PERU — In its fourth year, Backwoods Pondfest once again asserts its stronghold in the joyous minds of those in search of something to celebrate, something to be proud of and call their own.
Corralling local, regional and national acts, the music fest takes place Sept. 10 and 11 at Twin Ponds Campground in Peru.
"The North Country needs a festival like this because everywhere else in the country, these shows are going on — but not in our area, for the most part," said Lowell Wurster, festival co-owner and percussionist of host band Lucid. "In a small community with not a lot of original music and a high concentration of cover bands, it's something that needs to happen.
"I always want the scene to grow," he continued. "I want it to grow so big that music is bursting out of our ears. I want bands on every street corner, in every bar and restaurant, every business and home. Music soothes the soul and makes people forget about the anger and tension in their everyday life."
LIVE MUSIC OUTDOORS
Started in 2007 by Katie and Liz Bazzano as a kind of rebirth of Pondstock, the festival their mom, Sandy, brought to life when they were growing up, the new incarnation soon blossomed from a local shindig to a regional spectacle, with attendees making the trek from Maryland, North Carolina, California and beyond. When Liz took a step back from the picture after the inaugural year, Katie, along with Wurster and Chris Boire, took the reins and steered the event into innumerable avenues of possibility.
"The intent on starting it was to bring live outdoor music to the area. It has evolved into giving back to the community," Katie said. "The last three years, we have donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Traumatic Brain Injury Center at SUNY Plattsburgh."
"Now that the Mayor's Cup (in Plattsburgh in July) is just a few local bands, there aren't other ways for anyone in the area to see great national and regional bands," Boire said. "There is limited nice weather, so we'd like to squeeze in as many outside events as possible."
Tossing in every conceivable genre into one colossal stew, the lineup includes reggae legend John Brown's Body, hip-hop guru Charli 2na of Jurassic 5, jazz-funk fusionists Garaj Mahal, jam-rock torchbearers Brothers Past, roots-rock rebels Spiritual Rex, and bluegrass outlaws Hot Day at the Zoo, among others.
WEEKEND ESCAPE
Rounding out the festivities, Lucid, Twiddle, Mr. Charlie and Blues For Breakfast, Shameless Strangers and Sinecure will be showcasing the North Country flare amid two days of nonstop gyration.
"For first-timers, it's nothing but fun. A great place with great people," Wurster said. "I do security at bigger festivals, and at a bigger festival, you are going to have bigger problems. At Pondfest, you don't have those problems. You don't have to worry about leaving your stuff at the campsite because no one is going to steal your belongings.
"You don't have to worry about all those big, bad things you hear about at other festivals. It's just a weekend to escape your day-to-day life and have a good time for once. Not a 'Friday out' good time, but a real good time."
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