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Pound Ridge Harvest Fest Rounds Out Musical Lineup

POUND RIDGE, N.Y. – Organizers of the second annual Pound Ridge Harvest Festival have rounded out the musical lineup for this year’s event by adding local teen musicians to a bill that will be headlined by the iconic ’90s alt-rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket.

“We have invited the Fox Lane Rock Ensemble to play at Harvest Festival to give our community’s young musicians the opportunity to share the stage with leading professional talent such as Toad the Wet Sprocket and the Geoff Hartwell Band,” said Steven Bensusan, a Harvest Festival Committee member and owner of the B.B. King Blues Club, the Highline Ballroom and the Blue Note in New York City. “To play before thousands of people on a huge stage is a great experience for a 14-year-old kid.”

Fox Lane Middle School music teacher Matt Vanacoro put together the Rock Ensemble program along with fellow teacher Mike Piescki.

“The Fox Lane Rock Ensemble started in about 2002 when a few kids in my music class asked me to stay after school and coach them on guitar,” Vanacoro said. “The kids come from the guitar and piano classes at Fox Lane Middle and High schools, and there are auditions for other roles such as drummer, vocalists, bass and horns. The group played at Disney World this past May, and they’re looking forward to rocking Pound Ridge with the sounds of the Dave Mathews Band, Journey, Stevie Wonder and Muse.

“There are no classes like this around that I know of that allow us to teach kids music in a 'rock band' setting, and certainly very few ensembles that perform this type of music in a public school setting at the caliber that we do,” Vanacoro added.

Other highlights of the festival, which is sponsored by the Pound Ridge Partnership, include Oktoberfest-style foods, the Magic Hat Beer Garden by MTK Tavern, a root beer garden, and games and activities for children sponsored by Scotts Corner Market. While admission to the event is free, all proceeds from the food and activities go to benefit the Pound Ridge Partnership’s Beautification Fund.

“The Pound Ridge Partnership is pleased to partner with the Fox Lane Middle and High schools,” said Ali Boak, co-founder and board member of the Pound Ridge Partnership. “Bring the whole family down for a great day of music, food and good old-fashioned fun, all supporting a great cause.”

The Harvest Festival will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, on Westchester Avenue. For more information, or to volunteer, set up a booth or become a sponsor, visit www.poundridgeharvestfest.com.

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