Colonastock brings outdoor concerts to hayrack

Colonastock is an outside concert series that will be held on a hay-rack in a front yard in Colona. The brainchild of husband and wife team Tristan and Jessica Tapscott, Colonastock aims to present two or three outdoor concerts a year with focus on up and coming indie acts from across the nation.

The first in this new series will be held Wednesday, Aug. 16 and will feature local acts Old Darling and Lewis Knudsen and headliner Danielle Ate the Sandwich.

Cory Holbrook, of Geneseo, will serve as emcee for the evening.

“It is legit going to be a concert in our front yard. It's really that simple,” co-founder Jessica Tapscott said. “With that catchy name, 'Colonastock,' in place — it was my mom’s idea —and an awesome hay-rack, we knew we were really onto something.”

She added, “Danielle perfect for this and is the type of artist that could play a show in your living room and make you feel like you were in an amphitheater. She bridges the age gap and entertains the youngest and oldest of fans.”

Co-founder Tristan Tapscott said, "My wife introduced me to this incredible artist, Danielle Ate the Sandwich and I knew I wanted to bring her to the area and as the booking at another venue was falling through my in-laws were given a trendy hay-rack.” He added, “I took that as a sign and ran it by both Jessica and Danielle and it was on.”

Danielle Ate the Sandwich, is the stage name of pop-folk songwriter, Danielle Anderson. Based in Fort Collins, Colo., Danielle has been touring nationally since 2009 after cultivating an online following from her homemade videos on YouTube and her unique style of online marketing that brings her music to the audience she affectionately refers to as “Fanwiches.”

In 2016, Danielle Ate the Sandwich released her sixth full length album, “The Terrible Dinner Guest,” recorded in Norfolk, VA, and supported by a fan funded Kickstarter campaign.

Her songs can be thoughtful, heavy and serious, but Danielle rarely takes herself too seriously. She’s known for her quirky lyrical twists, performing most frequently with a ukulele and delivering witty and honest stage banter in her live shows.

Danielle has toured the United States since 2009, has made appearances internationally, opened for Mumford and Sons, Suzanne Vega, toured with Pomplamoose and wrote the soundtrack to the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary, “Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson.”

Colonastock will start at 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at 1420 Cleveland Rd. (next to The Best Umpholstery Shop). There is an admission fee. Those attending can bring whatever they’d like to drink or eat. Attendees also are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and bug spray.

Popcorn, Hawaiian ice and beverages will be available for purchase courtesy of Dale and Jo Anne Hillman and The Best Upholstery Shop of Colona.

“We have a few other ideas for what we want this to be and hopefully we can find an audience for this kind of thing,” Jessica said. “Aug. 16 will be a memorable night and hopefully the start of something really cool.”