The first in a series of weekend features exploring many of the performers included as part of the festival’s 2015 lineup.
In just under a month from now, the fun loving, the easy going, and the laid back will make their annual pilgrimage to the sleepy village of Gagetown, New Brunswick to celebrate art, beer and music, but necessarily in that order. As the seventh edition of Feels Good Folly Fest draws nearer, we thought we’d begin a series of short features focusing on the many bands and entertainers performing at this year’s event. In case you’re been on the fence about attending the friendliest festival in New Brunswick, here are 10 reasons to clear your calendar during the last weekend of June.
Old Man Luedecke
Old Man Luedecke isn’t afraid to put his neck on the line. His latest album, Tender Is The Night, goes beyond his beloved solo, banjo-driven folk tunes. Driving a Nashville band from beginning to end with his recognizable voice, this is an artist honing his cunning lyrical flair – tenderly pushing the boundaries of his storytelling with his unique mix of folk, bluegrass and pop hooks.
Old Man Luedecke recently announced his new album Domestic Eccentric, recorded at home with some of the best in the business.
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Old Man Luedecke performs Sunday June 29, 2015 | Learn more
After Funk
Since its humble beginnings as a four piece funk experiment in late 2011, After Funk has quickly grown into a powerful modern jam-orchestra that will shake your heart in your chest and your butt on the dance floor.
Taking its cues from old school funk acts like Stevie Wonder and James Brown, modern jam bands like Lettuce and the String Cheese Incident, even hints of the romantic classical music of Tchaikovsky and gospel music of Tye Tribbit, After Funk has found itself an ever growing audience of people searching for a heavy groove that expands their mind and fills their soul.
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After Funk perform Sunday June 29, 2015 | Learn more
David in the Dark
David in the Dark is already on the up in a big way. Though young, these players are a cohesive and creative unit. David in the Dark is not only pushing across musical genres to deliver original tunes that kick and punch above their weight, but they’re doing it with a focus on delivering seriously good music.
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David in the Dark perform Friday June 26, 2015 | Learn more
Dumpstaphunk
Dumpstaphunk stands out among New Orleans’ best as one of the funkiest bands to ever arise from the Crescent City. Born on the Jazz & Heritage Festival stage, and descended from Neville family bloodlines, these soldiers of funk ignite a deep, gritty groove that dares listeners not to move. Their performances combine ingenious musicianship and complex funk and jazz arrangements with soulful melodies that are simple enough for anyone to enjoy. In Big Easy tradition, dueling baselines from Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III set off one of the dirtiest rhythm sections on the planet, while Ivan Neville lights up the Hammond B3 keys and cousin Ian Neville’s funky guitar riffs send the groove into overdrive. The band recently welcomed their newest member, Alvin Ford Jr. to the quintet, a New Orleans born and raised powerhouse drummer. Dumpstaphunk tosses around lead vocals and four-part harmonies the way Sly & the Family Stone did, but with three studio albums under their belt, Dumpstaphunk stands on the merit of their own material. Songs like “Dancin’ To The Truth” off their latest record, Dirty Word (July 30, 2013, Louisiana Red Hot Records), offer an escape into the funky sublime, sharing the true spirit of New Orleans with every note.
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Dumpstaphunk perform Friday June 26, 2015 | Learn more
Elephant Skeletons
Elephant Skeletons sounds like a crew of gypsy rockers threw a disco dance marathon. Often gritty, exploding with unexpected, kaleidoscopic bursts of sitar and circus horns, and occupying the sweet spot somewhere between Daft Punk and Beats Antique, Elephant Skeletons is the soundtrack to the party everyone wishes they knew about. Driving beats melded with kletzmer brass create a sound that’s simultaneously cutting-edge-danceable and filled with serious soul.
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Elephant Skeletons perform as part of the Silent Disco | Learn more
Josh Bravener and the Hypochondriacs
A modern folk/country artist trying to keep that classic sound alive. Pulls inspiration from Hank Sr., Elvis, Clapton + to write and cover songs for a diverse entertaining set, keeping the crowed engaged and moving.
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Josh Bravener and the Hypochondriacs perform Saturday June 27, 2015 | Learn more
Kill Chicago
Fredericton-based group Kill Chicago is a blues record played at the wrong speed. They take traditional instrumentation, wrap it around a folk skeleton, and make it dance with 70s Brit punk energy. Not shyly whispered for artists, but bounced off the walls for people from a broke province who deserve a day off. Because the blues are about hard times, punk is about standing your ground, and Kill Chicago is about having a hard time standing your ground.
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Kill Chicago perform Saturday June 27, 2015 | Learn more
les Païens
les Païens arguably put Moncton, NB on the jazz/rock map in Canada and have been able to bring instrumental loop based jazz/rock to audiences throughout eastern Canada and Europe.
Launched in November 2013, Carte blanche, their newest work, was produced by Andrew Creeggan and is the result of two years of experimentation in this new musical direction. This, their 8th release, is an open door to their creative universe.
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les Païens perform Saturday June 27, 2015 | Learn more
Morgan MacDonald
Morgan MacDonald writes lyrically driven folk songs and delivers them with rock, soul, and pop influences bursting through.
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Morgan MacDonald performs Saturday June 27, 2015 | Learn more
Murder Murder
Bloodgrass music. Murder Murder performs murder ballads exclusively. Bluegrass gets into a bar fight with outlaw country, and no-one walks out alive.
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Murder Murder perform Sunday June 28, 2015 | Learn more
To learn more about Feels Good Folly Fest 2015 or to buy tickets, visit them online!
To learn more about The Village of Gagetown, check this link.
