Doors: 3:00pm
Show: 3:30pm
Sunday, September 13, WEQX will be hosting the Let My Ego Go Disc Golf Tournament: A Benefit for the Saratoga Center for the Family. Come join us after the tournament for the official after-party and award ceremony. The afternoon will feature live performances by Rich Ortiz, North & South Dakotas and Acoustic Circus, as well as a silent action and award ceremony.
Rich Ortiz’s style is truly his own and his music is his soul. Ortiz, never a wallflower, believes he is the product of his family’s cultural diversity and strengths. Since the age of seventeen he’s focused all of his talents and time on his acoustic solo act, if you can call it that. Rich plays guitar, harmonica, and peddle bass (with his feet), and he turns heads with his vocals! He has opened shows for CHICAGO, REO Speedwagon, STYX, Ted Nugent, Ludacris, Hoobastank, KC and The Sunshine Band, Jeffrey Gaines, Ryan Montbleau Band, The Wood Brothers, Robert Randolph, Tea Leaf Green, Zach Deputy, Kracker, Merl Saunders, Melvin Seals, Jim Weider and the Drifters.
Inspired by artists like Jim Croce, James Taylor, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Willie Nelson, he says “I feel I have to change every gig around in order to grow as a musician.” He plays six and twelve string acoustic guitar and chooses not to cultivate a target audience. He thinks “ideally the feeling of people who leave the room or listen to your CD should be one of making someone’s day. What comes out of your tongue says a lot about your soul.”
In 2006, Ortiz released his debut album, “Let It Be Life”. Recorded with the help of Grammy winning producer, John Seymour, the album features live, unedited studio recordings of all original works. Soon after its release, “Let It Be Life” was listed as one of the Top-40 selling Funk/Blues albums on CD Baby, the #1 online record store for independent music.
In 2010, Ortiz released his sophomore album, “Face of a Lion”, which features guest musician Kofi Burbridge (Tedeschi Trucks Band). Most recently, Ortiz released his 2023 single, “Water is Our Witness.”
As his passion for life grows stronger, so does the energy in his music. Rich is a truly rare, authentic talent.
Website: www.richortiz.com
The North & South Dakotas are an original folk & bluegrass band from Upstate, NY. The five piece band includes Zack Hay (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Mark Retajczyk electric guitar and supporting vocal), Nayt Patenaude (dobro, mandolin, and suporrting vocal), Colin Hunt (Bass), and Connor Dunn (saxophone).
From quick pickin’ grass tunes, to heartfelt ballads, The Dakotas bring a unique and original energy to the stage.
The band has shared the stage with:
Sam Bush, Deer Tick, The Travelin’ McCourys, Cabinet, Robert Randolph, Jeff Austin, The Gibson Brothers, Twiddle, The Mallett Brothers Band, Trampled By Turtles, Ryan Montbleau, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad.
Website: www.nsdakotas.com
Saratoga’s Acoustic Circus is best described as a Jam and Caribbean influenced acoustic power trio. Consisting of Juan Calzada (Half Step) on Guitar / Vocals, James Looby on Sax/EWI, Scott Fultz on Bass and Corbin Daugherty on Latin Percussion, Acoustic Circus has been making people dance in and around the Capital District for several years now.