Matthew Sweet ready to have ‘fun’ at Haverford Music Festival
HAVERFORD » Haverford Music Festival returns to the Havertown section of the township for its seventh year on Saturday, Sept. 9. More than 30 acts performing on four stages near the intersection of Eagle and Darby roads noon-9:30 p.m., with area businesses and vendors set up along Darby Road and Hathaway Lane. There are food booths, a beer garden, children’s activities and much more fun for the whole family. Admission is free; donations are accepted.
This year, the festival welcomes Matthew Sweet, touring in support of his new album “Tomorrow Forever.” Sweet’s latest album is the 14th in a recording career that includes the commercially and critically successful “Girlfriend” in 1991, generating the hit title track, and 1995’s “100% Fun,” with its hit single “Sick of Myself.”
“When ‘Girlfriend,’ was growing in popularity, the East Coast was really strong,” said Sweet by phone. “I remember how great Philly was for me; radio really made a difference.” At the time, the city boosted two commercial alternative rock stations, along with college radio stations that he had long given airtime to alternative artists.
“Philly was a great place with great audiences that were really fun,” Sweet said, referring to early tour dates at the former Chestnut Cabaret in West Philadelphia that grew to frequent stops at South Street’s TLA, and a 1997 spot at (alternative rock station) Y100’s inaugural “Feztival” summer concert festival at the Blockbuster-Sony Music Entertainment Centre in Camden, now the BB&T Pavillon.
Having recently wrapped up a West Coast leg of his current tour along with in-store appears to promote the new album, Sweet is looking forward to bringing new material and past hits to the festival, his first Philadelphia-area stop on the tour.
“We’ve played a couple of these street festivals in the recent past; I don’t know if I’ve ever done one that wasn’t cool and different,” he said. “It’s like there’s built in good vibes with people coming out to a festival in their area, ready to have fun. It’s not a heavy thing — it’s loose and groovy.”
Festival Organizing Committee Director Ernesto Betancourt is looking forward to this year’s mix of national touring acts and local artists. “We try to provide a lot of variety so there’s a breadth of different types of music that gets seen and heard here. People can find music they want to hear and be exposed to new music,” he said.
“It’s a great place to be as it’s growing,” said Betancourt, who saw the growth of the festival firsthand after serving as a grounds crew volunteer for the inaugural year joined the organizing committee, becoming director in the fourth year. “Now the promoters are contacting us about what’s going on next year.”
As the festival grows, so does the need for volunteers, vendors and sponsors to keep the nonprofit endeavor going and contributing back to the Haverford Township community. “I’d like to see younger people get involved in the organization,” Betancourt said. “Keep the interest up, highlight the youth of township and eventually hand it off to younger people who can take ownership of it and keep it alive – that’s a real goal of mine.”
2017 Lineup
Topping the bill on the Darby Road (Street) Stage (near Campbell Avenue) is The Weeklings, performing original, early Beatles-inspired songs, plus tunes the Fab Four gave away to other artists instead of releasing themselves. All members have worked with many high-profile artists. Bassist and vocalist Glen Burtnik, a platinum/gold record-awarded singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, is best known for his work with Styx, Electric Light Orchestra and John Waite.
Preceding Sweet on the Field Stage is singer-songwriter Danielle Miraglia, and preceding The Weeklings on the Darby Road Stage is be Nadjah Nicole, a finalist from season nine of NBC’s hit series “The Voice.” Nadjah, a Delaware native who was introduced to millions of viewers during her 10-week run on “The Voice” in 2015, She describes her performances as “a standard serving of soul music with a pop twist.”
The more than 25 additional performers at the festival represent a wide range of musical genres, including jazz, rock, pop, children’s, folk, classical, blues and country. The two additional stages are the Eagle Road Stage in front of the Oakmont Administration Building, and The Rock, located in the Oakmont shopping district. The complete lineup for 2017 is: • Darby Road Stage: National Anthem (performer TBA), 11:45 a.m.; Elaine Romanelli, noon; Seventh Sojourn (Moody Blues tribute), 12:45; Needle Fish, 1:35; River Bones Band,2:25; Skip Denenberg, 3:20; RÊVE, 4:10; Nadjah Nicole, 5:05; 6:00 The Weeklings, 6.
• Oakmont Field Stage: Madame Jones, noon; Nytrous, 12:45; I Think Like Midnight (featuring former Wishniaks leader Andrew Chalfen), 1:35; The Barrel Fires, 2:20; Jesse Gimbel, 3:10; The GTVs, 4:05; Somerdale, 5:05; Danielle Miraglia, 6:05; Matthew Sweet, 7:30
• The Rock Indoor Stage: Valerie West, noon; Becca Gohn, 12:35; Amanda Nolan, 1:10; Edge Hill Rounders, 1:50; Dennis Selfridge, 2:30; Anne Harp, 3:10; Valerie DuPont, 3:50;
4:30 Lansdowne String Quartet, 4:30.
• Eagles Road Stage (presented by Haverford High School’s student station WHHS): Maggie Pope, noon; Brian Salcido, 12:45; Hanna Paige, 1:30; Little Bomb, 2:15; Dan Ascanio, 3; Jonny Drucker, 4:30.
New for 2017 is the Haverford Music Festival 2017 Schedule App powered by Eventbase. The mobile guide lets guests plan their festival visit by providing schedules for all four stages, an interactive festival map and inside looks at the performers with links to their websites and social media. Download the Eventbase app for Android or iPhone at http://free. eventbase.com/download. Once the app is open, search Haverford Music Festival.
About the Festival
Along with primary sponsor ACME Markets, organizations supporting this year’s festival are 88.5 WXPN, U.S. Army, iRadioPhilly, Xfinity, 101.1 MORE FM, Main Line Health, Unique Indoor Comfort Heating & Cooling, Pennsylvania Lottery, Jaguar/Land Rover and more.
The Haverford Music Festival is a family music festival that strengthens the cultural identify of Haverford Township, serves as the primary fundraiser for the Haverford Township Civic Council, and provides funding for projects that enhance the quality of life in Haverford Township. Organized by the 501c3 non-profit Haverford Township Civic Council, the Haverford Music Festival is a fundraiser to support township organizations and projects. To date, more than $73,000 has been distributed among community organizations.
For general information, a complete list of commmunity grant recipients and this year’s sponsors, visit www.haverfordmusicfestival.org. For information on sponsorship and vendor opportunities, visit www.haverfordmusicfestival.org/sponsors and haverfordmusicfestival.org/vendors