Next fall, from September 22 to 23, an Ithaca festival named the Cayuga Sound Festival will be hosted by the X Ambassadors in Stewart Park. This festival honors the culture of Ithaca, its local businesses, its people, and it celebrates the influence that these elements had on the development of the X Ambassadors. The X Ambassadors broke out in 2015 with their first debut album called VHS, and since then, they have only grown more popular. If you don’t know who they are, the songs “Jungle,” “Renegades,” and “Unsteady” will surely remind you, as these are some of their more popular hits that have been repeated on the radio one too many times. The X Ambassadors have set up an interesting line up for the festival, featuring fourteen diverse artists such as The Roots, K.Flay, Tei Shi, and the Imperials. The prices for tickets range from $50 to $210, depending on if you opt for a VIP package, which includes extra events and souvenirs. In addition to the main festival at Stewart Park, parties will take place at The Haunt and The Dock.
Now, you may be wondering, why should I go to this festival? The primary benefit of attending is that it supports local businesses and nonprofit organizations such as Ithaca Beer Company and CSMA. The X Ambassadors are grateful for the small town they grew up in and wanted to give back. All companies involved will benefit, and this will contribute to the growth of unique Ithacan institutions. As X Ambassador lead vocalist Sam Harris told Billboard, “[Ithaca] is pretty isolated and we didn’t really get a lot of bands that we liked as kids who would come through Ithaca to play.” This festival allows young adults in Ithaca to see star attractions that they may not otherwise be able to see. This festival, planned to be an annual event, will also boost tourism for the coming years as fans from across upstate New York will visit to see their favorite bands. Starting small is important, and as the news spreads, more and more people will come, allowing our town and this festival to prosper.