THE STORY OF FLETCH FEST
The main objective of this event is to support our local area and all the good that comes out of it. We support local music, local art, local farms, local business, local economy and local sustainability. This event began in August of 2011 with the wedding plans of a Forestport, NY couple, Stephen and Kellie Fletcher, who instead of a traditional reception, decided to organize an open to the public three day music festival in celebration of all the friends, family, fellow musicians, artists and community that supported them along the way.
The result was outstanding. More than 20 local bands and musicians such as SLUG, Funktional Flow, The Crazy Fools, Suns of the Empire and so many more came out and volunteered their time and talent to make the weekend special. In the months after the memorable event, the buzz kept going for many of the local bands involved and they continued to get exposure through pictures, video and audio recordings as well as through fondly recalled stories told by guests of the festival.
This inspired the Forestport couple, to not only organize the event again the following year, but to put the focus on the local community that truly created it. The idea of Fletch Fest 2012 and its mission was an inspiration to many who shared the couple’s motivation for the cause. The festival was hosted by the local band SLUG who was joined by many local acts such as Acoustically Speaking, Sassafrass Jenkins, Waydown Wailers and BADDOGG.
The featured act of the weekend was an explosive finale by the legendary ‘New Riders of the Purple Sage’ who came out from southern California to help support the cause. Many artisans and businesses from throughout the Central New York area also got involved and supported the event. With such great post-event feedback, the event was declared a success and ideas and dreams began to form for Fletch Fest 2013.
A powerful committee was formed and these dreams and ideas began to become realities. With the help and support of the community who inspired it, Fletch Fest has come full circle and is determined to improve the quality of life for all who visit and inhabit our great area. Among the support of some of the areas finest organization, we have the backing of some major national performers who are very excited to come to CNY to share in our vision. We expect a large crowd for 2013 with an anticipated 16% increase every year for the life of the festival. We hope you share in our love of this area and will consider joining us on this great journey!
Fletch Fest
…Where Local Meets Legendary!
In an effort to showcase some of this region’s most valuable attributes, Gypsy Hollow Productions would like to promote local businesses and what they have to offer. Local organizations and businesses are the back-bone of this community. Without them, small areas like Central & Upstate New York would be overcome by global monopolized market.
ï‚· Fletch Fest 2013 has also turned a spotlight to the local CNY family farm. In an attempt to emphasize them and what they do, the entire event with exclusively feature locally grown and raised foods. These ingredients will be put into healthy meal options by our experienced culinary crew and sold at inexpensive cost to the consumer. A portion of these proceeds will go to support NOFA – Northeast Organic Farming Association located in Rochester, NY. This project will be called ‘Farm 2 Fork’.
ï‚· In addition to the ‘Farm 2 Fork’ project Fletch Fest will offer support to many other charitable organizations within Central New York. Two dollars ($2.00) of every admission ticket sold will go to support the charity of the consumers’ choice. There will be three options to choose from. (Food Bank of CNY, Stevens-Swan Humane Society, Salvation Army)
ï‚· With the help and support of VIEW, Old Forge, NY, Gypsy Hollow Productions will be organizing an Artists village to exhibit the artistic talent of the residents of the CNY & Adirondack regions. This program will allow the public to interact with the artists and witness the magic of inspiration.
ï‚· Among the support of these projects, Fletch Fest will continue the existing support of the talented musicians and artisans that already join in our endeavors. So much talent resides in this small community it almost seems a crime to not celebrate it.
2013 Line-Up!
- * The Fall Risk
- * David Gans
- * New Riders of The Purple Sage
- * Slug
- * Stackabones
- * Dark Hollow
- * Funktional Flow
- * Steal Your Face
- * Pale Green Stars
- * Project Weather Machine
- * Crazy Fools
- * Grampa Thrasher
- * Sassafrass Jenkins
- * Johnson & Company
- * BADDOGG
- * Jimmy Wolf
- * Suns of the Empire
- * BoCNY
- * Black Tail Rat
- * Remsen Social Club
- * Birdseed Bandits
- * 3rd Street Project
- * Darrell’s Dilemma
- * 3 Sheets to the Wind
- * Agnosia
- * Pocket Change
- * Liberty Band
- * Sling Shot
- * Upstate Outlaws
- * No. 9 Band
- * Above the Dam
- * Brian Mulkerne
- * Gwen Tracy Duess & Family
- * Monkey & The Crowbar
- * R.E.L's Hebrew School
- * Frodo
- * John Keller
- * Arethusa
- * Bujak
- * DJ Ben Gallo
- * Max Scialdone
- * Little Sparrow
- * Al Nathan & Bluestreak
