Utica Music and Arts Festival Enters 5th Year

The 2012 Utica Music and Arts Festival marks 5 years strong!

In less than one month, the 5th annual Utica Music and Arts Festival will hit the streets of Utica, NY.  September 13, 14 and 15th, headliners Badfish, Zach Deputy, XVSK, and Twiddle will be joined by returning favorites Hank & Cupcakes, My Pet Dragon, Shane Maux from Belikos (now in Duk Duk Goose), Randy Niles, j. Schnitt, The Rick Short Band, Brian Mulkerne, Brass Knuckle Intercourse, Autumn Fire, and The End Men, and more than 150 other artists!  In all, approximately 200 performers on 19 stages, the UMAF is CNY’s largest music festival.

It is the mission of the Utica Music & Arts Fest to revitalize Utica’s historic appreciation of the musical arts while providing a stimulus to our local economy. The intention is to initiate the creation of a solid, growing, and eternal network of industry professionals, centered in Utica with local, national, and international expansion.

Artists will exhibit their work in the Radisson which is also festival check in.  This year the hotel will venue not only performing artists and out of town bands and fans, but also two ‘firsts’ for the UMAF, an Industry Meet and Greet and a wine tasting event.

Utica Greens Festival, sponsored by Price Chopper, takes place on Varick Street from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday the 15th.  The UGF is the part of the UMAF that highlights our families and community and will feature vendors, an exhibition by Bailey’s Karate, a pop-up skate park brought to us by Lifted Apparel and Board Shop, belly dancing, face painting, a community Zumba bash in the street, and many regional dishes to taste under the Greens Tent.     The UGF is a part of the UMAF and all bands on Varick Street during that time period are free to the public.  Access to the Greens Tent, however, requires a donation, a portion of which will benefit Pack A Back, a community organization that gathers school supplies for the Utica City School District students.

The UMAF is thrilled to announce a relationship with this year’s San Gennaro Feast occurring at the Cathedral of the Theotokos of Great Grace during the weekend of the UMAF.  SGF attendees will benefit from musical acts which have been provided by the UMAF playing songs for all ages.  Performances begin on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and run until 11:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Strangers Helping Strangers is a charity organization gathering canned goods at the Radisson, the festival’s hub.  SHS encourages festival attendees to bring a nonperishable food item or personal toiletry with them to check in and these items will be donated to a local area charity.

Additional information is available at the Official UMAF website with Official Venue Listing and 2012 Performing Artists.

Tickets are available online, through contact with volunteers and organizers, and at the following locations.  A limited number of 3 Day All Access Passes for the 2012 Utica Music & Arts Fest are available for purchase starting at $60.00 plus applicable fees.  After these tickets are sold out, tickets will continue to be sold for $70.00 in advance and will go up to $80.00 day of show.

A limited number of 3 Day VIP All Access Passes for the 2012 Utica Music & Arts Fest are available for purchase starting at $80.00 plus applicable fees.  After these tickets are sold out, tickets will continue to be sold for $90.00 in advance and will go up to $100.00 day of show.  Discounts are available for ticket bundles, as detailed on the website.  Individual shows may be attended without a weekend pass by paying a cover charge which will vary according to venue ($5-$15) or by purchasing a day pass which will only be available once the festival has begun.

Ticket Outlets:
The Brewery Giftshop –  830 Varick St. Utica
Utica Coffee Roasting Company – 92 Genesee St. Utica
Puff N Stuff – 333 Genesee St. Utica
Big Apple Music – 8441 Seneca Turnpike New Hartford
Cafe Domenico – 2011 Genesee St. Utica
Lifted Boardshop – 709 East Dominick St. Rome
Pizza Boys New York Mills – 9 Clinton St. New York Mills

Thank you to our sponsors and participating venues:  Price Chopper, Lifted Apparel and Board Shop, Bank of Utica, Puff N Stuff, Pizza Boys New York Mills, Saranac, Mohawk Valley Promotions, United Auto Sales, Jagermeister, BLU, The Celtic Harp, The Nailcreek Pub & Brewery, The Stage at Saranac Thursdays, Piers & Blake, Shots Sports Bar, Dick Smith’s Tavern, The Radisson, O’Donnell’s Pub & Grill, Sickenberger Lane, The Cage, The Green Onion Pub, and the St. Gennaro Feast.

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