Photos by Tara Gracer

Over the weekend, BISCOLAND made its debut in central New York’s Apple Valley, marking the return of the first The Disco Biscuits festival since 2019’s Camp Bisco event in Scranton, Pa. Promising a more intimate experience, the festival unfolded amidst the picturesque landscape of the Wonderland Forest venue in Lafayette, NY., with a diverse lineup spanning multiple genres, and standout performances from jamtronica band Lotus and Connecticut’s Eggy, who each delivered two sets over the weekend.

Other notable acts included Papadosio, Sunsquabi, Space Bacon, and a jazzy Dead set led by Aron Magner of The Disco Biscuits’ side project, Spaga. A surprise appearance by The Disco Biscuits’ guitarist, Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig, during Lotus’ set added an extra layer of excitement to the festival.

While BISCOLAND showcased a wide array of electronic and experimental music talents, the spotlight undoubtedly remained on The Disco Biscuits themselves. Accompanied by longtime Umphrey’s McGee lighting director Jefferson Waful, the band kicked off the first of four sets with an electrifying performance. Despite the looming threat of rain on the first night, the band delivered a memorable show, featuring tracks like “The Wormhole” and “Space Train.”

The second set saw bassist Marc Brownstein welcoming the crowd to BISCOLAND before launching into an otherworldly performance, transitioning seamlessly into the fan-favorite “Shocked!” The band’s commitment to blending new and old material was evident throughout the set, with tracks like “To Be Continued” and “Reactor.” While there was no encore due to time restrictions, fans were treated to an extended encore on the second day, with over 200 minutes of music spread across two sets.

As the rain subsided and the autumn air settled in, The Disco Biscuits played a set filled with improvisation and exploration, featuring songs like “The Deal,” “Voices Insane,” and “I-man.” The highlight of the second set was a marathon “Mindless Dribble → Confrontation (inverted)” segment that lasted over 65 minutes.

The Disco Biscuits ended the festival on a high note, with an encore sandwiching their original track “Home Again” with “Kitchen Mitts,” played in an inverted style for the first time in the band’s history.

Looking ahead, The Disco Biscuits are set to close out 2023 with a series of shows in various cities, including Miami’s North Beach Music Festival and a late-night show at NYC’s Palladium Times Square. In 2024, the band plans to maintain their momentum with additional show dates, including a return to the West Coast and appearances at festivals like Tucson’s Gem & Jam Festival, Aspen, and Boulder.

The Disco Biscuits
BISCOLAND – Lafayette, NY
Oct. 6, 2023

Set I: Wet, Munchkin Invasion → The Wormhole → Space Train → Cyclone → Nughuffer

Set II: Nughuffer → Shocked! → To Be Continued → Reactor (inverted) → M1 → To Be Continued

The Disco Biscuits
BISCOLAND – Lafayette, NY
Oct. 7, 2023

Set I: Jam → Bombs → The Deal → Voices Insane → I-man

Set II: Mindless Dribble → Confrontation (inverted) → Orch Theme →
And The Ladies Were The Rest Of The Night (inverted) → Spacebirdmatingcall

Enc.: Home Again → Kitchen Mitts (inverted)* → Home Again

  • LTP 2/4/23 (54 show gap); FTP inverted