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Rockin’ Ronnie’s Mega Musikfest Recap, Pt. 2: Poutine, Many Must-See Acts, and Must-Buy Hand Sanitizer

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On Saturday, August 1, I parked on the South Side and shuttled my way up North for more ‘Festing, more music, and more photos.

One thing I noticed about the shuttles was how friendly everyone was. I suppose it was because they knew they were in for a fun and entertaining day. The nice woman sitting next to me offered me some watermelon smelling hand sanitizer that she said she got at Five Below. Immediately I noted to myself to make sure to get there to get some! We had a nice chat, and then we arrived on the North Side.

My first stop was up the hill at the Hotel Bethlehem Platz, where the Artisan Jazz Trio was playing. You can’t go wrong with a little bit of funk mixed in with a lot of jazz! I enjoyed their smooth sound, but then it was time to move to my next stop. My next stop was getting some poutine from The Flying V, which I have wanted to try for many years! Let me tell you, after eating that I was left wondering where that has been all my life! It was as incredible, as everyone said it would be.

It was time to get back to work, so I sauntered into the Service Electric FestPlatz, where I saw the Grammy Award-winning Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra. Although they are known for being one of the most popular polka bands in America, they played so much more than that! They mixed a lot of pop and oldies into the mix, and the crowd was eating it up. I could see why they were so popular!

Moving right along, I ventured to the other side of Festplatz to the Yuengling Lagerplatz stage, where I caught indie singer-songwriter Temma, whose storytelling ability was on full display through her strong voice and powerful lyrics. From there, I went right back down to Festplatz and found a seat to get ready to see Coverfire!, a rock and pop cover band (with a few originals) comprised of musicians from Pennsylvania’s Army National Guard. (Side note: I saw an empty chair between random people and asked if I could sit there. Of course they said yes, because there was not one unfriendly soul at Musikfest!). The tent was packed, and it was easy to understand why from the first note. Every member showcased their many talents by playing multiple instruments, switching between them throughout the show. I highly recommend catching these guys (and ladies) if you can.

(Actually, I highly recommend catching all of these acts!)

After that show, I headed to Plaza Tropical because I wanted to catch Coquettish, an alt-rock band from New Jersey, Coquettish. Their bass-heavy originals can be best described as a mix of alt-rock, grunge, and jam with a vibe – and I will say the bass player had most of that vibe. She was definitely the main character, and she owned it! Some songs were heavily reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, and they were awesome.

After that, I was spent for the day, and it was time to head home. Stay tuned for Part 3!

SEPT. 22: The UMC Creator Lab Content Experience!

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Level up your artist profile and make it easier to get booked.

On Tuesday, September 22 from 7-9 p.m., join us at City Limit Studios (14919 Lebanon Rd., Old Hickory) for the UMC Creator Lab Content Experience, an event designed specifically for independent musicians and creators who want clean, professional media assets. For one evening, rotate through dedicated rooms or pick individual stations to get everything you need for your promotional materials.

The Experience & Individual Station Pricing

  • The Infinity Room (Headshots with Gerard): Clean, professional portraits that look great for press features, social media, and booking profiles.
    Individual Price: $50
  • The Creator Lab (Interviews with Kelsey Muse): A short, friendly 3 to 5 minute interview that helps showcase your personality and background to fans and industry folks.
    Individual Price: $50
  • The Saloon (One Mic Performance with NuRenaissance): A clean, single take live performance video for songs under 3 minutes with professionally mixed audio.
    Individual Price: $75

Choose Your Package

1. The Artist EPK Package

Includes Professional Headshots and the Interview.

The core package to get your visual and background profile ready for sharing.

  • Early Bird (Register by September 7): $60
  • Advance (September 8 to September 21): $70
  • Day Of (September 22): $85

2. The Raise the Bar Package (Best Value)

Includes Headshots, Interview, AND the One Mic Performance.

The complete package so you walk away with a full set of promotional media.

  • Early Bird (Register by September 7): $100
  • Advance (September 8 to September 21): $125
  • Day Of (September 22): $150

Want to sign up for just one station instead? Individual station options are available at checkout.

Important Details

  • Turnaround Times: Headshots and interviews will be ready within 5 business days. Performance videos will be ready within 10 business days because of audio mixing.
  • Capacity is Limited: To keep things running smoothly and ensure quality, we are only taking a limited number of artists. Lock in your spot now before early bird pricing ends on September 7.

Got questions? Send a direct message to us on Instagram @umcworldwide. Ready to register? Do it now!

This Weekend, We Return to Gussapolooza!

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Some of the best memories and musical discoveries of the past couple summers have been made in the middle of a field in Ontario, about 75 minutes north of Toronto.

The field? The Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, which will once again play host to Gussapolooza Music Festival this weekend (Aug. 21-23). Some of the best talent from the region (and throughout North America) will descend on this quaint Canadian town for a weekend of new music discovery and community.

Events like Gussapolooza — which boasts an all-independent lineup once again — are a beautiful reminder of why we got into this business in the first place. There is something so pure about a grassroots music festival, where volunteers from the community dedicate their time and talents to see it all the way to fruition — and create something a bit more magical, every single year. Driving these efforts is a belief in community, in artistry, and the notion that independent artists deserve a big stage and a world-class platform on which to showcase their talents.

That’s why we make the trip every year. And, once again, we’ll be capturing the action through Buckshot’s lens, as well as through a series of interviews from throughout the weekend which will be broadcast on The Quinn Spinn’s return episodes this fall.

If you don’t want to wait to see what we capture, you’re in luck: you can still get your single-day, weekend, or full festival passes here.

And, as an additional treat, we took the time to edit 100+ new photos from last year’s festival to get you ready for your trip to Cookstown. See you there!

Rockin’ Ronnie’s Mega Musikfest Recap, Pt. 1: The Verve Pipe, an Air Conditioned Bus, and an Alleged Gallon of Lemonade

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When Gerard Longo asked me if I wanted to take photos this year at Musikfest on behalf of UMC, how could I even think of saying no? So, I grabbed my handy dandy Nikon and started out on opening night (Friday, July 31), taking the new air conditioned shuttle bus from the South Side to the North Side.

My first stop was the Yuengling Lagerplatz stage, where a very soulful Lehigh Valley native Melody Cruz was playing. Her powerful vocals kept the attention of me and the rest of the audience.  My next stop was Zinzenplatz, where I was captivated by Amelia Day, a folk singer/songwriter from Sumner, Washington. Her comfort on that stage showed, and her bluesy pop rock songs were fun and alluring.

From there, I grabbed a quick grilled mozzarella and shredded beef on cornbread sandwich – who knew that combination could taste so good? – from MozzArepas and what seemed to be a gallon of fresh squeezed lemonade and headed up the hill. As I was questioning my decision to walk up the hill in the heat, the sound of marching drums caught my attention. If you know me you know I will follow the sound of that anywhere! It was there that I stopped to watch Orbital Drums, a drumline from right here in Bethlehem. These percussionists are all Liberty High School alumni and former members of the Grenadier Band. Not only do they have killer drum skills, they also incorporate bagpipes (of course they do! They’re Liberty graduates!). The way they interact with both kids and adults, it’s easy to see why they had such a huge crowd watching them!

When they finished, it was time for me to think about heading back to the South Side. But first, I heard the sounds of Salsa filling the air. The strains of reggaeton music brought me to Plaza Tropical, where Adrian Anthony’s Grupo Hipnosis from New Jersey were entertaining the crowd with their Latin rhythms. I was ready to dance! (Actually, I wasn’t, but I was dancing in my head. How can you not move when you hear that?)

It was then time to board the nice air conditioned shuttle bus back to the South Side, where 90s alt rock band The Verve Pipe were going to be playing. After zoning out for a while (again, it was hot!), I made my way to the front along the gate so I could get some good shots. By this time, I was pretty beat, and only intended on staying a little bit in that spot before going back to the sidewalk to find a table to listen to the rest from there. I had thought, “OK, I know the song ‘The Freshmen’ and that’s it, so I’ll leave after they play that, if it’s not at the end.”

Well, they played it in the middle of their set… but by that time I had become a huge fan and stayed put, right until the end. Singer Brian Vander Ark was funny, charming, and having the best time of his life up there. Of course, “The Freshmen” had the entire audience singing, but I was extremely wowed by their other songs that, admittedly, I had never heard until that point.

(Also worth noting: backup vocalist and keyboardist Channing Lee has a spectacular voice! I could listen to a full concert of just her. So, I did a deep dig, and she does indeed have some solo stuff out.)

The Verve Pipe started strong and finished stronger, so much that I bought a ticket to their show at The Sellersville Theater later this month! After that awesome performance, it was time to head home. 

TONIGHT, 7 ET: Your Next Favorite Band’s 2026 Musikfest Exordium

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This week, we are transported back home to Bethlehem, PA, where the 2026 edition of Musikfest — the largest free, non-gated music festival in the United States — is just days away from kicking off.

There is sure to be plenty of magic across Christmas City over the next couple weeks, and it kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. ET (that’s 6 p.m. CT, if you’re back in Nashville) with the 2026 Musikfest Exordium. Tune in to the live broadcast emanating from Bethlehem’s Flying V Poutinerie, as we hear from many key figures at the ‘Fest and within the Lehigh Valley’s local music scene, including:

  • Thoughts on “must see” bands and Best Day of the ‘Fest with ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan.
  • Early thoughts on the ‘Fest’s weather forecast from Eastern PA Weather Authority Founder and Chief Meteorologist Bobby Martrich.
  • Insights from long-time entertainment reporter John Moser.
  • A visit from yours truly, Musikfest’s Friendly Neighborhood North Side Sheriff.

We will also learn about the return and expansion of the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, set to take place August 2-4 and offering dozens of educational sessions, music industry panels, and exclusive networking opportunities. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy live performances from ‘Fest performers Bren and Atlassian.

Watch the live stream below!

Founder’s Notes: Tour Updates, Improved Access to Resources, and the Plan for the Rest of 2026

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This week, the Underground Revolution Tour resumes with a trip back home.

First on the agenda: Musikfest, where I’ll be presenting ‘Building Your Authentic Artist Brand’ at the Musikfest Music Industry Conference inside the Musikfest Cafe at SteelStacks on Monday, August 3 beginning at 1 p.m.

In addition to that, I’ll be doing my annual duty overseeing Event Staff operations on the North Side of the festival. I’ll also be checking in to offer my daily Picks of the Platzes alongside Phillip Reese from Your Next Favorite Band, and we’ll have our good friend Ronnie Stoeckel running around taking photos of the ‘Fest, with Rockin’ Ronnie’s Mega Musikfest Recap coming to The Blog the following week.

After that (and some hard-earned beach time immediately after Musikfest), we’ll pop up to Cookstown, Ontario for our third consecutive year attending Gussapolooza Music Festival. We have some special things planned for the occasion – we’ll be interviewing artists and attendees, and capturing content all weekend long. (Not to mention, there are some photos from last year’s festival that still need to make their way online…)

After THAT, we have a massive fall planned for you in Nashville!

Among the things that you can expect this fall:

  • Our first-ever Content Day, sponsored by the UMC Creator Lab.
  • Revamped, simplified UnderDogs membership tiers, aimed to add value to our community while lowering the barrier to entry.
  • More music reviews, a new and improved UMC20 playlist, and the return of our Official Podcast, The Quinn Spinn.
  • The continued growth and evolution of the UMC Creator Lab.
  • Live performance and networking opportunities across Nashville.

We’ll also be taking a look at our educational offerings through UMC Academy, and developing ways to improve access to UnderDogs and the community at large.

And, speaking of education, we’re making our plans to return to a couple of our favorite conferences in the fall – Confluence Carolinas (Oct. 7-10 in Charlotte, NC) and NOLA MusiCon (Oct. 28-30 in New Orleans, LA). We hope you’ll join us!

One more thing: following our Creator Lab crowdfunding campaign, many folks who pledged made their contributions directly to support the project. If you are one of them, you can expect your perks to be fulfilled and shipped to you during the first half of September.

So far, 2026 has been a year of new ways forward and exciting possibilities. We’re proud of what we’ve built together, and we’re excited to keep going!

-Gerard

REVIEW: Sam Plourd’s ‘Evergreen’ a Testament to Lasting Friendship

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The best friendships are the ones that stand up against the test of time, and that can withstand any distance.

That’s the type of friendship Sam Plourd has with her friend, Marissa, and it is the topic of her latest single, “Evergreen,” released on July 10.

The bouncy indie pop tune was years in the making. The initial demo was recorded with a training keyboard from Plourd’s childhood, with vocals recorded on a Yeti microphone. From there, the Nashville-based songwriter took the project into the studio, where the idea was brought new life — while maintaining its youthful spirit.

“We started with grand piano and programmed in some drums to get a groove going. Then my producer wrote a bass line to ground everything,” Plourd recalls. “The bell-like tones heard throughout the song are actually from a Melissa and Doug learn-to-play piano that my producer had lying around his house. Not only did it capture the youthful and quirky energy of the song, it also felt very full circle for me, since the demo used a keyboard meant for children as well. To tie it all together, we added in the Rhodes and tons of funky percussion to lift the choruses and give them some flair. The vocal layering was very much inspired by Jacklen Ro, specifically their song titled “Self Control.” All of their songs have a very specific and interesting vocal timbre that comes from the layering, harmony, and panning.”

She continues, “There are seven total vocal tracks: a tripled main vocal, a doubled high harmony, and a doubled low harmony. We panned the harmonies hard left and right and kept the main right up the middle to get the desired surrounding vocal effect.”

The masterfully crafted “Evergreen” is the second single from Plourd’s forthcoming album, Butterfly Kisses (out Sept. 4). — and, according to Plourd, we have one more single to look forward to before the full-length project makes its way into the world.

For now, let’s appreciate this celebration of everlasting friendship.

“We had the type of instant connection that is both rare and beautiful, and I am so lucky to have experienced it. To me, evergreen means forever. The resilience of an evergreen tree and its ability to keep its foliage throughout every season is representative of the type of relationship that can never falter,” Plourd said. “Through every season of life, through every hardship, through every celebrated moment, Marissa is there. I wrote this song after she moved to New York for college and I was still stuck in our boring hometown. Although there was distance between us, I knew that nothing could ever get in the way of the connection we had. Five years later, and that’s still true.”

Stacey Kelleher Just Wants to ‘Laugh About It’ Already!

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Have you ever wished you could just skip ahead to the part where you’ve moved on from your ex?

Stacey Kelleher released “Laugh About It” to capture that feeling. Released on June 12, the lush alt-country tune is an opportunity for the Nashville-based artist to look ahead to brighter days… even if she’s still stuck in the post-breakup muck, feeling like the joke is on her.

“‘Laugh About It’ is how you feel when you’re just waiting on the day you’ll finally get over someone,” Kelleher said. “You’re broken up, you know it’s not going to work out, you’re not going to get back together… but you’re still caught up on them and heartbroken. You know that one day you’ll be over it; it’s just a matter of waiting on that day.”

If you’re subscribed to Apple Music’s ‘New in Country’ playlist, “Laugh About It” might sound familiar. It was added to the playlist on release day — another milestone for this rising artist, as she prepares to release her first full-length project this fall.

Written alongside Robyn Ottolini and Taylor Macres, “Laugh About It” was produced by Kelleher alongside Justin Wilson, with mastering duties performed by Joe Hutchinson. And now, it’s here for you!

On ‘Butterfly Effect,’ Noelle McFarland Longs to be the Life of the Party

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Have you ever been in the presence of somebody who is so good with people, that it leaves you feeling envious?

Noelle McFarland explores this phenomenon on “Butterfly Effect,” the country-tinged folk-pop banger released back in May. The rollicking tune positions our protagonist as a fly on the wall, observing a girl who seamlessly stands out as the life of the party.

“The girl described in these lyrics is excellent with people; she knows how to read a room and bring life to it, a skill that seems to come naturally to he,” McFarland notes. “As the narrator, I sing about her with a mix of jealousy, curiosity, and almost romance at times. This is intentional and meant to hint at some underlying projection. Perhaps human connection can feel unnatural to us all sometimes, but we all long for it just the same.”

“Butterfly Effect” was written by McFarland on guitar and co-produced with Aidan Rex, who teamed with McFarland to create a lush soundscape that is ready for festival season.

“We had a great time playing around with instruments to really fill up the track and give it a big atmospheric sound,” McFarland said. “There’s a combination of live drums and digital percussion. Most of the synths and pads you hear we created ourselves. We also used some layered vocal tags as their own sample/instrument, which is one of my favorite ways to use my vocal degree!”

The release was accompanied by a surprise B-side, “Father’s Daughter, Mother’s Son.” The dreamy, introspective ballad is the perfect companion to “Butterfly Effect” as it compounds on the theme of projection, with regard to the ways old relationship habits pass through generations.

“It’s about the way we try to evolve from the generations before us in relationships and parenthood, oftentimes overcorrecting and learning brand new lessons in the process,” McFarland said. “To me, it’s an extension of ‘Butterfly Effect,’ highlighting the shadow work and self-reflection that follows.”

There you go: two songs, where you were only expecting one. What a treat!

LISTEN: Shoemaker Levee Soars into the Stratosphere with ‘Flying’

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It’s the peak of the summer, and it’s just about time to venture out of our cozy confines of the Creator Lab and go on an adventure.

We’re looking forward to the road ahead which, of course, includes a trip up to Cookstown, ON for this year’s Gussapolooza Music Festival. It takes place from Aug. 21-23 at the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds, and it features three days of music, art, food, camping, and community. You should do more than think about joining us, and grab your passes here.

This will be our third year in attendance. In that time, one of the artists we’ve become acquainted with is a band by the name of Shoemaker Levee. The former Gussapolooza headliners have been making a splash around Greater Toronto for quite some time, performing at a who’s who list of legendary downtown venues including El Mocambo, Supermarket, The Reverb, The Opera House, The Horseshoe Tavern, Lee’s Palace and the Rivoli.

While we were tending to the ranch here in Nashville this spring, the guys were getting busy releasing new music. Their latest single, “Flying” (released May 1), is as bright and breezy as the Ontario countryside during the golden hour, complete with warm acoustic guitar tones, a soaring melody, and lush vocal harmonies. It’s the perfect song to listen to on a long summer’s drive, as you leave the world’s chaos in the rearview in favor of the precious here and now.

Wherever you’re “Flying” to this summer, keep this one on your playlist!

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