Maria Zemantauski 10:30-11:15 Main Stage
Locally based, Maria is a master Flamenco guitarist and fusion composer whose concerts range far & wide across styles & continents. “A musician with breath-taking technique not at the expense of soul. She holds her formidable technical skill in check with her emotional, passionate performances. Each song conveys a small story without one word. Her love of her guitar and music was only surpassed by her obvious love of the audience.” — David Malachowski, guitarist/writer
3 Minute Pop! 12:35-1:25 Main Stage
The Capital Region’s best-kept “pop secret,” plays sweet power pop, dripping with jangly guitar, driving beats, and shimmering three-part harmonies. Not descriptive enough for you? – Think Matthew Sweet, Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, and Jimmy Eat World. Think Teenage Fanclub, Big Star, and The Byrds. Think The Cure, Squeeze, The Pixies, INXS, and Elvis Costello & The Attractions.
Get The Knack? I mean…the point? “We don’t write all the songs, we just make `em POP!”
Three Minute Pop! plays the coolest power pop, pounding out some of the purest power pop hits and deeper cuts from the `70s, `80s, `90s, and today – songs that people know, but just don’t know the names of. We’re talking tunes like “A Million Miles Away” by The Plimsouls and “One More Time” by Joe Jackson – pure power pop that’s too good to get played on commercial radio and that too few bands play live – save for Three Minute Pop!
It’s fun to watch fans’ faces light up when Three Minute Pop! kicks into The La’s “There She Goes” or Tal Bachman’s “She’s So High,” one-hit wonders that always get fans shouting, dancing, and singing along.”
Annie and the Hedonists 11:30-12:20 Main Stage
Winners of the 2020 Eddies Blues Artist of the Year, the band is comprised of guitar, clarinet, upright bass, piano, and lots of tight harmonies to build a rich sound with Annie’s terrific lead singing. Their concerts cover an eclectic mix of acoustic blues, vintage jazz and swing, and Beatles tunes. Their music is roots music at its best!
The Secret (led by Azzaam Hameed) 1:55-2:55 Main Stage
This is version 2 of last year’s group that so many people loved. Azzaam Hameed’s musical style on the piano incorporates a tasteful blend of Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, and Gospel; with colorful accents of Latin and Brazilian overtones. Vocally, his singing style has frequently been compared with the rich baritone voice of Lou Rawls. He’ll be bringing a band made up of some of Albany’s best session musicians, including bass player Ben Odom who led last year’s version of “The Secret.”
Azaam Hameed
3:15-4:15 Main Stage
The Boston Globe describes this locally-based national touring wife & husband team as “A little band with a big sound”. SIRSY is fronted by charismatic vocalist/ drummer Melanie Krahmer who has “one of the most powerful and flexible voices you’ll ever hear.” (–Times Union) The other half of the team is Mel’s husband, Rich Libutti who plays a road-worn and well-loved Rickenbacker guitar through a pedal board full of vintage effects. Live, Rich also plays bass on a pedalboard with his feet. So, these multi-instrumentalists manage to sound like a full band, despite there being just two of them. The love & joy they have for what they do is absolutely contagious. It’ll be a hot set, no matter what the weather is!
Children at the Well 11:15- 11:30
Youth storytellers from many different traditions work to increase community capacity for intercultural understanding and create diverse connections while growing compassionate leaders through the ancient art of storytelling.