Oneida close out summer with Queens mini-fest featuring Editrix, Nick Hallett
In what is becoming an annual tradition to bid adieu to the summer season, psych-rock institution Oneida are once again headlining a matinee concert in the Woodhaven section of Queens, New York on Saturday, September 13th.
The bacchanal, presented by Goodhaven and Oneida’s label home Joyful Noise Recordings, begins with doors opening at 2 p.m. inside the bucolic Forest Park at the George Seuffert Bandshell. Music will commence at 3 p.m. with composer, vocalist and electronics artist Nick Hallett followed by prog-jazz punkers Editrix, who will melt minds with the intricate and infectious riffery found on their most recent and excellent record, The Big E. The long-running and tirelessly creative Oneida, whose debut album came out nearly three decades ago and a band who was instrumental in putting the Williamsburgh DIY scene on the map in the late 90’s and early aughts, will take the stage after Editrix by performing some hallucinogenic punk barnburners from 2024’s Expensive Air and the marathon-length, heady jams they’re known for (“Sheets of Easter,” anyone?).
Fingers crossed for good weather!
Goodhaven and Joyful Noise Recordings present Oneida, Editrix and Nick Hallett at George Seuffert Bandshell at Forest Park in Woodhaven, Queens from 2:00 PM-6:00 PM on Saturday, September 13th. Admission is free. Rain date is Sunday, September 14th. Click here for directions.
Treble caught up with Oneida drummer and Woodhaven resident Kid Millions about the origins of this traditional end-of-summer concert.
This is the fifth year Oneida is putting on this concert at Seuffert Bandshell. How did you originally come up with the idea for it?
My wife and I moved to Woodhaven 5 years ago. We bought a house and were walking in Forest Park, which is nearby, and we came across this bandshell, in what felt like out of nowhere. We looked at each other and said, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
It’s such an impressive setting and I’d never heard of the spot before. I happened to know Phil Ballman from my days at the Knitting Factory (’96-’97) who became the Director of Cultural Affairs & Tourism at Office of the Queens Borough President. He knew everyone, and helped me make the connections with the Forest Park staff I needed to get access to the venue. Covid was still shutting down venues and hampering live music and we needed to be creative in order to activate more outdoor spaces for shows and this venue seemed perfect. I was also sick of only playing bars in the middle of the night. I loved the idea of a matinee – getting home in time for dinner. Now that I’m a dad it feels like I timed things well.
What is it about the bandshell that you seem to have a special connection with?
The bandshell is 100 years old and the seating was spruced up during Guilliani’s time in office. There are very old trees growing amongst the permanent seating. It’s cool architecturally and acoustically. During September it’s gorgeous. In the ’70s, some really interesting concerts happened at the bandshell: super heavy musicians like Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Brewer and Shipley (this stuff is hard to confirm; just people making comments on Facebook). Apparently it was an open-air drug market for a time. Now it’s just a sleepy, vibey spot to listen to music.
There are some challenges that come with putting on the show but you always pull it off. Can you touch on the sense of community that the band, friends, the Forest Park Trust, all come together to put the show on going on five years now?
Well every year, we have to raise the money to make this happen. The first year we did it, 2021, my bandmate Sarah Bernstein and I both won City Artist Corp grants. Oneida wasn’t considered originally. Sarah and I were talking about how to make it interesting and Oneida came up. I thought it was a cool idea and everyone was into it. I basically produced the event. It was so fun that I thought I’d try to do it again—maybe yearly. Each year it’s been a struggle. Forest Park Trust has helped us for three years, which is amazing. Oneida fans and friends have chipped in a lot. We want to pay the bands and feed them. So far it’s worked well for us but it does take a lot of work and a lot of generosity from our friends. We are fortunate and thankful for that.
What can we expect from Oneida next Sunday?
We have a bunch of new songs that we are going to premiere so definitely come out. Of course, there’s Editrix and Nick Hallett: new and old friends. Bring a lunch, hang out, bring the kids (there’s a carousel right there) and afterwards if you’re looking to have dinner in Woodhaven, Neir’s Tavern (NYC’s oldest bar in continuous operation) is offering a dinner discount if you were at the show.
The music goes from 3-6pm, there’s plenty of parking, it’s right off the J train and Forest Park’s trails are close by. Make a day of it!
