The City of Albany, WEXT and SEFCU are proud to present Dad Fest, a free Father's Day event at the Washington Park Parade Grounds. Dad Fest will feature live music from Powerhouse Funk Band, Mark Gamsjager & The Lustre King and Ramblin' Jug Stompers, plus great food, vendors, kids' activities and more family fun on Sunday, June 18 from 1 to 6 p.m.
Now in its third year, Dad Fest is the City of Albany's celebration of all the fantastic fathers out there. It's a chance for the whole family to kick back and enjoy an early summer afternoon at one of the Capital Region's most picturesque parks, surrounded by good folks, good tunes and good times. Of course, you don't have to be a dad to enjoy Dad Fest - this event offers a little fun for everyone.
If you want feet that stay on the dance floor, electricity and excitement in the room, and feel-good fire deep in your soul, and the terrific sounds of excellent music in your veins, then POWERHOUSE FUNK BAND is the band for you! Soul music, R&B, neo soul, jazz, funk, and everything else in-between, Powerhouse is a captivating band indeed. Their success is not just in the types of music that they play, but in the way they play: soulful, intense, energetic, passionate, and powerful.
Mark Gamsjager & The Lustre Kings staked a claim to a modern take on the reverb-driven sounds of early rock, leaning also on touchstones of country, blues and R&B. Mark Gamsjager & The Lustre Kings boast a devoted international fanbase and perform over 150 dates a year, including regular stops at The Continental Club; Viva Las Vegas, Heritage Folk Festival and the Rockin 50s Fest; and the Potawamoti Hotel. The famed "Queen of Rock," Wanda Jackson hired Gamsjager and the group for many tours. "I have worked with many bands around the world through the years," Jackson says, "and none are better than Mark Gamsjager and The Lustre Kings. Their fine showmanship and musical ability make them the greatest in my book. They rock!!"
Ramblin Jug Stompers have been kickin' up a vintage American roots-rockin' ruckus for more than a decade and they're still stompin' strong. Conjuring up the ghosts of early legends like Gus Cannon and Charlie Poole, mixing in the best of the 60's folk revival with some seasoning from the current Americana movement, Ramblin Jug Stompers have melded these influences with their own contemporary spin and wry sense of humor. The quartet - Cousin Clyde, Bowtie, Mister Eck and Wild Bill - traces their roots directly to membership in the legendary Star Spangled Washboard Band and early MTV pioneers Blotto, echoing those bands' unique combination of hot-wired musicianship and quick wit.
For more information on Dad Fest and all of the City of Albany's free, family-friendly events, visit www.albanyevents.org, 518.434.2032 or follow albanyNYevents on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
