Culture
A-Town Roots to Celebrate Color Dance Music & Arts Festival May 19-20
< < Back to a-town-roots-to-celebrate-color-dance-music-arts-festival-may-19-20A-Town Roots is excited to be bringing their Color Dance Music & Arts Festival celebration back after a year’s hiatus. The festival will take place from May 19–20 at the Wisteria Event Campground in Pomeroy.
Color Dance Music & Arts Festival was first inspired by the Hindu Festival of Colors (traditionally called “Holi”) and the music festival traditions born out of Woodstock ’69, but the brand has become to represent much more. Holi, also known as “The Festival of Colors,” is a Hindu spring festival that celebrates many common themes of peace, spirituality, and newness of life. During Holi, participants smear the now-well-known powdered colors across their faces and bodies, as well as friends. When the crowd throws the many different colors into the air in unison, their brief combination creates a visual stimulation that is nearly overwhelming. A Town Roots adopted this “color play” as a physical representation of our underlying theme: “Unity in Diversity.”
Recently, the first wave of musical acts was announced for the festival. These acts include the phenomenal jam rock, funk, and electronic acts from the region and the nation. The top acts include Manic Focus Earthcry, Dirtwire, Gibbz and Tom Hamilton’s American Babies.
After only a few years of performing under the Manic Focus moniker, John “JmaC” McCarten has seen a meteoric rise in nationwide popularity due to his phenomenal electronic productions and insane live show. His mixture of funk, hip-hop, and soul music has taken him on tons of tours and put him on countless festival stages. His 2017 festival schedule includes large-scale festivals like Summer Camp, Euphoria, and Fool’s Paradise.
Earthcry is the electronic side project of Papadosio’s Anthony Thogmartin. Thogmartin, who will be accompanied by band make Mike Healy on drums, creates electronic music with an organic focus that is nothing short of gorgeous. Dirtwire is by far one of the most innovative acts in music today. The trio combines traditional and World Music instrumentation with electronic soundscapes and beats. The result is a psychedelic, new age take on Americana and classic World Music sounds.
Tom Hamilton’s American Babies is a Philadelphia based group that focuses on Americana and progressive rock music. Hamilton is a frequently collaborator with many jam rock greats, and has performed with many members of the Grateful Dead and The Disco Biscuits. Still aiming to make a bigger name for himself, one man band Gibbz will relax Color Dance attendees with his chill, synth pop sound. The young New York based musician has a calm, soft aura about his music that is perfect to listen and dance to, whether it’s early in the afternoon, or late at night. While typically performing solo, Gibbz will be bringing an entire band to perform with him.
Joining these acts include regionals such as Peridoni, Sassafraz, Jones for Revival, Ernie Johnson from Detroit and Love Alive. After Funk will be making the trek from Canada, while Athenian favorites Hellnaw, Bulls on Parade, Waivada, and Any Colour will be performing, amongst many other regionals and locals. Love Alive will be performing a Beck tribute for one of their sets, while After Funk and Sassafraz will be joining forces to pay tribute to The Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
The festival will also feature multiple visual and performance artists, as well as an art gallery, vendors, and activities for kids.
Tickets are currently only $60 and can be purchased at here. Prices will increase closer to the event date.
A-Town Roots is a Community Arts Company started by Ohio University graduates, growing Athens’ arts and entertainment markets through creative events, advertising, and any other form of artistic expression – while promoting social responsibility.
