Night Lights Shines Bright

Nick Warren

Eli Winderman of Dopapod at the 2017 festival will be joining a star-studded lineup.

Thursday, Aug. 23 – 25

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

I've asked that question each of the last few summers, and with the 2018 Night Lights Music Festival coming right up around the bend, I'm asking it again (and again).

And the lineup consistently answers: Night Lights, buddy.

Headlining Saturday will be the space rock masters and jam scene legends Lotus.

Friday will feature the hot-hot-hot-firing funk machine The Motet from Denver.

Ever-expansive, always-amazing prog-jam wizards, Aqueous, will hit the stage both nights.

Popping up too will be Pappy Biondo, banjo player and frontman for the now-indefinitely-hiatused Americana band Cabinet.

Fearless, a Pink Floyd Tribute set, features members of a few of the best bands in the festival scene (moe., Aqueous, Dopapod, Mungion, etc).

Rounding out the lineup with tons of other sonic crackerjacks like DynoHunter, Space Junk, LeSpecial, Lazlo Hollyfeld, Octave Cat, Tropidelic, Funktional Flow, and — well, the list just goes on — it's safe to reiterate, once again, 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 will be shining sound-and-sight wonder throughout nearby Sherman, N.Y.'s historic, hallowed Great Blue Heron festival grounds for three days. It has continued to grow over the last eight years into a small-but-big, 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 said. "[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!"

Music. Roots. Art. Nature.

Yeah. Awesome. — Ryan Smith

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