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Artists

Here are the bands that rocked the Manchester stages at PhanPhest 2.5 - May 14-16, 2004!

Juggling Suns
Juggling Suns is the forefront band on the Jersey Shore jam scene. They have won the Asbury Park Music Award for Best Jam Band for the last two years in a row, and guitarist Mark Diomede received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. Veterans to the festival scene, Juggling Suns is forging ahead with new compositions and a strong local fanbase. Abductions being served up both Friday and Saturday, so "Get Abducted!!"

Dave Murphy
Dave Murphy sings “smile through the sorrow and dance in the rain.” Wise advice from the NJ based singer-songwriter-guitarist. His original work tugs at the heart strings while he sings about struggle, love, and pain. He is getting national airplay on Americana satellite radio stations. His allegories are universal and his metaphors are beautiful. We are pleased to introduce his music to the "jam band" fanbase.

The Breakfast (formerly Psychedelic Breakfast)
The Breakfast win a Jammy Award for Best New Groove from their peers and fans, and will drop into Jersey, from nearby East Haven, CT to headline on Sunday night. They are currently on tour nationally, and have been making a new name for themselves. The Breakfast already were Revolving Door award winners in 2001 for Best New Artist. Come see what the critics are raving about.

Caveman
Caveman is a Raw Mystical Experience of Energetic Instrumental Improvisation From All Sounds of the World that will take you on a Journey to the Ice Jeweled Cave. The musical stories told are the ones of all time; those held in the branches of trees, the hearts of frogs, and the spirit of the Indians. Beyond description, Caveman is an awakening of the soul. The music is a blending of a plethora of musical styles from jazz, rock, and blues, to tribal music's of Africa, India, China, and the Middle East telling the story of the evolution of music carrying influences of John Coltrane, The Grateful Dead, and the New York downtown scene.

Blue Highways
Started as a jam session years ago, these guys are a Monmouth County favorite. They pack the bars in the wintertime on the Jersey Shore, and are a secret that just keeps getting out! They blend a nice mix of originals with solid covers, but it never matters what they play because it's always good! They consistantly pull fans away national acts playing two towns away.

The Breadbox Band
Originally from outside of Poughkeepsie, NY, the Breadbox Band are in their third formation. They recently relocated, along with an addition of a new guitarist, to the North Jersey music scene and have already been warmly received. They open PhanPhest 2.5 on Friday at 4 PM. Expect to hear more from these guys.

Fry Daddy
FryDaddy is being welcomed back to PhanPhest after a one Phest hiatus. They rocked the old location, and we're sure they will rock out again. The stage presence of FryDaddy is just as strong as their musical repertoire, which are both signs of staying power for Jersey Shore bands. Expect originals and some covers of Phish and Led Zeppelin. These guys have been on the shore scene for a while as FryDaddy, and many members are in other active bands.

Stringbean & The Stalkers
Whether your passion is blues, funk or classic country, you'll find a smattering of all three genres at a typical performance by Kenny "Stringbean" Sorensen and his band, the Stalkers. Aside from Sorensen on vocals, harmonica and guitar, the Stalkers include former Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award winner Sonny Kenn on guitar, Dave Meyers on bass and Victor Bayers on drums.

Love Scene Clear
Love Scene Clear breathes the essence of their name into the music they create. From ambient meditative textures layered with sounds of nature to intense driving percussive dance, Love Scene Clear touches the heart and soul. They recently have moved to the Boulder, CO area from Woodstock, NY and have the occasion to perform at PhanPhest. They have been receiving widespread recognition, playing across the United States in a variety of venues, including festivals, theatres, clubs, yoga centers, and holistic retreats.

The Unbelievable Meltdown (formerly a440)
uMelt is a four piece band from Long Island, NY that has created their own genre of music: Alternative Improvisational Groove. Formed in January, 2001, uMelt is already garnering a regional following, having played such venues as The Silo and Murray's Inn in Pennsylvania, Copperfield's in Boston, MA, The Lion's Den, Tribeca Blues and Tobacco Road in NYC, Stephen Talkhouse and the Downtown on Long Island and the Alladin Hotel in Las Vegas.

Machine Gun Kelly
Four piece Machine Gun Kelly already have a loyal following on the Jersey Shore scene. They frequently pack McCaan's in Belmar, NJ - even in the winter! They are another Jersey secret, so they are playing right between ulu and The Breakfast. We are strongly anticipating people's reaction to their mix which includes Phish's "Maze."

Predator Dub Assassins
Predator Dub Assassins can delve into Marley covers or play their own original dub reggae. They are the first reggae act to play PhanPhest. Based out of Monmouth County, they've drawn attention to themselves by playing near Rutgers, and along the Shore. They frequent Pat's Pub in Belmar, NJ and McGuinn's in Trenton, NJ. Be sure to get to PhanPhest early so you catch their irie vibrations.

Buzz Universe
An electric, high-energy, all original rock & jam quartet from Northern New Jersey. Buzz Universe has been making waves throughout the tri-state area, bringing their eclectic show to as many different markets as possible, and always evolving to keep the live show interesting and entertaining every night. There is a unique stage chemistry that comes not only from hard work and musical proficiency, but from close friendship within the band and the shared goals which keep them moving forward.

Matt and Jaffrey
Matt Reynolds, lead guitarist of Planet Spam and Fry Daddy, found his Sitar collecting dust, stringless, tucked away in a corner of a music store. Finding it to be a steal, he bought it and was driving home with it in his back seat. Jaffrey, who had been Matt's gas station attendent, saw the Sitar in the back of Matt's car while pumping gas for him. Jaffrey tapped out several rythyms on matt's car roof. That's how they met and have been playing together ever since. Matt and Jaffrey have played PhanPhest 1.5 and 2.0.

Reckoning
Reckoning has been rocking New York State for quite some time now. Based out of Long Island, their music ranges from covers of The Grateful Dead and Phish to Pink Floyd and The Edgar Winter Band. One band premise is to always play their music with emotion despite it being a cover or an origional.

One Eyed Jack
Formed in the early 90's, One-Eyed Jack champions the free-form improvisational sound that defined bands such as the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers. Sharing the performance era of the 90's with the likes of Percy Hill, Deep Banana Blackout, God Street Wine, Phish, and Solar Circus, One-Eyed Jack spins a rare mix unheard of in the post-Dead era bands.

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