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Good food, great company and excellent music will abound this weekend at the third annual Hamburg Music Festival.
On Saturday, April 30, over 19 bands will perform at 25 venues in the village throughout the day, offering nearly 12 hours of live music. Proceeds from the event help fund scholarships and grants for local students.
The festival, which draws in thousands of people from the Hamburg area and beyond, is the collaboration of founders Mary Jo Duggan, Patrick McKee, Luke Mumbach and Alison Pipitone.
The group came up with the concept for the festival a few years ago, when the village was in the midst of its major reconstruction project.
“The big idea was to drive people back to the local businesses,” Mumbach said.
During a conversation on how to best regenerate business, Pipitone happened to comment on the amount of talented musicians that Hamburg has to offer. That’s when Mumbach suggested there should be a festival showcasing the village and its local talent.
The foursome quickly got to work, using their varied backgrounds to create a one-of-a-kind evening that benefits area musicians, businesses, patrons and students.
“It’s a win-win all the way around,” Pipitone said.
The festival will feature an eclectic mix of musicians, ranging from ages 15 to 80. Anticipated performances include Leeron Zydeco at Coyote Cafe, After Hours at Ten Thousand Vines Winery and John & Mary (of 10,000 Maniacs) at O’Brien’s Smokehouse.
A student musician showcase will be held at The Palace Theatre from 1:30 to 5 p.m. The students will perform on a stage equipped with amps, drums, lights and video components, thanks to a donation from the Music Exchange in Hamburg.
“The students will feel like they are performing in a professional setting,” McKee said.
The founders urged that festival goers should not confuse the students’ youth with inexperience.
Pipitone, who is a nationally-recognized musician, was impressed by the students who participated in the past showcases.
“They have shown me that we have some young talent in the community,” she said.
Those wishing to only attend the student showcase can give a $2 donation in place of a wristband.
Each wristband is embossed with the phrase “If not you, who? If not now, when?” The phrase is a call to action for the residents of Hamburg to help preserve music programs in schools.
“We have the ability to keep our community strong and vibrant,” Duggan said.
In the past two years, proceeds from the Hamburg Music Festival have provided three college scholarships, seven grants for various student music-related activities, such as funding music trips for children with financial restraints; sponsored workshops and guest artist concerts; and purchased instruments for the not-for-profit Hamburg Nursery School. The founders have also reached beyond the Hamburg School District to donate funds to Buffalo Public School No. 18.
Since the music festival has quickly established itself as a yearly tradition, the founders have started to plan for the long-term. They have embarked on a fundraising initiative to replace the pianos in the Hamburg School District.
“A lot of the pianos are currently in rough shape,” McKee said.
In addition, the founders have also launched the Hamburg Music Festival’s official website, www.hamburgmusicfestival.com. McKee mentioned the possibility of setting up an online store at the site, where participating bands can sell CDs and autographed posters.
In an effort to curb pollution, volunteers will increase the number of recycling bins in the area on the night of the festival.
“Hopefully people will be mindful and respect our community,” Duggan said.
To purchase a wristband for this year’s Hamburg Music Festival, visit any of the festival venues or Meridia Credit Unions, including the Hamburg High School location. Wristbands may be also purchased online at Hamburg Music Festival’s Facebook page.
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