by Max Cea
It’s music festival season. On the local level that means that the third annual Rockland Bergen Music Festival will be held this weekend, June 25 and 26, at Tappan’s German Masonic Park. The festival was founded and is run by Joe D’Urso, who will also be performing with his band, Stone Caravan. This year, D’Urso’s band will be one of 22 acts; the lineup is guitar-heavy and Tappan- and Rockland-centric, which according to D’Urso, is a “throwback to older folk festivals or roots festivals.” His vision was “something very down-home and woodsy.” Other headliners include Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jorma Kaukonen, Compton Maddux, Willie Nile, and local bands like Joe D’Urso, Glint, and Tim Donohue.
Three bands to watch
- For a throwback to the Jersey Shore in the 1970s, check out Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Frontman John Lyon’s band’s great claim to fame is their proximity to Bruce Springsteen. They emerged from the same scene as — and are friends with –The Boss. Much of their music has been produced by band co-founder Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band, The Sopranos), and some 0f their songs have been written by Springsteen and Van Zandt.
- For Dead Heads: New Riders of the Purple Sage is a country band which emerged from the late ’60s San Fran psych rock scene; its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead, such as Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh. Like the Grateful Dead though, the band has cycled through many members. The only constant has been singer-guitarist David Nelson. Check out a 1975 performance of their biggest hit, “Panama Red,” below.
- Glint is a “space- and psych-rock troupe” headed by Jase Blankfort and based in Nyack.
They are touring their third major label release, Inverter. Catch their Saturday afternoon (1:15p) show for some of the most modern sounding music at the festival.
Who will it benefit? The festival benefits 15 charities, including local ones such as Rockland Homes for Heroes, ARC of Rockland and The Dan Sullivan Foundation.
Food and beverages: Many local vendors will be catering the festival, including Nyack’s True Food, Bailey’s Smokehouse and Red Hill Cafe. As for drinks, Pearl River’s Growler and Gill will supply a selection of their craft beers.
When: Parking lot opens at 9:30. Gates open at 10:45 a.m., music starts at 11:30 on June 25 and 26.
Where: German Masonic Park, 89 Western Highway, Tappan.
Tickets: $50-$89 at RocklandMusicFestival.com. Those born in 1966 will be admitted free with ID.
Who’s Playing at the Rockland Bergen Music Festival?
Glow /
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Mr. Lou /
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June 25 |
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11:30a Joe D’Urso 12n Greg Trooper 1:15 GLINT 2:30 Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers 3:45 Joe D’Urso and Stone Caravan 5:00 Willie Nile 6:30 Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes |
12:45p Joe Simio and The Compromised 2:00 Bobby DiBlasio 3:15 Joe Delia and Thieves 4:30 Loretta Hagen 6:00 Jesse Terry |
June 26 |
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11:30a Joe D’Urso 12n McMule 1:15 Dead Mile Dance 2:30 Gary Douglas Band 3:45: Professor Louie and The Cromatix 5:00: New Riders of the Purple Sage 6:30: Jorma Kaukonen |
12:45 Chihoe Hahn 2:00 Compton Maddux and the Dirt Simple Band 3:15 Tyrone Shoelaces 4:30 Tim O’Donohue and TMU Band 6:00 The End of America |