Deciding on finalists -- my list
Kidjo is still available and we will submit an offer. Any objections?
Jamie, last we talked I believe you were going to consolidate all the prioritized list from the 3 of us into a chart/table so we have a real-time document that we can use and update (as opposed going through the whole longs set of threads). Is this something you have done? Working on? If not, then I may just attack it tomorrow / Thursday. We need a nice table so we can see responses, etc. Just didn't want to start it if you already have...
So this is where I am currently "netting out". Need to know if OK to make an offer to The Wood Brothers tomorrow. Here's what we would ask:
- $32,500 (not including ground transport, hotel, meal buyout for performance day).
They will be playing Red Rocks on July 18, so maybe they need a warm-up week the week before ?? We need to nail down our prioritized "Headliners" and make offers one at a time (we cannot make multiple offers, or else we get in trouble if more than one says yes). We make an "offer" with a 10 day answer period.
- HEADLINERS:
- BUDGET: up to $50k
- assumes 2 headliners, and possibly 1 sub-headliner
- If "LOCAL" is the theme, then this may impact headliners
- Angelique Kidjo: Offer made at $30k. She is NOT available
- Grace Bowers in Canada - too much $$ for one-off
- Coordinating w/ Howie for HEADLINER (in priority for me):
- The Wood Brothers ($32.5k offer?)
- G Love & Special Sauce ($20k-$23k)
- Dogs in a Pile (sky rocketing band from NJ - $15-$18k)
- Mountain Grass (via Howie): Billy Strings back-up band - now getting $15k - BLUEGRASS
- OTHERS SUB-Headliners (from Gary & Me, and some in coordination with Howie)
- Snacktime: from Philly / big hit on radio now ("Together") - they cross a few boxes. Would be relatively inexpensive - $5k
- Couch - up & comers from Boston. Playing "Levitate" festival same weekend in Boston - $10k-$12
- Improvement Movement (sub-headliner) <$5k
- Yacht Lobster: yes, "Yacht Rock"!! Could be fun retro vibe
- BOOMBOX - electronica psych rock - 20th anniversary for the band - COULD BE COOL and totally different!
- Many other back-up
- BUDGET: up to $50k
jamie
Oct 14, 2024 at 3:23pmHere are some random names that have been thrown around:
From Phil at Partisan Arts:
Circles Around The Sun ~ KEXP session here.
The Hip Abduction ~ played the event back in 2017 and are now selling out most of their shows well in advance, on track to hit 1 million monthly Spotify streamers later this summer.
Donavon Frankenreiter ~ Typically in the $25K range but there may be some flexibility. Will have a new record out this fall featuring Ziggy Alberts, Midland, Colbie Caillat, Ben Harper, Joe Bonamassa, Trevor Hall, Blind Boys of Alabama, and John Craigie.
Paco Versailles ~ Nu Disco with flamenco guitar fronted by Ryan Merchant from Capital Cities. They’re playing Austin City Limits this October and I’ve attached a clip of their recent single here.
Gary mentioned three reggae bands on the Mint Talent roster.
Steel Pulse
Gladiators — songs sound the same
Dub Inc.
Jamie finds online -
The Nth power
Swift Technique:
These guys are interesting - The Main Squeeze:
Pimps of Joytime
I didn't find a good live set for them - liked them in this video
Brown Rice Family - fun reggae:
The Budos Band - looks like no vocals - but pretty good!
The Skatalites
The Big Takeover
Cool cool cool - I saw these guys with Adrian Belew - Tarq said there was some connection with Turquaz I think.
sandytoes
I have a name to throw in: Bertha.
They played Norfolk Folk and Sea Hear Now this year. Bid Rolling Tone article earlier this year, too. All Dead covers performed by drag queens.
jamie
And" class="redactor-autoparser-object">https://www.gratefuldrag.com/
jamie
And a few more of Tarq's top picks:
Snacktime
Pink Talking Fish
Duran Jones
Dogs in a Pile
And we will consider Blues Traveller (if affordable)
bradg
I'm not a Music Committee guy but there are LOTS of good ideas here! I'm a fan of Blues Traveller (if affordable), Pink Talking Fish (incredible), Bertha (Susan's suggestion), Dogs in a Pile (lots of jam in these choices). Hip Abduction was a superb act years ago and I think would be great again!
tlearned
hey guys, so had a lengthy conversation with Howie. Here's what we discussed with a "vision" that Maplewoodstock wants to be an event that agents and bands clamor over to get a spot. That said, we are talking about the younger/newer bands that have a potential to be much bigger in the future (and we then have the ability to say "we found them when"...we are building a nice track record of artists before they got big, and in turn we are influencing music in our community). As such; (and I will provide links later)
- COUCH: getting bigger by the minute - selling out 1300 to 2800 seats from Boston to LA (they are from Boston). They are young and A LOT of fun - cross genre and cross ages (works for young and old alike). They couldn't play our gig last year...
- MOUNTAIN GRASS UNIT: one of the few genres we have not embraced - bluegrass. Bluegrass is blowing up everywhere (like in Brooklyn!). These kids are in college. They were asked by Billy Strings to play his festival. Billy ended up having a baby that day, so Billy took Ringo Starr's jet home to be with wife & newborn....fast forward, The Mountain Grass Unit were asked to be the backing band to replace Billy Strings, and coordinated a who's who of players & singers to be the stand-in for Billy. They've officially caught fire. I think this would be huge.
- Big Idea: The DAP KINGS: aka "Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings". Sharon passed away 2 years ago and the Dap Kings have done little. The big idea here is to get the band back together (reunion idea) and get a great lead singer to join them...
- REGGAE: The EASY STAR ALLSTARS: the are famously known for doing classic rock albums in reggae (Dub Side of the Moon, Ziggy Stardub, and many others)...NYC based - could be very cool!!
NOTEABLE MENTIONS:
- STOLEN GIN: NYC based. young and up & coming.
- THE DIP: 6-8piece band from Seattle (would need to see if routing)
- HEAVY HEAVY: UK based - blowing up in EU. Have to see if routing in the US
- SIR WOMAN: Austin, TX - 2020 Austin Music Fest's "New Band of the Year". 7-piece, again routing issue
maplewoodstock
This is a crazy idea, but we are spitballing: Dionne Warwick.
She grew up in East Orange and lives now in South Orange.
Last week, she was out and about as East Orange named a street in her honor (she was in attendance) and then she was at the funeral of her aunt Cissy Houston (Whitney's mom) in Newark. This weekend, she is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In the last few years, she's opened a very snarky and witty Twitter or Instagram account that got a lot of attention.
Is there ANY chance we would consider reaching out to her for a headline spot? She's 83, but still lively and singing. I wouldn't care if she were just singing 5-6 of her hits Karaoke-style over backing tracks. Or a gospel set. Her limo could bring her right to stage-front.
--Jim
bradg
Oct 19, 2024 at 3:30pm Edited
I don't find Dionne exciting - given how old her songs are I'm not sure she brings the vibe we're looking for. Now if we could (secretly) get Lauren Hill to show up that might be another story.
maplewoodstock
Lauren has been vetoed several times, as she's a total flake (to state it kindly). And local girl-made-good SZA (with whom Kevin has a connection to her family) would bring a **** TON of attention that we could probably not logistically handle.
I'm not pushing for Dionne. Just spitballing for what might be special and still "of and for" for our 20th festival.
--Jim
bradg
Having recently attended Lauren's show at Prudential where she didn't go on stage until after 10:15 on a Tuesday, it's hard to argue with that. SZA would be potentially dangerous, unfortunately, given crowd size expectations and the age of her fans.
tlearned
I think the Dion idea is clever and a nod to "local" for sure, but I just watched spots from her Hard Rock Casino show in April 2024, and I think it's just not out vibe. She sits the whole show and croons lounge music (jazz based). I still think the SZA thing would work BUT ONLY if NOT ANNOUNCED (just a TBD in the program and sworn affidavits from us not to verbally leak the info!). Lauren is likely a waste of time...
tlearned
Adding Grace Powers as potential. Featured on Stephen Colbert. 18 year old up & coming blues guitarist phenom.
sandytoes
Ooooo! She would be amazing! Great idea!!
tlearned
Hello Gang, DECISION TIME:
- For the non-headliner acts we've had discussions about the theme this year and the idea of "Back to our Roots" or "Going Local". We, as a committee, need to make a final decision on this approach. Do we want to 1) keep Status Quo and have anyone who wants to apply to play? 2) do we want to "Go Local" and develop some criteria for having "local bands"? If #2, then we then need to make the decision of A) NOT having an application process at all, and our developing a comprehensive list to "INVITE" local bands. This comes with it's own set of issues (namely, "why didn't we get invited?"...this is "not fair"..."Maplewoodstock is a sham, picking their friends to play", etc. The alternative is plan B) creating an application process for all "local bands"....with this comes our responsibility to define what "Local" means and the criteria around applying (eg. from "Maplewood & South, and the surrounding towns?"...have to be actively gigging?...what about local bands wanting to have a reunion (or no)...what about local bands who played last year?, etc. you get the idea - we need guidelines / criteria / definitions.
We can: 1) VOTE on this right here in the forum, 2) put it at top of the agenda for our next meeting (which Susan is still planning), or 3) schedule a separate 45 min call/zoom.
tlearned
ANYONE?? Buehler??
bradg
Hey everyone,
1) With regard to Grace Powers I thought the Committee had preferred a "known name" vs. an "up and comer"?
2) For local acts - this is a tough one. If we were to only have local bands I think the requirement would be that at least one band member currently lives in Maplewood or South Orange. We shouldn't "invite" anyone to avoid the look of favorites - we would simply require all band applicants to have a resident in Maplewood or SO. We would then make the decisions like we always do - assuming, of course, there are at least 18-20 local bands of quality that apply. I do think this is a good idea if we can pull it off, but I wouldn't want to substitute "local" for "quality". The music committee should have a good idea about that based on past applicants...
Brad
sandytoes
Hi Tarq;
Sorry for the delay in responding. Bit of a crazy week at work with everyone trying to finish things before the holidays.
For local bands, I like the idea of a "local roots" or "our roots are local" theme. Makes for great merch ideas, too. What if we keep the application process so we do not lose the revenue, and put a focus on local talent. We could encourage locals to apply and encourage all applicants to tell us their connection to MWS. Then we can choose as many as possible while maintaining a variety of music and diversity.
I would love the others on the music committee to weigh in. With the holidays, I think it will be January before we can meet.
For headliners, I know we talked about up and coming vs known. How is progress on the ones you were investigating? If anyone feels strongly on this one, please weigh in.
gshippy
The music committee will keep the discussion about closing acts among us so we can present a finalist list.
The question about local needs everyone's input, and I also feel that we should focus on local. We can still have an application process as both Brad and Susan suggest.
jamie
My main thought on keeping the process open to all is that we might get a wider range of diversity and genres - as Susan also mentioned.
The Local concept will get critiqued by who we pick. And it will also piss over out of towners who are anxious to apply. I think we should do business as usual. If we had a full local list broken down by genre - I could be swayed.
I copied and pasted everything that was previously discussed. Kevin gave thumbs down to Wood Brothers.
I think we should book Bea Miller. She is a Columbia High School grad, 25 years old, a finalist on X-Factor and has launched a musical career. Columbia Hight School kids love Maplewoodstock and feel it is part of their growing up. Let's give them one of their own.
Blues Traveler agent is Jeffrey Hasson for United Talent. Are we better off asking him directly rather than bypassing him through Pressel? My guess is that they will be too pricey.
Yeah - I think Blues will be too pricey - speaking with Gus Henningburg he thought the backline alone for them is pricey,
I still think we should keep Spin Doctors on the list - I know Tarq is against this. 
Gus had a contact with them also - thought we'd be able to get them under $10,000.
Has Gus also asked you about his company doing sound for us? I think Blues Traveler would come in at like $20k. As for Spin Doctors...yup...still don't like them, but if you guys do then get avails & price range.
I will contact the Blues Traveler agent. Even if Pressel knows someone we would still need to go through the agent.
I am leaning toward:
Wood Brothers
Big Takeover
Bea Miller
What was the reply from the Spin Doctors agent?
Kevin added his picks. I have listed them here, some with my comments.
-Snacktime
-The Big Takeover -- on everyone's list
-Bea Miller -- have not yet heard back from agent
-Durand Jones -- Tarquin can confirm, but I think they are out of our price range
-Tank and the Bangas
-Black Pumas -- quite sure they too are out of price range
-The Soul Rebels
-The Sacred Souls
-Phony Ppl
I was going to add to Tarquin's spreadsheet, but it's not on the forum
Vintage Trouble to be considered
Bea Miller priced out
Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors not available
Soul rebels looks cool.
Just wanted to add cool cool cool to the list - looks like they're in Europe in June - they're former member of Turquaz https://wearecoolcoolcool.com
Tank and the bangas seems nice - trying to find a full concert but can't track one down:
Sacred Souls were a little sleepy for me
Phony ppl is ok - not too crazy - need to find a good live representation.
Snacktime hit our lively funk factor:
Tarquin had inquired about St. Paul and the Broken Bones. They are expensive but we have a $50k budget and we should use it. It's okay to have a lopsided mix on the costs of the closing acts. St. Paul $35 to $40k and Big Takeover for $6 to $8k. Something like that.
A less expensive option but similar to St. Paul is The Dip.
My comments on the latest three are:
- Huntertones — I listened to about 8 minutes and there were no vocals. I vote no.
- Doc Robinson — fun, energetic, indy band and could be a good contrast to the big brassy sound
- Shayna Steele — she could be great if she has a band like Snarky Puppy. I would be fine if she was one of the closers.
Jamie submitted a bunch of bands early and they were all good. Hard to pick one but prefer they would have some recognition. Below are my choices that I previously submitted, and I still feel the same, with some updated comments (in bold) based on a conversation with Tarquin:Category 1 — funky and fun; reggae
Angelique Kidjo — my favorite pick
The Skatalites -- too old
Brown Rice
FamilyDragon Smoke — Ivan Neville, formerly of Dumpstaphunk. Probably requires a Hammond B3.
Jamie and Tarquin had others in this category such as Main Squeeze and Big Takeover
Category 2 — songsters, not so jammy, and maybe with some name recognition
Angelique Kidjo — she fits both categories
Blues Traveler
Couch
Wood Brothers
Durand Jones and the Indications -- maybe too expensive
Wye Oak — no reply
G. Love and Special Sauce
Dr. Dog -- too expensive?
Possible low price and local: Miss Emily