191
DAYS
16
HOURS
36
MINUTES
A Finger Lakes regional favorite. Payton blends originals like "Quit Wastin' My Time", "Don't Wanna Play", along with her take on classic covers. She kicked off day #2 of our festival in 2025 and since then, we have received requests to bring her back for 2026!
Thankfully - she said "yes"!
With 3 decades of experience, Jerry Karns brings the perfect blend of seasoned professionalism and high-energy enthusiasm to every event he touches. Known throughout the Finger Lakes and up & down the East Coast, Jerry has a stellar reputation and is the perfect choice to keep us all going throughout the day.
From the early days of the Fireside Chat Reunion, to the spark that became Echos & Embers , to the festival we’re now building together, with your help.
We’re excited to share that we’re returning in 2026 with The Fireside Festival, a new name that reflects both where this gathering started and where it’s headed. Your support, your energy, and your willingness to show up is what is helping shape our festival into what it will become.
Saturday July 25, 2026, we’ll once again be gathering at Rock Stream Retreat for a day and night built around great music, community, and FUN!
We shall be back next year!!
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Gary
Absolutely coming back next year!
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Michael
Can't wait until next year!
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Terri
So great!
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Erica
It was one heck of a show.
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Hank
Such a fun night! Checking off my bucket list dancing - in the rain. Even saw the fireworks! Great event.
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Karen
We had a great time performing this year, with the die hards who rocked with us in the pouring rain.
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The Boys of Freebird
(Despite the rain) It was still a great time!
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Heidi
Great concerts and great times last night!
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Sommer
So much fun!!!
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Nicole
Great weekend and we even stayed thru at least a half hour of DOWN POURING rain, until like 4 cracks of lightning!
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Mark L
We had a great time performing for you! Thanks for taking great care of the performers and being so accommodating!
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Matt from Be Damned
2025 brought us the Echos & Embers Music Festival. Attendance was admittedly on the light side, but those who joined us, made it a weekend to remember! We enjoyed two nights, eight bands, fireworks, food trucks, pro wrestling, vendors, camping, VIP seating, VIP parking, RAIN and SHINE! (And well, some more rain, like sideways rain). We had it all, and thanks to your enthusiastic support and positive feedback it was well worth it. Thank you to Prestige Worldwide Entertainment, Xcite Pro Wrestling, Sound On Sound Productions, Payton Clark, Wendy Owens, The Variables, FREEBIRD: The Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute, Bigfoot, Be Damned, Bad Bear, BONFIRE: A Tribute To AC/DC, Bat Tech, all of our vendors and support businesses & organizations, and most of all you, the fans!
In 2024 we hosted the Fireside Chat Reunion on the deck of our wedding retreat's cottage. We enjoyed an evening of spectacular weather, great songs, laughter, and connecting with friends new & old. All of this thanks to The Variables and John "Dr. Dirty" Valby. The reviews were positive and the small event affirmed our desire to grow into something a bit larger. Perhaps something a bit different from the local wine trails usual music-on-the-deck format we've all become accustomed to.
