Gerry Michael and The Bummers
Performance flyer for The Bummers circa 1968.
Gerry Michael, a drummer and an alum of Group 212, arrived back in town in 2004. He still drums, but during the day he paints houses—and he is damn fine painter at that.
Back in 1968 Gerry was the drummer for The Bummers, a circa 1880 Commedia dell’Arte style group of cowboys and Indians. The performers numbered 14 and included a five-piece rock band who in addition to Gerry featured his brother Kevin on lead guitar, Tom Sankey on tenor guitar, his wife, Janet, on autoharp and Frank Thumbheart on bass. The previous year Tom Sankey had enjoyed success with “The Golden Screw,” an off-off Broadway folk rock musical at the Provincetown Playhouse in Greenwich Village. The show’s cast album was recorded by ATCO and was the first rock theatrical recording of its kind.
To promote their area debut in July 1968 some of The Bummers went to Saugerties dressed in western gear and the following took place: “A tall young man strode along the street. He wore a wide brim Stetson hat, cowboy boots, blue jeans, and a gaudy western shirt. A six-shooter was at his side. One of the local lawmen moved in for the showdown, “What’s that you got strapped around your waist?” A smile pulled at the stranger’s lips. His clear blue eyes bored into those of the concerned official. “Why it’s just a cap pistol, officer,” the young cowboy replied. “I’m a bummer.” This was account was written up in the Woodstock Week. Read the rest of this entry »
Sound-Out Era Celebrated on August 15
Contact: Weston Blelock, 845-679-8111 / wblelock@woodstockarts.com
Roots of Woodstock Live Concert
Sound-Out Era Celebrated on August 15
Woodstock, NY—August 6, 2009—Roots of Woodstock Live Concert, a fortieth anniversary celebration in Woodstock, represents a return to WOODSTOCK’s Sound-Out roots. The Sound-Out mini festivals of 1967 through 1969 drew musicians such as John Herald, Tim Hardin, Kenny Rankin, Richie Havens, Paul Butterfield and Van Morrison. They came together to jam in an open field on the outskirts of Woodstock. As Michael Lang acknowledged in the newly published Roots of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, “The Sound-Outs were kind of the spark for the Woodstock Festival.”
On Saturday, August 15, at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, the Blues Magoos, Hubert Sumlin and band, Ellen McIlwaine, Marc Black, the Robbie Turner Band, and Jerry Moore, with The Children of God, will play straight sets and jam sets in the old Sound-Out tradition. Doors will open at 7 p.m.; the music will begin at 8 p.m. and go all night. For the Blues Magoos, Ellen McIlwaine and Jerry Moore, the concert will be something of a reunion, as all are Sound-Out veterans. Blues hall of famer Hubert Sumlin and band will perform in a nod to Sound-Out alumni Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry. Woodstock troubadour Marc Black was strongly influenced by the music of Sound-Out performer Tim Hardin. Robbie Turner, who attended the original Sound-Outs, will participate this time from the stage. Read the rest of this entry »
Roots Concert Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Salidor
Phone: 212-245-5909
Email: DSalidorCompany@aol.com
Woodstock at Woodstock Live Concert
Concert Team Books Initial Acts
Woodstock, NY—June 16, 2009—Weston and Julia Blelock, producers of the August 15, 2009, Roots of Woodstock Live Concert at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, today announced a preliminary lineup for the 40th anniversary tie-in event. Music acts booked so far include the Dave Mason Band, Hubert Sumlin and Ellen McIlwaine. Read the rest of this entry »
Roots Concert Release
Contact: David Salidor
Phone: 212-245-5909
Email: DSalidorCompany@aol.com
Roots of Woodstock Live Concert
40th Anniversary Concert Brings Festival Home to Woodstock
Woodstock, NY—May 19, 2009—Weston Blelock, author and editor of WoodstockArts’ forthcoming Roots of the 1969 Woodstock Festival: The Backstory to “Woodstock,“ has confirmed a rumored 40th anniversary concert to be held on August 15 at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. Blelock will co-produce the show with his sister, Julia, in association with Steve Walter, formerly of The Cutting Room in New York City. Read the rest of this entry »
Roots Pressroom
Fund-Raiser Concert
To raise money for Woodstock’s Zero-Carbon Initiative, Roots of Woodstock LLC held a "40th anniversary" concert on August 15, 2009, at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.
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