By Jason Klaiber
Staff Writer
Overlooking Palladino Farms in Pompey, Heritage Hill Brewhouse & Kitchen will present its first-ever Farm Jam this weekend.
Organized with the help of promoter Tom Honan of Live Space Entertainment, the inaugural, two-day event on Aug. 10 and 11 will spotlight live music from regional acts.
The Doyle-Whiting Band—headed by Syracuse Area Music Award-winning musicians Mark Doyle and Joe Whiting—will perform on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m.
Woodstock-area roots rock group Professor Louie & the Crowmatix, led by Aaron Hurwitz, will play tunes from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Members of Professor Louie & the Crowmatix collaborated over the years with the likes of The Band, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Joe Jackson.
On Sunday guitarist Loren Barrigar and his son L.J. will perform acoustic music from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., ranging in style from folk to gypsy jazz to Chet Atkins-inspired finger picking.
The grouping of bands had been lined up for Heritage Hill’s grand opening, which spanned three cold days in mid-October.
Because of overly loud acoustics and a lack of space indoors, along with the low temperatures outside, owner Dan Palladino decided to push back the performances.
“We wanted to have a redo and have a summertime festival where everybody can just jam right out,” Palladino said.
He also said that the Farm Jam will commemorate the original Woodstock Festival’s 50th anniversary in the sense of a shared rural feel and the inclusion of covers of songs written in the late 1960s.
Sitting at around 2,000 feet above sea level, the site offers a vantage point from which one can see eight counties, the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and sections of Onondaga, Oneida and Ontario lakes.
“The most unique thing about us up here is the views,” Palladino said. “Being able to play outside is just a much better environment.”
For both days, the Farm Jam will go on rain or shine.
In the event of a torrential downpour, Palladino said the bands will possibly bring their equipment inside the 3,000-square-foot barn on the property to continue performing.
“Even if we have a passing storm, there should be no issue from a band’s perspective,” Palladino said.
As it is, the stage provides three-sided shelter for the bands, and tents will be set up for attendees.
Cooks will be barbecuing on Saturday and Sunday, serving up chicken, brisket and pork with sides of salad and salt potatoes.
Palladino said the event will also feature food trucks, including ones dishing out ice cream and smoothies.
He said attendees should bring their own chairs in case of shortages in seating.
Tickets in the form of wristbands can be purchased on the day of the event or beforehand at the brewery located at 3149 Sweet Road.
Tickets for only Saturday are $15, while tickets for Sunday only are $10. A two-day pass is $20. Individuals ages 15 and under can enter for free.
Farm Jam will run until after dusk both nights, according to Palladino.
