Why did the name change from Brassroots Festival?

In answer to a recent question….”Why did the name change from Brassroots Festival?”

Short answer: There are now TWO great festivals of brass-centric music in the Hudson Valley, Brazzamatazz Festival @ Seed Song Farm and The Hudson Valley Brassroots Festival.

Here’s a brief history of the Brassroots Festival held at Seed Song Farm from 2018 to 2021….

Between 2018 and 2021, the Hudson Valley Brassroots Festival was co-created, co-developed and co-produced by Francesca Hoffman and Matthew “Max” Fass.

Since it’s inception, the festival has taken place at and produced in benefit for Seed Song Farm, a Kingston-based agricultural center rekindling reverence for the land through healthy food and farm experiences for all.

2018

• In early 2018, Francesca approached Max with an idea about a brass-centric music festival in the Hudson Valley
• Max agreed to help Francesca as co-producer and co-director and the two began regular meetings to start planning the first festival
• The inaugural Brassroots Festival took place on July 28, 2018 at Seed Song Farm in Kingston, NY
• In 2018, 8 bands played at the first festival with an attendance of approximately 600 people. The 2018 bands were
  • Rosendale Improvement Association Brass Band and Social Club – (FB)
  • Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band – (FB)
  • The ‘Ol Factory Brass Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • The Extraordinary Rendition Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • The L Train Brass Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • Raya Brass Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • Funkrust Brass Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • What Cheer? Brigade (now known as Undertow Brass Band) – (FB) – (IG)

2019

• The second annual Brassroots Festival was held over two days on July 27 and 28, 2019
• In 2019, 11 bands performed at the festival over two days with an attendance of approximately 800 people. The 2019 bands were
  • Brasskill – (FB) – (IG)
  • Black Tie Brass – (FB) – (IG)
  • Drumadics Beat-N-Brass Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • The Party Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • Zlatne Uste – (FB) – (IG)
  • Hungry March Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • West Philadelphia Orchestra – (FB) – (IG)
  • Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • Desperate Measures Street Band – (FB)
  • Brass Queens – (FB) – (IG)
  • Fly By Brass Band – (FB) – (IG)

2020

• The brass festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic

2021

• The third annual Brassroots Festival took place on July 24, 2021
• In 2021, 6 bands performed at the festival with an attendance of approximately 1000 people with
  • Funkrust Brass Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • Hot Hand Band – (FB) – (IG)
  • Novi Hitovi – (FB) – (IG)
  • Ocean Avenue Stompers – (FB) – (IG)
  • Kotoko Brass – (FB) – (IG)
  • What Cheer? Brigade (now known as Undertow Brass Band) – (FB) – (IG)
• In mid 2021, Francesca and Max realized they could no longer work together peacefully on the Brassroots Festival due to artistic differences as well as different working styles and long-term visions for the future of the festival

2022

• With the help of a mediator from the Dispute Resolution Center in Kingston, the two co-creators and co-producers negotiated a split of the festival assets and parted ways in early 2022
  • Both parties received
    • 1/2 of festival account money in festival account
    • the Brassroots Festival email list
    • festival media, video and pics
    • historic data
    • credit: “Each party agrees to credit the other as co-founder and co-creator of the original Brassroots Festival now and in-perpetuity where appropriate including websites, social media accounts, email blasts and media appearances when the subject of the history of the Brassroots Festival is brought up.”
  • Francesca Hoffman received
    • the Brassroots Festival brand name
    • brassrootsfestival.com domain name
    • Mailchimp account
    • Gmail account
    • rights to use the Brassroots illustration by Trevor Grassi
    • festival merchandise
  • Matthew Fass received
    • Website assets to be rebranded under new festival name
    • Brassroots Facebook account to be rebranded under new festival name
    • Instagram account to be rebranded under new festival name
    • Eventbrite account
    • Square account
  • There is no non-compete clause in the agreement
• The Hudson Valley Brassroots Festival is now being run by Francesca Hoffman. Date and location TBA
• Brasskill is a brass band in Hudson, NY run by Francesca Hoffman
• Max Fass is now running a brass festival at Seed Song Farm known as Brazzamatazz Festival @ Seed Song Farm

Result

• There are now TWO great brass-centric festivals in the Hudson Valley, brought to you by the original co-producers and co-creators of the legendary Hudson Valley Brassroots Festival.
• Brazzamatazz Festival @ Seed Song Farm will take place on July 23, 2022

We would be happy to answer any other questions you might have. Feel free to contact us with using our contact form.