Long-time readers of this blog, and especially last year’s attendees, will know that this is the one event of the year in the local music scene that I look forward to most. Last year was [...]]]> Early Bird tickets are on sale NOW for the 2nd annual Restoration Festival at St. Joe’s in downtown Albany.

Long-time readers of this blog, and especially last year’s attendees, will know that this is the one event of the year in the local music scene that I look forward to most. Last year was a blast and all indicators are that this year will top it.

The lineup of local acts thus far includes:

• Sgt. Dunbar & the Hobo Banned
• The Red Lions
• Matthew Carefully Undone Ensemble
• We Are Jeneric
• The Scientific Maps
• Aficionado
• The Stompin Jug Ramblers
• Swamp Baby
• Alta Mira
• Slender Shoulders

More are sure to be announced (both that I’ve heard will be confirmed soon and others to come) in the next six weeks. I’ve seen all of the aforementioned acts live and they’re all well worth the price of admission themselves.

This year also will see the inclusion of some national acts. The first is Alberquerque NM’s A Hawk and a Hacksaw (includes former Neutral Milk Hotel drummer Jeremy Barnes), an outfit that has toured with the likes of Wilco, Calexico, Andrew Bird, of Montreal, Beirut and Portishead.

Tickets can be purchased at RestFest.net. The earlier you get them, the cheaper they are: currently they’re at $15 for a day pass and only $20 for the full weekend. Not sure how long that lasts, so get ‘em now while the getting’s good.

For local businesses interested in sponsporing the event, click here.

===========

Proceeds from the Resoration Festival go towards maintaining and renovating St. Joseph’s Church at 38 Ten Broeck, a historic gothic church. From Jack McEneny’s Albany: Capital City on the Hudson:

To anyone approaching the city from the north or from the hills of Rensselear the ever changing skyline of the city is a wonderful site to behold. The soaring gothic revival spires of St. Joseph’s at the foot of Arbor Hill and the tower of Our Lady Help of Christians in the South End still dominate their brownstone and row house neighborhoods as they have since Victorian times.

More links:

• Official site for Rest Fest 2
• like Rest Fest on Facebook
• follow @RestorationFest on Twitter

For booking or more info, e-mail alex |at| B3nson.net

Last year’s festival featured over [...]]]>

Matt Ferguson of Beware! the Other Head of Science performs during Day One of the 2010 Restoration Festival. Rest Fest will return this September.

In a recent comment on this blog, Alex Muro (he of the Hobo Banned & the B3nson Family) announced that the Restoration Festival at St. Joseph’s Church in Albany will make a return engagement on September 10th & 11th August 27th and 28th (please note the change in date !).

Last year’s festival featured over a dozen bands including Sgt. Dunbar & the Hobo Banned, Restys, Beware! the Other Head of Science, Matthew Carefully, Swamp Baby, We Are Jeneric, the Scientific Maps, Alta Mira, Railbird and more.

The festival will once again be used to raise funds for the repair and restoration of St. Joseph’s Church at 38 Ten Broeck.

No lineup has been announced, but Alex said more information would be available later this month through the festival’s official website at RestFest.net.

After the jump: some pictures of last year’s festival courtesy the event’s official Facebook page.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

click to enlarge