Last week, Brooklyn Comes Alive announced a massive artist lineup, with over 100 artists slated to perform 35+ sets of music over two days in the heart of Williamsburg. Today, the festival is proud to announce the first of many unique collaborative set—"The Road Goes On Forever: Celebrating The Music Of The Allman Brothers Band," a star-studded tribute bringing together members of some of the biggest bands in improvisational music to pay homage to the earth-shattering impact of the music of the Allman Brothers Band.
This all-star collaboration will feature Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico of moe.; Joel Cummins and Kris Meyers of Umphrey's McGee; Scott Sharrard and Brett Bass of Gregg Allman Band; and Nate Werth of Snarky Puppy. Special guests will also appear throughout the set, including New York guitar prodigy and Broadway star, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, who was mentored by both late greats Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks.
When asked what the Allman Brothers mean to him, moe.’s Al Schnier stated:
"The Allman Brothers “At Fillmore East” changed the landscape of live rock music, & particularly the place of the guitar in an improvisational ensemble forever more. They somehow blended these very American elements of Jazz, Blues, & Soul into something uniquely theirs, yet timeless all the same. And that album, their sound became part of my DNA at an early age. To this day, the twin guitar combo in moe. would not be what it is if not for the path forged by Duane Allman & Dickey Betts."
Joel Cummins, keyboardist extraordinaire for Umphrey’s McGee, was equally effusive about the Allman Brothers, explaining:
"The Allman Brothers are one of rock n roll’s most seminal bands in history, forging a path for many musicians today that have followed in their footsteps. As a keyboardist myself, Gregg Allman & Chuck Leavell‘s masterful work on organ & piano influenced the way I approach music. It will be an honor to pay tribute to a group of musicians Umphrey’s McGee loves and respects so much."
Finally, Scott Sharrard had some touching words to share about his mentor and former bandmate, Gregg Allman. Sharrard was the musical director for the final eight years of the Gregg Allman Band, and also was a frequent collaborator of Allman’s in his later years, helping him to write new music and to shape his live show. Scott will serve as musical director for The Road Goes On Forever, and he had this to say about this set at Brooklyn Comes Alive:
"What Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks did was rain truth daggers of love and unity in every salvo of sound from the stage. One true note can slice into every heart. I believe this was their goal every time that they took the stage, I never saw them miss. It will be a pleasure to honor these founding members of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Alongside some friends, both old and new, we will do our best to “hit the note” at Brooklyn Comes Alive."
More Info on Brooklyn Comes Alive 2017:
After two successfully sold out years, the annual Brooklyn Comes Alive festival will return for two full days of unique supergroups, special tribute sets, and once in a lifetime collaborations. This year, the event expands into two days, taking place September 23 - 24, at three of Brooklyn’s premier venues—Brooklyn Bowl, The Hall at MP, and Music Hall of Williamsburg—all within a 10 minute walking radius.
Two days means twice as many special sets, with a massive roster of talent drawing from funk, jam, electronic, afrobeat, bluegrass, jazz, reggae, drum and bass, pop, rock and roll and more. Iconic legends such as John Scofield, George Porter Jr., Cyril Neville, DJ Premier, Johnny Vidacovich and Henry Butler join members of nationally-touring bands such as Grammy-award-winning Snarky Puppy, The Meters, Primus, Soulive, Lettuce, The Motet, Lotus, Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters, Yonder Mountain String Band, The String Cheese Incident, The Russ Liquid Test, Sunsquabi, Pendulum, Destroid, The Crystal Method, Midnight North, Aqueous, Kung Fu, Electric Beethoven, and more, making this the most eclectic Brooklyn Comes Alive to date. The full lineup can be viewed here and can be found below.
Inspired by the vibrant musical communities of Brooklyn and New Orleans, this unique event puts the focus on the artists, bringing over 100 musicians together to see their passion projects come to life, honor their musical heroes, and improvise with their friends and peers. The event pushes the boundaries of a traditional music festival model and creates an unprecedented experience for fans.
Purchasing a ticket to Brooklyn Comes Alive grants you access to all three venues: Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and The Hall at MP. Wristband-holders may come and go amongst the venues throughout the event, creating an indoor music festival feeling all within the heart of Williamsburg.
To find out more about ticketing, VIP options, and lodging, head to the festival website.
