Flashing back to this summer brings so many amazing memories to mind. But what is summer really about for the music-lover??? FESTIVALS! Even though I was super busy with our recent move, starting a new job, and planning a wedding ... you know I can ALWAYS find time for live music! This summer didn’t allow me to go to as many events as I usually would but I definitely made sure to go to my favorites!
Ryan and I started the summer on a mini-tour with my new-found sister, the amazing singer and soul, Madison Pruitt. We planned a few shows around the northeast to take her on “The Road to the Frendly Gathering,” where she would perform on the main stage. I remember finding Madi on the Medicine Tribe group on Facebook a few years ago and showing Ryan her videos. Little did either of us know we would be managing her and basically adopting her into our family. We spent almost three weeks touring around New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont and recording tracks for her upcoming album at Future Fields here in Burlington (with the amazing guys from Madaila and a few special guests). Another fun surprise was getting to stop by Paste Magazine's Studio in New York City while Twiddle did a live recording and interview session. The studio itself is within the concert vault, featuring years of audio and video recordings created throughout the years. AMAZING! Some of the most iconic performances are in that vault, so it was an honor to even be in their presence! Several artists have stopped by since its creation to record sessions in front of an intimate studio audience. In this case, the intimate studio audience was me, Madison and two Twiddle contest winners! At the end of the session Madison even got to play around with some of the vintage guitars they had. It definitely was a fun-filled "Road to Frendly," but every crazy tour needs a little R&R after, so we took Madi out to the Hamptons before the big festival! I posted a few pics from the road below :)
One of my favorite stops on the mini-tour was at Electric Haze. Our great friend Tony Scavone hooked Madison up with a band of friends - they learned her songs on the spot and jammed all night!
We took a little break in the Hamptons to rejuvenate!
Madison and I visited the Twiddle guys at Paste Magazine's studio and she got to mess around a little bit with some of their guitars.
On the main stage at Frendly!
ALWAYS #LiveFrendly
Check out this awesome video of Upstate Rubdown one late night when it was an absolute DOWNPOUR outside - we all snuggled up in the Martin Dome and they raged the rain away!
The Friendly Gathering was an amazing experience, not only for Madi, but for Twiddle and some of our other close friends Madaila, Annie in the Water, Turkuaz, and Upstate Rubdown. It’s always so rewarding to see people that are so dear to you heart up on stage doing what they are passionate about.
Speaking of that ... one of the coolest festival moments of the summer (in my opinion) was the legendary Phil Lesh sitting in with Twiddle at their very own festival, Tumbledown. We’ve become great friends with Phil’s son Grahame and his bandmates in Midnight North over the past few years, and they were on the lineup for the festival. It was such a pleasant surprise to arrive on Day 1 of the fest and see Phil in the backstage area. I definitely didn’t think anything could top Page McConnell sitting in last year but this was truly a once in a lifetime moment for everyone!
It was such an amazing moment to watch Phil Lesh play with the boys and our great friends in Midnight North! So surreal!
Never in a million years did I think I would say "Hey guys, here's a photo of me, my fiancé, and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead."
Stole Madison for another week so we could keep on recording and take awesome photos on the Burlington Waterfront!
Of course festival season is fun, and when it comes to an end you look back and smile at all of the amazing times you had with your best friends and family. But HONESTLY ... what would the summer of 2017 be without a little Baker’s Dozen? Phish has always been my favorite band so being able to attend some of this monumental run was more than a blessing for me. The few shows that I was able to hit held so much fun with phriends that I think I’ll have to save that for another post!
xoxo. Alexandra
