Monday, November 30, 2015

Plank Stompers, "Gnome Sayin" Album Review

Band: Plank Stompers

Album: Gnome Sayin'


Band Members:

Erik Burnham
Rudy Bzdyk
Will Spaulding
and Ben Walters

Featuring:

Mateo Monk (tracks 11 & 12)
Briena Pearl (track 12)
and Joe Hammett (tracks 3, 8, 10, and 14)


Track Listing:
1) Jimmy's Song
2) Truckstop Trippin' Cowboy
3) Bad Trip Boogie/Rabbit up a Gumstump
4) Cigarettes
5) Restless Blues
6) Road to Shepherdstown
7) Green Cat Eyes
8) Climbing the Hill
9) You Showed Me
10) Wine Berry Walk
11) Pentagram
12) Hole in the Atmosphere
13) Red Barnes
16) The Eleventh Hour
17) Shell




The Plank Stomper’s debut album “Gnome Sayin” is a wild ride that mixes old timey acoustic style music with a punch. The album flows through a variety of styles including folk, bluegrass, and traditional music with blues, rock, and even a little country. Overall the album is well put together with many surprises and covers a wide variety of themes including road life, spirituality, environmental issues, and love.

As I listened to Gnome Sayin’, I couldn’t help but be transported to the funky feeling of a late night fireside jam with friends. The Plank Stomper’s do a great job of drawing from the influence of bands like Old Crow Medicine Show, Garcia & Grisman, and even some Phish-y harmonies while maintaining their own identity throughout.

Gnome Sayin’ is a very well produced album, hitting its points and showing a great sense of togetherness amongst the musicians. Numerous collaborations are seamless and bright. Overall, it is a great testimony of talent and the benefit of sharing in the music.

If you like ballads about traveling spunions and socially relevant commentary, or have a taste for old school style funky traditional jams, this is the album for you. Gnome Sayin’ has a little bit of everything, but stands on its own as a fantastic musical journey.  I was very impressed with Gnome Sayin’ and I’m looking forward to future albums and as always, their next live show. Download this album or buy a CD, it’s great for any occasion and you won’t be let down!



- Sethro


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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Announcing the 8th Annual Pink Moon Music & Arts Festival


We are excited to announce, the
8th Annual Pink Moon Music & Arts Festival

will be held September 15-19, 2016 on

Flint Rock Hollow Farm in Rock Camp, WV


We hope you'll join us for the eighth chapter of this story. RSVP to our Official Event Page here: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/155785094773591/
 

"Blind Tickets" are available at SUPER discounted prices on our website www.pinkmoonfestival.com/pm_tickets.php

GA tickets are $50, VIP tickets are available for $125, and Car Camping Passes are available for $50.

Car Campng passes are needed in addition to your ticket if you wish to camp with your vehicle onsite at #PinkMoon8. Car Camping passes are good per vehicle and every person you can safely fit in said vehicle. VIP tickets include Car Camping.

Musical Acts and Visual Artists will be announced in the coming months! Get your tickets now, and save money at the gate!
 

Spread the word about Pink Moon 8 with the hashtag #CantWaitForPinkMoon8 


Please remember that the Pink Moon Festival is sustained solely on ticket sales. We do not have any corporate sponsors, and rely entirely on your contributions to produce this event. By purchasing a ticket you are directly supporting our musicians, artists, crew, and the grassroots movement. Thank you!
 

Get your tickets now at www.pinkmoonfestival.com/pm_tickets.php

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Monday, October 19, 2015

Re-Post: The Art of the Physical Press Kit

I have a very particular protocol for booking the festivals I organize, and I've caught a lot of flack for it in the past. Yet I swear by it, and it all starts with the traditional and oft-forgotten Physical Press Kit.

If you are in an up and coming band wishing to get booked at a Pink Moon Presents event (including the Pink Moon Festival) I require the submission of a Physical Press Kit, and here's why:

First and foremost the Physical Press Kit is an industry standard. You should have or be able to put one together. But submitting a Physical Press Kit, in a world of electronic press kits (EPKs), shows me you're willing to go the extra mile.

Physical Press Kits can also be customized in a way EPKs cannot. Some of the best press kits I've received have been amazingly graphically designed, hand drawn, painted, and embellished. I have also received stickers, t-shirts, albums, posters, and one band even sent me rolling papers with their name and art on them! Try doing that with an EPK. Keep in mind, sending a piece of merch does not guarantee you'll get booked, only your music can do that!!

Another example of a creative press kit that worked - the band GNOSiS submitted a fantastic press kit to me (including a wonderful EP and hand-cut sticker) in a beautifully hand painted envelope, and I was so impressed with their music and effort I booked them for Pink Moon 6! A decision I am so happy with, as they put on an incredible show, and joined us again for Pink Moon 7!

This doesn't mean your press kit has to be some elaborate piece of art, as long as it represents your art well! Here's what your Physical Press Kit MUST include:
  • CD/Demo - this is the most important part, make sure it's a high quality recording!
  • A cover letter - why do you want to be booked at my event? What's your mission statement/sale pitch/hook?
  • Artist Biography (keep it brief but include enough factual information about your act to be able to base and article or review on)
  • A high quality picture of the band, or two!
  • Upcoming (and most recent) tour dates (if available)
  • PRESS!!! Reviews, interviews, quotes, etc
  • Contact Information!! Don't forget this one!!
Once you've got your materials together, slip them neatly into a clean folder and/or envelope and mail it to me to be considered for the Pink Moon Festival, or one of our other events! Here's the address, by the way:

Pink Moon Presents
c/o Jessica Abramson
RR 1 Box 137
Rock Camp, WV 24951

Once I receive a press kit in my mailbox, here's what happens:

I open the press kit with Seth, take the CD out and pop it in the player, and then I peruse all included printed materials and share interesting points with Seth as we listen to the CD.

Sometimes we decide right away that an artist is the perfect fit for our event, in which case I contact the band and, voila, book them! Other times it takes a little while to make a decision.

I never throw away the Physical Press Kits I receive. First, I upload the CD to my iTunes, specifically to a playlist called "Press Kits" - then I put the entire press kit into a file cabinet. I listen to that "Press Kits" playlist on shuffle while I clean the house, work on my computer, or whatever - and if I find myself jammin' to a particular tune, I pull out that press kit and give it a second look. I really like to "live" with the music, and believe that everyone's art deserves a second or third listen, at least!

So there you have it. That's why I ONLY accept Physical Press Kits, and what to include in a press kit for me. Other instructions on how to put together a Physical Press Kit will be more formal, and you can certainly google industry standard press kits. But this is my take on it. For more information feel free to shoot me an email at booking@rockcampproductions.com

But I'll probably just tell you to send me a press kit.

- Jess

Resource: http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/ar-tips-the-art-of-the-press-kit.html

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Important Announcements Regarding #PinkMoon7


One month from now we'll all be together celebrating music, art and love at #PinkMoon7! Till then, here are some important announcements.

We've found a NEW new venue. While Sweet Springs was gorgeous and we appreciate their offer to help us, it was far from the businesses and neighbors who have supported us through the years. Monroe County, WV is a small, rural community, and many of the local businesses have come to depend on the boon YOU bring them every year in September. So our fellow Rock Campians have helped us to KEEP PINK MOON IN ROCK CAMP this year. Keep that in mind as you roll into town on Rt. 219 – and make sure you stop to stock up on supplies at Riffe's One Stop, Jewell's Exxon in Lindside, and the other local businesses along the way – help us to give back to this incredible community that loves and supports us.

Local Farmer Rick Riffe has welcomed us with open arms to his property, Flint Rock Hollow Farm, in Rock Camp, WV. Located at the end of Knight Hollow Road, this incredible property boasts a HUGE natural amphitheater, a beautiful pond, multiple springs with clean, fresh, running mountain water, multiple creeks, wooded campgrounds, and so much more. Family owned for generations (since 1890), Flint Rock Hollow is secluded and spacious, with incredible views to take in situated throughout the venue.

We cannot wait to show you this phenomenal property (just 5 minutes from Pinky's Farm). Our next WORK WEEKEND will be held August 28-29th ON Flint Rock Hollow Farm. Little Bird will be playing, as well as other bands TBA soon! Join us not only to earn a free ticket to Pink Moon, but also to help us actually DESIGN and lay-out this new venue. Come be a part of the planning process, and let Pink Moon reflect your ideas and creativity!! This Work Weekend will also feature a STAGE RAISIN'! Help us re-assemble the Farmhouse Stage, Shangri-La Stage, and Loco Pickle Stage!

Other work weekends are scheduled for September 4-5th and September 11-12th. More information TBA soon!

In addition to these exciting announcements – we've added a number of wonderfully talented bands to our lineup! Please help us welcome the following artists to the #PinkMoonFamily:

Sol
Mister F
Manitoa
The Southern Belles
Dalton Dash
The Shadow Girl Sound Collective
Possum Holler Glee Club
Lawless Brown
Nice Couch
Faceship
The Coteries
Giana Lynn

As well as visual artists:

Crazyredbeard
Nicholas Daily
and Ashton Hill of Kettle Head Art

And more to be announced soon!

We hope you'll join us on Flint Rock Hollow Farm this September! Get your tickets now for just $75 at www.pinkmoonfestival.com/pm_tickets.php – online ticket sales END in just a few weeks on September 12th.

Questions? Comments? Shoot us an email at information@rockcampproductions.com







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Location: Rock Camp, WV 24951, USA

Friday, July 24, 2015

VENUE ANNOUNCEMENT: The 7th Annual Pink Moon Music, Arts & Healing Festival - Sept 17-21, 2015 - at Sweet Springs Institute in Sweet Springs, WV

We, the Pink Moon Festival, are SO excited to announce that we have FOUND a new home for this year’s festival!!


The 7th Annual Pink Moon Music, Arts & Healing Festival will be held September 17-21, 2015 Sweet Springs Institute in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, West Virginia.
We have added the word “Healing” to our title for many reasons. Most immediately, we, the Pink Moon Family, require Healing. Leaving Pinky’s Farm has not been an easy process for anyone, however together we can overcome any challenge and heal even the deepest of wounds.
At the same time, on a greater scale, our WORLD needs Healing; our societies need Healing; our hearts and spirits need Healing. And this Healing can come in SO many forms. Seth and I believe strongly that immense Healing can be brought about through music, art, and a loving community - and we hope to create the perfect atmosphere to foster those things at #PinkMoon7 with the help and Healing vibe of the Sweet Springs Institute (SSI).
SSI  is a Non-Profit Organization whose mission is: “to contribute to a new dream for humanity by cultivating public awareness of conscious integrity.”
From their site: “Conscious Integrity is the force at play when sentient beings interact in a way that enhances our connection to one another and to the all-encompassing whole of which we are a part. It is a state of being that comes from the heart and it can be experienced in our relationships to one another, to our communities, economy and environment.”
For the last 6 years, we have strived to embody the idea of Conscious Integrity, without actually knowing the phrase. Now with this change in venue we hope to bring what is best and most magical about Pink Moon forward, and enhance all of our connections to each other and the world around us through music, art, and community.
In addition we will be offering increased workshops, a Non-Profit Village (with booth-space available to 501-c-3 Organizations free of charge), Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as a secular/unitarian service Sunday morning. Other new activities and amenities will be announced soon!
Everything Pink Moon has ALWAYS come from the heart, and now it warms ours to join with this incredible organization on their beautiful mountain property to continue the adventure!

Get your tickets to #PinkMoon7 now for just $75 at www.pinkmoonfestival.com/pm_tickets.php


























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Location: Sweet Springs, WV 24941, USA

Friday, June 26, 2015

Please visit our online crowdfunding campaign, share it, and contribute if you are able!

We have a number of awesome "perks" available at various donation levels, from $1 up! Every contribution helps, and spreading the word about our campaign is just as valuable as a monetary donation. Thank you so much for your support Pink Moon Family, we love you!

More about the campaign and it's purpose:

Short Summary

For 6 years the Pink Moon Festival has been held on family land, where organizers Seth & Jessica Abramson live year round. Now, with Pink Moon 7 quickly approaching, Pink Moon must find a new home, a new venue.
A new venue presents an unexpected cost in producing this year's festival. Pink Moon needs your help to raise the funds for a venue deposit and preparations.

What We Need

A large portion of our fundraising will go towards paying a deposit for the use of a venue.
We are looking to stay in Monroe County, WV - Pink Moon is a huge boon to local businesses every September, something our county needs! We have several possible options, however all will require effort (and funding) to make viable venues, including (but not limited to) moving our stages, power, and other amenities.
We would like to provide the very best for our attendees and ensure a beautiful and comfortable festival for all. We'll need at least $3,000 to move forward on any venue, and if we reach our full fundraising goal we'll be able to make Pink Moon at home anywhere!

    Risks & Challenges

    We will find a new venue for Pink Moon 7, however pricing and location will be major factors. While we wish to stay in Monroe County, we may have to relocate to somewhere else in West Virginia.

    With less than 3 months until the festival, availability of established venues may be an issue as well.
    We will keep you, the Pink Moon Family, posted every step of the way via this campaign, our email list, and Facebook!

      Other Ways You Can Help

      Please spread the word about this campaign as much as possible! Use Indiegogo's "share tools" and tell your friends! 
      And come to Pink Moon 7 - Location TBA - September 17-21, 2015!! Find our Official Event Page here (and invite your friends!) 
      Get your tickets to Pink Moon 7 here, or on our website:www.pinkmoonfestival.com/pm_tickets.php
      All the love in the world,
      Seth & Jess & Pink Moon
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        Friday, May 15, 2015

        #PinkMoon7 Lineup Announcement

        Check out our lineup for Pink Moon 7, September 17-21, 2015 on Pinky's Farm in Rock Camp, WV! We'll still be announcing more musical acts and visual artists before September, so stay tuned for more!

        Tickets are still available for just $75 at www.pinkmoonfestival.com/pm_tickets.php - get them NOW and save some money at the gate!
        More TBA Soon!
         These incredible musical artists will be joined by the following visual artists (and more TBA!)
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