As part of WICB, a local radio station here in Ithaca, I had the opportunity to attend the Finger Lakes Thaw music festival.

This is the first ever winter festival of music –and there’s hope that this will become an annual occurrence in Ithaca.

Multiple bands and performers, traveling from central New York and beyond, arrived for the two-day festival. Among the beloved bands who played included Sun Parade, Giant Panda Gorilla Dub Squad, Big Mean Sound Machine, and Dee Ponder and The Tomorrow People. Other bands were just getting started and received warm welcomes from the crowd, like the New Roots, and the English Project Band.

Several of the bands were homegrown right here in Ithaca. Giant Panda Gorilla Dub Squad, a nine-person reggae band, has a special place in this community’s heart. Ever since their rising fame, they have been sure to return and perform for their hometown.

Another band close to the community’s heart is the New Roots. The humongous band features all high school students from the Ithaca area. Started with the help of their music teacher, these kids used their talents to bring the community together through music. At first glance, they may seem amateurish –but after a song or two, you realize that their talents truly outmatch their appearance. Their range of genres of music and ability to coordinate various types of instruments make this band one of a kind.

The English Project Band, a five-person band from Rochester, New York, also made their debut to Ithaca on day two. Their jazzy rock vibes were well received by the crowd.

Stone Cold Miracle, a five-member soul band that is familiar to the area, played an enlightening, powerful set on day one of the festivals. A picture frame with their recently passed bassist sat on the edge of the amp. Messages of hope, love, and courage transitioned between songs by the main singer Trece Stevenson. The lyrics felt lively as if anyone in the room could relate to the words, no matter what their situation was. Their versatility in song types and vocals made an incredibly impactful performance.

An unexpected surprise was having PJ Morgan, a member of Maroon 5, perform. The crowd was living for it and never wanted it to end.

Big Mean Sound Machine closed out day one with their big, brassy vibe. They wrapped up their nationwide tour where it all started –right here in central New York. The nine-person band mostly plays reggae but also dabbles in funk. They are very well known for their killer brass section.

Dreamt, a band with members from around the east coast, released a new album titled “Storm” last fall. Their indie-rock vibes have struck gold here in Ithaca.

Overall, I was not expecting the Ithaca community to be such a reggae town! I was pleasantly surprised by these reggae performers and I may be converting ever so slowly to a fan of theirs.

Needless to say, I’ll be back next year for another great season of local music.