Sep
04

POSTPONED: Howl in the Hills Festival

Twenty6 Productions at Holland Speedway

Holland, NY

Tickets

There are no tickets currently available.

Event Details

A new music festival is coming to Western New York that will merge country vibes with outdoor activities. The inaugural “Howl in the Hills” festival will be hosted on the grounds of Holland Speedway on Saturday, September 4th.

Howl in the Hills will be headlined by country-rock legends, Pure Prairie League. PurePrairie League will perform iconic hits, including Aimee, with the rolling hills of Holland, NY as a backdrop. Now in their 5th decade, Pure Prairie League continues to influence the new generation of country-rockers, including Keith Urban, CountingCrows, and Wilco.

The full-day line-up of music will also include Driftwood and rising country music star, Cody Webb. Driftwood, a long-time regional favorite from Binghamton, NY will bring its working-class americana/folk sound to the festival, while South Carolina native Cody Webb will entertain the fans with his unique brand of high-energy country.

The Howl in the Hills Festival will also feature Western, NY favorites, and Fuzzy and the Rustbelts. Fuzzy and the Rustbelts were winners of the 2020 WYRK Taste of Country Riser Competition and a finalist in the 2021 Band TogetherBuffalo Showcase.

The festival will also feature a very special Belle Starr All-Star Tribute!

The Howl in the Hills Festival will take advantage of its open green space to feature vendors and outdoor recreation activities. From axe throwing to wood carving, there will be plenty of activities and entertainment for the whole family.

Pure Prairie League

From their beginnings in mid-Sixties Ohio as a group of friends playing cover tunes to the present-day unit featuring founding member/pedal-steel innovator John David Call, veteran bassist Mike Reilly, propulsive drummer Scott Thompson and guitar ace Donnie Clark, PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE continues to embellish the rich 43-year history of one of Country-Rock’s pioneering forces.

As one reviewer recently wrote: “PPL’s sound combines sweet memories with edgy, contemporary muscle. Their vocals are as strong as Kentucky moonshine and the musicianship and performance skills are as sharp as a straight razor”.

Their eponymous first album - featuring the Norman Rockwell/Saturday Evening Post cover that introduced fans to PPL’s trademark cowpoke “Sad Luke” - has been hailed as a “major early influence in the emerging popularity of Country-Rock music”. Their second effort, the multi-platinum “Bustin’ Out” brought us the Craig Fuller-penned classic “Amie”, along with other gems of the genre.

With “Two Lane Highway”, nine more albums, and countless shows, a legacy has been forged and enriched during the ‘70s and 80’s, highlighting contributions from several noteworthy members, including original co-founder George Ed Powell, Cincinnati’s legendary Goshorn Brothers, Country Hall of Famers Gary Burr and Vince Gill, award-winning writer Jeff Wilson (3 Top-20 singles) and a host of other guest appearances from Chet Atkins, Johnny Gimble, Emmy Lou Harris, David Sanborn, Eagle Don Felder, Nicolette Larson, and many more.

Now in their fifth decade, Pure Prairie League continues to lead the way for the new generation of Country/Rockers such as Keith Urban, Nickel Creek, Wilco, Counting Crows and so many others that cite PPL as a major influence.

As crisp and clean as spring water and as comfortable as a well-worn cowboy shirt, Pure Prairie League still brings it all back home.

Driftwood

When Driftwood released its first full-length album, Rally Day, recorded in their hometown of Binghamton, a unique sound transpired that reflected not only the working-class ethos of an upstate New York town, but a coalescing of identity, influence, and uninhibited musical spirit.

“It’s sometimes tough to keep any sort of focus on style or sound when you have three different songwriters,” guitarist Dan Forsyth conceded. Longtime friend and banjoist Joe Kollar offer, “I consider our sound to be more of an attitude and an approach – the result of all of our influences in a completely open musical forum where the only stipulation is to create it from the heart.” “Really Driftwood is a song-based group,” fiddler Claire Byrne added incisively.

And even though they come from different directions, the three founding members – along with bassist Joey Arcuri – tend to end up at the same place. That unity, as well as the joy derived from playing together, can be heard throughout City Lights. It takes them on a familiar road and serendipitous evolution, replete with folk, old-time, country, punk, and rock, depending on their personal moods and their songs’ needs.

Fuzzy & The Rustbelts

Fuzzy & The Rustbelts are an all American band from Buffalo, NY rooted in the music stylings of

country, folk, and rock 'n roll. Most recently, the band has released a three song EP titled, Harvester Sessions, which has seen a significant amount of support from local and national media outlets. Since the release of their 2019 album, That Sweet Song, Fuzzy & the Rustbelts have continued to climb the industry ladder. They've been featured on a plethora of radio programs both worldwide and domestic while also having been spotlighted on the well-renowned Memphis based network, DittyTV.

Fuzzy & the Rustbelts have shared stages and festivals with national touring artists including Christian Lopez, Jeremy Pinnell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Maddie & Tae, Rodney Atkins, Brothers Osborne, Alison Krauss, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson. They were the winners of the 2020 106.5 WYRK Taste of Country Riser competition and Top 4 Finalists in the 2021 Band Together Buffalo Shutdown Showcase.

Two Hills Reloaded

In the mid-’70s, Ray Wood and Jeff Munzert teamed up to produce a powerful acoustic duo. They went on to entertain audiences for several years playing a variety of nite clubs in Western New York. In 1977, Ray and Jeff entered a local talent contest held by WYSL radio. They were selected as one of the contest winners for their original song “Let it be Known”. An album was produced by WYSL of all local talent winners and released. At that point, it was time for the acoustic duo to graduate to a full band.

Joe Serwinowski on bass guitar, and Doug Field on drums/vocals, joined Ray and Jeff to start up the Two Hills Band. Ray, Jeff, and Doug skillfully auditioned talented musicians to create the perfect chemistry for the band. In early 1978, Tom Fronczak played bass guitar. Soon after, George Doran entered the band to form what was then known as the Original Two Hills Band. From 1978-1981 the band had great success, drawing massive crowds to every event. They opened for some headliner acts; Charlie Daniels, Molly Hatchet, Jonathan Edwards, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Horse Lips, Flying Burrito Brothers, James Cotton, Asleep at the Wheel, Vassar Clements, and many more. Jeff Munzert left the band in the late 80’s to join the Rascal Flatts tour becoming the senior stage tech for the next 13+ years.

In 2008, 30 years later, the band was reunited for a reunion at Rhino’s Nite club on Southwestern Blvd. Over 500 people turned out to see their favorite original and cover tunes performed by the band. The night was a huge success, the band playing for five hours straight.

In 2015, Jeff retired from the Rascal Flatts tour and is back to his roots playing with Two Hills. Sparks were ignited again, and soon practice was increased. Ray, Jeff, and Doug the founding members are currently playing with the original pedal steel player Brian Senefelder and in 2018 recently added Buffalo Zew on fiddle/harp/vocals and Ricco Basile on bass guitar.

In 2019 the band entered the Borderland local talent contest and won. Known for their 3/4/5 part vocals and many creative originals, we are back after 40 years, welcome to “Two Hills Reloaded”!

RV Camping Information

Check-in: 9am-12pm, day of festival

Check out: Noon on Sept 5th

* Enter at Gate A off of Holland Glenwood Road

* Pre-sale concert tickets will be required for everyone arriving in a RV to 'pit row' the day of the show.

* No utilities or hook-ups provided. Can use your own generator.

* Only gas/propane grills are allowed. Wood or charcoal grills are NOT allowed

* Campfires are NOT permitted

* No cars allowed in ‘pit row’ unless it’s a 5th wheel RV

* No battery-operated vehicles or motor-driven cycles, bikes, scooters or golf carts are to be driven on the Speedway property

* No pets allowed. Sorry!

We'll see you at Howl in the Hills Festival 2021!