The lineup for the final Black Potatoe Music Festival has been released.
In its 23 years, the Black Potatoe Music Festival has featured performances by many internationally known artists, including Levon Helm, Jorma Kaukonen, Andy Summers, Dickey Betts, Buckwheat Zydeco and Grace Potter. But its bread and butter always has been local, independent New Jersey talent, and that will be the focus at this year’s fest, taking place outdoors at the Red Mill Museum in Clinton, July 11-14.
This will be the last Black Potatoe Music Festival, it has been announced.
The Matt Angus Thing, led by festival founder Matt “Angus” Williams, traditionally closes the festival’s Saturday show, and will do so again this year, July 13; the festival will also function as a record release party for a new album by Williams, just as the first festival, 23 years ago, was a record release party for his band of the time, Angus.
Williams will also perform a festival-ending duets set with Black Potatoe mainstay Gregg Cagno, July 14. The opening night, July 11, will allow for more collaboration, with a closing set by the Black Potatoe All Stars. And July 12 will end with Nalani & Sarina, the Jersey-based duo that has become festival regulars in recent years.
I’m personally sorry to see Black Potatoe go. I attended some of the early ones, and have gone annually since starting NJArts.net in 2014. I’ve seen marvelous sets there by artists like The Holmes Brothers, Shemekia Copeland, Susan Werner and Radney Foster, and been exposed to many New Jersey artists for the first time. The setting is beautiful, and the vibe is friendly and relaxed.
There are few events that add something unique and distinctive to the New Jersey music scene. But for the last 23 years, Black Potatoe has been one of them.
Here is the lineup for this year. For information and to purchase tickets, visit blackpotatoe.com.
NALANI & SARINA
JULY 11
6 p.m.: Joe Janci
6:30 p.m.: Dan Kassal
7:20 p.m.: Bryan Hansen Band
8:20 p.m.: Caren Kennedy Band
9:20 p.m.: Black Potatoe All-Stars
JULY 12
6 p.m.: Jay Thatcher, Steve O’Malley and Owen O’Malley
6:30 p.m.: Andy Dunn
7 p.m.: TBA
7:30 p.m.: Michael Patrick
8:20 p.m.: Karl Dietel Five
9:20 p.m.: Nalani & Sarina
ANDREA WRIGHT
GREGG CAGNO
JULY 13
Noon: The Collins Brothers
12:30 p.m.: Chelsea Carlson
1 p.m.: Scott Hallock
1:30 p.m.: Lisa & Lori Brigantino
2:20 p.m.: Blues Times Two
3:20 p.m.: Jeb Jones
4:20 p.m.: Mike Montrey Band
5:20 p.m.: Jenny & the Felines
6:20 p.m.: Rennie Pincus
7:20 p.m.: Pyrenesia
8:20 p.m.: Pat O’Shea
9:20 p.m.: The Matt Angus Thing
JULY 14
Noon: PD Brody
12:30 p.m.: Dan LaVoie
1 p.m.: Helen O’Shea & the Shanakees
1:30 p.m.: Susan Cattaneo
2:20 p.m.: Jack Tannehill
3:20 p.m.: Cliff Hillis
4:20 p.m.: Sharrar Sisters
5:20 p.m.: The Promise Is Hope
6:20 p.m.: KC Cary
7:20 p.m.: Gregg Cagno
8:20 p.m.: Matt Angus & Gregg Cagno (acoustic)
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