CalendarAdvertiseDistributionArchiveShopAboutContact
Close
Best of Erie 2019
News & Politics
Events
Music
Arts & Culture
Opinion
Food & Drink
Issues Archive
Web Only
Events Calendar
Advertise
More
Business
Community
Environment
Erie at Large
Features
Film
From the Editors
Jen Sorensen Cartoons
Just Toyin' Witcha
Music Reviews
Sports
Theater
Distribution Locations
About Us
Contact Us
Shop
Issue Archives
Internship Opportunities
Write for Us
Local Voices
Share:
Spotlight EventsMusic

Night Lights Music Festival a Sensational Send-off to Summer

2017 Night Lights Music Festival is coming right up around the bend of summer's end.

by Ryan Smith
View ProfileTwitterRSS Feed
August 16, 2017 at 11:15 AM

Thursday, Aug. 24

A music-and-light-driven, socially conscious, cozy, and uniquely mind-bending/soul-mending gathering of good, groove-minded people: Where else would any festival fan want to find themselves kissing summer goodbye?

I've asked that question before, and with the 2017 Night Lights Music Festival coming right up around the bend of summer's end, I'm asking it again (and again). And the lineup consistently answers:

Space rock masters Papadosio and jam scene mastodons Dopapod.

Ever-expansive prog-jam wizards, Aqueous, times three.

Artist-at-large: Twiddle's very own axe-man Mihali Savoulidis.

Boulder-based electro-hydro-funksters SunSquabi.

Bright Light Social Hour, delivering a dose of psychedelic rock that critics at NPR have called "continually exhilarating."

Rounding out the lineup with tons of other sonic crackerjacks and fest-scene favorites like Mungion, Tropidelic, Broccoli Samurai (two times, including a Lotus tribute set), Jimkata, Mister F, Lazlo Hollyfeld, Funktional Flow, Smackdab, and — well, the list just goes on — it's safe to reiterate that the good people behind Night Lights have damn fine taste in music, and, man, they know how to put on one spectacular get-down.

All that said, Night Lights (shining sound-and-sight wonder throughout nearby Sherman, N.Y.'s historic, hallowed Great Blue Heron festival grounds for three days) has grown over the last seven years into a truly and completely one-of-a-kind, not-to-be-missed annual addition to the region's festival scene.

"Night Lights carries a really specific vibe that makes it a super-unique event that we look forward to each year," Aqueous' Mike Gantzer told me during a quick interview via satellite from last year's festival. "[Beyond] the diverse/eclectic lineups — that range from a ton of great local bands to some heavy-hitters from the national circuit — to the trippy layout of the forest, and how they light it up, I'd have to say the main thing is [its] communal vibe. It's rootsy, and comfortable, and awesome!"

Community. Art. Nature.

Yeah. Awesome. — Ryan Smith

Thursday through Saturday, all day // 2361 Wait Corners Road, Panama, NY // nightlightsfest.com

night lights music festivalpapadosiodopapodaqueousmihali savoulidissunsquabibright light social hourmungiontropidelicbroccoli samuraijimkatamister flazlo hollyfeldfunktional flowsmackdabgreat blue heronmike gantzer

Featured Events

Today Tomorrow This Weekend

Asbury Woods Winter Wonderland

Community
Dec. 13th, 6 PM to 9 PM

Happy Cole

Comedy
Dec. 13th, 6:45 PM

Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment

Dance
Dec. 13th, 7 PM

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

Music
Dec. 13th, 7:30 PM

Annie

Theater
Dec. 13th, 7:30 PM

Submit Your Event   View Calendar

We List You a Merry Christmas
Erie Reader: Vol. 9, No. 25
View Past Issues
In This Issue

Popular This Week

Erie's 40 Under 40: Class of 2019

Art's Bakery Follows Timeless Recipe

Best of Erie Voting NOW OPEN

A Hero in the Midst of Cowards

World of Music's Heart and Soul Art Show

Related Articles

Mallory Run Releases "Blind"

by Chloe Forbes12/12/2019, 3:30 PM

RiFF RAFF Returns to BT

by Symoné Crockett12/4/2019, 2:00 PM

Night of the Singers Carries Note

by Charles Brown12/4/2019, 1:30 PM
A showcase hosted by Artlore Studios

Deck the Halls with a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at The Warner Theatre

by Aaron Mook12/4/2019, 1:30 PM
This neoclassical new age group is bringing its holiday tour to the Warner

Punk, Politics, and Anti-Flag's New Vision

by Nick Warren12/4/2019, 1:15 PM
A Q&A with Chris "#2" Barker

Merry Thrills and Chills with Cirque Musica's Holiday Wishes

by Cara Suppa12/4/2019, 1:00 PM
Breathtaking feats take over the Warner
© 2019 Great Lakes Online Media
1001 State Street  //  Erie, PA 16501
Terms of Use Privacy Policy