Pigeons Playing Ping Pong’s Greg Ormont performs at Gambler’s Run Music Festival in 2023 at the Crystal Bay Club Casino.
It could be a full house when Crystal Bay Club Casino hosts its second annual Gamblers Run Music Festival on July 26 to 28. The 21-and-over event features 17 bands with exclusive performances with headliners Pigeons Playing Ping Pong with Karl Denson and Jackie Greene with Eric Lindell, and The Wood Brothers.
CBC General Manager Eric Roe said they are excited for the second year.
“We have just another incredible lineup and the weather’s looking good,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun event.”
The first Gambler’s Run Music Festival took place July 14-16, 2023 at the Crystal Bay Casino in Crystal Bay, Nevada. All photos by Kyler Klix of the Nevada Appeal.
THE BANDS
Compared to last year, Roe said they have fewer bands, but they have more quality. He credits their partner, Devildog Productions, on creating a solid lineup.
“Our talent buyer really outdid himself this year,” Roe said. “We just have some incredible talent.”
He said the three headlining bands are popular in North Lake, and that they generally sell out the Crown Room when they come through. Many of the other bands playing before are popular and bring in good crowds. They also brought in a mix of local bands, giving them chances to shine.
Two of the headlining shows are also out of the ordinary, where fans will get a chance to see a collaboration. Roe said he’s excited to see Jackie Greene perform with Eric Lindell Saturday night, and for Karl Denson to join Pigeons on Friday night.
“Those shows will be really unique to Gambler’s Run. These are the kind of combinations that you don’t see,” Roe said. “Karl’s just an amazing musician and with the Pigeons’ excitement and energy, it should be a fun set.”
Pigeons also plays Saturday night as Pigeons & Friends, where they will invite other musicians from the lineup to play with them.
There’s also a show for the early birds on Thursday night with Samantha Fish in the Crown Room.
SETUP
There are two stages at the festival — one outdoor and one indoor. The CBC makes use of the Crown Room, and also brings in a large stage outdoors with full production. The music starts outdoors, then the schedule moves inside during the hotter parts of the day. As it cools down, the action returns outside until 10 p.m.
“We thought, let’s utilize the indoor space more than we did last year during the hottest hours of the day,” Roe said.
The music continues back in the Crown Room for late-night festivities. None of the music overlaps, so attendees will be able to catch everything.
There will be food to purchase and vendors with merchandise. The CBC included non-profits who will have information about sustainability efforts around the lake and they will have some short talks between sets.
“That’s something we are excited and proud about,” Roe said.
The non-profits are helping with the festival work toward sustainability by going plastic-free. There will be reusable cups that patrons can use for drinks, and the festival will be giving away 100 free reusable water bottles to the first patrons. Drink Tahoe Tap is providing filtered water stations, so everyone is encouraged to bring an empty reusable water bottle.
The festival does not include camping, but there are several hotels, motels and Airbnb’s within a short drive.
PIGEONS RETURNS
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong headlined all three nights of the inaugural Gambler’s Run Festival last year.
“Going to Tahoe in the summer and doing shows with such a great lineup is a perfect way to spend a July weekend,” said Greg “Scrambled Greg” Ormont, who is the energetic frontman for the band who handles lyrics and guitar.
The four-piece psychedelic funk band is touring on the heels of their seventh studio album “Day In Time,” so they’ll be coming in with new music but with the same wild energy, Ormont said.
“We’re really proud of this record,” he said. “It’s a big step forward and shows more dynamics and different styles.”
Ormont said coming to Tahoe is like a work vacation for the band, especially coming from the humid East Coast. Last year the band went kayaking and hiking during the visit, and they’ll do some of the same, as well as get to know the locals and watch some of the other bands. He said that energy feeds into their shows.
“That makes the shows even more special for us,” he said. “The setting you’re in and the mindset you’re in — Tahoe and Crystal Bay know just how to get your head right.”
The CBC is a special place for Pigeons. They first played there in 2017 on their first West Coast tour. They moved up to the Crown Room and now they’re headlining the main festival stage.
“It’s been a really incredible ride and we’re incredibly grateful,” Ormont said. “It’s not something we take lightly, so we will do everything we can to give the crowd everything we have.”
Saxophonist and flutist Karl Denson joins the band Friday night, fresh off touring with The Rolling Stones. Pigeons will feature him throughout the night and have plenty of jams to share. Denson sat in with the band about a decade ago, so they are familiar with each other.
“We’re incredibly grateful to be playing with a living legend,” Ormont said. “It’ll be great to see him as a friend and let it rip as musicians. He’s incredible. I’m just excited to feed off his energy. He’s a great person and even better musician.”
Ormont said if you’re on the fence about going, or haven’t heard of his band, he said they will show you a phenomenal time no matter what.
“You will be dancing, and you’ll be leaving the show happier than you walked in,” he said. “It’s all about spreading positive energy.”
He said even if you’ve seen Pigeons 100 times, every show is different.
“Our No. 1 thing as a band is putting the fun in funk,” he said. “We put the fun in funk and that’s truly a mantra we believe in.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Gambler’s Run Music Festival
WHEN: July 26-28
WHERE: Crystal Bay Club Casino, 14 State Route 28, Crystal Bay, NV
TICKETS, MORE INFO: www.crystalbaycasino.com/gamblers-run-music-festival/