Arts & Entertainment
Local Bands Will Take the Spotlight at This Year's Festival
In the Main Stage lineup, two bands are Branford's own.
The 2012 Branford Festival will have something for everyone - trust us, this is one packed weekend. But if you live and breathe music, you're probably most excited about this year's lineup of great artists on the Main Stage, led by Saturday Night Live's Christine Ohlman and Nashville-based Eagles tribute band 7 Bridges. And while those performers aren't to be missed, two Branford-based acts -- Hitlist and Steamroller -- will take the stage as well.
Steamroller's Scott Graver says his band's half-hour set on Saturday may end up being the biggest show the band has ever played.
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"Every one of us are psyched," he told Patch. Last year Steamroller played on the Main Street stage, and he says their success likely led to this larger opportunity. "This is just a huge stage, a huge venue. The sound system is great, and all the people involved are great. For us, this is like playing a stadium."
Steamroller is a classic rock cover band - Graver says festivalgoers can expect to hear standards from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in their set. You may have heard them at , where they've held a recurring spot lately. They've also frequented and . Along with their Main Stage set, Graver says Steamroller will also provide music for runners during the Father's Day Road Race.
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The first full set of the festival belongs to Hitlist, another cover band, led by longtime residents Anthony Nuzzo and Dean Christiano. While their lineup has changed over the years, Nuzzo and Christiano -- who met at Branford High School -- have always been at its center.
On their Facebook page, the band lists everything from prog-rock to funk as influences, but as a cover band they focus on hits both new and old (true to their name, according to singer Matt Perone.) The band will serve as a main-stage opening act for Ohlman, who will perform with her backing band Rebel Montez.
Hitlist will play Friday at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage. Steamroller will play Saturday at 5:15 p.m. on the Main Stage and Sunday during the Father's Day Road Race. Learn more about Steamroller at their website and on Facebook, and check out Hitlist on Facebook and ReverbNation.
