By Julia Beauregard
Hometown Weekly Editor
At the end of last month, The Trustees hosted the first ever music festival at Rocky Woods in Medfield. This event, entitled, “Rock the Woods,” was an outdoor festival that was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 19, but due to poor weather conditions, it had to be rescheduled. Contrary to the original date, this Saturday afternoon welcomed a beautiful warm and sunny afternoon. Patrons gathered on the lawn before the stage at noon to be whisked away by the sounds of the blues.
The opening act of the festival was performed by Arthur Terembula who performed both blues and ragtime guitar stylings on the Rocky Woods stage. His performance included restylings of various country blues figures such as Robert Johnson and Blind Blake. Terembula captivated the crowd with his one-man act, singing, playing guitar, and harmonica. His unique sound and impressive work as a musician really set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
Next up, the festival featured a local bluegrass duo known as Kings of Ghost Town. The two local musicians, Danny Erker and Evan Murphy, brought a blend of original American bluegrass sound with contemporary lyrical stylings. Their seamless harmonies and vibrant energy resonated with the crowd, making their performance a standout moment of the day.
The festival's third and final act delivered the highly anticipated main event: The Peacheaters. Fans arrived in droves, sporting Peacheaters merchandise, eager to see New England's most popular Allman Brothers tribute band ahead of their upcoming performance at the Boggestock Festival in Millis this September. With twenty-four years of delivering an authentic Allman Brothers experience, it was no surprise that this beloved local group drew such a large turnout.
The group consists of John Bennett of Dover, who plays guitar and sings; “Senator” Rick Goode of Westwood, who plays guitar and sings; Jim Sullivan of Dover on keys; Dave Cournoyer, formerly of Walpole, on guitar; Dave Hines of Holliston on bass guitar; AJ Valee of Upton on drums; and Alec Antobenedetto of Franklin, who also plays drums and sings.
The Peacheaters, with their remarkable chemistry and harmony, brought forth an incredible musical experience that brought the original work of the Allman Brothers to life for this lucky crowd. They performed classic hits such as, “Ramblin’ Man,” “Melissa,” “Midnight Rider,” and “Soulshine.” Fans came before the stage to dance, clap, and sing along throughout the performance. Cheers echoed throughout the lawn as the band closed out their set with a mesmerizing rendition of “Whippin’ Post.”
When asked how this festival came to be, Antobenedetto, Peacheaters drummer and vocalist, shared: “Rock The Woods happened, I believe, out of discussions with John Bennett and my friend Steve Linehan at a private party that The Peacheaters played at. They [The Trustees] do an annual event now called "Goats with Wings" as John has the "Goats of Dover" and Steve has "Dirty Steve's Wings,”....I believe Rob was there and hence the talking commenced and now Rock the Woods looks like it will be an annual thing like the Boggestock Festival that was started 14 years ago.”
As the sun began to set on that beautiful Saturday afternoon, the energy at Rocky Woods remained high, with attendees still buzzing from the electrifying performances. The success of "Rock the Woods" marked the beginning of what promises to be an annual tradition, bringing together music lovers and the community for a day of unforgettable live performances in a stunning natural setting.
