Jammin’ For The Animals II, 7/30-31 @ Blue Falls Grove

The Reading festival season is alive and kicking again with the second annual Jammin’ For The Animals Festival, an event benefiting the Humane Society of Berks County in memory of festival organizer’s brother, Bobby Jones, being held at Blue Falls Grove in Ontelaunee Township.

The second year also brings the addition of a second night of live music, with the festivities to begin on Friday evening (7/30) with two very solid bands, and did we mention, a Grammy Award wnner to fill in the gaps (and from what the rumor is, to sit in with BOTH bands to make the first evening, an epic night of improvisational jams and dueling solos).

The camping music & arts festival returns to Blue Falls Grove, a family fun picnic & camping site for over 26 years, complete with an Olympic size swimming pool (additional discounted cost), fishing (license required), over one mile of creek front, volleyball, basketball, hiking, and horseshoes.  It is adjacent to 3,000 acres of watershed and a 1,000 acre lake for fishing and it has become famous recently as the site of the “birthday party episode” of  the “John & Kate Plus 8” reality television series.

Gates will open at 5pm on Friday, July 30th with Grateful Dead tribute band, the Good Lovin’ Jamband kicking off the music at 6:30pm.  Grammy-winning guitarist David Cullen, a Berks County native, will be providing the “tweener” set before premier Pennsylvania bluegrass band Cabinet hits the stage to headline the first evening at 8:30pm.  There will also be an acoustic campfire jam with the members of Cabinet immediately following their set on the main stage.

Gates will re-open at noon on Saturday, July 31st with events for children and adults of all ages.  Scheduled events are juggling & hula hooping workshops, tie-dying & pottery workshops, piercing & tattooing seminars, glassblowing, fire performances, live painting in the art village, disc golf, Chinese auction, raffles, as well as dozens of kids activities in their own pavilion.  This is all happening while non-stop premier live music is going on from 1pm until 10:30pm with artists including Mike Miz, Flux Capacitor, Fellswoop, George Crow & Cody Chelius, Dakini, Estaban & Friends, and headlining the event is breakout gospel, funk, organic groove jamband, Natural Breakdown.

In only its second year, the Jammin’ For The Animals festival is leading the way in captivating the small, hassle-free festival scene with the caliber of music one would normally see at a larger festival.  Combine the top notch music with workshops, kids events, raffles, and a variety of vendors of all kinds with proceeds benefitting a great cause in the Humane Society of Berks County, and what you get is a great festival with a great vibe – something +VIBES is proud to be a part of.   

PlusVibes Productions will be providing the light show for the festival, as well as greeting you at the front gate and patrolling the grounds as the VIBES PATROL.  Our good friends at Scarlet Sound will be providing the crisp sound.

This event is an ALL-AGES, rain or shine, family-friendly (please be kind to the people AND the environment) event.    Friendly pets are also welcomed (leashed only).

A limited number of advance tickets are available for $30 for the weekend through CHRIS at PlusVibes Productions, at the Brass Lantern, and at the additional ticket outlets listed on the MySpaceand Facebook pages.  

Tickets will be available at the gate for $40.   NO DAY PASSES are available.  We highly recommend you take advantage of the discount and guarantee your ticket (we’re expecting a big crowd) by purchasing your ticket now.

Children under 10 are admitted free with adult.  Camping is available for an additional $5 per person (to be paid at front gate).

For more information or any additional quesitons, email info@plusvibes.com.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.    BRING A FRIEND!

GRATEFUL DEAD night monthly with GLJB @ the Brass every 3rd Friday

After a successful celebration of the birthday of Grateful Dead leader, Jerry Garcia, last month at the Brass Lantern, the members of the Good Lovin’ Jam Band (GLJB) were asked to return for a monthly residency.

Every third Friday until 2010 (or beyond), starting this Friday at 9pm, PlusVibes Productions is especially proud to establish a consistent monthly spotlight on Grateful Dead music once again in Reading, at the Brass Lantern.

It’s been some years since the likes of Grateful Dead cover bands such as Living Earth, Double Dose, and Solar Circus (just to name a few) frequented the Reading area in small clubs like the Brass Lantern, Mr. Charlie’s, The Strand, and Top of the ROC (all but the Brass have long since closed).  With all of those bands dissipating over the years it has been extremely difficult to find a solid replacement until now. 

The Good Lovin’ Jam Band has filled the shoes of its predecessors in providing a complete show for Grateful Dead fans,  starting off with a set by Pangea Acoustic, a set by Neo Trio, and ending with combination of both openers to form the Good Lovin’ Jam Band for two full sets.

It’s a 4-set night of magical music in tribute to a band that’s influenced the ears of happy-hippie listeners since the 1960′s – the Grateful Dead.  We’re sure that all Deadheads will be satisfied in the right on performance that the Good Lovin’ Jam Band provides each and every show.

Take a listen or download the GLJB show from August here.

Here’s all the information:

The Good Lovin’ Jam Band

    every third Friday at the Brass Lantern

featuring Pangea Acoustic & Neo Trio

9pm – 2am
21+ only

$5 at the door

Friday, May 21st
Friday, June 18th
Friday, July 16th
Friday, August 20th

The Brass Lantern offers:
 - $2.50 domestic drafts, $6.50 pitchers
 - $3 Jager, Rumplemintz, Blackhaus, & other shots
 - Wings, Burgers, Nachos, Patty Melts, Salads, & more
 - Kitchen open until 9:45pm!
 - Friendly service & great overall vibe

The Brass Lantern Kicks Off A Strong Summer: Music/Food

In what has been typically called the “slow” season for most area bars due to family vacations, festivals, and national band tours such as Phish and The Dead, the Brass Lantern is kicking it into high gear and striving to break the trend.

They started by launching a brand new (pub style) menu with the return of some “Lantern favorites,” such as fresh cut sweet potato french fries and their famous quesadillas, as well as the introduction of some new special items, such as a grilled portobello mushroom burger and .  They have also topped the city-wide wing flavor list with an astounding 21 flavors available (and growing) and just to stand out in the crowd a little more they are serving a “Baker’s Dozen” when you order them from the regular menu. 

The entire menu, which is also available for take-out, can be viewed here.

The Brass Lantern combines this great new menu with the best food and drink specials in town, including an ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT wing special every Wednesday for just $6.99 (with the purchase of a beverage) and a TACO SPECIAL [beef, chicken, or beans on a hard or soft shell] every Thursday for just $1.25 per taco (with the purchase of a beverage).

With the menu now expanded to entice more patronage, +VIBES is now working in full force to provide the ‘best of the best’ live music all summer long including expanding some monthly residencies that have proved to be exponentially growing (and also starting some new residencies), bringing back some favorites as well as bringing in some of the hottest new acts on the circuit, and then bringing in a few acts that you mave have thought would never come to the Brass Lantern.  

 
If you’re looking for some “WOW” factor, well this year will be the year for the Brass Lantern. 

This is just a preliminary announcement, so keep posted to www.plusvibes.com for all future show announcements. 

You can find the entire current +VIBES event schedule here.

You can also find us on Facebook.

In and Out of the Garden We Go – June 12th at Snipes Farm

The first +VIBES sponsored festival is on Saturday, June 12th at Snipes Farm in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia.

Featuring a day long (with overnight camping available) celebration of the works of Jerry Garcia, the bands are Star “69, Old & In The Way Tribute (featuring members of OFP & Sully’s Fortune), Pangea Acoustic, Steal Your Face, Toni Brown Band, Reflections, Deadbolt, Only Footprints.

The event is organized by Gig Goals and the good people at the Music at Snipes Farm committee, and +VIBESwill be providing the evening light show.  Our good friends at Scarlet Sound will be mixing the live sound.

The campground will open at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 12th and close at 1:00 PM on Sunday, June 13th.

Tickets are as follows:

$15.00  Advance (available at the Brass Lantern [through Chris])
$20.00 Day of Show
   $5.00 Camping (per person) at the gate

We encourage the purchase of advance tickets.

This show is an all-ages, RAIN or SHINE event.

All information about the event and the beautiful venue can be found at the Music at Snipes Farm website.

Come join a celebration of inspirational music with friends & family.

Snipes Farm & Golf
890 West Bridge Street
Morrisville, PA 19067
215-295-1138

A full description of the venue can be found here.

+VIBES joins Berks Jazz Fest ’10 – hosts Grammy winnner

After many years of showing tribute to Berks Jazz Fest by hosting live jazz during the festival’s traditional days at the Brass Lantern, +VIBES has become a member of the Berks Jazz Fest in 2010 and together they will be bringing you two premiere (non-ticketed) events, each to be listed and promoted by all Berks Jazz Fest media outlets.

On Friday, March 19th, the very first day of events of Berks Jazz Fest, the Brass Lantern will feature its very first Grammy award winner on its stage in David Cullen, appearing with the Good Lovin’ Jamband, a Berks County bred Grateful Dead tribute band.

David Cullen is a world-reknown Classical guitarist and has won a Grammy Award for BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING.  He has performed with Will Ackerman, Samite, Michael Manring, Victor Wooten, The JacoBig Band and with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance from the Hartt School of Music.

David has performed throughout North America for Classical Guitar Societies, Jazz Festivals, and Performing Arts Series.   He has released 9 CDs for the acoustic guitar label Solid Air Records and his recordings have been featured on NPR stations across America.

In honor of all that is jazz, David and the Good Lovin’ Jamband, whose drummer is David’s brother (Matty), will be performing a very special set in tribute to “Jazz Is Dead” in which the classic tunes of the Grateful Dead are performed all instrumental with a heavy jazz edge.

David has been known to play Grateful Dead tunes at local solo acoustic shows for many years in the Berks County area, and the combination of the full band with David leading on Classical guitar is mind-blowing.  It will be a historic event for the Brass Lantern and PlusVibes Productions is extremely excited for this event!

On Saturday, March 20th, the Brass Lantern will be hosting Reading-native and another jazz-guitarist,  Josh Taylor with his trio.  Josh is a seasoned guitar veteran and is versed in many styles including jazz, blues, rock , bossa nova, Latin, and flamenco.  He has played at various Berks County venues over the years, including gigs at Bixler’s Lodge, The Brass Lantern, The Inn at Reading Cabana Bar, and Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza, and he has been involved with Berks Jazz Fest for many years – a time when his expertise can shine, and he can capture an audience on his very first note.

Josh is joined onstage by local stand-up bassist, Trey LaRue who is the full time bassist in The Kingpins, a self proclaimed “tortured, mean rockabilly” band also based in Berks County, and drummer John Fundyga, who plays in various projects including local veterans, John King’s Dance Band and the Ukrainian Club House Jazz Band.

We expect both nights to be fantastic nights with great crowds, so we recommend you get there early.  We’ll have the fireplace stoked and the mood set to “jazz lounge” at the Brass Lantern for these and all shows during the Berks Jazz Fest celebration.

WE’VE JUST ADDED ANOTHER JAZZ FEST EVENT.  The Dirk Quinn Band will be coming back, fresh off their latest tour, on THURSDAY, March 25th at 9pm.

Here’s all the information:

Berks Jazz Fest 2010

March 19th – 28th

Good Lovin’ Jamband @ The Brass Lantern

with very special guest, and Grammy-award winner,

David Cullen

Friday, March 19th, 2010

9pm – 2am
21+ only

$7 at the door

——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

the Josh Taylor Trio @ The Brass Lantern

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

9pm – 1am
21+ only

$6 at the door

——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

the Dirk Quinn Band @ The Brass Lantern

THURSDAY, March 25th, 2010

9pm – 1am
21+ only

$5 at the door

——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

The Brass Lantern offers:
- $2.50 domestic drafts, $6.50 pitchers
- $3 Jager, Rumplemintz, Blackhaus, Kettle, Stoli & other shots
- Wings, Burgers, Nachos, Patty Melts, Salads, & more
- Kitchen open until 11pm on weekends!
- Friendly service & great overall vibe

ATTN: Music-Lovers — HELP SAVE THE BRASS LANTERN

Due to the relentless recession, the steady decline of patronage, and for various other reasons (any thing that could possibly break in the last year, HAS), the Brass Lantern joins the long list of privately owned companies in serious danger of closing its doors forever!!  The venue is currently on the market and will continue to be, until sold or until their business begins to thrive again.

The Brass Lantern has been a landmark for live music in Reading, Pennsylvania since around 2001, hosting prime national touring acts such as Melvin Seals & JGB, DJ Flow (of the Chappelle Show), The Recipe, RAQ, and Michael Glabicki (of Rusted Root), just to name a few.  More importantly, it has been the “stepping stone” venue for hundreds of smaller jam bands, building solid fan foundations for bands such as Lotus, Pnuma Trio, Quagmire Swim Team, Juggling Suns, Frog Holler and many others.

These bands played (and some are still playing) multiple shows at the Brass Lantern in order to capture the hearts of Reading live music fans and create the “travelling music fan” in an era where live shows (and turnout for live shows) is in direct proportion to keeping each band travelling and performing, thus keeping the band together.  Some of these bands have moved on to bigger venues and large festivals largely in part to building their fanbases at the smaller clubs across the country like the Brass Lantern.

By consistently providing the quality live music stated above, and using mainly word-of-mouth promotion with bits of Internet blogs and posts by its proud staff and satisfied patrons over the years, the Brass Lantern has gained the reputation as “PA’s Best All-Around Small Venue“, and truly is a hidden gem (although scuffed) nestled in the city of Reading.  People connect at the Brass Lantern, whether it’s over a fine craft beer or a top-end mixed drink, over a game of darts or pool, or over some top notch live music;  all patrons, whether it’s their first time there, or they’re a regular customer, are assured a safe and fun time.  It is for this reason that people want to come back.   Many patrons who come in from out of town remark, “this bar reminds me of my hometown bar” and it’s because we treat bands and out-of-town concert-goers so kindly and with open arms (yes, this is still possible in the heart of the city).

Simply put, the Brass Lantern is the reason PlusVibes Productions was even created.

So, I plead with you to KEEP THE BRASS LANTERN ALIVE.

Come in and spend a little money – have a drink or have a bite to eat, catch up with good friends and good people, see the best live music that Reading has to offer, and TELL SOME FRIENDS ABOUT the Brass Lantern.  We honestly have some of the best food & drink specials around the city and we absolutely need all the business we can get, plus we love seeing new faces!

I actually bartend every Tuesday evening from 5pm until 2am, with our $1.25 Taco special (chicken, beef, or beans, 7-10pm) along with $6 domestic pitchers.  I am also usually playing some of the best Brass Lantern live show recordings from over the years on our soundsystem.  Do you have a request? Do you want to talk about good music?  I would love to chat. 

Is there a live show from the Brass Lantern that you would love to have a copy?  I personally extend an invitation to anyone wanting a copy of a live recording to come in, have a couple drinks, maybe eat some tacos, write down the show you want, and I will personally make you a copy for free(first come, first served).  It will be ready for pick up  the following week (there, I got ya’ for two visits).  All I ask is that you buy a drink or two each time you stop by!

I thank you for your continued support of live music in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, and I hope to see you soon.

Chris K

   Founder, +VIBES Productions
   Entertainment Director, The Brass Lantern

More information, including a full band schedule can be found here.

The Brass Lantern
1350 North 12th Street
Reading, PA  19604
610/372-9311

Hours:  Mon thru Sat 5pm-2am

Thanksgiving Week Jam-A-Thon @ The Brass Lantern

With a whopping 7 bands scheduled in 3 days (Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday), the Brass Lantern has ensured that they are the ONLY choice if you’re wondering where to check out the best live music in Berks County this week.

Starting off on Wednesday, traditionally known as the biggest bar night of the year, the Brass Lantern welcomes psychedelic rock & jazz ensemble, Pychedelphia, out of Philadelphia (the name says it all). 

It’s the first time Pychedelphia will be appearing at the Brass Lantern, and it will be their second show of the day, since they are scheduled to play a post-Phish party (from Tuesday at 11:30pm until 6am on Wednesday) with acts like The Breakfast, Steve Molitz (Particle), and DJ Logic.  It should prove to be a very big show for them.  They also have scheduled gigs at The M Room (Philly), The Chameleon Club (Lancaster), and the Millcreek Tavern (Philly) to finish out the rest of 2009.

Supporting Pychedelphia will be local indie rock band Flux Capacitor, who are seasoned veterans of the Brass Lantern, where they always put on a great show, as well as at various Berk County bars and clubs.  They finish out their year with stops in Columbus (Ohio), Ocean City (Maryland), and Allentown.

The music starts at 9:30pm with Flux Capacitor and then Pychedelphia coming to the stage around 11:30pm.  Thanksgiving Eve is sure to be filled with an evening of dancing and smiling, all in preparation for the annual feast the following day.

Friday evening, November 27th, marks the return of our favorite bluegrass jam band, Cabinet, out of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.  Every night at the Brass Lantern with the bluegrass phenoms is a musical journey that leaves their large following wanting more and more.  The room is always filled with great people (all smiles) and with the holiday mode still in effect, we expect this night to be one of the best of 2009.  Come chill out after dealing with those Black Friday shopping crowds with some of the best jam bluegrass in Pennsylvania.

With only this show and a Thanksgiving Eve show at Appalachian Brewing Company (Harrisburg) scheduled before taking some time off through Christmas & New Year’s to be with friends & family, Cabinet will be prepped and ready for yet another dance-fest. 

This show will start at 10pm with two long sets.  Be sure to catch Cabinet at one of these two shows!

Saturday ends the weekend right at the Brass Lantern with “Moonlight Forest Studios (in association with PlusVibes Productions) presents…A Wooded Revue“.

Called “a celebration of quality original music [indie-folk-bluegrass] from Philly to New York to the Moonlight Forest” [a recording studio in Fleetwood (PA) managed by Daniel Bower], the night features four bands from those regions who have all been previous guests of the studio and/or have performed at various musical events held on the property, and who have all formed a musical union and personal friendship with Bower over the years.

Wissahickon Chicken Shack, Hezekiah Jones, Joe D’Amico Band, and Land of the Look Behind are all scheduled to play throughout this night, with Bower being the ringleader and emcee for the evening. 

“It’s refreshingly communal,” Bower explains, “…we all listen to each other’s music.  We all play together and go to each other’s shows.  There’s no competitive nonsense – just creative people having fun together.  ‘A Wooded Revue’ is our attempt to bring the vibe out of the woods and to the live music lovers of Berks County”.

The event will begin at 9:30pm and it will also be coinciding with a canned food drive for “Friend, Inc.“  where we will be offering $2 off your admission price for any item donated.

We encourage you all to take part in this wonderful week of quality live music at the Brass Lantern (yet again).   Come and see why we are THE best spot in Berks County for live original music.

Here’s all the information:

Pychedelphia

with Flux Capacitor

at the Brass Lantern

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

9:30pm – 2am
21+ only
$5 at the door

http://www.thebrasslanternlive.com/

——————– – ——————- – —————— 

Cabinet

at the Brass Lantern

Friday, November 27th, 2009

10pm – 2am
21+ only
$8 at the door

http://www.thebrasslanternlive.com/

——————– – ——————- – —————— 

Moonlight Forest Studios in association with +VIBES Productions presents

A Wooded Revue

at the Brass Lantern

featuring

Wissahickon Chicken Shack
Hezekiah Jones
Joe D’Amico Band
Land of the Left Behind

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

9:30pm – 2am
21+ only
$8 presale / $10 at the door
for tix email mofoproductions@mail.com
http://www.myspace.com/moonlightforeststudio
http://www.thebrasslanternlive.com/

Roots, Rock, Reggae Weekend @ The Brass Lantern

It’s another edition of ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE at the Brass Lantern starting Thursday, December 17th and running through Saturday, December 19th.

Beginning on Thursday the 17th is the final edition of “Thirsty 3rd Bluegrass Thursdays with the Manatawny Creek Ramblers” for the year.  Daniel Bower’s traditional bluegrass (roots) group has been faithfully providing foot stompin’ throw downs every month bringing traditional tunes to the forefront, in addition to catchy original numbers (of course with that bluegrass feel).  The Ramblers have brought in some quality guest musicians such as Kris Kehr (mandolin) and Johnny Kilgore (guitar) over the months to make every night a special evening of friends and music at the Brass Lantern.

Friday the 18th brings 2009′s final “Grateful Dead Night” at the Brass Lantern.  Matty Cullen’s troupe of seasoned Deadheads comes together to bring another 4-set night of authentic Dead tunes (rock) with opening sets by Pangea Acoustic and the NeoTrio, and then a full two sets at the end of the evening with a collaboration of the two opening acts coming together to form the full band, the Good Lovin’ Jamband.

These nights bring out all kinds of guest musicians.  In October they brought a second percussion kit, manned by drumming veteran, Rob Wolfe, and the night was filled with the authentic feel [of two drummers] that the Grateful Dead brought to the stage every night.  And we’ll let you in on a little secret – scheduled in March, during the world re-known Berks JazzFest, Grateful Dead night will have a little jazz twist in it, with the guys bringing in very special guest, and Grammy Award winning guitarist, David Cullen for an extremely  rare “Jazz Is Dead” set at the Brass Lantern.

Stay tuned for more information on that show coming in early 2010. 

Saturday the 19th completes the triangle with another “Reggae Night” at the Brass Lantern.  We are pleased to announce a special one-night-only show featuring our old friends Mystic Rebel and special guest Jah Witness. 

Mystic Rebel has blessed the Brass Lantern with many irie reggae nights in years past, showcasing mainly the music of the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers, and we are very happy that they will be reuniting for another special evening of positive vibrations.

+VIBES Productions is very excited for the fantastic music coming up THIS weekend.  It is very important during this holiday season that we bring you the music that makes you smile!  So we encourage you to take a break from your holiday shopping (aka the “craziness”) and come out and let loose with your family in music at the Brass Lantern.

We hope to see you there.

Here’s all the information:

Thirsty 3rd Bluegrass Thursdays

with the

Manatawny Creek Ramblers

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

9pm – 12am
21+ only

$4 at the door

————- – ————- – ————- – ————–

Grateful Dead Night

with the

Good Lovin’ Jamband

with opening sets by

Pangea Acoustic and the Neo Trio

Friday, December 18th, 2009

10pm – 2am
21+ only

$5 at the door

————- – ————- – ————- – ————–

Reggae Night

with

Mystic Rebel and very special guest Jah Witness

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

10:30pm – 2am
21+ only

$5 at the door

All shows are at the Brass Lantern.

Dragonfly Music & Arts Fest on Saturday, September 26th

We are excited to annouce festival number three (out-of-four) that PlusVibes Productions is sponsoring this year.  This round it is the Dragonfly Music & Arts Fest at Blue Falls Grove, near Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, September 26th, 2009.

It will be the final outdoor event this summer, at least in the Reading area – one remains on October 3rd at Snipes Farm, Morrisville. 

This one-day festival (with camping available*) is in celebration of the Autumnal Equinox (on 9/22) and features our friends and jam band veterans, the Juggling Suns headlining the pavilion stage.

Festival organizer, Todd Jones, returns to Blue Falls Grove, approximately 10 miles north of Reading, after a successful 1st Annual Jammin’ For The Animals Benefit show for the Humane Society of Berks County back in July 2009. 

The primary sponsor will be Dragonfly Studio and Glass, in West Reading, a prominent glass, art, and tattoo studio owned by David Dragonfly.  David has always been a kind friend to the live music & arts scene in Reading over the years, building a faithful clientele for his business along the way.  He will be doing tattoos all day on the festival grounds, for those of you up for some true body art!

The festival features live music from 1pm until 10:30pm with a side stage to provide music while the main stage is in transition.  A LARGE camping area is on site, not far from the stage, with car-side camping, and tree lines on both sides for shade, although it stays cool because it sits right off the water on a low level area.

Overnight camping is encouraged and the family-friendly event will include a kids pavilion (dedicated to activities for kids [or adults who feel like kids]), hula hooping and juggling workshops, swimming (at a small additional cost), and assorted food & arts vendors in between the pavilions.

A solid four-punch-combination of live music is this round’s primary focus, with the jabs coming in the form of bluegrass powerhouse jam band Cabinet, out of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania starting off at the main pavilion, followed by excellent West Coast newgrass string band Montana Slim String Band Thirteen Days out of San Francisco. 

Cabinet is a 6-piece blugrass ensemble, pushing the limits in the “duels” of each jam, creating beautiful improvisational moments, and making their shows both dance-filled and jaw-dropping (from back-and-forth seamless duels) from beginning to end. 

They are a Pennsyl-tucky favorite that have been filling up rooms such as the Brass Lantern and the River Street Jazz Cafe for the last couple of years, and currently are scheduled for a very special holiday celebration, billed as “Christmas with Cabinet“, at the Brass Lantern on December 26th.

Montana Slim String Band, hailing from San Francisco, is  a SOLID bluegrass 5-piece known for their “invigorating live performances, peppered with dueling melodic fiddle, mandolin and acoustic guitar improvisation.”

They most recently set up and played impromptu sets each night at Yonder Mountain String Band‘s Northwest String Summit, in North Plain, Oregon in early August 2009 and a writer for Jambase.com described them as, “Tenacious troubadours from San Francisco with snappy rhythms that inspired some delightfully dirty dancing, they won over several new fans before the weekend was over.”

They will be doing warm up shows (2 full sets) at Zeno’s in State College on Thursday (9/24) and at the Brass Lantern on Friday, (9/25)  to make a run of the time that they are in the area.  So show your support if you are able to attend any of the 2-set shows. 

 

The fight then moves on to the body shots, with conscious dub, roots reggae rockers, I Yahn I Arkestra.  Hailing from the “boondocks of Baltimore”, Kaseopi and Jah-D relocated to Philadelphia and, since forming in 1997, they have been sharing their positive conscious Rastafarian vibe to many of the city’s hottest jam band area clubs, such as The Middle East and the World Cafe Live.  

They have grown to become one of America’s most unique and original reggae bands, offering up cosmic rhythms – psychedelic, herb-induced soundscapes with an uplifting message and positive vibes.

The smooth riddums, Rastaman chants, including spoken word by “Joseph I”, and Nyabingi drums are the perfect opportunity to trance the mind and open up your consciousness for the knockout punch that is the called the Juggling Suns.

The Suns have been tearing up the jam band circuit since 1997, shredding up clubs, halls, theatres, and festivals along the way, and often referred to as extremely under-rated.

Their original songs have been covered by the Disco Biscuits and Keller Williams, and the Suns have hosted numerous guest musicians up on stage beside them, including Buddy Cage, Tom Constanten (Grateful Dead), Martin Fierro (Legion of Mary) and Jon Gutwillig (Disco Biscuits).

Guitarist Mark Diomede, who has been on the road as a musician since 1989, received the Asbury Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. Diomede has shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Herring, Santana, moe., Mickey Hart, Bob Weir, and many more.

This event is fully packed with talented musicians on the bill, and will surely be an epic celebration of the beginning of the Autumn season.

PlusVibes Productions will be providing security, front gate meet & greet, and most importantly, spreading the word throughout the live music scene about a great festival in the Reading area.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please contact Dragonfly Studio & Gallery in West Reading.

JUST ANNOUNCED:  Superb guitarist & singer/songwriter, Mike Miz will be kicking off the festival at 1pm with a very special set, and also immediately after Cabinet during changeover to Montana Slim.

We hope to see all of you there!

A limited number of tickets are also available at the Brass Lantern (see ChrisK).

Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash, 8/1 @ the Brass

In a posthumous celebration of guitar-icon, and Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia on Saturday, August 1st, the Brass Lantern is bringing together local veteran musicians bound together by one concept – keeping the music and the vibe of Garcia and the Grateful Dead fresh in the hearts and minds of the Deadheads in Berks County. 

Nightmare Detective ipod Music and Lyrics dvd The concept is “a launch pad for improvisation. While respecting the original songs and lyrics of the Grateful Dead classic songbook,”  [they] “ interpret the material in a new way every performance”, (from the Reading Eagle’s Spotlight on: Good Lovin’ Jam Band, 11/06/2008 The Blob full ).

The Good Lovin’ Jam Band is that concept.  The “band” is unique, in that it actually consists of three bands – Pangea Acoustic, Neo Trio, and a “super group” combining members of the two groups to form the Good Lovin’ Jam Band Plaguers buy .

Formed in the summer of 2008, the players are Craig Burkey (bass, vocals), Matt Cullen (percussion), Dan Dolla (guitar, vocals), Cory Heller (keyboards, vocals), Brian Reppert (guitar, vocals) and there’s always some surprise guest artists.

 

Notable stops in their schedule include the Stonersville Hotel, The Alpenhof Guesthouse El Cid: The Legend full

• American Pie Presents: Beta House dvd

, the “In and Out of the Garden We Go” Festival (Snipes Farm), JerryFest ’09 (Kempton), and they even headlined “Deadhead Night” at the Reading Phillies’ First Energy Stadium.

The show on Saturday, August 1st at the Brass Lantern epitomizes the concept to which they are sharing with their audiences.  The birthday celebration will surely set the vibe as soon as you enter the building.  We are asking that you wear either a tie-dyed shirt, a shirt with Jerry’s image or art on it, or a classic Dead concert shirt in Jerry’s memory.

Here’s all the information:

Jungle Cubs on dvd Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash

One-Eyed Monster hd

Black Knight film

featuring the

Good Lovin’ Jam Band

@ The Brass Lantern

• Monster House divx

 
Saturday, August 1st, 2009

10pm – 2am
21+ only
$5 at the door

  – Sound & Lights provided by PlusVibes Productions

Hope to see you there.

On a side note, the GLJB will be performing every THIRD Friday at the Brass Lantern, starting Friday, September 18th at 10pm.  This series has been one that the Brass Lantern has been wishing for since the days that Living Earth was a staple there.

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