ChickenJam West Productions March

Eric Kofer


Jon Wayne and The Pain - The Filler, March 9

For nearly a decade, electronic reggae-dub innovators Jon Wayne and The Pain have been crafting a unique sound, one that features a mesmerizing blend of modern age electronic beats fused with upbeat traditional roots reggae and a fresh layer of grooving funk to keep the soul moving in all the right ways. The Twin Cities-based ensemble burst onto the festival scene in 2007 following their debut self-titled album, and has since built a highly devoted following through multi-dimensional jamming, extensive touring and thoughtful, relevant songwriting.

Their transcendent live performances and fluid chemistry has propelled them to the forefront of a new generation of reggae music, and with an ever-changing musical landscape, it is evident that this Midwestern quartet is becoming a force to be reckoned with.

 

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades & Rabbit Wilde - Eagle’s Ballroom, March 25

Hailing from the river town of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, HHG plays something like progressive high-energy old-time folk music. With strong roots in old-time and bluegrass, the band has formed it’s own unique style born from the diverse musical backgrounds and interests of the five friends who make up the band. All born and raised in the great state of Wisconsin, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades began playing music and their earliest shows in the spring of 2009. Since then, the band has shared the stage with Merle Haggard, the Infamous Stringdusters, Trampled by Turtles, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, the Del McCoury Band, and many more. Being mostly inspired by rivers, valleys, good friends, and good drink, this five piece is as sturdy as any midwest riverbed and will make your toes tap from sundown to sunrise.

 

Digital Beat Down & M.O.T.H. - The Filler, March 31

Digital Beat Down is a live electronica duo that fuses synthetic textures and organic instrumentation to create their infectious brand of “live electronic funk house.” Combining live and electronic percussion, multiple synthesizers, guitars and a loop pedal as the brain of the operation, the duo’s resulting sound is funky, warm, deep, bass forward and fresh. The distinctive feature of Digital Beat Down is their ability to draw on the ethos of the DJ culture while still providing the intangible live band experience. Digital Beat Down is crossing the sounds of four-on-the-floor with the esoteric and psychedelic sounds of rock and roll. It’s like Jimi Hendrix stumbled in to London’s underground house scene and decided that he never wanted to leave…

This was made by