Thursday, June 12, 2014

Americana Music Festival this Weekend at The New York Botanical Garden

On June 14 and 15, from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m., The New York Botanical Garden transforms the sprawling lawn of Daffodil Hill into the Big Backyard BBQ & Music Festival, a two-day celebration of great music, gourmet food, and New York craft beer. Beginning at noon on Saturday and Sunday of Father’s Day Weekend, visitors can enjoy live music by some of the best Americana bands that have been rising in popularity at festivals across the country. The outdoor fun includes games for all ages, a selection of food styles for purchase, and food and beer samplings from around New York State.

The Big Backyard BBQ & Music Festival is a program of the Botanical Garden’s Edible Academy, an educational platform that prepares children, their families, and their teachers for a lifelong interest in gardening and healthful living. For more information about The Edible Academy and its sponsors, please visit nybg.org/edibleacademy.

Live Americana Music

Station Avenue Productions, a leading event production and entertainment firm, is helping to plan the music lineup for the inaugural Big Backyard BBQ & Music Festival. Americana, as described by the Americana Music Association, “is contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, R&B, and blues...While acoustic instruments are often present and vital, Americana also often uses a full electric band.”

Saturday’s headliner act is The Lone Bellow, one of People magazine’s “Best Albums of 2013,” playing soulful, acoustic-based rock Americana. With swelling three-part harmonies and rousing group-sung choruses,the critically acclaimed band was named one of the “10 Artists to Watch in 2013” by Billboard magazine.

Other Saturday acts include Caravan of Thieves with their unique blend of gypsy swing and popular music, and The Defibulators, one of New York’s best emerging bands, whose infectious energy and originality have earned them a devoted following.

The fun continues on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, with Roosevelt Dime, an original mix of Appalachian, Memphis, and New Orleans sounds, described as “a perpetual crowd-pleaser” by
The New York Times.




Cricket Tell the Weather, winner of last year’s FreshGrass Award at MASS MoCA, bring their
electrifying act to the Garden. Miss Tess and The TalkBacks rounds out the afternoon, paying homage to some of Tess’s favorite singers and songwriters, including Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, and Hank Williams, through a set of rousing covers.


Food, Music, Games, and Cooking Demos for All Ages

The Big Backyard BBQ & Music Festival offers entertainment and great food in the marvelous setting of The New York Botanical Garden as the spring season winds down and summer approaches.

BBQ & Beer
11 a.m.–5 p.m.
A selection of different styles of food and fixin’s will be available for purchase from Stephen STARR Events, The Strand Smokehouse, Bronx Baking Co. pretzels, Andy’s Italian Ices &
Espresso Bar, Coolhaus, and on Sunday only, Morris Grilled Cheese. Offering complimentary
samples, and their specialty items for purchase to take home, local vendors include Cheeky
Monkey Foods, Crown Maple, Lola Granola, and G & K Sweet Foods, courtesy of Taste NY.
Additional samplers include Sullivan St Bakery, Sauerkraut Seth’s, Roni-Sue’s Chocolates,
Brooklyn Brew Shop, Jonas Bronck’s Beer Co., Manhattan Beer Distributors, and on Sunday
only, Regal Vegan. Sample craft beer from New York State and find your favorite brews.

Live Music

12–5 p.m.
Enjoy a full weekend of Americana music from a slate of popular bands, including The Lone
Bellow, Caravan of Thieves, The Defibulators, Roosevelt Dime, Cricket Tell the Weather, and
Miss Tess and The TalkBacks.

Golf Putting Green and Games
11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Borrow a putter and hit the putting green and enjoy our big backyard by playing classic games,
including Ladder Golf and a Bean Bag Toss.

Cooking Demonstrations for Families

2 & 4 p.m.
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden at the Whole Foods Market® Family Garden Kitchen
Stop by and join us as we prepare and grill special treats featuring aromatic herbs and sweet
onion family plants.

Festival Tickets (Adult: Member $20/Non-Member $30; Child (ages 2–12): Member $10/Non-Member $15; Children under 2: Free) include all festival activities plus All-Garden Pass admission, which provides access to special exhibitions such as Groundbreakers: Great American Gardens and The Women Who Designed Them, the Tram Tour, and more throughout the Botanical Garden’s 250-acre historic grounds. Other events that are also covered in the Festival Ticket price is a Family Concert by the Bronx Arts Ensemble, Three Billy Goats Gruff, at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, hands-on gardening programming from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., and tours of the Howell Family Garden, future home of The Edible Academy, at 2, 3, 4, and 5 p.m.

All adults 21 and older who intend to consume alcohol will be required to show valid photo ID as proof of age upon entry to the festival. No outside coolers, food, or beverages will be permitted. The festival will feature open lawn seating and visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket or low-backed chairs; no seating will be provided. The Big Backyard BBQ & Music Festival will take place rain or shine.

Station Avenue Productions, a division of The asterism* Group, headquartered in Merchantville, New Jersey, produces events and coordinates entertainment opportunities for leading venues, non-profit organizations, corporate entities, and community organizations throughout the United States.

An unforgettable departure from the everyday, The New York Botanical Garden is America’s premier urban garden. Its special exhibitions, seasonal programs, and engaging activities inspire visitors of every age and interest. The Botanical Garden is an ever-changing living museum, and a showplace of natural beauty and wonder.

For more information, visit nybg.org or call 718.817.8700.

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