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Twenty four bands, five stages, three emcees and 12 hours of continuous music — all without a trip to Upstate New York required. The second annual EOM 2STock Music Festival is taking place Saturday at Front and More streets.
“South Philly is known for its horns and banjos,” organizer Tom Betteridge said in allusion to the iconic Mummers, “but it is also full of great rock and roll musicians that desperately need to be showcased.”
Being fully aware of what South Philly can offer musically, Betteridge and Rick Terway, the event’s artistic director and longtime bassist on the Second Street music scene, decided to put the abundance of musical talent on display last year. It was also around that time they learned the Edward O’Malley Athletic Association was searching for an event to raise money for its facilities and sports teams. With the resources of IBEW Local 98 and their charitable arm 298, Inc. on board, too, the wheels had been set in motion.
Music is, of course, the key element, and the acts themselves hit the necessary notes across a few genres, with a focus on none other than rock & roll. One headliner will be Carousel Kings, a pop punk band from Lancaster and South Philly fresh off a West Coast tour.
“They just put out an EP and have made some videos. They’re well known all across the country, but this is the first time they’ll be performing live in their own backyard,” Betteridge said. “It’s a big event for them. I know they can’t wait. They kind of remind you of Green Day.”
Alongside them at the top of the card is SPiN, a South Philly product that has recently been working on an album in studio and just completed an East Coast tour. With more of a classic, alt rock style, Betteridge points to Dave Grohl’s band the Foo Fighters as being stylistically similar.
The full list of acts, along with plenty of samples and videos, is available online at eom2stockmusicfestival.org. Worth noting is the slew of local ladies who will take the stage — Alia, Felicia Punzo, Haley Alexandra, Jessica Enrica and Mia Johnson — each offering unique sounds that reach across pop, rock, folk and jazz. Numerous local bar and cover bands that many will surely recognize are set to perform throughout the afternoon. In true music festival style, many acts will also visit the VIP suite after performing for unplugged acoustic sessions
Hapag Lloyd, a group of longshoreman who have been playing rock for 40 years, will reunite and play with heavy hearts as they recently lost member Ronnie Rowand to a long battle with cancer. But in memory of Ron, 2STock will be offering a six-month scholarship to the Independent School of Rock and an electric guitar from King’s Music to one lucky child attending the festival.
“My hope is that five or 10 years from now that kid will be playing on our stage,” an emotional Betteridge said. “Our goal is also by then we’ll be the premier musical festival in Philadelphia. I think we have the location for it in Pennsport, and there is nothing else like this in the city."
Taking up an entire baseball field and then some, 2STock boasts a litany of amenities and features complimenting the music experience. Food will be provided by Moonshine, 1825 E. Moyamensing Ave., which opened this year to much acclaim. Beer and other concessions will also be available. For children, Dougherty Electric is sponsoring a Kids Zone featuring fun inflatables and a magic show. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society rounds out the activities with its Building Beauty program and will be on hand to discuss its residential program for green storm water management.
General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for juniors, with both options available online at eom2stockmusicfestival.org as well as locally at King’s Music, 1828 E. Passyunk Ave., and South Street Magic 617 E. Passyunk Ave. The aforementioned VIP ticket, which includes food and beverages as well as entry to the VIP suite, is priced at $100.
All in all, it promises to be an exciting day of local music talent going hard on stage, with everything benefiting great local causes. SPR
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