Pleasantville Music Festival, New York’s Backyard Jam, took place on Saturday, July 8 at Parkway Field in Westchester County. In its 17th year, this annual celebration of music brought thousands of friends, families, and lovers of live, world class rock, breakout stars and local artists to the bucolic town of Pleasantville, NY.
We’ve come a long way since ’20… I’m not sure if it’s because the live music scene has recovered and then some, or that HearItThere has finally reached a level of awareness and maturity that we recognize more and more places that offer live music too.
You may ask why is Chris the busiest man in the music biz; the answer is simple – he gigs between 5-7 times a week along with doing an online show titled The Brown Cafe occasionally from his home. Chris has built an envious following by being not just a fantastic musician, writer and performer, but by caring about his audience.
Located in Rockland County, along the Hudson River, sits The Turning Point in Piermont, New York. There are gift shops, restaurants, cafes and a vibrant music venue! The event listings on The Turning Point’s website give little detail about the artists playing there, since most who perform there are already well-known. Over 48 Rock and Roll Hall of Famers had graced that stage; Les Paul, Laura Nyro, Bill Monroe, John Cale, Ronnie Spector and a long list of other recognizable names.
It’s their foot-stomping style and diversity in both instruments and material that makes String Busters unique among more traditional acoustic bands.
"People see us in our most glamorous moments - big stages, lights, a roaring audience, and a professional photographer to capture it all in the moment." "What folks don’t see are the hours of uncertainty, doubt, and fear that precedes these comparatively short moments of glory."
I knew that Stefanie was a dedicated marketing professional, but didn’t know about her passion project until recently. In 2020, being a community-minded and wanting to give back, Stefanie developed and established "The Cap Cares Volunteer Reward Program.” The purpose of #TheCapCares effort is to engage music fans in serving their communities, encouraging music fans to come together to make a difference in the lives of others.
Musicians are facing the potential of an income drought, and there is no simple solution in sight. For a while, musicians need to hunker down and ride this out. No article can make up for that loss of income, but perhaps some of the ideas here will help bridge the gap and allow musicians to make the best out of hard times.