Savage Wonder Festival Comes to Hudson Valley

A day-long festival featuring the most talented veteran artists in the country is coming to the Hudson Valley.

Chris Meyer says the Savage Wonder Festival came about after learning the stories behind some incredible veteran artists. The festival organizer told us about Doc Oliver, a former Navy Corpsman who was the victim of a "green on blue" attack. The Afghan soldiers he was tasked with training decided to turn their guns on Oliver and his fellow soldiers, taking the lives of three of his friends.

After returning home the veteran was left to deal with his loss and found comfort by picking up a guitar. Four years later, the Navy vet found himself at the Grammy-award-winning Station House Studio in LA to record his first album. Meyer wonders "How do we not get behind artists like this?"

Oliver will be joining other vets with similar stories as the Savage Wonder Festival comes to the Sugarloaf Performing Arts Center in Chester on May 29. Described as the "Lollapalooza for veterans in the arts," the event will feature music from country to punk and metal to classical. Other veteran performers will take the stage to show off their skills in dance and spoken word. There will also be a film screening and veteran artists will have their works on display. If that's not enough, a human cannonball will even be shot into the sky.

For veterans, Memorial Day can be a difficult holiday. Meyer says the Savage Wonder Festival was created as a way to celebrate the weekend appropriately, honorably and respectfully while still having fun.

The festival kicks off at noon on Sunday, May 29, and wraps up at 10pm. Tickets are currently available through the festival's website, with all proceeds going toward four New York-based veterans non-profits.