Bug bites and bunk beds. Fireside stories and cafeteria food. Sunburn, sweat and sand in the cracks, all under the care of counselors who are usually strangers. For stretches of daytime or overnight stays, kids are subjected to a litany of discomforts in exchange for something so satisfying, so fulfilling, so wonderful, it offers a salve for any anguish: freedom.
Summer camp is where kids get to find themselves, untethered from parents and past. Free to roam in body and spirit—and free to play. But why should kids get to have all the summer fun?
Back in 1993, Jeremy Steinkoler and Steve Gibson co-founded BandWorks to help musicians find other musicians to play with. Today, they run seasonal adult band workshops, matching musicians with each other to form bands that rehearse together over eight weeks. While it’s not exactly “camp” (and they do run more traditional summer camps), the atmosphere is similar. People come together to learn the dynamics of collaboration, hone musical skills and have a great time.
Like any camp worth its salt, the program ends with a performance—a showcase of all the bands in concert. Since 2017, BandWorks bands have performed at The Ivy Room, the renowned independent venue in Albany (that also happens to be one of our Best Of winners). This past June, 12 bands debuted onstage, while the August session bands will perform in October. After that, the show goes on.
“People don’t graduate away from BandWorks,” says program manager Stace Wright. “They build their bands and stay with us, eventually spreading out to their own gigs and parties as well. Before they know it, the band is a big part of their life, and they are better for it.”
Those bands include Flea Circus, Free Association, Key Change, Semi Competent, Doll Parts—the list of epic names goes gloriously on. Some of these may seem unserious. However, the core concept is quite the opposite.
“BandWorks is literally the fountain of youth,” says Wright. “A strong social group that requires lots of focus, cooperation, communication, adaptation, flexibility and so much more. Bands become family.”
