~ The Mountain Jam Blog ~

LEVON HELM & FRIENDS: REVIEW, PICTURES, & SET LIST

2010-06-06T23:54:00.012-04:00

Before we begin, here's the set list....

Written by Evan Levy, Photos by Peggy Fusco, Ed McCarthy, & James Orr

Celebrating a legend like Levon Helm is not an easy task. How do you pay proper tribute to a man who sings songs that you know by heart, and continues to rock out past his 70th birthday? Take his best work, throw in some seriously talented guest musicians, and you've got the formula for an amazing experience. And that's really what it was, a moment in rock and roll history that can only be witnessed huddled amongst your friends at a magical place like Mountain Jam.

We heard old country favorites like "Long Black Veil" sung sweetly by Teresa Williams. We sang along to "Up On Cripple Creek" performed by Sam Bush, and we were blown away by Larry Campbell's ability to take the organ solo in "Chest Fever" and turn it into a hot guitar solo that made Jackie Greene visibly jealous. There were times when everyone jamming together raised the bar for certain songs letting their combined energy flow and really winding it up again and again keeping the crowd entranced throughout their entire set.

With guests like Donald Fagen, Warren Haynes, Jackie Greene, Alison Krauss, Alison Moorer and more - there was always some new way to experience the life and the music of Levon Helm. It was a fitting tribute to the man who continues to bring us so much joy. Happy Birthday Levon!

Check out Levon's birthday cake!

Thanks to everyone for making Mountain Jam VI such an amazing experience - see you next year!

ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION Featuring Jerry Douglas: A REVIEW IN PICTURES

2010-06-06T18:27:00.004-04:00

MATISYAHU: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-06T16:40:00.010-04:00

Written by Evan Levy, Photos by Ed McCarthy

Performing with his new stage band comprised of Dub Trio, Matisyahu emerged in a white jumpsuit with the Hebrew letter "aleph" (aleph is the letter "A" in the Hebrew alphabet) on his back. Bringing his unique sound of mixing all styles of reggae, his latest album "Light" is truly something special when performed live. I spun the record quite a bit a home and it can't capture its true potential as much as when he unleashes it onto a live audience. At any Matisyahu show, you'll always get some beat-boxing and improvisation. When the spirit takes him, Matis shines brightest letting loose and along with the new backing back of Dub Trio, there's a slightly funkier edge to his music.

Matisyahu adds a something special to his brand of reggae music, it truly has a spiritual feel to it. His songs almost feel like prayers, filled with lyrics of love and praise to God. His set at MJVI this year was a great one - where Toots & The Maytals brought us the foot stomping funk we needed on Day 1, Matis delivered the deep grooves and swaying rhythm that delighted the crowd today. The highlight for me was his song "One Day" (mixed with some festive dancing from one of his friends) was truly magical.

Sure, you should pick up his albums, but the best way to experience all that is Matisyahu, be sure to check him out live when he hits your area. More coverage ahead, so keep checking back on the official Mountain Jam blog.

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD: EAST STAGE REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-06T15:38:00.014-04:00

Written by Evan Levy, Photos by James Orr, Peggy Fusco & Lauren Armanie

Earlier we got to hear a preview of the musical goodness in store for us at the Awareness Village stage. Now, backed by his full band, Michael Franti delivered us a heavy helping of his new material while still keeping the crowd hyped up with his usual crowd pleasers. A few songs into his set, the skies opened up and dumped heavy rain and pounding wind on the crowd - a brief rain delay of the music as everyone ran for cover.

After about 20 minutes, the bad weather ended and the sun shone through again. Stagehands furiously mopped up the damage and Michael & the band were back on stage doing what they do best. The new songs from his album "The Sound of Sunshine" is not really a departure for Michael, but allows yet another way in which his music can shine. The new songs are filled with dance happy rhythms and lots of pop melodies that kept this crowd moving.

A special moment occurred when Michael talked about buying a guitar recently and had asked someone to pull a sticker off of it - midway through peeling it, Michael asked the person to stop as he claimed to see an "angel" underneath the sticker (he said that was on some heavy drugs recovering from his burst appendix operation at the time). The sticker stayed on so he could keep her spirit in the guitar. He then dedicated the song "Gloria" to the angel and all the women in the MJVI crowd. Afterwards he moved through the crowd singing songs in the thick of it, then pulling a pair of fans on stage to do some air guitar to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Another special dedication was given to anyone to had a hard week leading up to the festival - it was another new song called "Hey Hey Hey" which he has been singing alot of his tour opening up for John Mayer. The finale commenced with a rockabilly version of his recent mainstream hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" backed up by a crowd of kids twirling towels along to the beat. It was definitely another electric set from Michael Franti & Spearhead on the Mountain Jam stage. More coverage coming up - keep checking back to the blog and be sure to watch the video from the shows here.

BRIEF RAIN DELAY AT THE JAM!

2010-06-06T14:59:00.003-04:00

In the middle of Michael Franti's set, the skies grew dark and pouring rain and wind sent everyone running for cover. After 10 minutes, it quickly died down and the sun came out again...looks like it's going to be one of those unpredictable weather days here on the mountain. Enjoy the pictures of everyone scrambling for shelter....

ALO: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-06T14:22:00.011-04:00

Written by Evan Levy, Photos by Doug Potoksky & Peggy Fusco

The first time I heard ALO was at Bonnaroo a few years back. They were one of the "baby bands" at that time, and few people knew them. I settled in for a set of amazing music that day in the fields in Tennessee and today at MJVI, I saw another great set by a band that has fully matured and is ready for their time in the spotlight. Bringing their signature blend of pop, rock, & folk to the crowd and kept everyone swaying to the laid back rhythms. After a great set of some new stuff as well as some classics from the guys - they put a contest to the audience to create a "label" for their music as people keep trying to come up with a definitive way of describing their sound (and aren't succeeding at it apparently). After a crowd pleasing "Barbeque", Jackie Greene was invited to perform one last song with the band - it was ALO's "Roses & Clover" complemented with a long harmonica solo by Jackie. Another great musical nugget was the guys doing a spirited version of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger".
This could be the big year for ALO to break out - their sound is tight and sure to please. Keep checking back all day for more coverage of MJVI.

MICHAEL FRANTI: AWARENESS VILLAGE STAGE

2010-06-06T13:44:00.007-04:00

Written by Evan Levy, Photos by Peggy Fusco

After rocking us out in the broadcast booth, Michael Franti made his way to the Awareness Village stage to do some acoustic songs for the large crowd that was patiently waiting for him. "The Sound Of Sunshine" which is the title track for his upcoming new album, was sung under cloudy skies - but when Michael and the crowd took up the chorus, the sun broke through and shone brightly from that moment on. Here's a few pictures from his intimate set - they'll be more of Michael after his set on the East stage today. Be sure to check out the live webcast of all the music here and keep checking back all day for more coverage from Mountain Jam VI right here on the official Mountain Jam blog!

DAY 3 OF MOUNTAIN JAM BEGINS!

2010-06-06T12:53:00.006-04:00

We all woke to some soggy ground today and a light rain pouring on our heads. As we shook off the cobwebs and got set for the day, Michael Franti stopped by the broadcast booth for WDST and told us all about his new album "The Sound of Sunshine" which was written while he was recovering from a burst appendix. He performed a song called "Shake It" and then the title track acoustically for us before heading out to do his 2 sets on 2 different Mountain Jam stages. The first band to take the stage is The Bridge - here's a few pictures of the action...

Photos by Peggy Fusco & Ed McCarthy

WHAT YOU MISSED LAST NIGHT: DARK STAR ORCHESTRA - A REVIEW IN PICTURES

2010-06-06T11:45:00.005-04:00

Photos by James Orr, Peggy Fusco, & Doug Potoksky

GOV'T MULE - DAY 2: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-05T23:07:00.013-04:00

Review by Evan Levy, Pics by James Orr & Doug Potoksky

And so another night of Gov't Mule lay ahead of us. It would be hard to top last night, with an amazing second set opener like Pink Floyd's "Fearless" you wondered what would be the song everyone would be talking about the next day. There was an air of suspense before the music began and the tension was mounting with whispered rumors or artists who might join in "Dave Matthews might show up..." said one festival goer as he passed me. Highly unlikely since he's playing in Saratoga tonight, but it was a fun thought. After a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" and a down and dirty version of "Broke Down On The Brazos" from their newest album "By A Thread", it would be hard to choose. Guest Derek Trucks joined the guys for an elongated jam session. What could be in store in set 2? Scroll below to see...

Set 2 exploded with a trip to Jamaica for a reggae version of "The Joker" with special guest Matisyahu. Then the jam continued with the guys busting out a soulful island version of Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er". Next, Warren picked up the pace with Neal Young's "Rockin' In The Free World", which left some space for a few mind bending solos. The horn section from Lettuce sat in with a tasty jam for bit until I noticed that Jackie Greene was lurking around backstage and figured that he would joining Warren and the guys on stage. Sure enough he emerged - "It's a party from here on out" Warren exclaimed. The Rolling Stones "Ventilator Blues" was the perfect vehicle for Jackie to showcase his amazing harmonica skills. But the Stones tribute didn't end there as "Monkey Man" came screaming though. For the encore, Pearl Jam's "Black" got everyone dancing faster again and revved the crowd up a second time with Aerosmith's "Train Kept A Rollin". It was just another one of those amazing Mule performances that keeps you coming back every year. We'll be back with more coverage of Mountain Jam VI tomorrow!

DEREK TRUCKS & SUSAN TEDESCHI BAND: A REVIEW IN PICTURES

2010-06-05T19:55:00.008-04:00

Photos by Peggy Fusco & Doug Potoksky

DAVE MASON: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-05T18:53:00.007-04:00

Written by Evan Levy, Pics by Peggy Fusco & Ed McCarthy

Some of us only know Dave Mason from his time in the band Traffic - others still know him as just a prolific musician who has done great work which got him into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But for the crowd here at Mountain Jam, Dave was allowed to put all that aside and rock the mountain for a killer set filled with a smooth 70's sound that kept the crowd swaying along. One of the best moments was Dave announcing "I wrote this song" and then playing the hit "Feelin' Alright" that was one of the songs that made Joe Cocker a household name. See? You can learn interesting things at festivals. Also in the set were rare gems "Only You Know And I Know" and "You And Me We Just Disagree".

Amidst all the flavors that MJVI has served up so far this weekend, there was a really warm feeling (and that's not just the sunburn) that Dave radiated with his music. To see a living legend show us why he is a master of his craft is always a wonderful thing to experience at a festival and I'm just glad I was there to see it. For more info on where Dave will strike next, click here and see him now. Keep checking back for more coverage of all the action right here on the official Mountain Jam blog.

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-05T17:53:00.019-04:00

Review by Alex Lubinsky & Kieran Prasch, Photos by Doug Potoksky

The Yonder Mountain String Band switched gears and went from funk filled jams into a full blown bluegrass vibe. The dueling sounds of the banjos and mandolin were as fascinating as these masters of their craft took us back to a simpler time while still improvising in a new way. This four-piece played upbeat, super-danceable music that reminds one of traditional bluegrass/country/folk music, that experienced a revival in the feature film "O' Brother Where Art Thou?".

All of the country-bluegrass-folkies donned straw hats and took to the dirt covered dance floor doing self-contained two-step/square-dance improvisation kicking up what the band referred to as the best dust clouds they've seen in a long time. The bouncy and present bass lines played on a modified stand up bass, carried the triple-time banjo solos in-between verses.

After a football-field sized cloud of dust rose into the air, almost blocking view of both stages, frontman Jeff Austin jokingly said,"Mountain Jam, the only festival you can taste". There was a really special moment at the end of the show when Warren Haynes stepped out to perform a killer version of Iggy Pop & The Stooges classic "Death Trip". It's true that there is the feeling of nostalgia when listening to the band, but you also get a real serving of a lost art being brought back into the forefront.

MOUNTAIN JAM MOMENTS: DAY 2 PICTURES

2010-06-05T17:45:00.004-04:00

Photos by Peggy Fusco

LETTUCE - REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-05T16:16:00.005-04:00

Review by James Laffin, Pictures by Lauren Armanie & Doug Potoksky

If you happened to hear that Lettuce was up next on the West stage, and you were expecting another amazing rock band like the past several acts, you were at least partially right. The group wasted no time opening with two back-to-back lengthy instrumental pieces that automatically induced an infectious bop n' sway into all who heard it. I found myself motionless for a good while, laying back on a grassy slope with eyes closed just taking it all in.
What I learned was that this band is tight. Really, really tight. Dual horn players effortlessly hitting funky solos in perfect synchronicity, a lead guitarist that truly knows how to speak through his instrument... The bass kept the rhythm rock solid absolutely without fail, accompanied by exquisite drum lines, and the keys added the perfect final touch of drones and feeling, rounding out the act to a well-oiled musical machine lacking nothing, in my humble opinion.

And as you can see from the pictures above - they also had some special guests sit in on their performance. First up, Derek Trucks made an appearance to jam with band soon followed by Susan Tedeschi, & Oteil Burbridge who busted out a supercharged version of Curtis Mayfield's "Movin' On Up". Nigel Hall also lent his mean set of pipes to the mix for a song or two.
With a late night set planned with these guys tonight, stop by for a smooth blend of funky, jazzy rock from Lettuce. I promise you won't be disappointed.

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-05T15:22:00.007-04:00

Written by Drew North, Pictures by James Orr & James Laffin

Seriously, the Drive-By Truckers are now a part of the necessary lexicon of rock and roll...their music is amazing...What I knew of my years listening to the Truckers as an ironic and wry band who were always doing tongue-in-cheek musical masterpieces has been destroyed, these guys have come into their own since the last time they came to the Jam. The sweet southern ramble of sonic assaults that these characters perpetrated pierced my music bone in a very serious way....

Their down home and comfortable demeanor won me over with sincerity and bad ass, full driving rock!... Mercy Buckets - a great play on words - and an even greater song topped their set which is off their new album and it showed the band's true talent for being poignant and solid. The tie in with with Patterson Hood inviting his father David Hood (the famous session player) to join the set was an especially great moment! I love those moments unexpected guest performances. Their set brought their legacy full circle even tempting me to leave the mountain for Levon's Ramble which is where they are going to be next. But, I can't leave the Jam just yet and I will just have to wait until Sunday when Levon and Friends will all be playing together in what will be an amazing and undoubtedly stellar performance and a true moment in rock and roll history. I can't wait!!!

THE LONDON SOULS: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-05T14:10:00.007-04:00

Review by Kieran Prasch & Evan Levy, Pics by Doug Potoksky

Into the second day of the festivities, I decided to go take a look at a band I've never heard of before called The London Souls. And I'm glad I did because they were seriously impressive. To describe this band in one word, it would undoubtedly be "groovy." This fresh rocking three-piece had great style; each of them also had an interesting look, from frontman Tash Neal's white rimmed UK-style sunglasses and the drummers serious Robert Plant haircut (his drum solos also had a Led Zeppelin feel to them as well). This power trio sported the gear consisting of a convertible red hollow body guitar, an edgy sounding Vox amp, a vintange styled Ampeg bass cab, and a huge minimalist Ludwig drum kit.

Some notable songs included a elongated jammy cover of AC/DC 's"Long Way To The Top" and an original of theirs called "I Don't Need Nobody." Despite their bold rocking sound, and following a noisy feedback riddled guitar solo, The London Souls even dropped some surprisingly good reggae tracks as well. These guys might have even been having more fun than the audience, as the set ended with a simple "Well, I guess that's it" when they ran out of set time! London Souls are a MUST SEE, and you can find out more about them here.

ZACH DEPUTY: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-05T13:23:00.007-04:00

Written by Evan Levy, Pics by James Laffin & Lauren Armanie

It can be tough to be one of the first bands on after a really amazing late night of music. Most people are still stirring in their tents, and usually need some time to ease into the day. Zach Deputy wasn't having any of that - he burst onto the stage with a furious whirlwind of funk that got this weary crowd into high gear. I had never seem him before, but after his performance at Mountain Jam, I won't forget him. Arising just one hour before his set as he shook off the cobwebs from last night's musical madness, Zach is a one man band utilizing loop pedals, electronic drum pedals and an arsenal of effects that will make you wonder if there's a band backstage helping him out.

He literally makes full use of each finger on each hand, each foot working different pedal boards in perfect synchronicity. It's truly a mind blowing experience to watch him work.

The wall of funk he created was amazing - be sure to check this guy out if he comes to rock your town. Click here to get the details on where he'll be next.

AS DAY 2 BEGINS, HERE'S DAY 1...IN PICTURES

2010-06-05T12:16:00.004-04:00

Photos by James Orr & Lauren Armanie

WHAT YOU MISSED LAST NIGHT: LES CLAYPOOL - REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-05T11:35:00.006-04:00

Review by Drew North, Pics by James Orr

What?!!..Are you kidding me. Stop. Redefine the meaning of the word "awesome". Les Claypool rocked the late night set and was the biggest treat so far for us here at MJVI. I also safely say that this would have to be the best first night of Mountain Jam I've seen in all my years here. Hands down...Jaw dropping. I want to nominate Les Claypool for President of the United States of Fun. Do you know why?...No, not because of the Xylophone. Not because he executed flawlessly incredibly crafted tunes. It is because he not only played for us...he played WITH us! From his vast catalog of cherished tunes and favorites he pulled from all eras and DESTROYED our concept of music and threw at the audience who enjoyed every tasty little musical morsel. They brought out such amazing renditions of South Bound Pachyderm which was off the hook plain and simple...Buzzards of the Green Hills...Up on the Roof...Cosmic Highway....Les took us through a musical journey busting out classic songs we haven't heard from him in years.

Stunning and conversational musicianship was displayed with the rare genius that is Les Claypool. I just cant tell you how many heads were spinning when yet another moment of great legendary music happened when Warren Haynes hit the stage and the crowd flipped as they both teamed up together and made us rethink what fun could actually be. The facility which was displayed was not only a musical conversation, but actually a mind bending portal into a mystical dimension that Les led us into... This Pied Piper open up the Mountain and led us inside. Undoubtedly this has raised the bar for all the rest of MJVI...it doesn't get any more epic than this...and this is was just the first day!

GOV'T MULE: DAY 1 REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-04T23:46:00.015-04:00

Written by Kieran Prasch & Evan Levy, Photos by Ed McCarthy & Peggy Fusco

Gov't Mule’s presence is welcome once again on the mountain. Every square inch was now covered in people; just dancing and throwing glow sticks that lit up the night sky. A huge steam was rising from the heat of the crowd, as spectators added to the already spectacular smoke and lighting display, with green lasers shining over the sea of people that is mountain jam. After a full day baking in the sun, this crowd was ready to cut loose.

The music was non-stop, deliberate, and continuously progressing through a set that consisted of originals, and well-known covers (Beatles, Nirvana's "My Girl", even touching on some Led Zeppelin). Gov't Mule provides the faithful fans with a unique ‘perspective’ on music when experienced live. This year at the fest, fire dancers were twirling flaming batons and balls in the air to the rhythm of Jimi Hendrix's "And The Wind Cries Mary".

The second set exploded with Pink Floyd - a cover of their song "Fearless" is the perfect way to get things going. Les Claypool is invited to the stage to throw down with the band doing a extra jammy version of "Greasy Granny's Gopher Gravy Pt. 2". Drummer Matt Abts gave everyone a thrill with an elongated solo drum session. Another special treat of the set was Grace Potter joining the band for a killer rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Gold Dust Woman". After busting out so many great songs, we can only wonder what they will bring out for the second night.

MOUNTAIN JAM MOMENTS

2010-06-04T20:18:00.006-04:00

Photo & blurb by Diane Colello

Anything can happen at Mountain Jam. While walking around the festival, I ran into Kraig and Annmarie Kallmeyer, who couldn't stay away, as they have VERY special memories of their time here last year's Jam. This year they brought along their baby, Karson Hunter Kallmeyer, who is just about three months old. Yup, that's right - three months old. You do the math. Welcome back Kallmeyers!

THE AVETT BROTHERS: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-04T19:41:00.004-04:00

Pictures and write-up by James Laffin

As the previous act came to a close, a hush came over all present; we knew who was coming on next. As the WDST announced The Avett Brothers, an explosive wave of applause rocked the hill. The band wasted no time, stepping right up to their instruments and launching into the first number, with Scott's vocals having a captivating effect on everybody.

The cello sang with a voice of it's own; the bass was slapped out in perfect accompaniment to the solid drum lines; the guitar kept the rhythm and the banjo lent it's twang. Most numbers were upbeat and incredibly energetic. I actually had a bit of trouble standing still enough to snap these pictures due to a curiously strong desire to dance (as literally everybody else was doing). According to a lovely woman named Audrey: 'They've swept us away'. The numbers the piano was brought out for slowed the tempo and put even more feeling behind the act, and the brothers' vocal harmonies effortlessly took us off our feet.

The Avett Brothers have once again shown us their array of talents. Solid playing, great lyrics, and an infectious set of smiles that never seemed to leave the performers' faces. They're making great music, and they know it.

TOOTS & THE MAYTALS: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-04T18:46:00.008-04:00

Written by Kieran Prasch & Alex Lubinsky, Pictures by James Orr

Another real burst of positive energy radiated off the Mountain Jam crowd as Toots & the Maytals started their set. The smiles spread, and the mountain really started to fill up to witness the founding father of the word "reggae". The crowd began dancing to the rhythm as the rising dust got so thick I could barley see the stage as the band performed "Higher." Toots enjoyed winding up the tempo which in turn produced even more dust as they raged into double-time ska.

As the band played one of their most recognized songs "Reggae Got Soul", the mountain began to rock 'on its dancing feet'. You couldn't look anywhere and not find someone at least slightly bobbing their heads - it's truly one of those kind of songs. Gospel-style harmonies had the mid-forties hippie mother to my left dancing like she was in her early twenties.

Today they also performed the infamous "54-46 Was My Number" which when heard live still rings true as it had in its original era.

When the band was in their last five minutes of playing, we met Toot's brother at the top of the hill, and we all agreed that (without any bias) Toots is one of the greatest live reggae performers we've ever seen.

GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS: REVIEW AND PICS

2010-06-04T17:37:00.006-04:00

Written by Evan Levy, Photos by James Laffin & Diane Colello

Roses decorated the stage for Grace's arrival. Standing just stage right, she is excitedly banging her tambourine and stomping her heels and the band took the stage. Grace is pretty proud of her new self-titled album which comes out on Tuesday. After hearing the songs live on the mountain - I noticed something different in Grace. I spoke with her briefly before she went on and she mentioned that there is a new sound coming from them in the new album, and it blends a wider variety of genres than we're used to hearing from them. Their producer Mark Batson allowed them alot of freedom "to do what they do best" and with the addition of Catherine Popper & Benny Yurco to the group, there's a very organic feel to the writing process.

Grace took us through some of the new songs and delighted the crowd with her hit "Nothing But The Water" as well as an electric version of "White Rabbit" which she leant to the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack. People keep comparing her to Janis Joplin - "maybe it's my hair", but it's Grace Slick that she should be compared to more than any other artist. If you get the chance, click here to see where Grace will strike next and be sure to get her new self-titled album when it hits stores on Tuesday. Keep checking back, there's more coverage coming up here on the official Mountain Jam blog.

TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-04T16:26:00.010-04:00

Review by Kieran Prasch & Alex Lubinsky, Pics by Diane Colello

This was the first time I've seen Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. From the first hit, my body was rocked with the might of thier horn section, blasting 'larger than life' funk hits. The second they stepped onto stage I was shot into a timewarp back to "Shaft" with wah-wah funk sensation, but the band was more than just a Roots/Funk/Fusion band.

There was an ecclectic collection of genres and instruments, varing from trumpets, baritone saxophones, and ethnic percussional instruments. Their live sound was a combination of the Skatalites meets Stevie Wonder, both in their prime. Their eminent stage presense and classic edge horn-harmonies identify with the era of music they are clearly influenced by.

The talented frontman of Shorty not only doubled as trumpet and trombone player, but at times came out with powerful soul vocals. The band performed mostly instrumental songs, with the horn section replacing the vocal harmonies that are apparently not needed to have a tasteful band of their stature. They brought the dancing onto the hill at the stage of Mountain Jam VI to a fevered pitch before leaving the stage setting the scene for Grace Potter & The Nocturnals to do their thing.

THE WHIGS: REVIEW & PICS

2010-06-04T15:08:00.006-04:00

Review by Drew North, Pictures by Ed McCarthy

I've never seen the Whigs but I've heard about their buzz...and it is well deserved. With Mountain Jammers still coming in and setting up, I was surprised the way the fields quickly filled up and I soon found out why! These guys are dangerous... I am afraid their songs are going to be in my head all day. I'm not totally sure the names of all their songs that they played, but from what I heard "I don't need to kill" and "already yours" stood out in the beginning of the set with "naked" pulsing into the rest of their power pop from their new album "In the Dark" was a great build up to an amazing set. I can hear a lot of sounds bringing early U2 to mind with a bit more of an edge, very much like the early sounds from a young R.E.M. They have great melody in a straight forward rock n' roll combination with serious stage presence and antics reminiscent of Grand Funk Railroad. I loved it when the band members switched instruments during their set...it gave them a whole new sound with the same feel. It doesn't seem like I got a big enough dose of The Whigs so I was psyched to hear that they are playing at 8 o'clock inside The Colonel's Hall... I am definitely gonna catch that new album...I so dig these guys!!!

ART INSTALLATION AT MOUNTAIN JAM

2010-06-04T14:09:00.008-04:00

Write-up and pics by Diane Colello

THE MAZE, or THE STAR a.k.a "THE SHAPE SHIFTING GRAFFITI COLLECTIVE"

They brainstormed that name on the spot, in response to my queiry, but that's the kind of creative folks they are. Invited by Mountain Jam, Cappy and John came from San Francisco, met up with colleagues here to install and create art you can be part of. Or perhaps we should say plant and nurture, as they describe their creation as growing from the energy of the ground it's on, fed by the earth energy fountain in the center of the space. Input from each artist flows into collective ideas which bring the work to an ever evolving fruition. From the pics above, you can add your own interpretation...

MOUNTAIN JAM MOMENTS - Day 1

2010-06-04T13:47:00.006-04:00

Mountain Jam is not just a festival, it's also a way to connect with you friends.

Ellen (in the white shirt on the right) met her friends here at Mountain Jam 4 years ago. There are about 10 of them from all over that meet in the same spot in front of the stage every year. "We're like a community now" says Ellen.

Pictured above is the first 9-year old to climb to the top of the jungle gym installation at MJVI this year. It's a 50 foot high obstacle course behind the big stage.

More Mountain Jam moments ahead. . . keep it locked right here on the official Mountain Jam blog.

ELYSIUM THEORY: REVIEW AND PICS

2010-06-04T12:58:00.011-04:00

Review by Drew North, Pictures by James Orr

If you like thumping-riff heavy psychadelic space rock, Elysium Theory is for you. I don't know what an Elysium Theory is but after seeing these guys, I want to get into it! As the Mountain Jam contest winners this year, they certainly deserve this big break (and it's all thanks to your votes). The music was tight and guys really commanded the stage well. Using samples and heavy riffs, their polyrythmic sound ripped through the air, kicking off Mountain Jam VI in true rock and roll fashion. I can safely say that the band follows in the footsteps of Rush and Tool delivering a truly unique sound filled with dreamscape-like songs and they definitely delivered the goods. It was a great start to the first day at Mountain Jam.

For more on the guys, click here to check out their website and check out more from their debut CD "Modern Alchemy". Be sure to keep it locked for more updates from the festival all weekend long.

MOUNTAIN JAM BEGINS TODAY - 1 MORE LINEUP CHANGE

2010-06-04T10:03:00.004-04:00

Well, the wait is almost over - crowds are gathering outside the gates as we get ready to kick off the first day of Mountain Jam. I do have 1 more lineup change to announce - Dr. Dog has cancelled their appearance at MJVI. Their 5:30pm set today will be covered by Toots & The Maytals who will be doing a full set at that time.

Keep checking back for coverage of the festival with setlists, photos, and write-ups of all the action right here on the official Mountain Jam blog.

1 DAY UNTIL MOUNTAIN JAM VI

2010-06-03T10:08:00.002-04:00

The big event is less than 24 hours away and as you can see from the pictures above, we're ready for you. Be sure to click here to see the new updated daily schedule which is now posted. Starting tomorrow afternoon we'll have onsite updates with setlists, show reviews, and lots of pics giving you full coverage from the festival. If you need any last minute info about the lineup or the festival in general, just head over to http://www.mountainjam.com/, they got you covered.

See you tomorrow!

CHANGES IN MOUNTAIN JAM VI LINEUP

2010-06-02T18:42:00.010-04:00

There has been a few changes to the lineup of MJVI and we want to make sure that you're aware of them as you plan your weekend on the mountain. Please note the changed times as well as the addition of a few new slots. Here's the details:

The Duke & The King and Simone Felice have cancelled their appearance at MJVI

Toots & The Maytals are now on FRIDAY from 8:15-9:00pm (instead of Saturday)

Dave Mason will take the Toots & The Maytals slot on SATURDAY

Drive-By Truckers will get an extra 15 minutes (now 2:15-3:30pm)

Lettuce will play an additional set in the afternoon on the West Stage (3:30-4:15pm)

Zach Deputy will play from 12:30-1:15pm & their Awareness Village set is now 3:00-4:00pm

Van Ghost will play from 12:00-12:30pm

Jerry Joseph & Wally Ingram will play their Awareness Village set from 4:30-5:30pm

That's all the changes as of right now - we'll let you know if anything else changes. Keep checking back for updates. Only 2 days left until the start of MJVI!

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: LEVON HELM & FRIENDS

2010-05-31T16:56:00.003-04:00

One of the main attractions of this year's Mountain Jam festival is the 70th birthday celebration of Levon Helm. This legendary performer has been touring pretty fiercely this year bringing his unique style of music to the masses with The Levon Helm Band. His shows are filled with new interpretations of his classic songs as well as a healthy mix of covers that he loves. Whether it's old school blues, soul, rock, country, or americana - every musical taste and flavor is represented in his sets. The band that he's assembled is strong and has proven it in Levon winning a recent Grammy award for his album "Electric Dirt" which includes an amazing version of the Grateful Dead's "Tennessee Jed" that he often plays during his concerts.

For the milestone of Levon hitting 70, he's got some special guests sharing the stage with him like Warren Haynes, Donald Fagen, Ray LaMontagne, Jackie Greene and more. With an event like this, anything can happen - there's no telling what surprises or special unannounced guests might show up to play along with Levon to celebrate with him. This is truly a moment in rock and roll history that cannot be missed, and it's only happening at MJVI this year.

Besides rocking festivals and venues across the country, Levon also offers special performances at his Midnight Ramble shows which are held at his house in Woodstock, NY. Click here to get more info on the Midnight Rambles and see how you can pick up tickets for them as well as check his tour schedule.

Don't forget that we'll be streaming the live video of all the action at MJVI from the main stage (especially the Levon Helm & Friends set) here all weekend. Starting this Friday (the first day of the festival), we'll also have lots of onsite festival updates, set lists, and show reviews as well as lots of pictures giving you full coverage of the festival as it happens each day. Get ready, because we're only a few days away!

BEST OF FEST: KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH MOUNTAIN JAM

2010-05-28T13:27:00.006-04:00

For this year's Mountain Jam, we have even more ways for you to check out what's going on at the fest as well as participate in it. First, we are offering you the chance to receive text messages from us with updates from the festival grounds as well as give you the opportunity to vote for songs to be played in the set lists from select artists. All you need to do is send the text message "MTJAM" to 88288 and you'll be hooked up - remember that message and data rates may apply and this service will be powered by our friends at TRUdirect.

Another way to have all the info of Mountain Jam at your fingertips is on your phone. Just go to http://m.mountainjam.com/ and you can get our mobile app which has everything you need to know about the festival on it - including the lineup, performance schedule, and artist signing schedule.

And finally, if you can't make it to the festival you can catch all the music from the mainstage from your computer at http://mountainjam.com/ as we will once again be offering a live streaming video webcast of all the action including headliners Gov't Mule and Levon Helm & Friends 70th Birthday Celebration. We're only 1 week away the festival, and you'll definitely want to keep checking back for more info on this year's artists as well as links to free downloads. Don't forget that during the festival we'll be offering you full event coverage with performance reviews, pictures, and lots of other behind-the-scenes stuff you can only get here on the official Mountain Jam blog.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: GOV'T MULE

2010-05-24T14:22:00.003-04:00

This year at Mountain Jam, Gov't Mule will be taking the stage headlining for both Friday & Saturday nights. It's been three long years since we had a new album from the guys, and now this year they have delivered their latest masterpiece "By A Thread". There's a new bassist in the mix, Jorgen Carlsson, and there's a guest appearance from Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top on "Broke Down On The Brazos". There's a healthy mix of sounds and styles on the new album, everything from barroom blues, psychedelic, and some good ol' fashioned air punching, foot stomping rock and roll. Their epic 9-minute song "Inside Outside Woman Blues #3" is one you don't want to miss, a perfect mix of hard grindin' blues and soul. Almost all the songs are over 5 minutes so there's lots of time for experimentation and solos. The album is out and available everywhere, so go to your favorite place to get it and you'll be ready to sing along with Warren at the festival.

The band has been playing the new stuff for a while now, but Mountain Jam will be your opportunity to hear the new stuff in concert before their US summer tour which kicks off in July. Be sure to check this to see all the dates and info for Gov't Mule's tour. Keep checking back for more festival info every Monday and Friday - and be sure to air out your tent and start shinning up your gear, we're just 11 days away!

BEST OF FEST: AWARENESS VILLAGE

2010-05-21T14:17:00.004-04:00

Looking to take a brief break from the music at the festival? Then you definitely want to stop by the Awareness Village to check some cool acoustic sets and activities that we know you're going to love. If you're bringing the kids with you, there's the Wormtown Kids Tent which will offer plenty of stuff for the little ones to enjoy as well as some special acoustic performances just for kids on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-12:30pm. For the full schedule of all the acts (for kids & adults) perfoming on the Awareness Village Stage, go here: http://www.mountainjam.com/index.php?page=village
Also in the Awareness Village is some great shopping, food, sculptures to look at, and even a big beer garden. There's also going to be drum circles at the tee pee - feel free to bring your own drums and if not, drums will be provided for you.

There's also a few programs to see and get involved in. The first is a cell phone drive sponsored by Rock The Earth, Musictoday, SCI Fidelity, and eMusic. Make sure that you bring all your old cell phones to the fest and you'll be entered in to win some cool contests to get free merchandise and music downloads.

Next up is the HeadCount Reality Check, which is a trivia contest that can lead to you winning a poster signed by this year's MJVI headliners.

Also available at the Awareness Village is Woodstock Wellness who will be offering their services for a chiropractic adjustment, massage therapy and reflexology. To learn more about them, go to: http://www.woodstockwellness.com/

We're just 2 weeks away for the festival, so make sure that you keep checking back here every Monday and Friday for the latest festival info and links to free downloads from this years' performers.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: MATISYAHU

2010-05-17T14:42:00.003-04:00

Here's another artist that deserves some time in the Mountain Jam spotlight - the reggae sensation Matisyahu. Blending styles, cultures, and sounds - Matisyahu is truly a unique artist. Since bursting onto the scene in 2004 with the Top 40 hit "King Without A Crown", he's put out a few studio albums, some killer live albums, and even some remix albums. I highly recommend the live albums as it's kind of difficult to capture the essence of all that is Matisyahu in the studio versions. He is truly a performer that needs to be experienced live in concert because there's alot more freedom for him to experiment and do some serious beatboxing (which he is well known for).

If you want a taste of what Matisyahu has to over, make sure to stop by his official website http://www.matisyahuworld.com/ and check out his "Archive" section. You can download selected free live tracks and check out some video as well. Whether you're into dub, ska or dancehall reggae - Matisyahu manages to blend them all into something special. Don't miss his set on Sunday at the West Stage at 4pm, you'll be glad that you did. In addition to his performance at MJVI, he will also be on tour this summer with Sublime with Rome (the new version of the punk ska band Sublime).

We're getting closer and closer to the festival so make sure to keep checking back for more artist spotlights, links to free downloads, and info on all the cool stuff happening at this year's fest.

BEST OF FEST: DAILY SCHEDULE IS ONLINE!

2010-05-14T14:15:00.013-04:00

Okay, so we're only 3 weeks away from the festival and we've got the performance schedule so you can map out your days on the mountain. Let's start with Friday:

The Whigs, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, The Avett Brothers and Gov't Mule on the East Stage all day is a perfect combination. All this plus a late nite night rager with Les Claypool - save your strength for this one, you'll need it. You may also notice that some of the bands are performing more than once, rotating to different stages around the festival. This gives you a chance to see your favorite band twice - or get to see them if you missed them earlier at a different stage. Now let's check out Saturday:

Saturday's got lots of great bands performing on all the stages and will probably have you migrating a bit to see it all. Dave Mason, Yonder Mountain String Band, Toots & The Maytals, a second night of Gov't Mule, plus an amazing late night set from Dark Star Orchestra will be testing your festival stamina. If you're a Grateful Dead fan, you won't want to miss their show on the West Stage at 1am. Here's the lineup for the last day of fest:

There's lots to enjoy on Sunday with MJ festival favorite Michael Franti & Spearhead, as well as ALO, Matisyahu, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, and more. Now, we all know that the biggest event of the night is Levon Helm's 70th birthday celebration. It's not just going to be a great show - you're also going to be part of rock and roll history with this one. Levon's Midnight Ramble shows at his house in Woodstock are legendary (go to http://www.levonhelm.com/ for more info on those). At MJVI, he's bringing all the magic of those Rambles to the Mountain Jam stage with a lineup of very special guests - some are part of festival lineup and others are in town just to have the honor of performing with him. It's one of those "anything can happen" festival moments - so whatever you do, don't miss the finale.

Well, now you have the schedule; so plan our your days accordingly. Keep checking back for more info on the festival every Friday and more Artist Spotlight features every Monday with access to free music downloads right here on the official Mountain Jam Blog.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: TOOTS & THE MAYTALS

2010-05-10T10:25:00.005-04:00

This week's spotlight is on one of the greatest reggae artists I've ever known - Toots & The Maytals. "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the band, has been making music since the 60's. At that time, ska music was all the rage and Toots started a band and starting making hits. During his live performances, Toots often tells the story of how he won the first-ever Jamaican Independence Festival Popular Song Competition with his song "Bam-Bam", which became one his first big hits. While everything was going really well for the band, he was jailed in 1966 and that stunted his musical career as he was imprisoned for 18 months. That period proved to be creative for him however, as he penned another big hit called "54-46 That's My Number" about his time in jail. In 1968, Toots proudly gets credit for creating the term "reggae" with his song "Do The Reggay" (yes, the original spelling was 'reggay'). One of their biggest albums was "Funky Kingston" in 1973 which was packed with international hit songs. Other bands like The Specials and The Clash covered Toots & The Maytals music with much success in the late 70's and 80's. In 2005, Toots & The Maytals released an album called "True Love" where he re-recorded some of his biggest hits with special guest stars like Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Ben Harper, No Doubt, and others paying tribute. Recently, Toots put out a new album called "Flip & Twist" on 4/20/10, and there's no doubt that you'll get to hear some of the new stuff at Mountain Jam. The first single off the album is the sweet and soulful "Perfect Lover" which you can download for free off his official website at http://www.tootsandthemaytals.com/music/

I've been lucky enough to see the band perform several times at festivals and his shows have always been high energy spectacles. Don't miss you opportunity to check out Toots & The Maytals at the fest, and if you like what you hear, pick up his "Funky Kingston" album. It's been one of my favorite albums of all time. Keep checking back for more festival and artist info as well as links to free music downloads right here on the official Mountain Jam blog.

BEST OF FEST: NEW YORK ZIP LINE ADVENTURE TOURS

2010-05-07T10:53:00.007-04:00

This year at Mountain Jam we're proud to announce that we've got something new for you to try - two cool activites from New York Zip Line Adventure Tours. They have two courses that will be active at the fest: the Mid-Mountain course and the Adventure Tower.

The Mid-Mountain course experience includes cruising through the forest canopy with 6 ziplines, 4 skybridges, and an exciting rappel. It's definitely something that the whole family can enjoy and takes you through a tour of the streams, waterfalls, and all the natural beauty of Hunter Forest.

The Adventure Tower is a completely different experience - it's located at the bottom of the mountain and offers a series of obstacles and challenges from the top of a 60 foot tower. This course is a more intense experience than the Mid-Mountain tour, but is definitely fun and exciting for everyone of all ages.

So when you want to take break from the music, make sure you look for the signs for New York Zip Line Adventure Tours and give one (or both) a try. It's definitely not something you get the chance to do at just any festival, you'll only get to do here at Mountain Jam.

We're just 4 weeks away for the fest, so keep checking back every Friday for more info on the exhibits, activities, and other cool stuff we've got in store for you this year at Mountain Jam VI.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS

2010-05-03T13:46:00.007-04:00

Here's another artist that definitely deserves some time in the Artist Spotlight as we get closer to Mountain Jam this year - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. I was first exposed to their music when she put out her "Nothing But the Water" album in 2006. The title track nearly knocked me off my seat the first time I heard it and has become a fan favorite at every show with the crowd still singing the chorus as they leave the stage.
Their music is mostly a healthy mixture of Southern blues, gospel, and swamp rock which blends together to make a very powerful sound. Now, on the verge of releasing their third album which is self-titled, their music has risen to new heights - especially with their soulful new single "Tiny Light". Plus, there also has been some lineup changes since their last album, with bassist Catherine Popper and rhythm guitarist Benny Yurco joining the band. The new album won't be out until after the festival is over as it is set to be released on June 8th - so your only chance to hear the new songs will be at Mountain Jam VI. I've seen Grace Potter & The Nocturnals several times over the last few years and I can safely say that they put on a great live show. If you need to hear more from them to be convinced of their greatness, the band has been slowly releasing a series of videos on YouTube featuring acoustic versions of songs from the album - here's the link to hear/see all those videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/gracepotterofficial

Keep checking back every Monday for more Artist Spotlights and every Friday for new information about the festival.

BEST OF FEST - SKYRIDE

2010-04-30T08:34:00.004-04:00

If you've been to Mountain Jam before, you know that there are always a number of fun activities and exhibits at the festival. This year there will be some activities that you've seen in years past and some new ones that you will definitely want to check out. One old favorite we're showcasing today is the Skyride.

The 5,500 foot long Skyride spans 1,600 vertical feet to the summit elevation of 3,200 feet above sea level. Take a ride on it with a friend or two and half way up Hunter Mountain you can get an amazing view of the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, the Green Mountains in Vermont, and the majestic Catskill Mountains as you've never seen them before. The Skyride is a truly round trip experience, so once you're on there's no getting off until you're back where you started. The Skyride runs daily during the festival from 11am to 7pm, so when you want to take a break and experience a really unique view of all the greenery surrounding the festival, make some time to ride the Skyride. Keep checking back every Friday to get more info on all the cool stuff offered up at this year's Jam.

MOUNTAIN JAM ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: THE WHIGS

2010-04-26T10:26:00.006-04:00

The festival is about 6 weeks away and one of the bands I'm looking forward to seeing live is those hard rockers from Georgia - The Whigs. There's a huge amount of buzz around these guys, and they are often talked about in the popular "hip" indie rock blogs. I first caught them at the Mile High Music Festival in Colorado a couple of years ago and they were fierce. Now the guys have a new album (their third) called IN THE DARK. The Whigs have been touring recently with some other really cool bands like Kings of Leon, The Kooks, and Drive-By Truckers. It's clear that the band took a slight artistic turn with their new songs - Tim Deaux (bass) and Julian Dorio (drums) laid down the foundation for IN THE DARK and really shaped the sound of the new album before Parker Gispert (guitar/vocals) began writing any lyrics. With lots of echo and heavy guitar riffs, this album rocks really hard. I'd have to say that my favorites are "Someone's Daughter", "So Lonely", and the Pink Floyd-esque "Dying". Needless to say, I can't wait to see them do the new songs live.

The album is out in stores now and to grab some free downloads and check out some videos from the guys, especially the single "Kill Me Carolyne", be sure to head over to http://www.atorecords.com/. They are also offering free downloads and other stuff for another band at this year's Jam, Drive-By Truckers. If you like what you hear, make sure that you get your Saturday ticket for the fest, because that's when both bands will be rocking the mountain. We'll be featuring bands (and telling you where you can get free music downloads) every Monday before the festival here at the blog. Plus, every Friday we'll give you some much needed info on the cool exhibits, events, and activities happening at the fest this year, so keep checking back.

Lineup Additions: Round 3

2010-03-24T17:18:00.008-04:00

Woodstock, NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alison Krauss & Union Station

featuring Jerry Douglas

ADDED TO FESTIVAL LINEUP

and some very special friends for Levon's

70th B-day Jubilee including

Warren Haynes, Ray LaMontagne, Steve Earle,

atterson & David Hood

and Jackie Greene!

Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas have joined the lineup for the 6th annual Mountain Jam Music Festival. Krauss is the recipient of a staggering 27 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for her collaboration with Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Raising Sand. She is the most awarded female artist (and the second most awarded artist overall), in Grammy history.

Legendary drummer for The Band and longtime local Woodstock resident Levon Helm will celebrate his 70th Birthday by closing Mountain Jam on Sunday, June 6th with a little help from a few well-known friends. Billed as "Levon Helm & Friends," the performance will feature a number of world class guests, many of whom will make the trip to Hunter, NY solely to pay homage to one of the most important musicians in rock history. Helm's influence continues to be felt by a new generation of indie, folk, and jamband musicians, and the drummer won Grammys for both 2007's Dirt Farmer and 2009's Electric Dirt.

Having recently collaborated onstage at the world famous Apollo Theater, the ever soulful Ray LaMontagne will bring his raspy voice and guitar to Levon Helm's set. Hardcore troubadour Steve Earle, having appeared already at Levon's Midnight Ramble, will travel to Mountain Jam for the first time as part of the drummer's birthday bash, while noted singer/songwriter Jackie Greene, a two-time Mountain Jam veteran, will also join in the celebration.

"We are going to make this a night to remember forever, as some of the greatest musicians in the world come together to be a part of the celebration of a true rock & roll legend who has meant so much to so many for so long. We expect to announce more guests in the coming weeks," says Mountain Jam founder and promoter, Gary Chetkof.

Levon Helm will also welcome many of Mountain Jam's previously confirmed performers, including Gov't Mule/Allman Brothers Band frontman and festival co-presenter Warren Haynes, as well as Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers. Patterson will appear alongside his father, David Hood, who has toured and recorded with classic artists such as Traffic, Simon & Garfunkel, The Staple Singers, Aretha Franklin, and many more. Allison Moorer, who will perform on The Awareness Village Acoustic Stage earlier in the afternoon, will join her husband, Steve Earle, on stage with Levon. Others are expected to confirm their participation in the next few weeks.

New Artist Additions!

2010-02-16T12:17:00.004-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LEVON HELM & FRIENDS, DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS, DR DOG, THE WHIGS, THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS, JAY FARRAR, TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE, THE DUKE & THE KING, JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, JERRY JOSEPH & WALLY INGRAM AMONG LATEST ADDITIONS TO MOUNTAIN JAM

LEGENDARY DRUMMER FOR THE BAND TO CELEBRATE 70TH BIRTHDAY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

GROWING LINE-UP INCLUDES TWO NIGHTS OF GOV’T MULE, MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, DEREK TRUCKS & SUSAN TEDESCHI BAND, THE AVETT BROTHERS, LES CLAYPOOL, YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, MATISYAHU, TOOTS & THE MAYTALS, DARK STAR ORCHESTRA, DAVE MASON, LETTUCE, ALO AND THE LONDON SOULS

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE

(Woodstock, NY) - Radio Woodstock and Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule, The Allman Brothers Band, The Dead) have confirmed that Levon Helm & Friends, Drive-By Truckers, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Dr Dog, The Whigs, The New Mastersounds, Jay Farrar (of Son Volt), Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Duke & The King, Justin Townes Earle, Jerry Joseph & Wally Ingram, The Bridge, Zach Deputy, The Brew, Simone Felice, Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams and Van Ghost have joined the sixth annual Mountain Jam Music Festival’s growing lineup. Mountain Jam will return to New York’s Hunter Mountain from Friday, June 4th-Sunday, June 6th, 2010, featuring performances by Gov’t Mule, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, The Avett Brothers, Les Claypool, Yonder Mountain String Band, Toots And The Maytals, Matisyahu, Dark Star Orchestra, and Dave Mason, along with dozens of other bands and a full Awareness Village. Gov’t Mule, who has headlined Mountain Jam each year since its inception, will play two full headlining shows. Ticket information and a full list of confirmed acts are available at www.mountainjam.com.

Known as the drummer, singer and eternal spirit of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Band, Levon Helm will return to Mountain Jam for a guest-heavy Sunday night performance. Helm’s show is part of the longtime Woodstock-area resident’s star-studded 70th birthday celebration. Helm, who has recently jammed with the likes of Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Donald Fagen, Allen Toussaint, Phish’s Mile Gordon and the Black Crowes in his barn performance space, will draw from the festival’s pool of performers and some additional special guests.

Having already hosted legends like The Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, Bob Weir & RatDog and Richie Havens in past years, Mountain Jam’s 2010 lineup will showcase a diverse mix of up and coming groups—from funk and jam acts to Americana and modern rock buzz bands.

Drive-By Truckers, long-time mainstays of the festival circuit, return to Mountain Jam in 2010 with their alt-country and Southern rock sound. Vermont-bred Mountain Jam favorites Grace Potter & the Nocturnals will perform in support of their forthcoming Hollywood Records release, and Philadelphia indie retro-rockers Dr. Dog will return to Mountain Jam on the heels of their Anti- record debut, Shame Shame. Having recently toured arenas with the Kings of Leon, garage-rockers The Whigs will make their Mountain Jam debut, while lauded English funk ensemble The New Mastersounds will head across the pond for a rare area performance. Currently one of New Orleans’ most talked about exports, former Lenny Kravitz and Galactic sideman Trombone Shorty will perform with his band Orleans Avenue. Part of a new wave of critically acclaimed songwriters, Woodstock’s own Duke & the King, an offshoot of acclaimed Mountain Jam veterans the Felice Brothers, will offer their modern take on traditional American roots music. In addition, Duke & The King frontman and Felice Brothers veteran Simone Felice will perform a rare solo set on Mountain Jam’s acoustic stage.

Several more established musicians will also bring their newest projects to Mountain Jam: Stockholm Syndrome bandmates Jerry Joseph (Little Women, The Jackmormons) and Wally Ingram (Sheryl Crow, Jackson Browne) will play a rare duo set, while alt-country pioneer Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo) will make his debut at the festival for an intimate performance on the Acoustic Stage.

Indie-folk troubadour Justin Townes Earle, rising jambands The Bridge and The Brew, Southeast songwriter Zach Deputy, modern folk rockers Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams and Chicago-based Americana band Van Ghost will also perform throughout the three-day event. Many of these emerging acts will perform in Mountain Jam’s fully enclosed indoor venue, Colonels Hall at Hunter.

Many more bands will be announced in the coming months, with 40 bands to appear on the 4 stages throughout the weekend.

Originally conceived as a celebration for Radio Woodstock's 25th anniversary, Mountain Jam has grown into an annual stop for some of the biggest names in live music. Since its 2005 inception, Mountain Jam has hosted the likes of The Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, Bob Weir & RatDog, Richie Havens, Drive-By Truckers, Dr. Dog, Medeski Martin and Wood, Mike Gordon, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jackie Greene, G. Love & Special Sauce, Ozomatli, Galactic, Xavier Rudd, Umphrey’s McGee, Brett Dennen, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, and Robert Randolph & The Family Band, among many others.

The Hunter Mountain Lodge will provide fans with 24-hour access to both food and indoor bathrooms, while onsite camping and a smorgasbord of nearby hotels and lodges will ensure that all attendees have a wide variety of accommodations. Mountain Jam will once again offer expanded VIP options, and will bring back its highly acclaimed “Tavern in the Woods” featuring a private bar area and hammocks, as well as a shaded hospitality tent, and a variety of gourmet food and beverages.

Hunter Mountain is located within a short drive from anywhere in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and is considered the unofficial kick-off to the northeast festival season. Fans unable to attend will be able to experience the music as well, thanks to the festival’s interactive blog and innovative webcast.

Tickets are on sale now at www.mountainjam.com. A limited number of discounted Early Bird Tickets are still available at $141.50 for a festival pass or $166.50 with camping. A limited number of Early Bird VIP Passes are available for $404.50. Ticket pricing is tiered, so that prices will be raised after allotments are met. Buying tickets now will save up to $33 compared to prices at the door!

A very small number of RV tickets are available at $199.50, plus a camping festival ticket.

Single day tickets will be available at a later date - there will be no Friday-only single day tickets issued.

Initial Artist Lineup Announced

2010-01-21T08:37:00.005-05:00

GOV'T MULE will anchor the multi-band bill for the sixth year in a row with two headlining performances. Haynes’ fellow Allman Brothers Band guitarist DEREK TRUCKS will introduce a new band featuring his wife, singer SUSAN TEDESCHI, to Mountain Jam. The new group will feature an original mixture of rock, soul, blues and roots songs by Trucks and Tedeschi, both of whom received 2010 Grammy Award nominations. Mountain Jam favorites MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, hot off the success of their breakthrough song, “Say Hey (I Love You),” will make an exclusive northeast summer festival appearance with their return to Mountain Jam for a 5th consecutive year.

Mountain Jam’s initial lineup also includes many performers who are making their debut at the Festival, including current indie darlings THE AVETT BROTHERS, touring behind their major label debut, I and Love and You, Primus bassist LES CLAYPOOL, performing a late-night outdoor set on the Mountain, reggae architect TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, Colorado jamgrass sensations YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, Hassidic reggae star MATISYAHU, ALO, LETTUCE, JONATHAN TYLER & THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, ELMWOOD and THE LONDON SOULS.

* Above is an excerpt from the Official Press Release ~ 1.21.2010

2009-11-30T14:10:00.002-05:00

2009-11-24T23:26:00.002-05:00

A limited number of Super Early Holiday Tickets ON SALE NOW!
Just in time for gift-giving season!

Also, first 150 orders receive free digital download card for an EP preview of the upcoming release, Best of Mountain Jam Vol. I audio CD.

Holiday Presale!

2009-11-23T17:57:00.011-05:00

A limited number of Super Early
Holiday Tickets
will go on sale
T O M O R R O W !
right in time for gift-giving season!

Mountain Jam VI Dates!

2009-06-20T16:27:00.007-04:00

Start planning for the next year!

June 4-6
2010

~ Mountain Jam VI ~ Tickets will be available
early 2010.

Mtn Jam in Pictures

2009-06-17T16:14:00.006-04:00

...through Dino's lens

2009-06-16T11:12:00.000-04:00

2009-06-13T22:26:00.000-04:00

Richie Havens

2009-06-12T09:15:00.000-04:00

B K 3

2009-06-12T08:31:00.003-04:00

The Bill Kreutzmann Trio (BK3) which in this case was BK4... Tara Nevins from Donna The Buffalo was sitting in on vocals, acoustic guitar, and violin. Also featuring Scott Murawski (guitar) and Hutch Hutchinson (bass).

Gene Ween Band

2009-06-11T16:31:00.000-04:00

Gene Ween

Featured Photos From Fans

2009-06-09T16:21:00.009-04:00

If your an amateur photog and would like to share some of your photos here on the blog, send em my way. If we like them, we'll post em for all to see.

Chris Couse has been hitting Mountain Jam every year and loves to take photos as a hobby. I think he got some very nice shots, judge for yourself.

Thanks Chris!

Shilly Shally Fire Arts Video

2009-06-09T09:47:00.004-04:00

Here's an HD video made by Shane Valcich. A fantastic job by Shane capturing the Shilly Shally Fire Dancers as they danced with fire during each evenings headliner. Everyone loved Shilly Shallyin' on the mountain. Check out this cool HD video and see why they were such a big hit!

Alberta Cross / Black Taxi

2009-06-09T09:37:00.006-04:00

Alberta Cross

Black Taxi

Mountain Jam kicked off the weekend
with these two great bands!

late night funk party

2009-06-09T06:14:00.001-04:00

Chapter 2
w/ George Porter Jr.
Mountain Jam V

Gov't Mule ~ Night II

2009-06-08T19:39:00.005-04:00

Dino Perrucci caught these spectacular images

of one heck of a show!
Mountain Jam ~ May 30, 2009

MOUNTAIN JAM MULETRACKS ARE LIVE
The Mule Tracks from 5.29 & 5.30 are now live and available!
http://www.muletracks.com/
Go start downloading right now!

Media Coverage

2009-06-08T07:09:00.005-04:00

Mountain Jam:
Fun, love, food, music, success

Keyboardist Gregg Allman signals to the sound technician for a little more volume as the Allman Brothers Band take the stage to close Mountain Jam on Sunday.Times Herald-Record/JEFF GOULDING

By TIM MALCOLM

Times Herald-Record

The toothpick-skinny Bernie Pociask of Salisbury, Conn., rumpled, white hair aflutter, in his American flag T-shirt and stained suspenders, was waxing about the importance of music and love.

"The one thing that everyone has in common," he said, "is music. And music is happiness.

"Nobody could argue with that theory — smiles adorned the crowd during the final day of Mountain Jam V at Hunter Mountain.

Click Here to read entire article

Tapers Section

2009-06-07T06:37:00.006-04:00

I give you yet another installment of the Mountain Jam Taper Section. Here we pass along the links to the goods. As they become available, I will link to the audio recordings from Mountain Jam V.

...and now for your listening & downloading pleasure here are the latest sets available.

The Lee Boys ~ May 30, 2009

Marco Benevento Trio ~ May 29, 2009

Click Here for:
Mountain Jam Tapers Section
~ First Installment ~

Fire Jam

2009-06-06T20:49:00.005-04:00

All Photos above by
Peggy Fusco

One week later...

2009-06-06T15:09:00.004-04:00

This is how the Mountain Jam concert slopes look today... just one week removed from having thousands of dancing fans and amazing jamming bands!

JamBase reviews Mtn Jam V

2009-06-06T13:07:00.007-04:00

Words by: Bill Clifford

Mountain Jam :: 05.29.09 – 05.31.09 :: Hunter Mountain, NY

Summertime has arrived and the hills are indeed alive again with the sound of music. For some, music is a direct inspiration in their choice of a career as a musician. For others, it may inspire their best work, whatever the mundane job or chore may be. For many however, music simply inspires us to get up and shake our asses, clap our hands, spin around in circles and holler at the top of your lungs. And where better to be inspired than the great outdoors with spectacular blue skies and stunning mountains, together with a mass of like-minded music lovers who just want to lose the winter blues.
To read the entire article click below:

READ ~ Mountain Jam | 05.29 - 05.31 ~ READ

Angelical!

2009-06-06T00:13:00.008-04:00

These wonderful shots from our own Allison Murphy.

She caught Coheed & Cambria in full flight on Saturday night!

~ Allison Murphy ~

Mtn Jam Dreams

2009-06-05T23:10:00.004-04:00

The Allman Brothers performing Dreams.
Courtesy a fan post on YouTube.

Tapers Section

2009-06-05T13:44:00.012-04:00

Listen to the Jams!

Ever since the Grateful Dead opened the door for tapers in the early 80's, taping bands live has been a great way for bands to get the music out, and for music fans to take home a souvenir after the show. Ever year we have quite the taper section at Mountain Jam and in the spirit of sharing the great music, here are links to a bunch of the amazing sets!

Keep checking back as I will be posting links to more of the great
Mountain Jam Sets soon!

Friday ~ May 29, 2009

Umphrey's McGee ~ May 29, 2009

Tea Leaf Green ~ May 29, 2009

Porter Batiste Stoltz ~ May 29, 2009

Saturday~ May 30, 2009

Gomez ~ May 30, 2009

Railroad Earth ~ May 30, 2009

Jackie Greene ~ May 30, 2009

Gene Ween Band ~ May 30, 2009

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe ~ May 31, 2009

Sunday~ May 31, 2009

Michael Franti and Spearhead ~ May 31, 2009

Derek Trucks Band ~ May 31, 2009

Martin Sexton ~ May 31, 2009

The Brew ~ May 31, 2009

Thanks to all the tapers for sharing!

Bad Little Doggie ~ Gov't Mule ~ 5/30/09

Hula Hoop Fire Spinner

2009-06-05T07:20:00.001-04:00

There was Fire on the mountain each night to thrill the crowd. This video was shot during the Allman Brothers Band set on Sunday night.

Freesyle Frisbee

2009-06-05T07:15:00.002-04:00

to the musical stylins' of Jackie Greene.

Fantastic Fans!

2009-06-04T10:50:00.008-04:00

Here's the first photo series installment of
all the good peeps of Mtn Jam!

Slideshows consisting of photos that have been sent in, photos we have found or some great images from our own team of amateur photographers capturing the scenery and your smiling faces all weekend long! ~Enjoy!

Historic Moment at Mtn Jam!

2009-06-04T09:09:00.005-04:00

The listeners of WDST and a lucky few in the on-site studio received a rare treat on the final day of Mtn Jam. The legionary Richie Havens and Michael Franti teamed up for an impromptu jam session before they each took to the Mtn Jam Stage later in the day.

It was the first time the two had met "It is truly an honor to meet you Richie" said Michael Franti before being interviewed on air. There was a lot of mutual respect being shown between the two artists. Luckily I was there to catch the moment in pictures. There is also a video of the song played.

You can see the video by heading over to the
WDST website, HERE.

A fantastic moment indeed!

as seen on Rolling Stone.com

2009-06-03T16:01:00.007-04:00

Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule Noodle in Nature at Mountain Jam

6/1/09, 1:03 pm EST

As the sun dipped below Hunter Mountain on Sunday evening at the Mountain Jam festival, the Allman Brothers Band ripped into a rowdy version of “Statesboro Blues,” that familiar guitar riff echoing through the peaks and valleys of the Catskills. After an hour of slower jams, it was the crowd pleaser fans needed as the cool mountain air picked up force, tussling the dread-headed masses and sending chills down their dirt-smeared bodies. Guitarist Derek Trucks, who rocked with the Allmans throughout the set, took the intro while Gregg Allman handled lead vocals and produced a particularly nasty keyboard solo midway through the cut.

Read the entire article
HERE

Written by: Alex Tirpack for Rolling Stone
Photo by: Dino Perrucci for Rolling Stone

Festival Video!

2009-06-03T14:26:00.002-04:00

Thanks to recordonline.com for the video!

Times Herald-Record Video By
John Partel

Hey George!

2009-06-03T11:47:00.010-04:00

Allison Murphy caught this wonderful photo on Friday night during the second set of Gov't Mule. Looks like Matt Abts sure likes having George Porter Jr. back laying down a groove. They broke out a Hey Porter Jam -> Third Stone From The Sun Jam. Porter, along with Batiste & Stoltz played a smokin' hot set earlier in the day!

Click here for the skinny on the

PBS Mtn Jam Set!

~ TEA LEAF GREEN ~

2009-06-02T17:43:00.007-04:00

TLG played a really tight, energetic set Friday afternoon. They burst into their set just seconds after Railroad Earth left the stage right next door. The large crowd was ready to rock out despite the rain which didn't last long. The dancin' & hoopin' was in full effect.

Josh & Trevor made a guest appearance during Gov't Mule's encore later in the evening. A blistering Cortez The Killer was a nice way to bring opening day at Mountain Jam in a close.

TLG ~ Setlist

~ Umphrey's McGee ~

2009-06-02T15:11:00.007-04:00

5.29.2009

1348, Utopian Fir > "Jimmy Stewart"* > Utopian Fir** -> Plunger, Turn & Run > Cemetery Walk II, Preamble > Mantis, Can't You Hear Me Knocking^
Notes
* with lyrics
** with 7 Nation Army teases
^ with Warren Haynes

Lost & Found

2009-06-02T13:16:00.009-04:00

Did you lose anything?
Well there may be a chance it was turned in.

We have...

unclaimed keys, wallets, cell phones & backpacks!

If you lost anything contact
the lovely Lisa!
LisaV@wdst.com

If you've lost your mind, your virginity or your self respect... there may be a higher authority you might try to get in touch with!

New Content Being Added!

2009-06-01T23:16:00.004-04:00

I have been adding a lot more content. Amazing photos from Dino & Allison are coming in fast. Page down to check it all out!

Much much more to come...

Keep commin' Back!

Mountain Jam comes to a close

2009-05-31T21:33:00.012-04:00

Another great Mountain Jam folks!

The festival may be over but we've got a lot more for you to check out on the blog. I'll be posting more photos and video right here so keep checking back often in the coming days.

Hope you have enjoyed the live blog coverage. We had an amazing time bringing it to you. Those who were here all weekend can now go back and relive some of your favorite moments of the festival.

Feel free to send me your photos, video or stories and we may just share them on the blog.

Thanks to everyone for making this a very special weekend! And thanks to Radio Woodstock and Warren Haynes for being such gracious hosts!

We hope to see you all back again next year!

your blogger, Rich

The Allman Brothers Band

2009-05-31T21:06:00.015-04:00

Mountain Jam >
Drums > Drums/Bass >
Trouble No More
Midnight Rider
Jam >
Rockin' Horse >
Soulshine
Black-Hearted Woman >
Other One Jam >
Black-Hearted Woman
Statesboro Blues
Ain't Wasting Time No More
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl *
Revival
Stand Back
Dreams
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed >
JaMaBu >
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed >
Mountain Jam

Encore:
One Way Out

* w/ Danny Louis on Keyboards

An spectacular show in a Mountain Jam Sandwich!

Aint but...
one way out baby
and lord I just cant go out the door!

F R A N T I !

2009-05-31T18:49:00.006-04:00

Mountain Jam loves Spearhead!

For a third consecutive year Michael Franti whipped the mountain into a wild frenzy. It wasn't long before people were waving their shirts high in the air. It's an amazing sight to witness thousands jumping in unison as one, the energy at the heart of it... awe-inspiring.

Richie Havens

2009-05-31T18:38:00.007-04:00

Richie Havens delivered an inspirational set of classic songs

and thrilled fans young & old!

We had a chance to pay tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival this year. In 1969, Havens opened the Woodstock Festival, although he was initially scheduled to appear fifth on the bill. His performance received continuous ovations and he kept playing encores until he ran out of songs. Finally, he decided to improvise a version of "Motherless Child," to which he added a verse with the word "freedom" repeated over and over; the song was featured in the Woodstock film, and became an international hit.

Festival Grounds Blog Photographer,
Peggy Fusco

Derek Trucks Band

2009-05-31T18:11:00.011-04:00

It was Derek's turn to pull double duty today. The DTB took the stage early in the day and boogied through a tight set. I love the new tunes and the band seemed to be having fun up their looking out at the mountain side. Is their any better slide man alive today?

Michael Franti ~ Awareness Village

2009-05-31T16:40:00.004-04:00

Once again Michael wowed the tiny Awareness Village Stage. Last year's appearance and his sharing his message of hope and social awareness caught a few people by surprise. Not this year, The AV stage was packed and they got one great acoustic performance.

above photos taken by Peggy Fusco

BK3

2009-05-31T14:56:00.013-04:00

BK3 was actually BK4. Tara Nevins was with the band on vocals, acoustic guitar & washboard.

Mountain Jam ~ Set List
Louisiana Sun , Scarlet Begonias , If You Only Could , Politics and Lies , He's Gone , Bertha

Tara Nevins is from Donna the Buffalo
Live Interview w/ WDST Radio Woodstock

Dino... Version Two Dot Oh yeah!

2009-05-31T13:59:00.006-04:00

is it Sunday already?

2009-05-31T11:22:00.008-04:00

Another perfect day about to get underway. Late night was rockin' again last night with Karl Denson & Tiny Universe outside, U-Melt in the Lodge, BuzzUniverse & Pimps of Joytime in the Campground. Warren of course made it over to hang with his friend Karl D and return the favor of a guest sit-in jam. The air was very cool & crisp but the jams were smoking hot.

As you can see from the setlist (posted down below here), Warren always plays very special shows for us here at Mountain Jam. You can tell how much pride he has in this festival. It shows big time by his performances with Gov't Mule year after year. Just a glance at that second set reveals just two songs penned by Mr. Haynes the rest were classic covers jammed to the fullest!

Today is Anniversary Sunday if you will. We are giving a big nod to the original Woodstock festival with appearances by a few people that played the festival 40 years ago. We will have special sets by Billy Kreutzmann (BK3) and Richie Havens this afternoon. We're also celebrating The Allman Brothers 40th anniversary tonight with a long festival closing set 7pm.

For the third consecutive year, Mr. "How You Feelin" Michael Franti will rev the crowd up and get everybody jumpin' at 5pm. He will also do a very special intimate acoustic set in the Awareness Village at 2:15.

Put your sunscreen on and get your dancin' shoes laced up. We have ourselves a great day in store. Kick back, relax and take it all in!

Saturday Night Mule

2009-05-31T01:23:00.007-04:00

Dedicated to Hoover Rushin,

The Baddest Little Doggie That Ever Was
11.09.98->5.30.09

Set 1
Hoover Jam->
Bad Little Doggie
Brand New Angel
About To Rage
Streamline Woman
When Doves Cry->
Beautifully Broken->
When Doves Cry->
Beautifully Broken->
Patchwork Quilt
Mercy On The Criminal
Sco-Mule with John Medeski-
Smoke On The Water Tease
Goin' Out West->
Bang A Gong-> Hunter Mtn Verses
Goin' Out West

Set 2
Morning Dew
When The Music's Over
All Along The Watchtower with Karl Denson
Devil Likes It Slow with Karl Denson
Drums->
I'm A Ram
Blind Man In The Dark Ain't No Sunshine Intro, Whole Lotta Love Tease

Encore
As Long As I Can See The Light

Above Photos by Chris Rushin

Day Two Reflections

2009-05-30T21:56:00.017-04:00

There was something for just about everybody here today. The weather was perfect for a round of Frisbee Golf, a sky ride with stunning panoramic views or just relaxing with a yoga class. There was even a good chance Michael Franti could show up and join you in the Awareness Village for a yoga class. The vibe was perfect for a hassle free day in the sun. Of course, the major draw was the music provided on any one of four stages scattered throughout the festival grounds.

above photo credit: Peggy Fusco

Today's line-up held the promise of catching music you may not have heard before. Quite a few people shared that they saw some great new music. New to them at least. "These guys are really great, I've never heard them before." seemed to be the reaction of the day.

I started the day off with a breakfast crêpe, a tall coffee and random people coming up to me to say they saw me on stage with about 50 other crazies at 3am dodging toilet paper to Girl Talk. My cover sufficiently blown, dignity and reputation seemingly now in disrepair but hey... this is Mountain Jam after all. It's all about letting loose and having some good clean fun.

Brett Dennen drew a big early afternoon audience and delivered a sweet set to kick-start the festivities. The Awareness Village stage opened today as well with Jennie Arnau and it was The Lee Boys bringing' their brand of feel good sacred steel to the West Stage. If that wasn’t diverse enough, one did not have to wait much longer as Gomez wasted no time putting the peddle to the meddle. Saturday was unofficially billed as the heavier if not more progressive rock & roll day at Mtn Jam with The Hold Steady, The Geen Ween Band and Upstate New York's very own Coheed & Cambria on the bill.

Coheed & Cambria, not what anyone would label a Jam Band picked up a lot new fans today for sure. They totally tore it up on the main stage. Warren jumped on stage in typical Mountain Jam fashion, the boys and everyone in attendance was having themselves some fun.

As I write this Mule is taking the stage to start their second set. First set highlights were Beautifully Broken, Patchwork Quilt, Sco-Mule with John Medeski and a set closer of Goin Out West. Warren sang, "I'm so glad you could be here to celebrate with me and the band this evening" and ” We've all had a real good time at Hunter Mtn this weekend" Indeed Warren!

I can hear the first verse of Morning Dew being played right now. That is my queue to hit the mountainside! I'm walking out to the Mountain Dew... this evening.

Forgive me, I had to write that... more later.

COHEED & CAMBRIA ! ! ! !

2009-05-30T21:03:00.006-04:00

Above Photos by Peggy Fusco

Gene Ween Band

2009-05-30T19:08:00.003-04:00

Jackie Green

2009-05-30T18:38:00.006-04:00

An onstage proposal before Jackie's set!

She said yes...
they're getting married on Jam Cruise

2009-05-30T18:28:00.005-04:00

The beginning of the Gomez, Hold Steady, Gene Ween, Coheed & Cambria superfecta!

The Lee Boys

2009-05-30T16:32:00.006-04:00

The Lee Boys are a family affair that groove in lockstep together. They lay down a brand of music dubbed "Sacred Steel." Hailing from the House of God church in Perrine, Florida they consist of three brothers - Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) - with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Lil' Al Cordy Jr. (seven-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums).

The Mountain Jam crowd was treated to some feel good gospel music with a kick!

Take a Sky Ride

2009-05-30T16:04:00.008-04:00

A birds eye view from the chair lift
riding up the mountain.

...and a mountain top Wedding!
Congrats to the happy newlyweds!!

All photos in above slideshow
taken by Peggy Fusco

Festival Fun Photos

2009-05-30T16:00:00.001-04:00

Photos in Slideshow taken by Peggy Fusco

Through the Lens of Dino Perrucci!

2009-05-30T14:15:00.007-04:00

Enjoy these spectacular shots from
Day One!