Local and Live - Guernsey Beat Rocks Festival 2025

August 23 and 24 was the time for Guernsey Beat Rocks, a music festival on the square. Two days of live bands and fund raising for Four Diamonds, an organization who fights childrens cancer. They cover 100% of the costs for childrens care that isn’t covered by insurance. There may be some better cause for having a fund raising music festival, but I’ll be damned on toast if I can think of one.

I experienced the associated music fest, Gettysburg Rocks, two years ago when I first moved here, and was blown away. Mike Calandrelle and his team should be sainted for his tireless work, and it’s a testament to the music community here in Gettysburg just how big it gets. For the summer version  this time, Guernsey Beat Records and the also-saint-worthy Rob Leib ran things with Mike and the G Rocks machine. These are good people giving their time and their sweat and their sanity for something great that they believe in. They, and the fantastic artists who perform for this festival are everything good about Gettysburg. 

Sidenote: There’s also Uncle Moe…he’s also whats good…but, unfortunately he wasn’t around. I needed some catfish! If anyone has a line on Uncle Moe, please get him back here.

I didn’t make it for all of the festival…it was long, and I had laundry and the day job, etc… but I will go through the experience and tell you what I saw and heard…but the bottom line is, come the winter, whether it’s gettys- or guernsey that’s doing the rocking, show up…buy the shirts and merch, support the local businesses while taking care of the kids…it’s what we’re all here for.

Look, put aside all the propaganda you’ve heard, north and south…If the soldiers at the battle of Gettysburg died for a cause, having a place where we can all get together as community and family and benefit kids with cancer while hearing great music and drinking great beer and cider in the SAME TOWN, 165 years later? That’s exactly what they did it for. Don’t let anyone tell you different.

So… without further…

Friday, rebekeh foster kicked off, I only just got there at the tail end of her set, but as always she has a presence and a voice that’s worth seeking out. Was glad to see the crowd already building this early…but disheartened to find myself in an uncle Moe-less environment. I had high hopes.

Next up was Rebecca and Dempsey, “Morning Sky”, joined by Keith Arneson and the majestic Dean Vaccher (more on him later, believe that). Rebecca’s also part of Voices three, who we will hopefully be hearing again soon at the TapRoom…always a treat. They did a wonderful set and I’m humiliated to admit it was only recently I realized that Morning Sky was a reference to a Fogelberg song. Now I’ll have “leader of the band” in my head for the rest of the week!

Roadbody came up next, wonderful lady singer/guitarist with a lovely telecaster… The singing and musicianship as good is it always is with Roadbody, regardless of the line up at the moment. Glad to have caught most of that set, but then I have to scoot home to take care of the hound and eat something, since, as noted, No Mo.

I got back for part of Dark River Darling, and I’m looking forward to seeing them again soon. Always a great set, not to mention some new recordings on Guernsey Beat that I will have say a thing or two about some time soon. Thanks, Rin! Catch you soon.

Finally for Friday, there was a powerful set by chuck Darwin & the knuckledraggers to round out a long solid day of music. If you’ve never seen Chuck D on the square, you should make a point of it. One of the best musical events to happen in town, every time.

The next day started with Grant (vicious battlefield hound) and me walking up and hearing Nich Mich from about 2 blocks away. Nick’s distinctive singing and powerful guitar presentation is like a welcome to the square. You should do yourself a favor by catching him at any of his many sets around town, and also swing in and get yourself some vinyl at Sweet Repeats, his record store that took the spot of the legendary and lamented Union Cigar store.

Aaron Getchell got up for his set next. It seems that I always catch parts of his sets and regret missing what I do…this was one of those situations, but I did catch the last part of this very talented guitarist and vocalist who I look forward to catching again soon.

Next up was Glass Grin, featuring Dean Vaccher (again) on bass. Evan Cryder is a tremendous performer and guitarist, solo and in his various bands including this one, which also features the incredibly talented Matt Morris. They finished their set with a sharp, very tight sounding version of their latest single. Grant harmonized along with them, and he felt they have really solidified that song since I saw them last.

The rest of the night got a little crazy, so I’m going to summarize if with quick scenes, think of it like a movie montage, because the culmination was quite amazing, and a testament to Rob Leib and the people who pulled this together, and also special mention to Ben Wenk and Ploughmans, who not only match the tip jar, but also supplied so much time and resource for making this all happen…here’s how my night finished up…

Flying Matlocks come on, virtuoso level musicianship and incredible vocals, coupled with my dog making friends with anyone within 10 feet of us, then napping. Then singing along.

Fink’s Constant – a Ska band that has everyone up and dancing, which I caught only half the set because Grant was overwhelmed with everyone dancing and the fact that there are now horns (some dogs don’t like fireworks, mine doesn’t like trombone…one lives and learns).

So, took the hell hound home and got back in time for Hopeless Semantics, a couple band that consists of the greatest mandolin player I’ve ever seen in person (mike sussler…they call him Mandolin Mike in Nashville…so sit on that for a moment), and his wife, Linda Null, who sings like an angel and plays a guitar that’s worth more than my truck (and rightly so). When they finished, they helpfully reminded me that the incomparable 12 string colossus, Aaron Samuel, was playing around the corner at Michaux, so we rolled up our collective rug and scooted over to catch the last 30 mins of Aaron tearing things up and having a really nice dark lager (they crush it at Michaux).

Then scooted back to catch a band I’d never heard of before, Head or Tails Experience.

Like my dog with the trombones earlier, I was not prepared for this. This band has so much energy and solid musicianship, it was a little overwhelming. Performatively, they reminded me of Red Hot Chili Peppers, but musically they are much more diverse and sophisticated than that comparison implies. They were a wonderful choice to wrap up the scene.

 It was a strong finale on both nights of the fest, and a great scene with tons of great people in the crowd. I hope they raised a ton of money for four diamonds, and look forward to Gettysburg Rocks this winter. Check out Guernsey Beat Records on Facebook for some exciting releases from a record label that does right for the community, and is loaded with artists who do the same.