The 3rd Annual Catskill Chill Music Festival is hitting Hancock, New York this upcoming September 7-9, 2012, and we’re beyond psyched to be attending the festival this year for coverage on the site. For those who haven’t followed this fest, it’s definitely an up-and-coming must-go festival, with the attendance doubled in the second year (and it may triple this year with a lineup like this). The “Chill” is set on a lake deep in the beautiful Catskill Hills and the camp has breathtaking views of the lake. Everyone is super friendly and very respectful. And like most festivals these days, there is a fluid mix of music genres this year including electronica, jamtronica, funk, bluegrass, rock and many many more!! So we rounded up our list of the TEN acts that are sure to be straight fire!

10. Rubblebucket

In March 2008 Rubblebucket self-released their debut album, Rose’s Dream under the name Rubblebucket Orchestra and began to tour full time. Musical couple Alex Toth (trumpet, band leader) and Kalmia Traver (vocals, saxophone) first met at the University of Vermont where they were both enrolled as music majors. Upon graduating in 2006 they joined the reggae group John Brown’s Body and began touring the United States. Alex had been developing a dance band that merges psychedelic indie rock, upbeat dance and left field arrangements. In June 2007 the pair met percussionist Craig Myers at an art opening and party in the old Hood Milk plant in Burlington, VT. The music that was improvised that night would later be arranged and elaborated by Alex and become the first contributions to band’s repertoire.

Here is a lick called “Silly Fathers” off the album Omega La La …



Rubblebucket - Silly Fathers - Official Music Video

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9. Break Science

Raised in the cultural hotbed of New York City, Adam Deitch and Borahm Lee fuse the city’s rich musical legacy- jazz, funk, soul, with a deep-rooted connection to its hip-hop heritage to create their own take on modern electronic music. Armed with Deitch’s thunderous breakbeat style on the drums and Lee’s seasoned trip-hop/dub aesthetic on keyboards and laptop, their instrumental styles are perfectly interwoven within their beautiful, banging and extremely danceable tracks. This sound is bound to make a major mark on the modern musical landscape. Deitch and Lee have worked with premier artists — everyone from Wyclef Jean and the Fugees, Raekwon and GZA of the Wu Tang Clan, to reggae/dub legend Lee Scratch Perry and Miles Davis collaborator John Scofield.

This duo never disappoints ever. They are sure to get the crowd jumpin! Heres a personal favorite track of mine off their second EP entitled Monolith Code (available as a FREE download via Pretty Lights Music)…



(HQ) Break Science - Forest Of Illumination [Monolith Code]

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8. JGB with Melvin Seals

Melvin and JGB brings an intuitive, expressive style, soul, spontaneity and remarkable chops to the table. With acoustic and electric ingredients and unique combinations of Dave Hebert’s guitar and vocals, Jimmy Tebeau’s savory bass, Pete Lavezzoli’s hearty drums and, of course, a heapin’ helpin’ of the wizard’s magic on Hammond B-3 Organ and keyboards. Along with backing vocals, the result is a most satisfying blend of natural organic grooves that challenges genre boundaries. Their chemistry is the focus from which they create a spontaneous and high art where the sky is the limit musically. They offer an exciting, often psychedelic musical journey that changes nightly and keeps the audience dancing and smiling (and some staring in amazement) for hours.

Here is a taste of what this wonderful group has to offer!



7. Soulive

In their 13 years together, Soulive has followed the muse in the direction of hip-hop, R&B, blues and rock, collaborating with the likes of Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews, Talib Kweli, John Scofield, Derek Trucks, Maceo Parker, Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph, Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, Fred Wesley, The Roots, Ivan Nevilleand so many others, even going so far as to record a full album of covers by The Beatles (Rubber Soulive). But, no matter how they push the limits of the organ trio, they always come back to their bread and butter: blistering solos and grooves that don’t quit.

Here’s a sample of their sound for the uninitiated…



Soulive - Mary live

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6. EOTO

Consisting of Michael Travis and Jason Hann the duo mixes the organic sounds of live drums, bass and guitar through a variety of programs and gadgets to create a style of music that is more likely found in a dance club, then a live music theater. What sets EOTO apart from other artists in this emerging genre is how the music is created. While some artists may spend hours pre-mixing samples and elements of music for their live show, EOTO uses nothing pre-recorded, giving them the ability to approach each song with on-the-spot spontaneity and 100% live improvisation.

These guys are pure raw talent and fun live! They are sure to throw down hard at Catskill! Here’s a vibrating tune that is sure to get you pumped!

EOTO - Flying Red

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Read on for our final five must-see picks at the festival…



