A little less than a month before the Philly Music Fest, organizers have announced a surprise national headliner in Mt. Joy, the indie rockers with roots in the region. The band will play he first two nights of the six-night event across six venues at Ardmore Music Hall on Oct. 10 and 11.
Mt. Joy was formed in 2016 in Los Angeles by guitarist/singer Matt Quinn and guitarist Sam Cooper, who had rekindled a musical partnership that started at Chester County’s Conestoga High School while both attending.
“Philly is my home, I grew up in the area and was inspired to be a musician here,” Quinn said in a statement. “I never take for granted the opportunity to play music here. Especially for a cause that will help inspire and give kids in my hometown the tools to create their own music. It’s an honor to be a part of this festival, we’re looking forward to two awesome nights!”
A non-profit organization founded by a local husband and wife team Greg and Jenn Seltzer, the Philly Music Fest has donated more than $275,000 to local music education programs and artists in need – but only after paying all the venues and artists to perform at the festival. Boasting the tagline “Our genre is Philly,” the fest features a wide range of music from rock to jazz to hip hop to folk to punk to bluegrass and spoken word. It kicks off this year on Oct. 10 and runs through Oct. 15.
“It’s really cool to see how Philly Music Fest has grown,” Adam Weiner said in a statement. His band Low Cut Connie returns to the festival as a headliner after playing a much smaller PMF in 2018. “They are doing great work and I hope it continues. Music education gives kids a lifeline that they can cling to throughout their lives, and I am very happy to be participating in this festival and echo its mission.”
Philly Music Fest has sold out the last three years. Tickets can be purchased via the festival’s official website, phillymusicfest.com or via the venue websites which include World Café Live, Johnny Brenda’s, Ardmore Music Hall, The Dolphin Tavern, REC Philly and Underground Arts. This year’s lineup also features Mannequin Pussy, Ron Gallo, Screaming Females, Shamir, Empath, Saleka, Electric Candlelight, Lady HD, Kayleigh Goldsworthy, Ghosh, Echo Kid, Max Swan, Stereo League, Marielle Kraft, Riverby, The Ire, Justmadnice and Perpetual Motion.
The festival has seen its impact grow substantially in recent years. In 2017, the non-profit donated $15,000 to music education programs. The following year the total increased to $25,000, then $40,000 in 2019, $50,000 in 2020 and $75,000 in 2021. Programs that receive donations include Rock to the Future, Girls Rock Philly, Settlement Music School, Musicopia, Beyond the Bars, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Live Connections and Play on Philly. The Philly Music Fest has also deployed over 330 micro-grants in 2020 and 2021 to local musicians and venue staff struggling as a result of COVID-19.
VINYL OF THE WEEK
Keep an eye on this spot as each week we’ll be looking at new or soon-to-be-released vinyl from a variety of artists. It might be a re-pressing of a landmark recording, special edition or new collection from a legendary act. This week, it’s a release from a UK prog rock unit who were amid a career making run.
PINK FLOYD: “ANIMALS 2018 REMIX”
Originally released in January 1977, “Animals”’ is the 10th studio album by Pink Floyd and came out during the hottest streak in the band’s history, coming after 1973’s “Dark Side of the Moon” and 1975’s “Wish You Were Here” and just prior to the landmark rock opera “The Wall” in 1979. Though it sometimes gets lost among those milestones, “Animals” has now received a remix and for the first time is available in 5.1 Surround Sound.
Recorded and produced by the group at Floyd’s Britannia Row Studios in London throughout 1976 and early 1977, “Animals” peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 3 in the States and is considered one of their best works by hardcore fans. It features the classic Pink Floyd lineup of David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright.
A concept album at its core, the LP focused on the social-political conditions of mid-1970s Britain and was a change from the style of the band’s earlier work. It was developed from a collection of unrelated songs into a concept which describes the apparent social and moral decay of society, likening the human condition to that of animals. Taking inspiration from George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” the album depicted the different classes of people as animals, with pigs being at the top of the social chain, dropping down to the sheep as the mindless herd following what they are told with dogs as the business bosses getting fat on the money and power they hold over the other. It’s narrative still resonating to this day as our social and economic situation mirrors that of the time.
“Animals 2018 Remix” will be released Friday on CD, LP with gatefold artwork, Blu-ray, SACD and deluxe gatefold formats. The deluxe gatefold version, available Oct. 7, includes LP, CD, audio Blu-ray, audio DVD and a 32-page book. The Blu-ray and DVD audio include the 2018 remix in stereo, 5.1 Surround, both by producer/engineer James Guthrie, and the original 1977 stereo mix. The 32-page booklet contains rare behind the scenes photographs of the album sleeve shoot along with live images and memorabilia.
The album’s iconic cover shows an inflatable pig, these days known as “Algie,” floating between two chimneys of the Battersea Power Station. It was conceived by Waters and designed by long-time collaborator Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis Studios. The artwork has been reimagined for the modern era by Thorgerson’s Hipgnosis partner Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell. Taking new shots of the building as it appeared during the recent conversion work, Po experimented with new angles and produce some striking new takes on the classic original.
“Animals 2018 Remix” can be found online and from all respectable retailers who carry vinyl.
To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, send an email to rockmusicmenu@gmail.com. Also, check out his website at thechroniclesofmc.com.
Source: Berkshire mont
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