Get ready for the ‘Big Bandingo' at the Layton Hotel Bar & Grill

The Fantasia Project, JuicyBlack Cherries and Big Boss Sausage are part of line-up LAYTON — The fifth annual outdoor festival, the “Big Bandingo,” will feature a vast array of musical talent, bizarre contests and giveaways. The event will take place at The Layton Hotel Bar & Grill on Friday, July 24 and Saturday July 25. The July 24 lineup will include Aberdeen, Tony, Thick Leather Brick, Bobby Carr, Hogie, Alex from High School, The JuicyBlack Cherries, Bill Mutchler, and The Pacifists Of Fury. The show runs from 5 until 9:30 p.m., then continues inside the Layton Hotel. The July 25 lineup will be Mike Lawlor, members of Natural Breakdown, Jeremy, The Fantasia Project, Swamp Chicken, Blue Smoke, The Why Kay Kays, Jaymie Gerard, Kev, Jan Loe, Alchemy and the Queen, Ciro, Free Dumb Jam, and Big Boss Sausage. The Saturday show will begin at 2 to 9:30 p.m and again continues inside the bar. Headlining the outdoor portion of the Friday show will be, The Pacifists Of Fury, “a marriage of traditional instruments such as stand-up bass, violin, trumpet, pennywhistle, tuba, flute and guitars, against a backdrop of sampled beats,” according to organizers, who added the group “forms a sound unlike any before, with songs that will make you laugh, cry, think and wonder why. Imagine swingin’ hillbilly hip-hop, with a little bit of folk and a lot of rock, and you’ve only begun to scratch the surface of the POF.” Saturday’s show outside will be Big Boss Sausage. Members have performed in just about every state in the country in addition to Canada and Mexico. They have shared the stage with Arlo Guthrie, Mountain, Soul Asylum, Commander Cody, Uncle Floyd, and other performers. Fans have described their shows as “high energy, emotionally riveting and hilariously power punching.” The band “is known for being engaging and enlightening, with thought provoking tunes and driving continuous unintentional mega poly rhythms. Mingo Lodge is the constant force in the band; members and instrumentation may vary,” according to organizers. For the last few years the Big Boss Sausage and the Pacifists Of Fury have been working with producer/engineer Dwayne “D2” Sumal. His credits include Kid Rock, Busta Rhymes, Ziggy Marley, Naughty by Nature, Ron Wood, and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones. The band’s recently released a CD on Hear to Light Records, and are currently the subjects of a documentary highlighting their careers. Other performers include: Juicy Black Cherries, “cut loose with a combination of rock, funk, blues and jam styles with a bright acoustic guitar sound and an incredibly tight intuitive rhythm section,” said organizers. The Fantasia Project features the father/son combo of guitarist/keyboardist singer songwriter Chuck Fantasia and 16-year-old guitar prodigy Chris Fantasia, former Serf Cowboy and Big Boss Sausage bassist Les Keil and John Brinkers on drums. The Why Kay Kays perform regularly in the greater Philadelphia area and have been venturing into New York City with an increasing frequency. They have played tiny bars as well as established rock venues such as The North Star Bar, The Annex, Doc Watson’s Pub, Millcreek Tavern, and the former Grape Street Pub. Organizers said The Bandingo has always been known “for outlandish competitions and freak-like happenings.” One of the staple events will be the pie-ath-alon, a pie-eating contest that is judged on style and appearance and not consumption. The Tug of Peace will also return. It’s similar the standard Tug of War except participants often drop the rope and engage in spontaneous hugging. Film footage of the event will be slated for an upcoming movie entitled “They Did It in the Woods, The Legend of the Big Bandingo,” produced by Digital Voodoo. Guests should bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Food and beverages will be sold on the premises. Tickets are $5 for just Friday night, or $10 for both Friday and Saturday, but $10 for only Saturday. For more information call the Layton Hotel Bar and Grill 973-948-0809.