The 2024 Pleasantville Music Festival was held on Saturday, July 13, marking its 18th anniversary. The festival presented eighteen performers on three stages, all within the boundary of one day.
Affectionately referred to as “New York’s Backyard Jam” because of its proximity to NYC, the festival takes the approach of blending up-and-coming, established, and national touring acts. A cornerstone of the festival’s success is its strategy of not repeating performers, offering returning attendees something new each year.
When The Wailers took to the stage, they transformed Pleasantville into Kingston
2024 was the second year that The Garage at Lucy’s in Pleasantville was a gateway for local acts to perform at the festival. Through a series of battle-of-the-band competitions held at the club, three acts were selected to open the multiple musical stages at the festival.
The battle-of-the-band winners were comprised of: Gavin Mitchell & Lauren Mian who performed on the Chill Tent Stage, Mainline who played on the Pamnation Party Stage, and all-around winner Blue Moon Band who shared their music on the Main Stage. These opening acts set a high standard for future performers, demonstrating they are more than capable of sharing the stage with major acts.
… opening acts set a high standard for future performers, demonstrating they are more than capable of sharing the stage with major acts.
Situated in the heart of Westchester, the festival is also a family-friendly affair. Attendees brought chairs and blankets to enjoy a relaxing day out. This year, Kenny Green gave a special children’s performance at the Chili Tent. Alongside the musical performances bounce houses, kid-friendly activities as well as food and other vendors lined the festival’s perimeter.
2024 saw Northwell Health joining as a sponsor of the festival. In conjunction with Northwell Health, the band N.E.D. performed. The band is comprised of gynecological oncologists, including Dr. Gizelka David-West of Northwell’s Northern Westchester and Phelps Hospitals. Their band name is derived from the medical acronym for “no evidence of disease.” After their set, N.E.D. gave everyone a clean bill of health and prescribed a daily dose of rock ’n’ roll for all.
With three stages, the festival offered a mixture of musical styles. The stages and act performance times were aligned in such a way that you could experience all eighteen acts if so desired.
The Chill Tent, situated at the far end of the park, offered an open-air big top where you could sit in chairs with large fans circulating the air. This stage hosted singer/songwriter, blues, and jazz performances featuring Jesse Terry and headliner Jill Sobule.
The Pamnation Party Stage served as the place to dance till you dropped. Talon, an all-girl band from Brooklyn and Armonk tore up the stage, while Dead Tooth from Queens added fuel to the musical fire. Jersey City’s Widely Grown (who also hosted the after-party at Lucy’s) and The Collection (from North Carolina) closed out the stage in fine fashion.
The Main Stage featured national performing acts. Indie rocker Margaret Glaspy, with her haunting raspy vocal tones, shared songs from her 2023 release “Echo The Diamond.” When The Wailers took to the stage, they transformed Pleasantville into Kingston. Performing hit after hit, lead singer Mitchell Brunings led the crowd in sing-alongs throughout their set.
…the ‘burbs can rock
Grammy Award winner The Record Company followed with their straightforward rock ’n’ roll. New Orleans-based headliner Better Than Ezra wrapped up the night delighting the audience with a surprise abridged performance of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” during their set.
With eighteen years under its belt, the Pleasantville Music Festival continues to put its mark on the music scene, proving that the ‘burbs can rock.
Main Stage
Pamnation Party Stage
Chill Tent Stage
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