Big Birthday Bash

The Big Birthday Bash featuring Grateful Dead cover band, Jerry’s Chicken Shack!

We are bringing together good food, great friends, outdoor adventures, and a whole lot of live music. Whether you are a lifelong Deadhead, an aspiring musician, or just looking for a perfect evening with the family, there is a spot on the lawn (or in a boat!) for you.

From Front Row to Onstage

We are kicking things off with a heavy dose of good vibes. At 4PM our local favorites Jerry’s Chicken Shack will take the stage, delivering a high-energy, soulful set of classic Grateful Dead tunes. Get ready to dance to those familiar rhythms and infectious jams that we all love.

But this isn't your average concert. After their set, the stage transforms into an Open Community Jam! For the rest of the night, the members of Jerry’s Chicken Shack invite you—our local musicians, singers, and players—to step up, plug in, and play along with the band. Bring your guitar, your brass, your percussion, or just your vocal cords. Let's see where the music takes us!

Food, Kayaking, & Family Fun

This is a fully family-friendly, community-wide celebration. Come hungry and ready for adventure:

• Great Eats: Grab a bite from Catskills Taco Shack to fuel your dancing and jamming all night long.

• River Vibes: Want a different perspective? Grab a kayak, hit the water, and enjoy the music floating across the river.

• Lawn & Family Games: We’ll have games set up all across the grounds to keep kids and adults entertained between sets.

We are still looking for vendors and sponsors to join us on this day of fun! If your business is interested give us a call 607-326-4266

About the Band

Sonny Rock, Drummer

Sonny is an accomplished bicoastal touring/session drummer, radio host, and 2012 NYS Blues Hall of Fame inductee. Throughout his prolific career, he has performed and recorded with legends ranging from Bryan Adams and The Cult to members of Kiss, The Who, and Aerosmith. Currently drumming for artists like Tas Cru and Lex Grey, Sonny is also an active producer, musical director, and International Blues Challenge judge. Deeply rooted in the community, he hosts the Local Licks Radio Show on WRIP, promotes major regional benefit concerts, and founded the Sonny Rock Music Scholarship to support the next generation of musicians.

Jon Coghill, Guitarist and Singer

Jon is an upstate NY based freelance musician who has been performing and recording in the area for the past 30 years. He is equally at home playing bass or guitar and also sings lead and back up vocals. Jon plays everything from Blues, Rock, RnB, Funk, Reggae and Country music to Latin Jazz. He has performed/recorded with: Ronnie Spector, Maria Muldaur, Commander Cody, Garth Hudson, Bruce Katz, Gregg Allman/Allman Bros, Randy Ciarlante (The Band), John Platania (Van Morrison), Gary Burke, Graham Maby (Joe Jackson), Eric Parket (Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker), John Berenzy, Lex Grey and the Urban Pioneers and Tas Cru. John is currently fronting the Torpedos and The Spillway Band and also doing solo and duo gigs.

Dave Imbarrato, Bassist

Dave has been gigging in Upstate New York over the past three decades performing a vast array of music that includes contemporary pop, blues/R&B and a wide range of classic rock. As a longtime Dead Head, Dave has attended 46 Grateful Dead shows (that he can remember) up and down the east coast between 1979 and 1995.

Dave Giardinelli-O’Connor, Guitarist

Dave has been the frontman and principal songwriter for indie pop band Starcode since the early 90s. During that time, he played guitar for Grateful Dead Tributes, Jerry’s Chicken Shack, Bigfoot County, and The CT Grateful Dead Allstars. Additionally, Dave has played bass for NYC Band Infusion and the Allman Brothers’ Tribute ‘Muscle Shoals.’ He has toured globally, playing at festivals and venues of all sizes. You can now catch Dave, not only with Muscle Shoals, Jerry’s Chicken Shack, and Lex Grey and the Urban Pioneers, but as a solo artist performing up and down the East Coast.