We asked each of the artists playing our Local 518 Fest to write a few personal words to you. These words first landed in email inboxes of those who subscribe to our bi-weekly eNews. You can make sure to get exclusive stuff in your inbox by signing up today!
See them at the WEXT Local 518 Fest at Music Haven on July 26th!
Tops of Trees Brings Childlike Freedom to WEXT Local 518 Fest
Do you remember dancing and spinning in you backyard as a kid, over and over 'til you fell down in the grass, just watching the clouds drift by and the tops of trees swaying above you? ...Do you remember that simple and pure joy?
If so, you can tap into that experience at your next Tops of Trees show. They are on a mission to bring that same joy to their audiences with their Ministry of Fun. Times are crazy, and Tops of Trees know that one way to tap into the strength and courage needed to live with dignity in this world is to dance, laugh, sing, spin, and fall to the ground alongside friends and community. And that is their goal with each show: to bring people together. Live music is transformative, and Tops of Trees performs with fervor and spirit, knowing that music can heal and reconnect us to wonder and awe, and to each other.
So, tie up your shoelaces and meet us in the yard to spin 'til you drop as Tops of Trees fills the air with their signature blend of joyful funk and hopeful soul music.
Girl Love Says Music is Her Resistance
Girl Love here! Your favorite local, bisexual singer-songwriter writing and performing folk music to affirm queer holiness! What that means to me is this: when you live in the truth of who you are, you honor the spark of divinity within you. I can’t think of any group who does that better than the LBGTQIA+ community and it is my mission as a songwriter and community member to uplift and amplify queer narratives of inclusion and hope.
My latest single, “Stonewall (Live) featuring Sawyer Fredericks” aims to do just that. The song opens with the image of a trans woman initiating the Stonewall riots. The song goes on to thank generations that have come before, urge future generations to continue to act for equality, and ends with the message, “Don’t forget what a person can accomplish. It takes a single fist to raise a red brick.” Music is my resistance. Won’t you join me?
Canella Breaks Rules
Canella is an indie rock band unbound by genre or rules. We write what feels right—melodies that are catchy, riffs that are heavy, sounds that are sometimes funny, sometimes raw, but always true to us. Our music is rooted in instinct and authenticity, not trends.
As a young woman from Colombia, I was lucky to find a creative community in the Capital Region of NY. Connecting with the people involved in running and participating in the DIY music scene was inspiring. When our alma mater, Saint Rose, closed, many young musicians lost access to affordable spaces to record and practice. So, we took action. After recording bands in our basement, we realized the potential to build something bigger. We launched Tummy Rub Records, a recording studio and label designed to be fun, welcoming, and unintimidating—especially for first-timers.
As musicians ourselves, our dream is to make this a sustainable, artist-run business. Too often, artists are forced to give up ownership or navigate paywalls just to be heard. We want to change that by helping musicians keep control of their work and by encouraging fans to support artists directly.
As a woman leading in this space, I’ve learned that sometimes the seat you need at the table doesn’t exist—you have to build it. I hope other young women and girls can see that it’s possible to make your dreams a reality with vision, creativity, perseverance and who better to do it with than your closest friends.
Sara Milonovich shares the roots of Daisycutter
As someone who grew up learning traditional fiddle tunes and folk songs from an early age, I had the unique opportunity to study the roots of the musical traditions of our area at the feet of folks who lived it. It’s the living tradition of folk music, person-to-person, and an experience that means more and more to me as those opportunities get harder to find. Since then, I’ve had the chance to travel, perform, record, and dip my toe in a vast range of different creative cultures and traditions, across the US and worldwide, and as an artist, I think these experiences become part of the sonic palette available to you creatively.
The alt-country music that I write now is rooted in those older musical styles, but with a modern palette of sounds. The fiddle is still very much an important part of my musical voice, but I’m really enjoying exploring some new sonic horizons with that instrument while also stretching myself as a lead vocalist. Add in acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums, maybe even some banjo, and we’re definitely a modern band. As a songwriter, my goal is to instill a sense of ‘place’ in every song—to tell the stories of those places and the people in them in a way that reflects the roots of all the musical traditions that have been part of my creative journey so far!
Angelina Valente is a Singer Stuck in a Songwriter's Body
Hey WEXT fam! Angelina Valente here. I can’t wait for WEXT Fest! This set will be just me and my piano. Stripping it all back to where it began.
I like to say I’m a singer stuck in a songwriter’s body. My songs usually start as little feelings in my chest that music helps me make sense of. Each song is like a page out of my journal that I get to share and hopefully reach someone who needs it.
This past year or so has been surreal—my latest album Sing earned Songwriter, Album, and Artist of the Year at The Eddie Awards. It was a wild night. I also had the opportunity to play my music for the CEO of Atlantic Records. (A sentence I never thought I’d ever say.) He told me my songwriting is “better than most.” I’m still deciding if that’s high praise or if he just really hates most songwriting? Jury’s still out.
Either way, these kinds of days are what it’s about for me. A rocking line-up of locals getting to play our songs for you- the audience - the reason we do what we do. Can’t wait to share these songs with you. See you at WEXT Fest!
Sawyer Fredericks shares what music means to him
"Since I was kid I have always been drawn to music, and now it’s intertwined with all parts of my life. I write from the heart. I create music that tells a story whether it’s my story or not, and I’ve taken up writing more songs about the times we live in because I am very passionate about the struggles we face as a society, and it’s truly an honor when people can connect to that."
Wild Adriatic to Play Last Show at Music Haven
Fourteen years is a long time to be in a band. Wild Adriatic spent most of that time on the road, playing anywhere that would have us. We all came up DIY... throwing shows in basements, churches, and garages, learning how to run sound, book gigs, and do it all ourselves. Some of our first Wild A shows were renting out the party room at UNO’s Chicago Grill, learning covers to save up for a van. Friends came, we crowdsurfed, ate pizza skins, and somehow the plan worked.
We bought our first of three vans and hit the road. We gigged around Albany and started getting opening slots for bigger acts. One night at Jillian’s, we opened for a Brooklyn band called Black Taxi. They were seasoned, talented, and I wanted what they had- so I pestered their manager, Nichole. She shared her knowledge generously and eventually invited us to play a NYC show. That kicked off years of touring, showcases at SXSW, and a month-long residency in Austin.
Then came a random email asking if we wanted to tour Europe. Things snowballed, and for about seven years, we were gone 250 days a year. We’ve played nearly every venue in the Capital Region, warmed up for heroes like Sister Hazel, moe., and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and tried to pay that kindness forward. From running our own festival (The Summit) to championing 518 music everywhere we went, I’m proud of the community we built with musicians, fans, and folks behind the scenes alike. We're honored to have our last 518 show be at Music Haven, a venue we've been coveting playing for years. Thank you for all the years of love and support, WEXT!