“Ever dance to a fiddle?” That’s elseFest’s pick up line.

Well, have you?

Maybe you should give it a shot.

elseFest’s inaugural event will be held June 22^nd and 23^rd. elseFest is the greatest melting pot of Bluegrass, Jamgrass, and acoustic bliss that houses a plethora of instruments and sounds to make even the shyest of fans put on their dancing shoes.

With over twenty bands scheduled to play the festival, Grammy nominee, bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters are headlining with their banjos, guitars, and fiddles ready and tuned for your listening pleasure. With critical acclaim and sounding like no one else, fans will be moved as The Infamous Stringdusters give them a show they’ve never seen before.

Also scheduled, Todd Shaeffer (of Railroad Earth), David Mansfield, Andy Mckee, and twenty-two other artists will be jamming at the festival. Don’t forget to take in the sounds of Four Legged Faithful and    The Vinegar Creek Constituency. Each band and musician brings their unique sound to the table.

What do you get when you put separately wonderful things together? A vortex of awesome that only elseFest can pull off for the first time at Grounds for Music.

elseFest is a BYOB, so be sure to bring your cooler filled with beer (or lemonade, if that’s your poison) to keep you hydrated (maybe some water, too). In between all of the dancing you’re going to be doing, the constant influx of music that your ears will absorb may be too much to handle.

Luckily, if you’ve forgotten to bring munchies, the many vendors can supply you with snacks and goodies (who doesn’t love snacks?).

And if you’re too tired for even snacks and dancing (blasphemous!), you could always lounge around; let the greatness of these artists sink in with a philosophical smirk as you lie in the grass and embrace the fact that you don’t get to see and hear great grassroots music every day.

If you haven’t heard of any of the bands scheduled to play, I can assure you that you’re missing out on the relaxing, yet energetic and lovely tunes these folks belt out via their instruments and microphones. The bands feed on the crowd’s energy as much as the crowd hangs on to every musical note that comes through the speakers.

Be sure to bring your camera, your drinks, your dancing shoes (though they will emerge on their own if you’ve forgotten them), and your energy; this is one festival you do not want to miss and these are the bands that you’re going to want to keep on your radar.

Turning into what looked like someone’s driveway (is this the right place?), we were relieved to hear that we had reached our destination (albeit, more rugged than we expected). In our little car, we downshifted and trekked up a dirt hill and parked in the overgrown grass. “Where is the stage?” we wondered. Alas, over a hill, we found it: elseFest.elseFest was slim pickings early Friday afternoon. The sun was shining and the temperatures were too high, so umbrellas, tents and sunscreen were in abundance. In a wide open field, the main stage was set up at the bottom of a hill. The vendors set up shop at the top early on and the smell of barbeque filled the air. At Grounds for Music elseFest’s gates opened at noon. Despite the small turn up, Black Horse Motel began their set in the blazing sun sporting sunglasses and long pants (there must have been some kind of air conditioner nearby for them to wear that).Regardless of the scorching temperature, Black Horse Motel played on to a small crowd of fans. Campers showed up and set up shop atop the hill overlooking the stage. Instead of trekking back and forth from the festival, many decided to camp out and await Saturday’s show. We hope they brought their bug spray, as the bugs were out looking to feast.The vendors were enjoying the music and interaction with the fans. We got the inside drama among the vendors. Given a 10 foot allotted space, some were not pleased. “Mine’s wider than 10 feet and I don’t care,” said one anonymous vendor. In the open air, the music sounded better live than on any album or through any speaker. Sitting in the grass, everyone in the audience listened and soaked in the music. Black Horse Motel exclaimed, “It’s like we’re playing for our family,” regarding the initial small turn up.Regrettably, we were forced to leave early, but from the looks of the ominous clouds, we can’t imagine the torrential downpour that must have ensued in the following hours. We do know, however, that the music was wonderful and wish we could have stayed. We can only hope the rain offered some sort of relief from the summer heat.

Rightly named Music For My Soul, Domino Effect created an album that elicits a feel good vibe throughout. Starting (and finishing) with a positive message, Domino Effect begins their new album with Chains and It’s Alright. Their sound is reminiscent of a snippet of a few bands. Beginning with a similar background sound to Bob Marley and ending with some of 311’s mellower stuff, Domino Effect hits the spot lyrically with their optimism and audibly with the sound from their instruments.This is the kind of album you could put on while preparing a dinner and drinking some sangria or on a long drive home. This is also perfect beach or poolside music. With their unique sound, barbequing and dipping into the water to the tunes of Domino Effect is something you’ll likely do.Because each song bleeds into the other, Domino Effect begs you to turn up the volume. You won’t find yourself pressing the skip button (unless it’s to hear how sweet the next song is and then go back to listen to each of them in entirety). Their sound is quiet enough that you could concentrate on work, but also begs you to relax (not something you get with most bands).Lyrically, the songs are wise and straightforward; this is the band you’re going to want to listen to this summer season. Putting you in a good place, the song Music For My Soul describes the album entirely. “In this life, you got too much confusion, too many decisions to make every day. So, if you’re having a bad one, you can just play your favorite song, and I promise it’ll take everything away.” Domino Effect hit this album out of the park. If they were looking to relax, heal, and bring a groove to music fans, they definitely achieved that with Music For My Soul.

Correct Behavior is the second album from Eternal Summers. It has a sort of punk-indie feel to it. Despite the dreamy hip sound, it is laden with electric guitars and spunky sounding vocals. In fact, it’s a bit reminiscent of the 80’s. Track five “It’s Easy” has a slower sound that will remind you of a certain cover The Donnas did of “Keep on Loving You” by REO Speedwagon; something you might play in a movie during a prom scene. Nicole’s vocals are haunting and beautiful throughout this song.While the band doesn’t do anything earth shatteringly different from other bands in this genre, they still hold their own. For instance, Eternal Summers seems to have a hard time sticking to one specific genre or label of music. The tracks were noticeably different from their counterparts. Every song on the album is different and ranges from oldies upbeat (much like The Drums) to spunky punk and all the way to 80’s. They didn’t do what a number of other bands do: find a formula to spitting out music and then beat the formula to death. No, they experimented and present you with Correct Behavior. The first track “Millions” has a positive vibe and an upbeat tempo to boot. Nicole’s voice is laced perfectly throughout the song. When she’s not singing, the guitars compliment her tone flawlessly. “Wonder” has more of a rebellious feel to it with her voice and the guitar intertwined with sugar and spice respectively. Up until “It’s Easy,” the music has a specific grungy yet lovely sound to it. It’s after “It’s Easy” that the 80’s takes over for a couple of songs (“Girls in the City” and “Heaven and Hell”). A lo-fi mellower sound brings you to the end of the album, properly named “Summerset.” It’s almost a reflective song that makes you want to put the album on again and try to figure out how their music flowed while still being so versatile throughout the album.

Looking for a jazzy and snazzy indie sound with catchy lyrics and catchier guitar licks? Look no further than Cosmo Jarvis’s Think Bigger. Relaxing, catchy, and a flawless voice—Cosmo Jarvis is just what the doctor prescribed. He has an acoustic sound with vocals kind of like Jack Johnson meets Mat Kearney.The whole album screams, “listen to me! Listen to me!” and it’s hard to really pick your favorite song. The first track, “Love This,” draws you in and makes you listen to the whole album. It’s comprised of many sounds interweaved behind his voice and the lyrics bring everything together into a perfect song.When you get to “Friend of the Devil,” you’ll really enjoy the twang break from the more serious tracks (perfectly placed, too; right in the middle). To unwind, “Hopeless Bay” relaxes you with a sound much like an old film’s soundtrack complimented by Jarvis’s achingly beautiful voice.Think Bigger picks up with “Whatever” and the sound is definitely reminiscent of Mat Kearney’s sound. With positive lyrics, Jarvis makes you feel you could drive away today and embark on a great, life-changing adventure with this song. Ending with “Think Bigger,” Cosmo Jarvis reminds you why you listened to the entire album to begin with. The song compliments the first song “Love This” perfectly. It’s almost as if the song is a much softer b-side with a second perspective on the song.The album mostly consists of the feel good vibe of Keep on Keepin’ On. Cosmo Jarvis takes the best from various musicians and puts them together to create a funky combination of acoustic rock with lyrics that make you think bigger.

With a thick bass line and a dance club worthy beat (sans the cheesy lyrics and pop atmosphere), Drop the Lime created a deep and dark sensual album. DJ Luca Venezia is the New York City-based singer-songwriter and producer. His deep voice resonates throughout the album bringing each sound together into this wonderful collection of songs. If you haven’t heard of him, try to imagine what    The Beach Boys at night would sound like (chilling with James Dean, smoking cigarettes in leather jackets and hanging out in the fog with some strobe lights).A mix of rockabilly and dance beats, Drop the Lime brought his A-game. Whetting the appetite, Drop the Lime begins with a handful of dance beats and goes on to distinguish his style with Darkness (track three). The song lacks the same bass from the previous songs, but follows it up with the sensual No Sleep for the Wicked. If your heart is set on intense buildup and a dancer’s climax, look no further than track five, Stay Up Late. With a repetitive and ever increasing hubbub of awesome, halfway through the song, it changes pace and you find yourself a born again dancer.Forcing you deeper into the abyss, (Ghost) Riders In The Sky takes your spiritual rebirth to another level entirely; it’s more like five songs in one (so, if you’re dancing—that’s right—you’ll need new moves for each part). This is definitely the album you want playing for your in house rave or if you’re dancing in the city. With the plethora of sounds to entice your ears, Drop the Lime hit the ground running.The album gives no indication of its descent. Immersed in the last few songs, the last song Leaving leaves you aching for more. Ending with a heartbeat, he leads us to believe that there is much more hiding in his musical labyrinth than what he’s shared.

Local Pittsburgh musician, Sean Atkins, compiles a free, six-track, digital album available for download on Bandcamp. A cross between Owen and an acoustic Bon Iver, Atkins brings you a companion for your foggy morning, forlorn afternoon, and lonely evening. Volume 1.5 is the follow up to his previous digital album (which is just as lovely). With a knack for writing and singing your every heartache, Volume 1.5 is the perfect rainy day (or any day) album.Sean Atkins has become a hit on SoundCloud and Tumblr. Offering up his latest and greatest, Atkins posts his music on the aforementioned sites and then offers full downloads on BandCamp. Several years ago, he played under the guise of The Lost Sea. Today, his songs are acoustic guitar based singed with eloquent vocals.So, put on a pot of coffee and press play. Creating a nostalgic feeling, Atkins manages to musically and lyrically burrow into your heart and soul with each track. With hauntingly beautiful lyrics, Atkins weaves a lovely intricate web that draws you in further and further. Until Autumn is a track on the album that is unlike the others (perhaps this could be your morning companion). More upbeat and positive, the song is vibrant and emphasizes growth and change (things we could all afford to use to an extent). The album is a quiet ride, emitting a good feeling in the center of your chest.Managing to musically embody the feeling everyone gets every now and again (you know the one), Sean Atkins creates a lovely compilation of songs. With soft, moving lyrics and a softer guitar to serve as his foundation, you can easily see his devotion and dedication to music. We only have one question (it’s more of a demand): give us more!

Jacob Jeffries Band’s album Tell Me Secrets has a lot of secrets to tell. For starters, they can definitely write some poetry. With their plethora of rhymes, Jacob Jeffries Band is a mix of Ryan Adams and their own personal blend of rock. A light piano rock album, Jacob Jeffries sings his heart out.The album consists of self-reflection, break ups, love, and a dash of indie to boot. With easily relatable lyrics, their second track is a great break up song. “I don’t think I can care about you less.” Taking you through a lifetime of songs, Jacob Jeffries Band brings you to Over and Past with no concrete answers on getting over your break up, but they manage to give you some advice on getting through it. The band takes you through various stages of life and attempt to guide you through it via their progressive piano rock and lyrics.With their catchy choruses, their indie sounding track (much different from the rest of the album) is refreshing and delightful, titled You Got Some Nerve. Overall, the band doesn’t tread too far into undiscovered waters and sticks to the tried and true road of music. With a blend of old school rock and roll and some piano packed in, Tell Me Secrets is a collection of catchy lyrics with memorable tunes.

Wholesome, hearty, and country-like: Gabriel Kelley belts out the vocals on his new album, It Don’t Come Easy. Beginning with the first few songs off the album, Kelley demonstrates his vocal abilities by naturally having a country styled twang and an uplifting story to tell. With a harmonica, guitar, and piano, Kelley tells stories, as well as instilling positivity throughout his songs.Kelley’s album is a cross between folk and country. With his deep voice resonating, his music carries his voice from beginning to end. While the music is wholesome in its own right, Kelley’s voice really anchors how the music wraps around his voice. He manages to almost cancel out the music by having such a voice. However, the music can be heard in the beginning of his songs (as well as throughout, but overshadowed by his voice) and it seems to match his sense of style.Despite having a profoundly deep voice, the music does not seem to be far too different from music in this particular genre. He could have stepped out of the comfort zone and done something remarkable with a voice like that. Not deviating from his sound, the songs are mostly similar. He found a formula to create a certain sound and used it for each of his tracks (to varying degrees). However, from the slow songs to the quicker paced, Gabriel Kelley seems to have found his niche.