March is currently coming in like a lion, but in a couple weeks’ time it will be out like a lamb and we’ll be able to turn our focus to summer. This means we need to start planning vacation and like me, some of you will want to hit up festivals in the Southern California oasis, a Tennessee field of dreams or even under the Chicago skyline. But wait, there is a late entry to the destination festivals and it’s among the exotic landscape of Danbury, Connecticut.
Yes, you read correctly; there is a festival in Danbury, Conn. and not just any festival, but the 2011 B.O.M.B. Festival. Now in its second year, the B.O.M.B. Festival (or Bring Our Music Back) is the brain child of “Connecticut Music Guru” Frankie Bombaci who created the event with the hopes to showcase local talent on the same stage as larger national acts.
This year’s crop of talent is widely diverse and spans both major label and independent artists. While I can’t quite wrap my head around the method employed to curate the festival, the lineup is stacked with intriguing artist at the top and bottom of the bill. Top tier talent includes Weezer, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Coheed and Cambria. The meat of this musical sandwich has bands like Against Me!, The New Pornographers, George Clinton and Best Coast all sharing equal billing. As you make your way towards the bottom, the diversity continues with The Cool Kids, Titus Andronicus, Dan Deacon and a myriad of other exciting artists.
The B.O.M.B. Festival takes place on the grounds of Western Connecticut State University the weekend of May 28 and 29. The reasonably priced festival ($89 for 2-day pass) is on sale now. If you already have tickets for Phish at Bethel Woods that weekend, you may want to reconsider your plan and take the train in a different direction.
