Adirondack Independence Music Festival 2015 entertains hundreds with tribute bands

Was that Van Morrison in Lake George this Independence Day? For the crowd doing a little “Moondance” at the Adirondack Independence Music Festival, performer Lenny Thomas was the next best thing. Thomas is a cast member with Groovin’ … A 60s-70s Musical Journey, Saturday’s  headline act at the two-day festival held July 3- 4 at the Wood Park Festival Commons in Lake George. Presented by Improv Records, the festival featured two days of music, an “Adenline Zone” for the kids filled with a large array of bounce houses and slides, food and craft vendors, wine and craft beer vendors.

Attendance numbers fell short of expectations, with approximately 600 tickets sold over the two days. However, Dave Ehmann of Improv Records says, “I’d call it a success from an entertainment view. We will most likely do it again next year.” Last fall, the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons’ inaugural festival, The American Music Festival for the Lake drew of crowd of more than 2,500.

Groovin’ … A 60s-70s Musical Journey took the stage during the hours leading up the Village of Lake George’s massive Independence Day fireworks show. Its cast performed as Mick Jagger, Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Grace Slick, Ann Wilson (Heart), Colin Blunstone (The Zombies), and Jim Morrison, and others.

The Neil Diamond act included “Sweet Caroline,” complete with audience participation, followed by and an animated version of “Coming to America,” the lead up to the fireworks show. The performer wrapped himself in an American flag, blasting out the refrain “They’re coming to America today” as the sky over Lake George burst into a spectacle of exploding pyrotechnics.

The family focus of the event was evident in the number of children racing throughout the spacious festival grounds waving glow sticks and bubble wands. Children younger than 10-years-old were admitted free of charge. Though they were too young to have extensive exposure to the music of the 60s and 70s, it did not keep them from joining the front-of-stage dancing and calling out their own music requests.

The Festival continued after the fireworks, concluding with Bryan O’Neil twisting across the stage with his mic stand as Jim Morrison. From the Charles R. Wood Park grounds, festival attendees danced to “Roadhouse Blues” and “Love me Two Times,” completely avoiding the bumper-to-bumper traffic heading out of town — the one downside of heading to Lake George for the Fourth of July fireworks.

Improv Records will be bringing music to Lake George throughout July and August with its Fridays at the Lake free concert series. Fridays at the Lake Brews and Bands, which kicks off July 10 at 4 p.m., is held in Shepard Park on Canada Street. This year the event is expanded to include opening performances by local musicians followed by the headliner for the week. Beyond the music, the event features a beer and wine tent, food prepared by local restaurants, raffles and bounce houses and pony rides for the kids.