Maplewoodstock this weekend

One of my favorite small festivals. Solid headliners and surprisingly excellent support artists each day. I never walk away from a Maplewoodstock without finding at least 2 acts that I wasn't aware of that wow me.

And it's free!

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Noon — PTW Voices ... Current and former students of a performing arts school in Maplewood, under the direction of Dean Kravitz, singing a variety of styles from jazz to pop to musical theatre ...

12:42 — Cold Weather Company ... a NJ-based independent folk band, rich with vocal harmonies and instrumental builds ...

1:24 — Shakey Ground ... presenting the best mix of classic R&B, rock, Latin, blues, and funk ...

2:06 -- Velvet Rose Band ... a young alernative band from Morris County who has exploded onto the NJ/NY performance circuit; the band recently released its first EP of original songs ...

2:48 --  Cosmic Brotherhood ... groovin' exotic, Indian-fusion, rock, psychedelic, multi-dimensional, multi-cultural ...

3:30 — Laredo ... seasoned local scene songers adding salt to the sound ...

4:12 -- Julie's Party ... 5 instruments and 5 vocalists; funky, bluesy, bayou, rock, and soul ...

4:54 -- Carl Brister ... eclectic blend of soul, pop, and uplifting lyrics of love ...

5:36 — Brother Valiant ... 6 piece indie folk rock band that blends nuances of other genres into a unique sound of their own ...

6:18 — Queen Blue Nile ... funky, soul, energetic, melodic, eclecticaly groovy, goose-bump sensational ...

7:00 — Annie Minogue Band ... a gutsy rock attitude with great pop sensibility and a hint of the blues reminiscent of some of rock's greatest female icons ...

7:42 -- Above the Moon ... female-fronted indie-alternative band with pop hooks ...

8:45 — Headliner Los Lobos ... after celebrating their 40th anniversary with the cleverly titled 2013 live album Disconnected In New York City, the hard working, constantly touring band leaps headfirst into their fifth decade with an invitation to join them as they open fresh and exciting new Gates of Gold, their first full length studio album since 2010’s Tin Can Trust (a Grammy nominee for Best Americana Album) ...

Sunday, July 9, 2017

noon — Shark Hat ... shake it up with songs from the local groove-rockers' brand new Maplewood-tracked album, Another Fable, and other fun tunes ...

12:42  — Whitney Jackson ... a young vibrant ecentric vocalist whose melodies and movements feel like a smooth sultry fusion of R&B, jazz, soul, and hip hop ...

1:24 —Sister Monk ... soul-rocking and djembe-driven, Sister Monk is a joyful sunny sound brimming with celestial ectasy -- a perfect tribal world fusion with a funky beat ...

2:06 — Bellehouse ... female-fronted folk-Americana with luscious harmonies and foot-stomping rhythms ...

2:48 — Tomas Doncker and the True Groove All-Stars ... a fusion of soul, funk, rock, and blues -- global soul at its finest ...

3:30 —  The Matt Mattheiss Band ... a singer/songwriters from South Orange and his band performing classic covers and original songs from his just-released CD Living in the Grey ...

4:12 — The New Watchdog Blues Band ... performing classic and eclectic R&B and blues; wll all of them singing -- including 3 female vocalists ...

4:54 — The Martays ... slamming, greasy, bluesy, soulful, boldly-inventive arrangements of classic tunes! ...

5:36 — Wedeya ... original roots, rock, reggae from Jamaica to NYC! ...

6:45 — Featured Act The Hip Abduction ... sometimes inspiration strikes from the immersion of living in a far away place; sometimes, inspiration stems from a place that everyone can relate to, but maybe no one’s actually been. This is the music of The Hip Abduction, the vibrant St. Petersburg, FL-based collective that formed over a mutual appreciation for West African and early Jamaican reggae/dub music. ...

8:15 — Headliner Ruthie Foster  ... described by Rolling Stone as “pure magic to watch and hear,” her vocal talent was elevated in worship services at her community church. Drawing influence from legendary acts like Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin, Foster developed a unique sound unable to be contained within a single genre; that uniqueness echoes a common theme in Ruthie's life and career -- marching to the beat of her own drum ... 

http://www.maplewoodstock.com/