In episode 42 of the Music Festivals Podcast, I sat down with Ben Majeska—lead guitarist, vocalist, and one of the energetic forces behind Armchair Boogie.
With festival season heating up, Ben and I take a deep dive into the band's origin story, the wild ride of festival touring, and their unique place in the exploding jam-grass scene. Armchair Boogie’s summer is packed with can’t-miss dates, including Dark Star Jubilee, Cave Jam, Grassfire and the highly anticipated Picking on Picnic at Lost Hill Lake in St. Clair, Missouri.
Ben opens up about the band’s roots at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, giving festival neighbors a glimpse into Wisconsin’s vibrant bluegrass community. Majeska credits the influential Horseshoes & Hand Grenades for their inspiration, saying,
"They just kind of showed us that you could be in a band and you could travel around and it could be successful.”
We get into the grind and the joys that come with festival life. From Riddle Point Boogie in Indiana to Dark Star Jubilee in Ohio and the super unique Cave Jam at The Caverns in Tennessee, the band’s summer is a blur of van rides, new venues, and campfire jams.
Majeska shares some insider perspective on how Armchair Boogie operates as a band and business and also reveals how each member plays key roles—from merch to finances—showing that behind every set is a fully functioning small business team.
One highlight is the group’s DIY spirit: their 2019 album, “What Does Time Care?”, was crowdfunded with massive support from a tight-knit community. The band’s most recent album “Hard Times and Deadlines,” reflects on resilience and growth, with Ben describing it as music for getting through tough times together.
For festival neighbors, Ben shares what sets the Picking on Picnic apart—returning to the Missouri festival year after year, Armchair Boogie has become part of the family, jamming both onstage and around the iconic bonfire.
Catch the full episode for more backstage tales, insights on mastering bluegrass guitar technique, and what keeps Armchair Boogie rolling down the highway all summer long. If you love live festival energy and music made for good times under the sun, you won’t want to miss this one.
Watch the full episode on YouTube or grab the audio podcast wherever you listen—and be sure to check out how to win free festival passes on musicfestivalspodcast.com. And, don't forget to subscribe!
I’m excited to let you know that next Friday will be the official launch of an awesome chance to win tickets to the 2025 Watermelon Pickers’ Festival in Berryville, Virginia.
If you love bluegrass, roots music, and good times with great people, you don’t want to miss this. I’m talking three days of incredible live music, late-night jams, workshops, and fun for the whole family-plus, kids 12 and under get in free!
Be Ready! Entries Open Next Friday, May 23rd!
Entering the ticket drawing is super easy-just follow the link to the official contest page and throw your name in the hat. Imagine kicking back in the Shenandoah Valley, discovering new artists, and making memories you’ll be talking about for years. Don’t miss your shot to join us for one of the best weekends of the year. Hit that link, enter now, and maybe I’ll see you at Watermelon Pickers’ Fest 2025!
In the meantime, we still have ticket packages available for the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival (July 18-20) in Mansfield, Ohio. That drawing closes May 31st, so don't miss your chance to hit some great music festivals this summer on us!
Next Friday, I sit down with Stacy Sinclair, the new force behind keeping the Watermelon Pickers’ Festival going into it's 21st Year.
Not only did we find out we both went to Otterbein College (and probably crossed paths in the same building), but we also unpacked Stacy’s incredible journey from theater tech to public school teacher, to fiddle-playing band member, and now festival organizer. Her story is full of passion, perseverance, and the kind of community magic that makes roots and bluegrass music festivals so special.
We dig into the legacy of Watermelon Pickers' dating back to the 1960's, and its rebirth in the early 2000's at the Clark County Fairgrounds, as well how Stacy and her tight-knit crew are evolving the fest—one jam, workshop, and burrito at a time.
You'll hear about the 2025 lineup (Michael Cleveland, Jason Carter, Foghorn String Band, and more...), why bluegrass is more inclusive than you think, and how a simple act of showing up can lead to lifelong friendships and spontaneous bands. Don’t miss this heartfelt, behind-the-scenes episode—dropping next week right here on the Music Festivals Podcast. Make sure to Subscribe on YouTube and join the email list so you don't miss out.
This week’s featured performance is an outstanding full-set video I was able to shoot of The Funk Factory's LIVE performance this past April at the Season Opener at Poe Rd. Music & Performing Arts Sanctuary in Grand Rapids, Ohio.
This five-piece Toledo, Ohio-based band delivered a high-octane performance to open the festival on a beautiful Saturday evening, just as the sun was sinking low in the Spring sky. The Funk Factory's lineup includes Alex Wolfert on keyboards, Jason Ramm on guitar, Justin Tullius on drums, Stephanie Clegg as lead vocalist, and Vijay Natarajan on bass.
Go ahead and stream the set in HD or 4K on your at home this evening and if you dig it, look them up on Spotify and add them to your personal playlist. You can also check out their 2nd Annual Family Funktion Festival at the same venue coming up June 13th - 15th, 2025.
Video Credit: NRMedia Group, LLC—The Funk Factory — Full LIVE Set at Poe Rd Music Sanctuary 04.26.2025