How do you continue to honor the legacy of The Allman Brothers Band when the majority of the band’s original members have departed this Earth?
That’s the question The Peach Music Festival had to keep in mind as they put together the lineup for their 2019 event, set to take place on July 25th–28th at Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA. While that may seem like a difficult task as we move further and further away from the era of the Brothers, the 2019 Peach lineup maintains just as strong a connection to the band and its legacy as ever. Whether they’ve collaborated with the Allman Brothers themselves, paid homage at one of the band’s signature haunts, or adopted ABB songs in their own repertoires, there’s nary an artist on the 2019 Peach lineup—from the headliners to the undercard—that can’t be connected to the Allmans in some way by one or two degrees of separation.
Founding drummer Jaimoe will be on hand with his own outfit, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, but aside from the recently-retired Dickey Betts, the list of surviving Allman Brothers Band members stops there. The extended ABB family will also be represented at The Peach in 2019, with latter-day ABB guitarist Warren Haynes on hand to lend his licks to Phil Lesh & Friends‘ two-set headlining slot in addition to a collaborative set with Grace Potter. In addition, Devon Allman and Duane Betts—the sons of founding Allman Brothers members Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts—will bring their new Allman Betts Band (which also features Berry Oakley Jr., son of original Allman bassist Berry Oakley) to Montage Mountain. You can watch the Allman Betts Band take on “Dreams” below:
The Allman Betts Band – “Dreams” – Parker Playhouse – 2/21/19
[Video: Nate Winkler]
Even beyond direct lineages, you’ll find that virtually every act on the extensive bill shares a musical connection to the Brothers and their legacy. Just start with the biggest headliners on the bill: Phil Lesh, Trey Anastasio, and The String Cheese Incident. Each of these acts joined the Allmans onstage in years past. String Cheese even mounted a collaborative set with the ABB at The Peach in 2016, dubbed The Allman Brothers Family Incident. And that list doesn’t stop at the headliners: Fellow 2019 Peach performers like Grace Potter, Blues Traveler‘s John Popper, moe.‘s Chuck Garvey and Vinnie Amico, and more shared the stage with the Allman Brothers at some point in the past. Check out some of the collabs below:
While many of the artists on this year’s Peach lineup never got the chance to play with the Allman Brothers, they have taken opportunities to honor the Brothers in moments and places of significance within the ABB universe. Earlier this year, Greensky Bluegrass closed out their first-ever show at The Beacon—the most significant venue for the 21st Century iteration of the ABB—with a weighty cover of “Midnight Rider”. A few years back, Marcus King served up an acoustic rendition of the same ABB classic when he stopped by The Big House in Macon, GA, the band’s former home which now functions as the official Allman Brothers Band Museum. Then there’s Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, who occasionally shift from Grateful Dead mode to Allman territory for a tune—especially when longtime ABB bassist and frequent JRAD stand-in Oteil Burbridge is onstage. Check out those videos below:
Greensky Bluegrass – “Midnight Rider” – Beacon Theatre – 1/12/19
[Video: wklitz1]
Marcus King – “Midnight Rider” [Acoustic] – The Big House – 2015
[Video: The Marcus King Band]
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead w/ Oteil Burbridge – “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” – Brooklyn Bowl – 3/18/17
[Video: LazyLightning55a]
Of course, no band or artist needs a tangible connection to the band to appreciate and honor their music. In fact, it’s tough to find a band on the Peach bill that has not covered the Allmans at some point or other, from Dopapod to Pigeons Playing Ping Pong to BIG Something to Larkin Poe. Check out some videos of their covers below:
Dopapod w/ Jeremy Schon (Pigeons Playing Ping Pong) – “Blue Sky” – Ogden Theatre – 1/27/17
[Video: CMeyerL4LM]
BIG Something – “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater – 5/07/16
[Video: TheBIGSomething]
Larkin Poe – “One Way Out”
[Video: Larkin Poe]
The list, just like the proverbial road, goes on forever. While the era of the Allmans may be behind us, their influence on the world of live music will not soon fade. Need more proof? You’ll find it at The Peach.
Tickets are available now. For more information, or to grab your passes to The Peach Music Festival 2019 now, head here.
The post How The Peach Music Festival Continues To Keep The Allman Brothers Spirit Alive [Videos] appeared first on L4LM.
