Mazzstock Music Festival Rocks the Hudson Valley with National, Regional Talent
By Dave Heinzinger
Labor Day has passed, and summer is winding down. But before we get too deep into pumpkin-spiced latte season, let’s take one last look back at southern New York’s own end-of-summer send-off, Mazzstock Music Festival (August 26-28, Marlboro, NY).
Sandwiched halfway between the eclectic NYC scene and the folky-Americana roots of upstate Woodstock, Mazzstock benefits from a triple-whammy of deep musical influence, proximity to nationally-touring acts and homegrown local talent. What started in 2008 as a birthday party for property owner and founder Lee Mazzola has officially morphed into an intimate showcase that attracts artists from all categories.
Friday music kicked off with Brooklyn-based progressive jazz/funk/rock powerhouse Juka plus Hudson Valley rock standouts Space Dragon.
Zach Deputy took the stage to headline Friday night and rocked the audience with his unique blend of island soul. Deputy was followed up by local blues staples Dan Brother Band and later by COSMAL, a multifaceted audio/visual experience that is capturing well-deserved national attention.
Saturday afternoon opened with a heavy dose of local Hudson Valley talent including alternative rockers Junket, funk-soul-storytellers SkyDaddy, and the modern acoustic project Talking Machine — the latter forms the basis of the Mazzstock All-Star Band, covering a variety of classic rock and fronted by Lee Mazzola himself.
Saturday night featured Woodstock-based genre-benders Three, making their second consecutive appearance at Mazzstock. Spiritual Rez — set for a national tour this fall— then took the stage with a blazing hot reggae dance set led by their new single “Sober” and punctuated by the popular “Bring It On.” Teddy Midnight followed them up with a tasty blend of jazz-funk-jamtronica that worked the crowd up into a dance frenzy. (Check out their new album Velvet Blue, which was just released this week.) Late-night festival-goers partied in the Silent Disco or took part in acoustic jams around the campfire.
Sunday standouts included New Paltz-based skagrass band Los Thujones and NYC’s jamtronica outfit Space Bacon. Gratefully Yours closed out another year at Mazzstock field with some great vibes and an awesome performance.
In 2017, Mazzstock will celebrate its tenth year and we’re already anticipating a fantastic lineup. Whether you’re local to NY or a traveling soul in the Northeast music scene, you’re welcome at Mazzstock Field. Subscribe to the Facebook page or check mazzstock.com for updates.
