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6 More Pics & Reviews
Page 16 HAVE YOU SEEN THE MAP OF EZRA? HAVE YOU SEEN THE TTOY HALL OF FAME? MISSED EARLIER EDITIONS OF THE SERENADE? |
EZRALITES ATTEND FIRST ANNUAL Several Ezralites recently traveled to the first annual "Rock in Rockingham" event in scenic Bellows Falls, Vermont, for a three-day get together and concert for fans of sisters Tanya Donelly (formerly of the band Belly) and Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses). Like BTE, the artists both have very active and dedicated message
board communities – Slumber Land (Donelly) and Tmo (Hersh). Fort Apache,
Donellys management company, put together very affordable packages which
included hotel, tickets for 3 concerts, as well as a scenic train ride
for fans to "meet and greet" both Donelly and Hersh.
Saturday was an all day festival with music, food and beverages held under a big tent alongside the Connecticut River. Believe it or not, the entire show was powered by solar energy. The list of performers included Blake Hazard, Josh Ritter, The Stone Coyotes, Juliana Hatfield, Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly. I was lucky enough to get on stage and introduce Donelly to the audience. She played an amazing acoustic set because her electric guitar was continuously shocking her. In a very cute moment, Donelly’s young daughter Gracie Bee ran up the aisle and sat on the ground at the very front and her mother dedicated the song "Keeping You" to her.
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Hersh also played a set and was joined by Andrew Bird on violin. The highlight of the entire weekend was when Hersh asked for her sister to join her to sing the song "Two Step." It was an amazing teary-eyed performance and the end of an amazing weekend. Both performers walked out of the house and then returned to thank everyone for coming out for the event. The audience clapped and cheered so loudly making it a very emotional moment. Later, everyone gathered for a group photo and autographs and to say their goodbyes.
I drove out from Chicago for the weekend and was joined by Ezralites EnglishDave and Violettefay for the Saturday show. During Saturday’s show, Donelly’s manager – Gary Smith – announced that there were people from 27 states and 4 countries in attendance. For me, this was a very special event because now I have now only been on stage with my favorite band (Better Than Ezra) but also with my favorite singer as well. I meet so many people and had so much fun. The fans are already talking about possible venues for next year’s get together. Sure, it was a very hot and sticky weekend in Vermont, but everyone managed to look beyond the heat and humidity to the real purpose of the weekend – to meet and interact with other fans and the sisters whose music brought all these people together.
Any other readers with similar stories of Ezra-related activity are encouraged to submit a story idea to the SERENADE. |
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