On Saturday, July 7, the second annual Stars and Stripes festival will feature Grouplove of Los Angeles at Flatbread Company, located near the M.V. airport off the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road.
This is Flatbread’s (formerly Nectar’s) first major concert of the summer, and it follows the sold-out success of the inaugural Stars and Stripes Festival last year. The event directly benefits the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard.
The event is the brainchild of Lizzy Plapinger and Derek Davies, who started Neon Gold Records in 2008. Ms. Plapinger and Mr. Davies met during summers spent at the Chilmark Community Center as kids. They organized the event in order to give back to the town, bringing in high-profile talent, such as Chiddy Bang, who headlined last year.
This year’s headliner is Grouplove, a group that is currently experiencing a meteoric rise into the music mainstream. Fresh off a performance on “The Tonight Show,” they will be performing on “The Today Show” the day after the Stars and Stripes Festival.
Singer/songwriter Alex Winston is also performing. Ms. Winston’s cover of The Black Keys’ “Everlasting Light” has been up on Soundcloud.com for seven months and is already over 50,000 views. Also playing are St. Lucia, a pop group who use masterfully mixed choral harmonies over the driving thump of some 80s-sounding techno pop. Rounding out the bill is Vineyard summer staple Seamonsters, who hail from Brooklyn.
Two teenagers involved with Studio 57, the Alexandra Gagnon Teen Center’s recording studio, will also perform. Kathryn Reid, 15, will sing and play piano. Nate D’Angelo, 14, will sing and play guitar. Both teenagers will be recording this summer at Studio 57.
The event was conceived when Mr. Davies, who traditionally celebrated his summer birthday with a large party, wanted to up the ante and celebrate with a music festival. Mr. Davies and Ms. Plapinger decided to make the event a benefit in order to give back to the community that they said was crucial to helping them become who they are today. Last year’s show led to Ms. Plapinger and Mr. Davies presenting a $32,000 check to the YMCA of M.V.
The artists at the event are playing pro bono, and Beach Plum Inn & Food, in Chilmark, donated accommodations for many of the musicians.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. The show starts at 9 pm. There are sponsorship packages available for $1,000. All proceeds from the concert benefit the YMCA of M.V.
For more information, contact The YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard at 508-696-7171 or at ymcamv.org.
