Music Festivals

Along with boating, beaching, and sun-bathing summertime is also the season of music festivals.  There are two great ones on the horizon.  July 25-28 head down to Seaside Park in Bridgeport for a weekend chocked full of great music at the Gathering of the Vibes.   Headliners include Phil Lesh & Friends for two performances, Blues Traveler, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Max Creek, Dark Star Orchestra, and New Haven favorite Kung Fu to name just a few.  Gathering of the Vibes is an annual music, arts and camping festival now in its 18th year.  Vibes has grown into a four-day event that has featured such world-class talents as Crosby, Stills and Nash, all founding members of the Grateful Dead, Elvis Costello, the Allman Brothers Band, James Brown, the Black Crowes, Bruce Hornsby, Les Claypool, Branford Marsalis, and many more.  The Vibes is also a launching pad for extraordinarily talented, young, up-and-coming bands who have the opportunity to showcase their talent to the 20,000+ people who attend each year.  Held in six different venues over its eighteen years, Vibes 2013 marks the festival's ninth return to Seaside Park in Bridgeport.  Gathering of the Vibes has become the Northeast's preeminent music festival - springing from traditions born in the Grateful Dead Community.

Newer to the festival scene is The Big Up scheduled for August 8,9, & 10 in Claverack, New York.  Among all the recent festivals emerging, this one seems to be on many a trendsetter's lips.  The Big Up has quickly risen to be the most buzzed about new independent festival on the east coast - and for good reason.  The production quality, diverse lineup, artistic community, and overall vibe of the event are akin to those older and larger festivals.  High quality in smaller batches is a key component to TBU and has helped to manifest it to 'boutique status.'  With artists coming from across the country and around the world the weekend blends many kinds of music into a perfect summer mix.  There are several Connecticut bands in this summer's line-up including: Kung Fu, lespecial, Business Casual Disco, Cosmic Dust Bunnies, Ian Stewart, ConnetICON, and newcomers to the 2013 festival -  Guilford's own -  Rizzo's Dilemma.  For tickets to festivals or more info click on links above