Fredericton’s Stephen Lewis & The Big Band of Fun are off to play at the Mountain Jam music festival. It’s their second time the band will be performing at the festival, but among the twists announced today among the festival’s lineup was the news that the festival will be moving from Hunter Mountain, New York to the original site of Woodstock 69 in Bethel. Lewis says that it essentially means achieving his childhood dream.
“So, we’re playing Mountain Jam again, but the crazy thing about this is that they’ve moved the festival to the original Woodstock festival grounds! Not even the ‘Woodstock Festival’ is happening at the original grounds. Playing there is like the Holy Grail of gigs (to me and most musicians I think),” says Lewis.
Stephen Lewis and the Big Band of Fun are returning for their second year in a row for Mountain Jam’s 15th anniversary. With the new location and the new partnership with Bethel Woods Center For The Arts through Live Nation it also makes for a very special occasion as this year Woodstock will be celebrating their 50th anniversary.
Though Mountain Jam is being held at its new Bethel location during June 10 – 13, 2019, the anniversary of the original Woodstock is August 15 – 18, for which the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts and Live Nation will be hosting another event to mark the occasion.
On top of those two events, Michael Lang and the other producers of the 1969 festival will be hosting their own Woodstock event at Watkins Glen, New York, making for one very intense 50th Woodstock anniversary.
Not one to get caught bogged down by details, Lewis is still very excited by the prospect.
“I essentially get to see my boyhood dream/inspiration of watching Jimi [Hendrix] play there come full circle and go play in the exact same spot.” says Lewis, “This is the biggest thing. I don’t mean it in an ego way but it’s essentially a dream I never ever thought I’d get to live.”
Among the other performers at this year’s Mountain Jam are Willie Nelson, Gov’t Mule, The Avett Brothers and more, with more headliners being announced later this Spring.
For tickets and more information visit Mountain Jam.
