The Mighty Pines wear their civic pride on their sleeves. The ºüÀêÊÓƵ-based foursome — vocalist and guitarist Neil Salsich, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Gerard Erker, bassist/vocalist John Hussung and drummer Mike Murano — have been organizing Pines Fest, a showcase for local and national acts for three years.
Erker says the festival is a culmination of the band’s desire to play music with friends and highlight local talent.
“The concept of Pines Fest first came about as a daydream in the tour van,†Erker says. “We would take long drives across the country on tour, we would talk about how cool it would be to one day throw our own festival. After a couple years of scheming, we decided to make that dream a reality.â€
While organizing a musical festival is not easy, Erker and the rest of the troupe relish the opportunity. “It’s fun to showcase the best bands in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, but it’s also special to give area music fans a chance to hear a band that they can’t go see live any other weekend.
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“The actual process of picking and choosing each band for the festival is very serious and heavily discussed amongst the Mighty Pines and our promotional partners,†Erker says.
This year’s gathering will once again feature a second stage and more bands than ever, including Henhouse Prowlers from Chicago and Handmade Moments from New Orleans.
Joining the Mighty Pines under the Big Top are some of the city’s most talented local artists, including the groove-laden Funky Butt Brass Band; Moon Valley, an Americana and roots band that celebrates cultural tapestries and musical folklores from around the world; acclaimed singer-songwriter Beth Bombara; and blues rock twangers Yard Eagle.
Also on the bill is the Steve Ewing Band, featuring the vocalist of the legendary seven-piece group the Urge. Ewing’s band features slices of rock, ska, funk and punk, all served up spicy.
The artist-at-large for this year’s festival is Jimmy Griffin. Known for his lead guitar work in El Monstero, Celebration Day and the Hard Promises, Griffin will be guesting with each act for a one-night-only collaboration.
“He is amazing, and I can’t wait to see how he integrates with the different styles of music that we’ll have, such as bluegrass, rock and brass band. It’s going to be awesome to see what he does!†Erker says.
While many bands who are invited to festivals just show up, play and collect a paycheck, the Mighty Pines are invested in their fellow players.
As Erker notes, one of the main goals of Pines Fest is to provide a platform for local and emerging artists. Joining them in their labor of love is Jamo Presents, an independent concert promoter and venue management company based in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, which is promoting the half-day festival.
“We always try to include a mix of well-established bands, and newer bands that are on the rise. Yard Eagle and Moon Valley are two bands we have this year that are a little bit younger, and we see them as having great potential to grow,†Erker says. “It’s fun to put bands like that in front of a large festival audience, many of whom might not have ever heard them before.â€
As Erker sees it, Pines Fest builds community through music and bolsters the local music scene through creativity and collaboration. “Pines Fest is a showcase of what we see as the best bands currently in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. We’re trying to create a sense of camaraderie amongst music fans and bands.â€
While building community at home, the Mighty Pines have also gained national attention, fueled in part by Salsich’s performances on NBC’s “The Voice†in 2023 and the band’s strong live performances.
Musically, the Mighty Pines offer layered harmonies and sturdy instrumentation, both of which are prominent throughout the group’s latest album, “Late Last Night,†produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos.
But for Pines Fest, the band is all about sharing the spotlight.
With more performers and larger crowds expected this year, Erker believes that the odds of a return to the Big Top in 2025 are strong. “We haven’t picked a date yet, but we are definitely going to keep this festival alive and growing year after year.â€