On Saturday, July 20, hundreds of passionate music fans gathered at Arrowood Farms in Accord, NY, for Larry & Teresa’s July Jam, a one-day celebration of classic Americana, hosted by industry legends Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams.
July Jam, the brainchild of Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, is a brand-new festival with a mission to celebrate some of the best performers in Americana music in a picture-perfect Hudson Valley setting. This year’s lineup consisted of Connor Kennedy and Onestar, The Secret Sisters, Jackie Greene, Hot Tuna, and the headliners, Larry & Teresa. July Jam came hot on the heels of Campbell and Williams’ most recent album, All This Time, which was released on April 5.
Walking into the festival in its early hours, the energy was off the charts. A steady line of guests holding blankets and lawn chairs patiently filed into the picturesque Arrowood Farms and began densely packing the designated chair area, quickly turning the zone into a colorful wall of people. Another area for only those willing to stand was positioned in front of the chair section. All eyes pointed toward the centerpiece of the festival, the main stage.
The performance stage, a wooden platform decked out with all the lights and speakers that one would expect, was the perfect setting for the stacked lineup of talented Americana artists. A thick forest behind the stage provided the perfect atmospheric backdrop. To the left of the stage was a spacious chicken coop, with the roosters occasionally capping off the ends of songs with a “cock-a-doodle-doo,” which guests always appreciated.
Multiple artisanal stands dotted the back line of the music area. A merch table, a stand with clothing and mini dolls and a face-painting booth had a constant swarm of people eyeing up their goods and services. Off to the side of the main stage was a section for food vendors, which had a diverse variety of offerings for guests, from ice cream to lobster rolls to kebabs. A grid of wide picnic tables ensured that no guest went without a seat to eat.
Throughout the day, periods of intense rain came and went, but the guests stood their ground, unwilling to let a little water ruin the historic day of Americana. During the periods of clear skies, a gentle breeze blew the tantalizing smells of freshly cooked foods throughout the whole grounds.
With the perfect setting of Arrowood Farms for an evening of great music, the performers did not disappoint. From the opening set of Connor Kennedy and Onestar to the night’s finale of Larry & Teresa and Friends, every performance had the crowd going. By the time that the day turned to the evening, the standing area had fully filled up, and the energy rose to new peaks.
After a wonderful set from Hot Tuna, Larry and Teresa capped off the night and were joined by many of the day’s previous artists, perfectly ending July Jam with a full-circle moment. All the billed artists have had a close relationship with Larry and Teresa for years, which made the final moments of the night even more special. Right around 9:30, the last set ended, and the guests left. Based on the inaugural July Jam’s overwhelming success, a second festival next year should be a no-brainer for Campbell and Williams.
Visit here for information on other upcoming events at Arrowood Farms.
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