By Kate Bartlett
Holiday Valley’s much anticipated Beer and Wine Festival is quickly approaching, November 8-9th along the picturesque slopes of Ellicottville. This celebration of craft beverages, exceptional brews, and fine wines offers the unique opportunity to sample a diverse array of drinks from 34 of the best breweries and wineries in the region.
XOXO Pop Band will be playing Holiday Valley Beer and Wine Festival for the second year in a row on Saturday, November 9th at 1pm and 5pm. The Buffalo based party band sets the scene for a fun afternoon with high-energy music, playing top-40 dance and pop/rock songs.
XOXO was formed in 2017 as a party band, playing all the top-40 hits of a DJ, but with the elevated experience of live entertainment. “We wanted to add some modernity to the cover band scene,” explains Garrett Shea, XOXO Music Director. “We wanted to create music to set a party vibe and get the crowd dancing.”
While the band specializes in Top 40 pop, rock and dance music, they still offer a diverse catalog ranging from The Beatles to Blink 182 and Beyonce. “We’re all inclusive and want to play something for everyone,” explains Garrett. “We’re continuously adding more songs to our repertoire in order to be more diverse, ensuring all guests hear their favorite songs. We want to keep the party dancing all night long, no matter the size or style of the event.”
The band currently is comprised of 5 members: Nick Barnhard on bass/vocals, Alex Chambers on drums, Steve Mattucci on guitar, Garrett Shea on vocals/keyboards/guitar and Jessika Schreiber on vocals.
Over the years, XOXO has stayed true to its core values, to create a party style atmosphere ensuring the crowd has a good time. They frequent weddings, Galas and other events, playing with their 5-piece band, acoustic duo, trio, or with a horn section, if requested. Although they’re a Buffalo based band, they’ve traveled to Boston, Denver, San Diego and Tampa for events and weddings.
XOXO delivers a more personable experience than a DJ, along with the entertainment value. “There’s nothing quite like a live performance,” says Garrett. “We add our own twists to popular songs, and really try to engage the crowd, getting everyone up and dancing. We’re high energy, and we want the crowd to feel that. The crowd is a part of our show; we feed off each other. If the crowd is into it, we know it’ll be a great show.”
Garrett finds music therapeutic, and hopes to help people have fun and escape the stresses of everyday life, if even for just a few hours. “I’m in my element when I’m on stage,” says Garrett. “Our performances are high-energy and we love entertaining. We hope to help convey the power of music, and create a fun atmosphere, where our crowd can escape and have a good time.”
In the upcoming months, XOXO will be playing various weddings and private events, along with a Kidz Bop concert in Buffalo on November 17th. “It’s our first time trying this out, but we know it’s going to be a great time,” says Garrett. “Our singer, Jessica, has 3 kids who love party music, so we figured why not create an event that’s fun for kids and their parents alike.”
For more information visit www.xoxopopband.com email info@xoxopopband.com and follow on social media for upcoming events.