The 24nd Annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival: Western New York’s Favorite Roots & Rock Getaway Weekend July 3, 4, 5, 2015 The Heron, Sherman, NY – When Independence Day weekend rolls around this summer, thousands of friends and families will reunite for an annual celebration of music and dance that has come to symbolize American tradition to them in the same way as baseball and apple pie. With lawn chairs, coolers and camping gear in tow, adults and children of all ages head out to the rolling hills of southern Chautauqua County for the three-day musical extravaganza known as the Great Blue Heron Festival. The event serves up music all weekend long on three stages that showcase a well-curated mix of hard-working and passionate musicians, with each contributing a unique flavor ranging from rock and reggae to bluegrass and old-time. While music is always the main course, the Heron’s 300+ acres include all of the essential amenities for a weekend getaway – open and wooded campsites, a spring-fed pond with a supervised beach, and miles of forested trails for hiking and biking. While the annual lineup of national and regional performers continues to evolve, many of the crowd favorites remain the same. Sugar Hill recording artists Donna the Buffalo and their highly contagious brand of danceable Americana rock have been a hallmark of the event since the beginning. Also back by popular demand are Yep Roc recording artists and legendary surf rock purveyors Los Straitjackets, Vancouver Celt-rebels the Town Pants, Binghamton’s acoustic rockers Driftwood, Ithaca’s electro-rockers Jimkata, and Chautauqua County’s own Big Leg Emma and Smackdab.
Among the touring acts making their debut at this year’s event are brass-powered Afrobeat collective Big Mean Sound Machine, country rocker and Nashville Star semi-finalist Sean Patrick McGraw, and the high-energy string band swing of Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers. In addition to live performance, the schedule includes instrument workshops, drum circles, zydeco and square dances, and a broad roster of activities for both children and teens. The vibrant festival midway offers a wide variety of food and drink, as well as clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, and other unique artisan gifts. As the festival approaches their silver anniversary, the core principles of the event remain the same – to showcase a diverse blend of original music from national and regional performers, to create a magical space where festival-goers can interact with the artists and each other, and to foster a positive environment that ensures a safe and satisfying experience. Weekend passes are $70 through May 6, $80 after May 6, and $90 at the gate. Daily tickets are available at the gate only: $40 for Friday or Saturday and $30 for Sunday. Youth (ages 12-15) are $40 for the weekend. Children under 12 are free. Ticket outlets include the Reg Lenna and Trinity Guitars in Jamestown, Terrapin Trading in Buffalo, and the Grasshopper in Erie. For more information on parking/camping and to order tickets online, go to greatblueheron.com Contact: David Tidquist Phone: 716-487-1781 Email: gbhfest@twc.com
