Annual Weedstock Festival Featured Smoking Line-Up of Local Artists
Lower Case Blues, The Full Carbon Getup, Harvey Road, Ritter Lane and Katie Dill & Friends are just a few of the many local acts helping give Weedstock extra potency this year.
The three-day festival kicks off at Townsend’s Fire Base Lloyd on Friday, Sept. 13, offering live music, DJ sets, camping, food trucks, vendors and community networking. Proceeds from the event go towards the advocacy efforts of Delaware NORML.
— Visit Weedstock.org.
Eastern Elk Takes a Big Step with ‘Happy Trails (To You)’
Lead vocalist Neil Kremer feels like his band Eastern Elk is on the right trail.
In July, the band released “Happy Trails (To You),” an Americana track that rocks hard with heart and a hefty dose of rollicking guitars.
“It’s a high-energy country rock anthem about resilience, adventure, and the joy of the journey,” says Kremer. “We think it’s a big step forward for Eastern Elk!”
The band had some help this time around with Josh Aaron of Cosmic Guilt producing and Pat Kane on pedal steel.
“Happy Trails (To You)” is available now on all digital platforms.
The Collingwood’s Chris Malinowski Hosts a Night of Film and Music Videos
Musician and filmmaker Chris Malinowski will feature his 2013 feature-length drama Yes, Your Tide Is Cold and Dark, Sir along with several of his award-winning music videos from his band the Collingwood this month at Wilmington’s Theatre N.
Filmed in Lewes Beach and Rehoboth Beach, the movie is the existential story of Cliff Claitonowsky, a stockbroker, who makes an emotional pilgrimage to his hometown in coastal Delaware when his estranged guitar instructor father, Clay, disappears into the sand dunes of Cape Henlopen with three of his teenaged pupils.
The event will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, starting at 6:30 p.m.
— Visit TheatreN.com.
Sin City Celebrates 50 Years with Two Shows and a Beer
What does it take to make music with the same band for five decades?
You could try emailing Keith Richards with the query. Or you could simply ask musician Scott Birney of The Sin City Band, which celebrates its half-centennial this month at Argilla’s Brew Pub at Pietro Pizza in Newark.
“Back in 1974, when we were babies, one of our founding fathers, Tim Davis, said ‘If we can establish ourselves in a happening city, we’ll be fine,’” says Birney. “He wasn’t kidding!
“Through the years, Wilmington, Newark and the Delaware Valley has been home to so many great venues for original and non-commercial bands as well as generation after generation of hard-core music lovers… We have been really lucky.”
Birney also credits longtime bandmembers Steve Hobson, David Berry and Jim Ficca as “not only masterful players and true believers, but great friends.”
Join the Birney and the gang for two golden-jubilee performances at Argilla’s on Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28, both which start at 5 p.m. In addition to the introduction of the Sin City Stout, specially brewed by Argilla, look for guest appearances from past members of the band.
— Visit ArgillaBrewing.com.
Paul Zotter’s Guitars and Cars Gets 10th Anniversary Re-Release
Paul Zotter is taking his Guitars and Cars out of the garage for another spin…
Originally released in June of 2014, Zotter’s Guitars and Cars is a collection of the singer-songwriter’s exploration of relationships and consequences. The singles, “Only Two Roads” and “Whatever Man,” have been regulars in Zotter’s live shows, while deep cuts like “I Dream” and the title track have become fan favorites over the years.
For the 10-year anniversary, Zotter teamed up again with studio wiz Dave Tigue of Tiguersound Productions. The remixes and remasters breathe new life and energy into these songs — just like a retuned engine.
— Visit PaulZotterRocks.com.
Hot Jams Continues to Heat Up in It’s 11th Year at Yorklyn
With three stages and more than 25 local acts, Hot Jam XI will be lighting up Yorklyn on Saturday, Sept. 28 with plenty of energy and a variety of local original music.
In addition to showcasing the winner and runner-up of this year’s Summer Band Jam competition, the festival will feature Treewalker (which just released its new single “Stockholm Syndrome” in August), Mothman Properties, Super Spreddr and Fragments of Greatness among many other local acts. The all-ages event starts at 2:30 p.m. at Center for the Creative Arts, 410 Upper Snuff Mill Row. Tickets are $20 at the door.
— Visit CCArts.org.
The Newberry Slacks Release Music Video for ‘Different People’
Now in their 50s, Frank McKelvey and Ed Schmidt have been playing music together since 7th grade.
“We went to high school together and were always in one awful band or another,” Schmidt says jokingly.
In the late ‘80s, the two also went to UD where they formed The Mental Custodians. And while many of the places they played — like The Barn Door, Buggy Tavern and The Stone Balloon — may no longer exist, the stories from those gigs live on in song.
Released on July 27, the band’s new song, “Different People,” is a giddy take on how the duo explains their hey-day exploits to their children today. The music video creatively takes the humor to another level.
“Different People” can be seen on YouTube and is available on all major digital platforms.
