The Peach Music Festival Preview
August 11-14, 2016, Montage Mountain, Scranton, PA
Written by Kaylee Zielinski
Without a doubt, the Peach Festival gracing Montage Mountain has taken the east coast festival circuit by storm. Some have called it the new All Good because the vast diversity of music and artists gives a little something for everyone. Now going strong in its 5th year, the most highly anticipated act is the Gregg Allman Incident and The Claypool Lennon Delirium (featuring John Lennon’s son, Sean Lennon). The Claypool Lennon Delirium (TCLD ) was formed earlier this year after Lennon’s band, Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger opened up for Primus. TCLD are playing over 30 venues but only a handful of festivals, Peach Festival being one of them so this dynamic duo is not to be missed.
While the headliners hit heavy this year at Peach, the local and mid level bands will be the true VIPers of the weekend. Twiddle, The Werks, Aqueous, Rolling Stones Peach Fest 2015 “Hometown Heroes” Cabinet will be back on the mountain, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Pimps of Joytime, Dopapod, Broccoli Samurai, Cornmeal, and The Primate Fiasco are bands to keep on your radar. Turkuaz will also be there and hopefully playing some songs from their 2015 album Digitonium.
The Grateful Dead energy will be rampant as Joe Russo’s Almost and Dark Star Orchestra both return from the 2015 lineup. Tom Hamilton will be playing with JRAD and his band American Babies. The 2012 “Wake Up With Warren” tradition will continue with Warren Haynes performing a solo set on the last day, a ritual that puts the icing on the cake for Mule fans.
RV passes sold out within the first few weeks and it’s no surprise after such a stacked lineup overall but for Saturday evening in particular. Brownout presents Brown Sabbath which was on Jam Cruise this year, Turkuaz, Cabinet, Twiddle, Anders, into Bustle In Your Hedgerow (a Led Zeppelin tribute duo by Benevento/Russo), Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Railroad Earth, JRAD, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, TCLD, into Umphrey’s and Trey Anastasio Band wrapping up the evening.
The campgrounds are divided into two main sections: general and family. Peachfest is a family-friendly environment; aside from the family campgrounds (with noise curfew from 2-7AM). A few perks of the festival grounds include a water park and zip-line rides which gives attendees the opportunity to utilize the park’s many water rides and attractions while listening to their favorite musicians performing. How can you go wrong with a set up like that?
