Hot August Music Festival returns to Oregon Ridge Park

The Revivalists are one of the featured bands at this year’s Hot August Music Festival. (Courtesy)

COCKEYSVILLE, MD: This year’s Hot August Music Festival is one you won’t want to miss! The beautifully charming scenic views of Oregon Ridge Park will be overtaken by this 2 stage spectacular making it THE place to be on Saturday, August 20th. This family-friendly event will include live music and performance artists, an array of local artisans and crafters, food and beverage vendors, plus activities for the kids!

Hot August Music Festival, now in its 24th year, has managed to add even more to the day’s festivities with the introduction of the Picker’s Grove. The spirit and energy of those all-night bluegrass jams of the 1940s and 50s will be on display in The Westinghouse Pavilion; Pickin’ Party central from 12:00-7:00pm during the festival. Grab your mandos, banjos, guitars, uprights, fiddles, voices, acoustic instrument of choice, or just your ears and join in on this exciting new addition to Hot August Music Festival. Multiple jam circles and all skill levels are welcome. Members of the host band, Fried Pickin’ (www.facebook.com/friedpickin), will be at the Pavilion to welcome people, babysit instruments (for those that want to step away from the pickin’ to watch the festival unencumbered), and of course, join in on the music!

All instruments will be subject to inspection by security upon arrival.

Musical guests for this year’s show include:

Thievery Corporation: This Washington, D.C.-based duo has spent nearly two decades creating boundary-warping, complexly crafted electronic music partly inspired by bossa nova’s intricate rhythms and lush textures. Now, with their seventh studio album ‘Saudade,’ Thievery Corporation present their first release devoted entirely to the Brazilian-born genre that first connected them. “We always try to progress into something different and stretch our musical chops, and taking a whole album to dive into this one sound seemed like a really great way to do that,” says Hilton. Adds Garza: “It’s a bit of a departure for us, but at the same time these are our roots, this is what brought us together. It’s us coming full circle from electronic music back to something organic before we move on to our next chapter.” We’re Still Chopping Up Beats, But This Time We’re Making Them Sound Warm And Vintage.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead: “Not only does this quintet play tight and vicious versions of some of the most complex songs in the Grateful Dead’s repertoire, but they play them with a rawness & energy absent from the stage since the “Live” Dead era. More importantly, all of the jams are wild and incredibly adventurous. Russo’s a beast behind the kit who’s in the peak of his career. Metzger is a criminally underrated guitarist who has a chameleon-like ability to alter his sound to compliment any situation. Dreiwitz’s intensity is unmatched by anyone, while Benevento spouts these crazy tones and layers of sound that mix the best of what each keyboardist in GD history brought to the band. Finally, add Hamilton, whose voice and biting leads help push this ensemble over the top.” – Scott Bernstein, Jambase

Leftover Salmon: Looking back over the past 25 years of rootsy, string-based music, the impact of Leftover Salmon is impossible to deny. Formed in Boulder at the end of 1989, the Colorado slamgrass pioneers took their form of aggressive bluegrass to rock and roll bars at a time when it wasn’t so common, helping Salmon become a pillar of the jam band scene and unwitting architects of the jamgrass genre. Today, Leftover Salmon is: Vince Herman (vocals, acoustic guitar, washboard); Drew Emmitt (vocals, acoustic and electric mandolin, electric guitar, fiddle); Andy Thorn (vocals, acoustic and electric banjo); Greg Garrison (vocals, acoustic and electric bass); Alwyn Robinson (drums). High Country is a 12-song, rock/country/bluegrass/blues masterpiece, featuring 10 spanking new LoS offerings. All in all, High Country slips seamlessly in and out of character, disposition and style offering the full palette of Leftover Salmon’s aesthetic, from lightning-powered pick n’ grin to thoughtful blues balladry and all in between. The record’s a classic, if we’ve ever heard one.

Railroad Earth: Ultimately, Railroad Earth’s music is driven by the remarkable songs of front-man, Todd Sheaffer, and is delivered with seamless arrangements and superb musicianship courtesy of all six band members. As mandolin/bouzouki player John Skehan points out, “Our M.O. has always been that we can improvise all day long, but we only do it in service to the song. There are a lot of songs that, when we play them live, we adhere to the arrangement from the record. And other songs, in the nature and the spirit of the song, everyone knows we can kind of take flight on them.” Sheaffer continues: “The songs are our focus, our focal point; it all starts right there. Anything else just comments on the songs and gives them color. Some songs are more open than others. They ‘want’ to be approached that way – where we can explore and trade musical ideas and open them up to different territories. But sometimes it is what the song is about.” So, they can jam with the best of them and they have some bluegrass influences, but they use drums and amplifiers (somewhat taboo in the bluegrass world). What kind of music is it then? Mandolin/vocalist John Skehan offers this semi-descriptive term: “I always describe it as a string band, but an amplified string band with drums.” Tim Carbone takes a swing: “We’re a Country & Eastern band! ” Todd Sheaffer offers “A souped-up string band? I don’t know. I’m not good at this.” Or, as a great drummer/singer/mandolin player with an appreciation for Americana once said: “Rock & roll!”

The Revivalists: The formation of The Revivalists was all about chance, but everything since then has been a combination of hard work, awesome music, and friendship. The septet has been playing nonstop since 2007, crafting a genre-hopping sound that rounds out traditional rock instrumentation with horns and pedal steel guitar and mixes the divergent backgrounds of its individual members with the humid, funky undercurrents of the band’s New Orleans home. The result is like English spoken with an exotic accent: familiar, yet difficult to pin down. The band has a knack for bringing music to life on a stage, and they have tuned their talents to Swiss-watch precision over years of relentless touring. Their bombastic showmanship is the outgrowth of a desire to connect with audiences on a personal level, and that intimate connection is what elevates their shows above simple entertainment.

True to their name, The Revivalists lean more heavily on the older styles and warmer sounds of the golden age of rock ‘n roll, but the band isn’t afraid to dabble in electronics and sleight-of-studio when it’s right for the song… To The Revivalists, it doesn’t matter. They just write songs that they want to play.

Cabinet: Cabinet is a band with roots firmly planted in the Appalachian tradition. They wear their influences like badges, honoring the canon of roots, bluegrass, country, and folk, weaving these sounds into a patchwork Americana quilt. But this music isn’t romanticizing or rehashing the past. Cabinet makes its mark on today. The steady aim of their harmonies soar straight onto target each time, the soaring vocals giving voice to the story of each song. Their music takes the long way home, treating its listeners like passengers on a ride through scenic back roads. Their live shows are inclusive, celebratory, and community-building. Members Pappy Biondo (banjo, vocals), J.P. Biondo (mandolin, vocals), Mickey Coviello (acoustic guitar, vocals), Dylan Skursky (electric bass, double bass), Todd Kopec (fiddle, vocals), and Jami Novak (drums, percussion), all live and love music, and aren’t afraid to show it.

Cabinet formed in 2006, bringing together players from various musical and personal backgrounds. Whether it’s rustic “American Beauty”-era Grateful Dead or old-timey bluegrass, Cabinet has digested it all. But that is not to say that Cabinet recreates older styles. No, this is music that might have its roots in the past, but it is current and vibrant, with a sense of celebrating the now.

Samantha Fish: Samantha’s love for the Hill Country Blues genre started early on as her musical foundation began to build. Only into her mid-20s she already released two CDs, played all over the world and shared the stage with well-established to the legendary artists from Tab Benoit and Johnny Lang to Buddy Guy. Label mate and sometimes touring buddy, Mike Zito has long championed Samantha, produced her critically acclaimed albums, Runaway and Black Wind Howlin’ (2013). Her work ethic is unquestioned and her love for performance is obvious. All that ambition and passion paid off in 2012 when Samantha won a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut for her 2011 release Runaway (Ruf Records). The wonderful critical praise, winning fans at shows and all the long hours driving came to a shining moment that put more fuel into her fire. This desire is now revealed with Wild Heart as the pivotal moment in her budding career. Always yearning to learn, Samantha soaked in this experience like a sponge from the songwriting sessions to the final background harmonies. “… Fish’s commanding voice holds its own against the crunching guitar riffs and driving beat.” –Elmore Magazine

LITZ: LITZ strides to sonically transport its listeners to another planet free of the stress, struggles and tribulations of modern day life through the use of funky horn riffs, wah-wah keys, pounding bass, driving/progressive rhythms and melt your face guitar.

Eastman String Band: With the release of their second shining new album, ‘Neath a Midnight Sky, Tim and Savannah Finch with The EastmanString Band bring their thrilling brand of Alt’Grass that melds the roots of Bluegrass with Americana. They combine heartfelt vocals, soaring harmonies, prodigious pickin’, and great songs!

Also at the Grove will be local author, Tim Newby, who will speak about and sign copies of his book, Bluegrass in Baltimore: The Hard Drivin’ Sound and its Legacy, which is based upon interviews with many of the legendary players from this golden-age of bluegrass in Baltimore, who had moved to the city in hopes of a better future and found it in music.

Event sponsor, WTMD, will provide the emcees and the Hilltop Drum Circle will be featured between sets.

Most vendors operate on a CASH-ONLY basis. Though an ATM will be onsite, coming prepared is highly recommended.

General Admission Tickets: You can purchase them online at www.hotaugustmusicfestival.com or ‘at the door’ on August 20th. Children 12 and under are free. Re-admittance not permitted. Group pricing is available by contacting (877) -321–3387.

**VIP Tickets: Must be purchased prior to the event. Not available ‘at the door’. Each **VIP ticket includes: (1) one VIP wristband, (1) one parking pass, (2) two meal tickets, complimentary beverages, special admittance to VIP tent, a designated Main Stage viewing area, and VIP only restrooms.

Children’s Activities: The ever popular stilt walking troupe will be cruising the grounds once again! Our Kids Korner will keep little ones entertained with a crafting table and harmonia demonstration. Free harmonicas for all!

Food: The area’s best eateries will be dishing up tasty food at reasonable prices, and a variety of beverages will be for sale including craft beers from event sponsor Magic Hat Brewing. Be sure to check out wares from the creative artists and retailers in Crafters Alley.

Parking: A complimentary shuttle service will be provided to and from the Timonium Light Rail stop. A limited number of on-site parking passes are available on a first–come, first–serve basis and may be purchased on the website.

Park Restrictions: No food, cans, bottles or coolers are permitted. For a complete list of guidelines and restrictions, including nearby accommodations, please visit www.hotaugustmusicfestival.com

For additional information, please feel free to contact John at john.genakos@gmail.com