Experience Cortland's First Seedstock

This past weekend, Experience Cortland made the journey (finally) to Cortland’s Seedstock music festival. The festival is held at Reed’s Seeds on Route 215, just a few miles south of the City of Cortland.

 

This was Seedstock IX. When the festival first started out, it was just a one day gathering for friends and family for them to play and hear great local music. Nine years on, the festival has evolved into a three-day event with camping, two stages, and a silent disco. Seedstock does an excellent job to maintain its original intimate gathering feel despite its continued growing popularity.  

 

The front stage is right on the front lawn facing the main house. Complete with full lighting and an electrified “Seedstock” sign. The backstage is located at the rear of the house. It is built off of the back deck. Now, that is serious commitment to this festival. The two stages allow for continuous musicians. While one band plays, the other stage is struck down and then set up for the next band to perform.

 

We got there mid Saturday afternoon towards the end of Chris Eves & the New Normal who were playing on the backstage. After listening to the rest of their set, everyone got up and simply stretched their legs and made a quick transition to the front lawn and the front stage. Not knowing what to expect, we did regret not bringing a blanket, or lawn chair to sit on. If you really needed to relax, there were hammocks set up. 

 

Seedstock makes a great commitment to local products for food, drinks, etc. The food menu “Electik Domestic” featured fresh ingredients from Main Street Farms, Cobblestone Valley Farm, Food & Ferments, and even Ithaca Soy for a Tofu Kahn hotdog. I opted for the 100% grass-fed burger with psychedelic sauce. It was perfection. While waiting for our food, we grabbed a peanut butter cookie from Kate’s Baked who were also serving lemonade, coffee, cucumber water, and popsicles. This was the first year Cortland Beer Company was at Seedstock. Most people bring their own drinks, but it was nice to have our local brewmasters on hand for more refreshments.  

 

I think that I must have taken a dozen photos while sitting on the front lawn listening to The Blind Spots, and later the Unknown Woodsmen and then Digger Jones. The setting was just amazing with the stage lights and the natural light of the sun setting.   Seedstock still has the intimate friends and family gathering feel but now on a much larger scale. It’s a festival where families are encouraged to attend and the kids too! It’s safe because despite the large crowd, it never feels overwhelming or chaotic. Seedstock is just a high-quality music festival for you and maybe 500 of your closest friends and family to enjoy. 

 

It’s a shame that it’s taken me 9 years to experience this festival, but I’m already looking forward to Seedstock X!