On May 5th, The Rock the Riverbank competition was held at Yonkers Brewing Co. in Yonkers, New York. It featured bands and artists from all different genres, including Summer Fling, Imposters, Jake Wildhorn, Brother Jerome, and Holley McCreary. The competition was not only a chance for each band to introduce their music to new audiences, it was also an opportunity for each band to have a shot at playing the Sleepy Hollow Music Festival, as the closing act on the Regional Stage. Each band got the chance to play a set at the Rock the Riverbank competition and then an experienced panel of judges evaluated their set, and ultimately picked a winner to play festival.
The first act to play a set at the Rock the Riverbank Competition was Summer Fling, a funk-rock band from New York City. They were a very high-energy, theatrical band, playing music akin to a vegas act. They were influenced by bands and artists like Prince, Sting, and Louis Prima, along with musical theater influences as well. Summer Fling knew how to please the crowd, since they were festival veterans.
The second act to play was Imposters, an art-rock band, also based in New York. They brought a much heavier, darker, sound to the competition, influenced by bands and artists like Pink Floyd, Soundgarden, and Elliot Smith. Their sound seemed to encompass many different influences, from classic rock of the 1960s and 70s to 90s grunge.
The third act to play was Jake Wildhorn. Wildhorn is a singer-songwriter from North Salem, New York. Wildhorn’s music is a mix of acoustic rock and contemporary pop, influenced mainly by bands and artists from the early 2000s, like Rob Thomas, Gavin DeGraw, and Linkin Park. He was also influenced by classic rock bands like The Beatles, The Eagles, and Steely Dan.
The fourth act to play was Brother Jerome, a musical trio from Northern New Jersey. In their music, they aim to emphasize an uplifting message of love and mental health awareness, influenced by Reggae, and artists like Bob Marley. During their set, they had a strong stage presence, and they interacted a lot with the crowd.
The final act to play was Holley McCreary, and her band. McCreary is a singer-songwriter originally from Alabama, and is now based in Connecticut. Her music is influenced by gospel music, the Muscle Shoals sound, and bands like the Allman Brothers and The Tedeschi Trucks Band.
To see any of these bands live on tour, visit their websites and social media.
After each act played, Jake Wildhorn was ultimately chosen as the winner, with Holley McCreary as the runner-up. All of the bands found the chance to play as the closing act on the Regional Stage as a great opportunity, but for Jake Wildhorn, winner of the Rock the Riverbank competition, it gives him a chance to connect with family from the area, and to introduce his music to larger audiences. “I love Sleepy Hollow, it’s a beautiful town, and I have family around there too. [It is a big opportunity],” said Wildhorm about playing The Sleepy Hollow Music Festival.
The Rock the Riverbank competition was a great event with many artists, bands, and influencers in attendance, like Clare Maloney and Jessie Spellmann-Mignone. There was even an appearance made by the Headless Horseman! Join us as the fun continues at the Sleepy Hollow Music Festival on June 7th!
