Photos by Dave Decrescent

Over the weekend, the vibrant sounds of Vermont-based jamband Twiddle resonated through Westport, Conn.’s Levitt Pavilion over a thrilling two-day music celebration. During their return to the venue, Twiddle performed pristinely, as did their friends in lespecial, Kung Fu and Oh He Dead. Notably, during the stint, Twiddle’s own Mihali dished out a smoking solo set.

Over the course of the two-day display, Twiddle rolled through four enthralling sets, including an exclusive acoustic set for VIP attendees. The first night set the tone, featuring classic Twiddle favorites like “Jamflowman” gracefully transitioning into “Frankenfoote.” The band also paid tribute to Rick James with a spirited rendition of “Mary Jane,” enlisting Kung Fu and Horns members for an exhilarating collaboration. A fiery sequence of Twiddle originals followed, with “White Light” seamlessly blending into “Classical Gas” and “Brown Chicken Brown Cow.” Adding to the excitement, Chris DeAngelis of Kung Fu joined in on bass for “Brown Chicken Brown Cow,” while the talents of Kung Fu/Lotus guitarist Tim Palmieri ignited a heated guitar duet with Twiddle’s Mihali during the closing of set two with a blazing performance of “Milk.”

The second night raised the temperature even higher, fueled by the band’s achievement of selling out the magnificent Levitt Pavilion for their final Westport show. Twiddle ripped through a dynamic “Gatsby The Great” > “Zazu’s Flight” combination, followed by the triumphant return of “Tiberius” and an unexpected cover of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is,” seamlessly woven into one of the band’s beloved originals.

For the weekend’s grand finale, Twiddle showcased remarkable renditions of “Cabbage Face” and “Mushrooms of the Sea.” However, the surprises didn’t end there, as they welcomed Luke Bemand and Rory Dolan of lespecial, along with Michael Bafundo on trumpet and John Mundy of West End Blend, also on trumpet, for “Latin Tang.”

The vibrant momentum of Twiddle’s performances continues, as they have several upcoming tour dates before their announced indefinite hiatus begins at the end of the year. Among their upcoming shows, Twiddle will play two nights at Philadelphia’s Brooklyn Bowl on Sept. 15 and 16, followed by a performance at Hampton Beach Casino in New Hampshire on Oct. 6. They will then treat their hometown fans to a very special throwdown at the historic Flynn Theatre in Burlington, Vt., on Oct. 7.

Additionally, Twiddle’s Tumble Down festival, set to take place on Sept. 22 and 23 at Wonderland Forest in Lafayette, N.Y., promises to be a one-of-a-kind event. The festival boasts a stacked lineup featuring four sets of Twiddle, performances from Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Andy Frasco + The U.N., Dopapod, Dogs in a Pile, a solo set from Mihali and more.

Learn more and find tickets to Twiddle’s upcoming appearances here.

DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART TOUR

8/10 – Rochester, NY – Party in The Park

8/10-12 – East Durham, NY – Catskill Mountain Jubilee

8/13 – East Hampton, NY – The Clubhouse

8/26 – Vineyard Haven, MA – Beach Road Weekend

9/14 – Washington, DC – The Bullpen

9/15 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl (with Kyle Sparkman)

9/16 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl (with Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers)

9/22-23 – Lafayette, NY – Tumble Down at Wonderland Forest

10/5 – Providence, RI – The Strand (with Yam Yam)

10/6 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino (with Yam Yam)

10/7 – Burlington, VT – The Flynn Theatre

11/11 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom (with Melt)