Ellis Paul headlines the last day of the 21st annual Black Potatoe Music Festival, July 16.
In 1997, Hillary Clinton was in the White House — as the First Lady — and Donald Trump’s biggest controversy was his harsh criticism of a Miss Universe who had put on some weight after winning the title. Yes, things have changed quite a bit since 1997, which also happened to be the year of the first Black Potatoe Music Festival.
The annual festival has changed, too, having started as a single concert celebrating the release of the Black Potatoe Records label owner Matt “Angus” Williams’ band, Angus. This year’s festival — which will take place July 13-16, outdoors at the Red Mill Museum in Clinton — will feature 39 bands on two stages.
But the festival’s commitment to independent rock, blues, folk, jazz and other forms of music remains the same.
Williams’ current band, The Matt Angus Thing, will headline on Saturday (July 15), as it usually does. Other acts who should be familiar to Black Potatoe’s audience include Ellis Paul, Gregg Allman collaborator Scott Sharrard, Willy Porter, Nalani & Sarina, Gregg Cagno, Mike Montrey, the Sharar Sisters, Jenny Cat and Karl Dietel.
About half of the lineup throughout the festival, and 80 percent on the busiest day (July 15), will be devoted to women, or female-fronted bands.
Matt “Angus” Williams, left, and KC Cary.
The opening day of the festival, July 13, will double as a record release celebration for KC Cary, whose second album, Beautiful and Blue, is being released by Black Potatoe Records.
“I guess that would be called going ‘full circle,’ huh?” said Williams in a press release. “There is an irony, when you think how many fewer albums/CD people sell these days, or buy for that matter, that instead of being a label doing a festival, it feels like we have become a festival doing a record.”
Here is this year’s lineup. For information, and to purchase tickets, visit the festival’s Facebook page.
JULY 13
QUARRY STAGE
6:30 p.m.: Mike Montrey
8 p.m.: Karl Dietel Five
9:30 p.m.: KC Cary
RIVER STAGE
6 p.m.: Jay Thatcher and Steve and Owen O’Malley
7:30 p.m.: Experiment 34
9 p.m.: The End of America
JULY 14
QUARRY STAGE
6:30 p.m.: Pat O’Shea
8 p.m.: The Bruce Katz Band
9:30 p.m.: Scott Sharrard and the Brickyard Band
RIVER STAGE
6 p.m.: Caren Kennedy and Friends
7:30 p.m.: Stuff Brothers
9 p.m.: Dwight & Nicole
NALANI & SARINA
JULY 15
QUARRY STAGE
11 a.m.: Lo8
12:30 p.m.: ilyAIMY
1:30 p.m.: Halley DeVestern
4 p.m.: Belle House Band
5:15 p.m.: Joy Ike
6:30 p.m.: Teneia
8 p.m.: Nalani & Sarina
9:30 p.m.: The Matt Angus Thing
RIVER STAGE
Noon: Collins Brothers
1 p.m.: Karen Dahlstrom
2:30 p.m.: Lisa Brigantino with Lori Brigantino
4:30 p.m.: Katie Henry Band
6 p.m.: Olivia Frances
7:30 p.m.: Elaine Romanelli
9 p.m.: Danielle Miraglia
JULY 16
QUARRY STAGE
12:25 p.m.: Jenny and the Felines
1:30 p.m.: Jann Klose
2:45 p.m.: Sharar Sisters
4 p.m.: Gregg Cagno
5:30 p.m.: Willy Porter and Carmen Nickerson
7 p.m.: Ellis Paul
RIVER STAGE
11:45 a.m.: Spook Handy
1 p.m.: Joseph Miller
2:15 p.m.: Brendan Fletcher
3:30 p.m.: Kevin Miller
5 p.m.: Michaela McClain
6:30 p.m.: Max Hatt/Edda Glass
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
