Now in its 6th year, the Catskill Chill Music Festival celebrated all things chill with a perfect combination of beautiful weather, gorgeous campgrounds (we’ll miss you Camp Minglewood!), wonderful people, and, of course, fantastic music. The 6th annual Chill featured an unforgettable lineup packed to the brim with explosive talent. Not just the headliners, like moe., Zappa Plays Zappa, Lotus, but impressive collaborations and fun-loving music made this a weekend to remember.

Here are some of the highlights from the jam-packed music of an illustrious festival:

Day One: Friday, September 18th

1. Nth Power

Funk outfit The Nth Power funked out on the main stage to kick off the festival proper, laying down the thick funk like no other. This group is always impressive, and they wrapped up their Friday afternoon set with a funky cover of The Beatles’ classic “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” that resonated deeply with those smart enough to show up early. Oh yeah!

Here’s the same cover from last year’s fest to give you a taste of the goods:

 

Setlist:

Spirits, Waiting, I See Love, Right Now, Walk on Water, We Got Each Other (Chaka Khan cover), Only Love, Wolosodon-traditional, Thank You, Holy Rain, Only You, I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (Beatles cover)

2. Consider the Source

This prog-metal-rock trio never fails to bring the excitement wherever they perform. Their festival was no exception, as the group powered through their energetic music and shook Catskill Chill to its foundation. Tight musicianship and intricate compositions highlighted this extra fun set.

3. Lettuce

As festival attendees began filing in on Friday night, it was up to Lettuce to keep the funk vibes alive. Fortunately, the band exceeded all expectations with a fiery festival set like no other. The show featured masterful work from all of the funk collective, but the guest appearance of Nigel Hall for the last three songs kicked this set and festival into high gear!

Setlist:

Get Greasy, Bowler, The Force, Harmonics(major>minor), Slippin into Darkness, Phyllis, Lettsanity, Dread Zeppelin, Trillogy, Madison Square, By Any Shmeeans Necessary, New Reel, Squadlive, Makin My Way (Nigel Hall), Sounds Like A Party To Me (Nigel Hall), Do It Like You Do (Nigel Hall)

4. Lotus

As the sun set on a funky first day, the music opened up into exploratory jamming. Leave it jamtronica stalwarts Lotus to get things cooking, bringing some of their finest for the band’s return to Camp Minglewood. Lotus was locked in from the getgo, delivering an opening “Suitcases” before diving into material new and old. This was only the beginning for the band’s drummer, Mike Greenfield, who ultimately played five sets throughout the weekend and earned the MVP Award from us!

The 2015 Catskill Chill Festival Awards

Setlist:

Suitcases, Tarot, L’immueble > Neon Tubes, Sid > Wooly Mammoth, Lead Pipe > Arupa, Kesey Seed, Livingston Storm > Umbilical Moonrise, What Did I Do Wrong

5. Break Science

Lettuce drummer Adam Deitch kept up the vibes for a little Break Science late night action alongside Borahm Lee. Guest appearances punctuated a free-flowing jamtronic session, including Lettuce/Shady Horns members Ryan Zoidis and Eric “Benny” Bloom, as well as rappers CX and Coachy Real. These guys are all seriously groovy.

6. Twiddle Dead Set

One of the highlights from day one of Catskill Chill was the Dead set from Twiddle. With Tim Palmieri (Kung Fu), Josh Dobbs (Cats Under The Stars), and Ryan Clausen joining in the fun, the group opened with a “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider” and never let up. Todd Stoops and Chris Houser (The Werks) sat in for a fiery “The Music Never Stopped”, setting the packed crowd into a frenzy. Why they packed such a talented band into such a small room will forever remain a mystery, because Twiddle’s take on the Grateful Dead was so much fun.

Setlist:

Friend of the Devil$, China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider, Bird Song, The Other One, Brown Eyed Women, Hard to Handle, the Music Never Stopped*, Ramble on Rose, Fire on the Mountain, Ripple, US Blues

NOTES- Twiddle Dead Set band included Mihali Savoulidis, Zdenek Gubb, Brook Jordan, Tim Palmieri (Kung Fu), Josh Dobbs (Cats Under The Stars), Ryan Clausen (Dead Set Band)
$sound check tune. cut short.
* w/ Chris Houser of The Werks + Todd Stoops”

7. Dopakuaz Plays Studio 54

When it comes down to it, the real winner of the festival was this Dopakuaz Plays Studio 54. With a grand total of 13 people on the stage (9 from Turkuaz + 4 from Dopapod), the energy was palpable. Between the powerful horns, exceptional vocal talents (with an emphasis on Sammi Garrett and Shira Elias), and perfect song selection and execution, the concept and band fusion turned out to be a smashing success. Nonstop dancing from start to finish; such a good time.

Setlist:

That’s The Way, A Fifth of Beethoven, Bad Girls > Le Freak, Bell, You Should Be Dancing, Get Down, Funky Town > Disco Inferno, I Feel Love, Give It To Me Baby, Heart of Glass > Good Times

Day Two: Saturday, September 19th

1. Kung Fu

Kung Fu kicked off a funk-filled Saturday of fun at the Chill, handling the main stage with authority. Fueled by the fercious guitarwork of Tim Palmieri, heavy-hitting drumming from Adrian Tramontano, keyboards from Beau Sasser, bass from Chris DeAngelis and saxophone laid down by Rob Somerville, these guys mean some serious business! These guys will be laying down the funk all throughout the fall, so don’t miss out!

Setlist:

Prime Time Rib, Gold Coast, The Getdown, Joyride> Cars> Joyride, Paragon, Chin Music, Contusion, Daddy D, Bringing Up The Rear, S’all Good, Samurai, Cult Of Personality

2. Shwikus Plays The 80s 

Easily one of the most fun sets of the weekend, members of ShwizZ and FiKus teamed up for a tribute set to the 1980s. The song selection really drove the energy of the set, as familiar, sing-a-long tunes like “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N Roses, “Girlfriend Is Better” by the Talking Heads, and “Thriller > Beat It” from Michael Jackson. Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like singing 80’s tunes at the top of your lungs!

Setlist:

Chariots of Fire, Jump, Welcome to the Jungle, Rock the Casbah -> We Didn’t Start the Fire, Final Countdown Intro -> Pour Some Sugar On Me, Girlfriend is Better, Time After Time – > Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Thriller -> Beat It, We’re Not Gonna Take It, Fight For Your Right (To Party), Chariots of Fire Reprise

3. Zappa Plays Zappa

Down to some serious business! Led by Dweezil Zappa, this living tribute showcased the enormous talent that was Frank Zappa. The whole band was dialed in from start to finish, choosing some of Zappa’s finest tunes and bringing them to life. Easily some of the most bizarre yet intriguing music, the main stage crowd continued to grow throughout the entirety of the performance as more fans grew eager to share the Zappa experience. Among the highlights was a guest appearance from Dopapod guitarist Rob Compa, who joined in for the song “Cosmic Debris”. Here’s Dopapod’s fan-shot picture from that, as any professional image might get us into trouble:

4. The Werks

Named for their versatility, The Werks wasted no time getting down to some great jams at Catskill Chill. Drummer Rob Chafin gave a particularly noteworthy effort this weekend, playing in a number of bands and making guest appearances throughout the Chill. Of note was their cover of “2001”, in the style of Phish, as well as a handful of their own original tunes. Don’t miss these guys on tour with Twiddle this fall, because they always throw down.

 

5. moe. 

The main headliner of Catskill Chill did not disappoint, as the Buffalo-based jam band opened up their fall tour with an exciting hit parade at the festival. The band has been on a roll lately, celebrating their 25th anniversary by bringing only the best on the road. Songs like “Seat Of My Pants” and “Recreational Chemistry” got the set grooving, and a fun sit-in from the Moon Hooch horns on “happy Hour Hero” and “Dr. Graffenberg”, especially, brought some intricate and creative jams to the table. It was “Buster” that closed out a very fun headlining appearance from a staple of the jam band scene.

Setlist:

Seat Of My Pants > Recreational Chemistry, Billy Goat > Bearsong, Happy Hour Hero*^, Dr. Graffenberg* Spint Of A Dog > Buster
Notes: * w/ Mike Wilbur & Wenzl McGowen on horns, ^ w/ Diggy Lessard on guitar}

6. Stratosphere All-Stars

This supergroup absolutely destroyed their performance at Catskill Chill. Bringing in drummer Mike Greenfield (Lotus), bassist David Murphy (formerly STS9), keyboardist Steve Molitz (Particle), and guitarist Marcus Rezak (Digital Tape Machine), the Stratosphere guys flew through a number of impressive jamtronica covers throughout a tightly woven, exploratory set. Props to Greenfield for one of his many sets, and Rezak commanded the tunes with his lightning-fast chops on the guitar. Of particular note was the sit-in from vocalist Hayley Jane, who dominated the lead vocals on a cover of “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie. Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.

Setlist:

BMF (Bag Raiders) > Stratus (Billy Cobham) > Arnold (Luke Million), Let’s Dance* (David Bowie), Jan Jan+ (Grant Green), Ramone & Emiglio (STS9), Great Dane (Digital Tape Machine)

*w/ Hayley Jane on vocals +w/ Rob Compa (Dopapod) on guitar

7. Twiddle

Again, it was Twiddle who closed out a day of Catskill Chill music was some gusto. For a 2:30 AM set, Twiddle’s main stage appearance was packed to the brim. After the previous day’s Dead set, the Burlington, VT-based jam band wasted no time digging into their original grooves. Tracks like “Jamflowman” and “BeeHop” with new Teddy Midnight guitarist Wiley Griffin showed why these guys are one of the fastest-growing bands in the scene today. Not to mention that Todd Stoops joined them, for the second time that weekend, on a version of “Brown Chicken Brown Cow”. What a great time!

Setlist:

Zazu’s Flight, BeeHop (with Wiley Griffin), Wasabi Eruption > The Box, Brown Chicken Brown Cow (with Todd Stoops), Jamflowman > Frankenfoote

Day Three: Sunday, September 20th

1. Turkuaz

Taking a day off of Chillfam festivities, the nine-piece funk army from Brooklyn returned to Catskill Chill with a bang! This group consistently puts on high-energy shows, making it such a treat to witness and participate in their live performances. Don’t miss this crew on the road this fall!

2. The Motet

Keeping the funk train rolling, another eclectic ensemble known as The Motet brought their A-game down to Camp Minglewood. Led by vocalist Jans Ingber, the impressive collective always lays down the foundation for some good time vibes. Bringing songs that spanned the group’s career, including tracks from their 2014 self-titled release, The Motet kicked into the funk zone and never stood still. These guys got the crowd moving and grooving right.

Setlist:

Funny Bone, Knock It Down, Shake My Booty, Cloak and Dagger, Fight The Power, Closed Mouth Don’t Get Fed, Cretan, Like We Own It, Space and Time, The Fountain, Keep On Don’t Stoppin’, Just Around The Corner

3. Dopapod

Next up was Dopapod, keeping the dance party going with their progressively-tinted rock fusion tunes. The jam group teased bits and pieces of their “Studio 54” set throughout, but felt right at home playing some of their original classics. It’s no surprise that this group, who recently rocked Bonnaroo earlier this summer, would bring such a wild and fun time to this comfortable environment. With practically all of the band’s members sitting in with other groups, the Dopapod crew were in good spirits throughout the weekend, and the music really reflected it. Never afraid to push the boundaries, Dopapod forged ahead with their thoughtfully-composed tunes underlying a powerful performance.

Here’s footage from Dopapod 2014 to get you grooving:

Setlist:

Turnin’ Knobs, Like A Ball, Give it A Name* -> Black and White, Picture in Picture*^ -> Roid Rage%* -> Upside of Down > Onionhead#
Notes: *unfinished ^contained Funkytown teases %contained Le Freak teases #contained teases of I Feel Love and Smells Like Teen Spirit

4. Electron

Super jams ahoy! Now an established fixture of the live scene, this intermittent collaboration with Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits), Marc Brownstein (Disco Biscuits), Tom Hamilton (JRAD/American Babies) and Mike Greenfield (Lotus) again (!!), this all-star crew always keep the grooves churning with proper jams. Bringing some Disco Biscuits songs as well as some choice covers, including Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell” and “Have A Cigar” (with American Babies’ Justin Mazer) as well as the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias” into “I Know You Rider”. It’s not too surprising that the Dead tunes were performed, as the Disco Biscuits guys have played with Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, and Magner and Hamilton are members of Kreutzmann’s own band, Billy & The Kids. It’s been an exciting couple of years for the Electron crew, and it was nice to see them let loose on the Catskill main stage.

Setlist:

MEMPHIS, Kamaloe Sands > Run Like Hell > Grass is Green, Kamaloe, Have a Cigar (with Justin Mazer from American Babies), 42 > Humu > Miracles > 42 , Scarlet Begonias > I Know You Rider Rider

5. Pink Talking Fish

The hybrid tribute fusion phenomenon known as Pink Talking Fish kept up the grooves on day three of the Chill, bringing their unique blend of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish covers to the crowd. The brainchild of former Particle bassist Eric Gould, the crew always merges the material in intricate and exciting ways. Their Chill set was no exception, as jams like the extended segment of “Divided Sky > Pigs (3 Different Ones) > Psycho Killer > Divided Sky” kept the crowd dancing and singing along throughout the evening fun.

Setlist:

Life During Wartime> Punch You In The Eye, Money*> Crosseyed And Painless*^, Divided Sky> Pigs (3 Different Ones)> Psycho Killer> Divided Sky, This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), Run Like An Antelope> Eclipse

*w/ Greg Sanderson on sax
^w/ Rob Chafin and Michelangelo Carrubba on percussion “

6. Particle & Fam

Closing out the festival was the only band that’s played it every year, Particle. The longtime jamtronica band features a number of members who actually grew up attending Camp Minglewood (as did Mike Greenfield), and they continued to bring out incredible guest musicians throughout a walloping late night performance. With sit-ins from Tom Hamilton, Greenfield, DJ Logic, Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits), Turkuaz’s horns and singers, Eric Gould (a former band member), Rob Chafin (The Werks), Rob Compa (Dopapod), Brock Butler (Perpetual Groove), Hayley Jane, Sarah Jane, members of ShwizZ and FiKus… yeah, it was one of those kinds of performances.

Emotions naturally ran high throughout the “Family Affair > We Are Family” medley that closed out the show, featuring dozens of people on stage together. As it certainly seems that this is the last year of Catskill Chill in its current form, the festival has been a perfect late-summer beacon of live music. Thank you to Catskill Chill for all of the memories! Until next time.

Setlist:

Dave Marzollo (Catskill Chill Founder) Introduction1, Launchpad (Particle), Let’s Start A Gang2 (Brothers Past), Fame3 (David Bowie), Triple Threat4 (Particle), Sweet Dreams5 (Eurythmics), The Elevator (Particle), The Golden Gator6 (Particle), Accelerator7 (Particle), Kneeknocker8 (Particle), Family Affair9 (Sly & The Family Stone) –> We Are Family9 (Sister Sledge)

1) Dave introduced Particle as the only band to have had the honor of playing all six years of Catskill Chill, and he also thanked the fans for creating and maintaining such an amazing Chill Family
2) w/Tom Hamilton (Billy & The Kids) & Mike Greenfield (Lotus)
3) w/Turkuaz Horns (Chris Brouwers, Greg Sanderson, Josh Schwartz) & DJ Logic
4) w/Aron Magner (the Disco Biscuits)
5) w/Turkuaz Singers (Sammi Garett, Shira Elias) & DJ Logic
6) w/Eric Gould (Pink Talking Fish)
7) New Particle original (first time played) & the title track of the band’s new studio album
8) w/Rob Chafin (The Werks) & Rob Compa (Dopapod)
9) w/a huge ensemble of Chill Fam Artists including Turkuaz Horns, Turkuaz Singers, Brock Butler (Perpetual Groove), Haley Jane, Sarah Jane, members of Shwizz, Fikus, etc.”

[Photos by Andrew Blackstein, Chad Anderson, and Paul Citone]