(Writer: Tammie Birdwell)

We are less than a week away until Woods Fest 2 which takes place at Woods Valley Ski Area in Westernville, New York, on August 10. Bremer Hearing and Audio Technology announced that Annie in the Water, The Old Main, and The Black River will all be on the mountain to delight your ears and keep your dancing feet on the move.

Starting at noon and ending at midnight, Woods Fest 2 takes place on one of the most magical backdrops in New York — a ski-slope turned into a family-friendly music venue. In its second year at this family-owned resort, this one-day festival features nine different acts playing genres including Southern rock, Indie Rock, Groove, and Americana.

In addition to the fantastic lineup, which we will get to in a moment, Woods Fest 2 will feature craft beers from Heart of New York Brewing Company Craft Beverage Trail as well as food trucks galore. And for some extra fun, Varano Super Jump will be on the grounds with bounce houses and Just Breathe Yoga Studio will be there also to help you stretch out beforehand.

The Lineup

Woods Fest 2 will feature nine bands spread out over two stages throughout the day and well into the night. Considering this is a festival on the small side, the lineup is anything but.

Annie in the Water will take the stage, as we said. Hailing from the North Country, this groove rock band has 11 years under its belt as well as two album releases including their newest titled Time to Play which was released back in June. Annie in the Water incorporates reggae, groove, blues, and rock in such a unique way the audience never leaves disappointed.

(Photo: Frankie Cavone)

For the second year running, The Old Main joins the lineup at Woods Fest. This band, formed “in the wake of the Birdseed Bandits,” after a breakup in 2014, has a unique Americana sound. Prepare yourself for some foot-stomping tracks alongside dreamy ballads when The Old Main takes the stage for another one of their groundbreaking live performances.

Quickly becoming recognized throughout central New York, The Black River will bring their unique blend of classic and roots rock to the mountain this year. Having just concluded a residency at Syracuse’s Armory Square, this band produces a sound that’s unlike anything else in the area. With bandleader Mike Powell leading the audience through soulful storytelling, this band’s set is not to be missed. Hot on the heels of their Barn party at Critz Farm in Cazenovia, Central New York’s premier Grateful Dead Tribute band Dark Hollow joins the Woods Fest lineup this year. Featuring a wealth of musicians from the area, this band has been creating an original spin of the Grateful Dead experience since 1996. Fresh off their fantastic set at Tumbledown in Burlington, Vermont, Woods Fest is happy to announce that Nina’s Brew will be with us on the slopes this year as well. With a unique blend of funk, soul, and rock, once you hear them, you will understand why the band is gaining traction so quickly.

Hailed as Central New York’s music Godfathers, Los Blancos is set to take the stage and spice things up with their special blend of blues, zydeco, Latin roots, and funk. Having performed with such acts as Los Lobos, Gov’t Mule, and Dickey Betts, this band has an ardent group of followers in Central New York and beyond for a reason.

After a knockout set last year, Woods Fest is pleased to announce that Les Brers will return again this season. Les Brers is the regions longest running Allman Brothers tribute band and according to the attendees there last year, “if you closed your eyes, you’d swear you were at an Allman Brothers show.” If you enjoy hearing bands quickly rising through the ranks, you have to check out Late Earth’s set this year. Coming from the Syracuse alt-rock scene, and fresh from a performance at A Lovely Time Festival at Snow Ridge, this band’s unique blend of rock, ska, blues, jazz, and punk will have you out of your seat in no time.

Last but not least, Substanance makes their triumphant return to the mountain. This unique trio keeps it all in the family while the father Joe Coniguliaro and his sons Quinn and Ben fill your ears with their delightful sounds featuring funk and harmonic rock. This band’s music will fill your heart and feed your soul.

You can pick up advanced tickets for this exciting event in person at Copper City Brewing Company located at 1111 Oneida street in Rome. Or, you can purchase tickets online for $25 through the Woods Valley website. Children ages 6 to 12 are $5, and children 5 and under are free. Your passes include full-day admission to the festival, parking, and use of the bounce houses. The gates will open at 11 am, and the music will begin at noon. If you have any questions, please visit the Woods Fest Music Festival’s Facebook page.