Belleayre’s 20th Season Capped By Shows With Country & Bluegrass Roots
Staff | August 25, 2011 | CommentThree musicians with bluegrass and country roots, who have expanded into distinctive, genre-breaking sounds, will highlight the final shows of Belleayre Music Festival¹s extraordinary 20th season.
Punch Brothers & Jessica Lea Mayfield
The festival presents a scintillating mix of young artists who are rapidly gaining acclaim from music writers and a growing legion of fans. Punch Brothers, featuring mandolinist extraordinaire Chris Thile, and Jessica Lea Mayfield, whose sophomore release “Tell Me” is already earning status on numerous critics’ “Best of 2011” lists, will each play full sets in the intimate Belleayre Music Club on Saturday, Aug. 27 a 8 p.m. Mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile¹s newest venture is an all-star quintet called Punch Brothers. The band presents an intriguing musical style that¹s difficult to categorize, but easy to love. The group issued a debut album, “Punch,” in 2008, which was anchored by Thile’s ambitious 40-minute, four-part suite “The Blind Leaving the Blind.” The New Yorker called the band’s debut, “wide-ranging and restlessly imaginative” The double disc “Antifogmatic,” followed last fall.
The Boston Globe says of Punch Brothers “this top-shelf acoustic quintet is a virtuosic revelation.” Jessica Lea Mayfield, who has enjoyed an extraordinary year, spurred by the release of her stunning sophomore effort, “Tell Me.” Jessica has earned substantial critical and audience buzz for this record and recently received a nomination from the Best New/Emerging Artist from the American Music Association. Winners will be announced at the November 20 awards show. The acclaim surrounding Jessica went into overdrive with the July release of SPIN magazine¹s compilation release of “Newermind,” a multi-artist tribute commemorating the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s epic “Nevermind.” Jessica’s cover of “Lounge Ac” has been hailed as one of the most riveting tracks on the release. Tickets for this fantastic double-bill are $25 general admission and $50 for VIP seating in the Belleayre Music Club.
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones – Original Lineup
Belleayre¹s phenomenal 20th season wraps up in high-energy style with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Original Lineup, who promise a roller-coaster ride of genre-busting tunes on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m.
Béla Fleck is arguably often the world’s premier banjo player, but his extraordinary musical talents transcend any simple description. Illustrating this point it the fact that Béla has been nominated in more different Grammy categories than anyone in history (27 nominations and 11 wins).
For their first major concert tour in eight years, Bela will be joined by the Flecktones’ original lineup of Howard Levy, Victor Wooten and Future Man. When Béla takes the stage with the “Tones,” audiences are treated to a sonic adventure that melds superb technical skills, improvisation and the love playing into an unforgettable concert experience. Bela and the Flecktones have garnered a strong and faithful following among jazz and new acoustic fans and they have shared the stage with icons such as the Dave Mathews Band, Sting, Bonnie Raitt and the Grateful Dead. Tickets for Bela Fleck are $66/56/46/36/25 (lawn).
Tickets & contact
All shows begin at 8 p.m. For tickets or additional information, please call 800 942-6904, ext. 1344 or visit: www.belleayremusic.org or e-mail: [email protected].
For information on where to stay, dine, shop or to simply enjoy the great outdoors when you¹re in town for the Belleayre Music Festival, please visit: www.catskillhighpeaks.com, www.ulstertourism.info or www.greatwesterncatskills.com.
Belleayre Music Festival concerts are held on the grounds of Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.
Belleayre Mountain is located in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountain region. The area is located just off Route 28 and is 37 miles west of Thruway Exit 19 at Kingston; 55 miles southeast of Oneonta on Route 28; 40 miles from the Route 17 exit at Roscoe; and 95 miles southwest of Albany and just two hours north of NYC.