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Bridgeport's Gathering Of Vibes Embraces The String Cheese Incident

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- The String Cheese Incident – a household name in the jam band world – is making its only Northeast appearance of the summer at the 20th Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport.

The String Cheese Incident will hit the stage at the Gathering of the Vibes on Friday, July 31.

The String Cheese Incident will hit the stage at the Gathering of the Vibes on Friday, July 31.

Photo Credit: Contributed
The String Cheese Incident

The String Cheese Incident

Photo Credit: Contributed

SCI will be joined by special guests David Grisman, Peter Rowan & Friends, and will include a tribute to 50 Years of Music by the Grateful Dead.

From its humble beginnings as a bunch of ski bums in the Colorado mountains, SCI has come a long way since 1993. Known for its improvised jams and self-described “sacrilegious mix of bluegrass, calypso, salsa, Afro-pop, funk, rock, and jazz,” SCI fuses the most durable and inviting aspects of a jam band with cutting edge electronics and the multi-sourced Americana on which they were founded.

But it’s not just the music and high-energy performances that set SCI apart. 

SCI was a grassroots pioneer in adapting to the Internet for its tour promotion, information and news. In the band’s infancy, the major label model was failing and file-sharing was growing. Although many artists shied away from sharing files, SCI embraced it.

The band increased its fan following with “On The Road,” an entire series of tours with downloadable recordings of each "incident," as the band calls their concerts. Now, hundreds of bands use some version of this approach. 

However, SCI goes even further. Not only did it create a wholly independent record label – SCI Fidelity – but the band also opened a multi-faceted company to handle merchandise, management, ticketing, and even a travel agency devoted to fans who support them on the road. 

How did The String Cheese Incident get its name? SCI cites an incident when guitarist Michael Kang broke the string of his mandolin. 

Since its inception, SCI has released 10 albums, six DVDS and numerous live recordings, making the band one of the most significant independent artists in America. 

SCI’s commitment goes well beyond their music. The band takes a serious interest in giving back to planet Earth, finding a way to promote going green through performing music. SCI is among the first group of performers to support green shows, playing benefit concerts for not-for-profit organizations such as Conscious Alliance, Rock the Earth, and Head Count.

The String Cheese Incident will make its first appearance on the Vibes stage in Bridgeport, Friday, July 31. To see SCI and nearly 50 other bands during the festival from July 30 ti Aug. 2, go to GoVibes.com for tickets and information. 

The String Cheese Incident include Bill Nershi, guitars and vocals; Michael Kang, mandolin, violin, guitar and vocals; Keith Moseley, bass; Michael Travis, drums and percussion; Kyle Hollingsworth, keyboards and accordion; and Jason Hann, percussion.

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