An Xperience Article: Mind Blown and GEM: Serving Two Giant Helpings Of Original Music in Glens Falls

Mind Blown and GEM: Serving Two Giant Helpings Of Original Music in Glens Falls
By Jason Irwin

Live original music continues to find momentum in the 12801, fueled by grassroots festivals, community gatherings, and a growing underground scene that’s bringing together musicians, artists, and fans of all ages. From the experimental energy of Mind Blown Festival to the established draw of GEM Fest and even the weekly creativity of the Shirt Factory’s Thursday Market, the city is more than ever becoming a hub for musicians looking to share new sounds—and for audiences eager to hear them.

Mind Blown Festival: Heavy Music for Mental Health
Mind Blown, an all-ages, free underground rock and art festival, returns to The Shirt Factory for its second year on Saturday, June 27, from 11 am to 9 pm, with two stages, 16 bands, and a mission to raise $20,000 for mental health support in the music community. This year’s festival will be one of the first major events to fully activate the former South Street farmers’ market pavilion, now relocated to The Shirt Factory with city support to boost tourism and public events. “Mind Blown is really off to the races,” said festival co-founder and executive producer Chuck Copenspire. “We’ve got a full lineup this year — 16 bands across two stages offering a full day of original music that spans multiple styles and generations of artists. — and we’re really excited about that.” While the music is central, Copenspire said the festival’s deeper purpose is about creating space for people to connect and feel comfortable being themselves. “Mental health is really the focus. Part of that is connecting with people and being able to express yourself fully.” That idea shapes the entire atmosphere of the event. Unlike many festivals, Mind Blown encourages attendees to embrace creativity not just on stage, but in how they show up. “We want people to come as their true selves,” Copenspire said. “Whether you show up as a wizard, a wrestler, a drag queen, or a clown — this is the one day a year where you can stop pretending to be normal and just be around other people having fun being themselves.” Headliner Bloodx3 will close out the night with a full production light show, led by Shane and Chris of Super Dark Collective. The bill also highlights heavy hitters Senior Living, along with local underground favorites Industry Standard and Roblox Tycoon, plus a deep roster of regional bands including GUTS, Anomalous, Don Joker, Black Tongue Reverend, Psychomanteum, The Spiral Continuum, Uncle Frank Says No, Vintri Hill, Pleasure Death, 6five6, God’s Not Buying a Horse Today, At Light’s Wake, and Sons of Eden. The event will also include vendors, food trucks, and interactive elements, including roaming performers and artists throughout the grounds. The festival is free to attend, thanks to sponsorship support. Organizers say that accessibility is key to the festival’s mission. “That’s part of why the event is free,” Copenspire explained. Proceeds from the festival support HeartSupport, a nonprofit organization that provides peer mental-health training within the community. Several mental health resource representatives will be on-site. Future editions of the festival may expand even further, possibly incorporating carnival-style elements or immersive art experiences. “Every year we want it to be a little more audacious,” Copenspire said. “Something that shows people what’s possible. Next year I want a Ferris wheel.” More info: mindblownfestival.com

GEM Fest: Where Music and Art Collide
Be sure to add Saturday, August 22, from 5-11 pm to your calendar, as GEM Fest is back! If Mind Blown represents the city’s underground edge, GEM Fest stands as its most established and wide-reaching celebration of original music and visual art in downtown Glens Falls. The Glens Falls Entertainment and Music Festival—better known as GEM Fest—has grown from small collaborative experiments into a full-scale, multi-venue takeover of the city. What began as intimate events pairing live bands with visual artists painting in real time has evolved into an experience that turns Glens Falls itself into part of the stage. Co-organized by Brian Michael of Heady Productions, the festival was built on a simple but ambitious idea: remove the barrier between music and visual art and let both unfold together, in real time, in front of an audience. “Where music and the arts collide,” Michael says when describing the festival, and that concept still drives everything it does. This year marks a major return to GEM Fest’s multi-venue format, expanding the footprint of the festival across three core locations in Glens Falls: Mean Max Brew Works, The Golden Monkey Lounge, and Downtown Social. Each venue brings its own personality to the festival. Mean Max is offering a more raw, energetic performance setting rooted in craft beer culture and close-up live sound. Golden Monkey Lounge will add a more intimate, late-night, club-style atmosphere where jam bands and groove-based acts tend to stretch out. Downtown Social will serve as a central hub for larger performances, social energy, and the after-hours flow of the festival crowd. Rather than isolating performances in one space, GEM Fest encourages movement—audiences are meant to circulate between venues, discovering new bands, stumbling into unexpected collaborations, and experiencing the city as a living festival map. That blending of disciplines gives the festival a distinct atmosphere compared to traditional music events. “It should feel less like a series of separate shows and more like a shared creative environment,” says Michael. Wristbands are $10 per venue or $20 for access to all three locations, making it easy for attendees to either focus on a single scene or fully explore everything the festival has to offer. Tickets go on sale June 6, and organizers are encouraging early purchase due to growing attendance each year. At the center of this year’s lineup is headliner Sophistafunk, known for their high-energy fusion of funk, hip-hop, and electronic grooves that regularly turn festival sets into full dance-floor experiences. They anchor a lineup that spans genres and generations. Also featured are Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band, Grape Juice, Glass Pony, Capital Zen, The Bright Light Motion, The Hauntings, Immune Friction, Everblue, Arrow Through Me, Death Cult Pharmaceutical, and a number of additional acts still being finalized at the time of planning. “There are even more acts yet to be confirmed,” Brian Michael noted, “so people should keep an eye on  the website for updates.” In addition to live music, GEM Fest continues its signature visual art component, with painters and visual artists working on-site during performances. This side of it is spearheaded by co-founder and award-winning illustrator and painter Anthony Richichi. The concept: Canvases evolve as the music unfolds, giving audiences a chance to watch art being created in real time—often influenced directly by the energy of the bands on stage. Later on, that energy will shift outward into Glens Falls’ nightlife scene, where the festival continues beyond the main sets. 

The official after-party at Downtown Social features The House Syndicate, extending the experience into a more electronic, late-night atmosphere and keeping the city active well past the final stage set.  Get all the info at facebook.com/GemFestAdirondack

And remember: I’m focusing on just these festivals here, obviously. All of this exists alongside the steady flow of live entertainment already happening throughout Glens Falls and beyond. There is a ton of other stuff going on. Check your local listings to see who’s playing where and when. As our local scene continues to grow, it’s becoming clear that something is taking shape here—something rooted in collaboration, accessibility, and a genuine love of music. Hometown, USA … I think we’re doing well.