CAMP-N-JAM
July 11 - 12
Modern Fools
Music lovers as well as disc golfers are drawn to
Camp-N-Jam, like a small -scale Disc Jam. Marty
Vaughn from Top O’ the Hill Disc Golf in Canterbury sponsored a six-hole disc golf course within
earshot of the stage. “We laid out the course in the
weeks leading up to the festival and the baskets
went in this week,” says Vaughn.
Dillan Welch, a young, up-and-coming singer/songwriter opened up Camp-N-Jam and drew
in many from their campsites with his rhythmic
strums of the acoustic guitar paired with reggae
vocals. Welch is a performer that gives his music
variety and substance by alternating the tempo and
accentuating the deep bass on his up-strum.
The afternoon was filled with variations of rock
music by bands such as Hug the Dog, Modern Fools,
Boogie on Alice, and The Van Burens. The sun sank
below the horizon and The Ghost Dinner Band, who
Trottier is also the drummer for, warmed the crowd
up for the upcoming headliners.
The performers from Luminous Fire & Flow lit
their torches and spun fire for the gathering spectators. Trottier said Luminous Fire and Flow has
developed it into a very entertaining experience. “It
adds to the show and flow is very popular on the
scene right now. We’re happy to provide them with
a space to do their thing.”
Strange Machines took the stage at 10:30pm
and the largest crowd of the weekend filled the
amphitheater. Trottier was introduced to Strange
Machines when he did sound for them at a show in
Manchester. Since then, Trottier has tried to catch
them as much as possible. “Every show the crowd
gets bigger and more enthusiastic. It’s pretty fun to
watch a band grow like that,” says Trottier. “They're
definitely in my top favorites for local bands.”
Winter • 2015
After hearing Strange Machines, it is easy to understand why. With their intricate improvisation,
high energy instrumentation, and impassioned harmonies, Strange Machines had the crowd cheering
for an encore. Although the live music was supposed
to cease at midnight, Strange Machines pleased the
festival-goers with one last high energy song.
The musicians had cleared the stage, but the music was not over. A group from Keene, NH by the
name of Machina Arts, had set up a 20 foot tent with
throw rugs, turn tables, black lights, and inflatable
sofas. The DJ began spinning music and gave the
festival goers a late night treat. The music could
be heard throughout a small field where a campfire
roared and threw embers into the cool night sky.
On Sunday morning, young singer/songwriter
Julianna Cable took the stage as people were finishing breakfast. Her subtle chords of the ukulele
took a back seat to her powerfully rich vocals. Cable invited her mother on stage for a song as she
explained that she is moving across the country to
start her college career in a few months. It was a
song that they sang together often, but this time
was different. The mother/daughter duo melded
their harmonies together as a tear rolled down Cable’s mother’s cheek.
The exposure for these local musicians and the
joy they receive to be a part of such a positive experience is priceless. MacDonald says, “Playing for
more than 100 brand new listeners is worth more
than any monetary compensation.”
Local musicians, music lovers, and disc gol