On Up coming out, expect the interest in the Godfather of Soul’s main musical soloist Maceo Parker to take a significant uptick. Still touring and recording, Parker’s latest is 2012’s Soul Classics, where he dips into the canons of Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and his late, great ex-boss. Parker will be wailing away at noon on Sunday, Aug.3 on the Main Stage. – Dave Gil de Rubio
Lotus
Don’t miss this very special peformance from Indiana-based jamtronica outfit Lotus, as they prepare for this exclusive set devoted to the music of the Talking Heads. Lotus will be “burning down the house” on the main stage, Friday, Aug. 1, at 10:45 p.m.
