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| Shakey Graves |
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| Levee Drivers and Ladybird |
As a first-time "fest" attendee I wasn't sure what to expect. I've been to many fests, but never before a folk fest, and never before one in such a sprawling, open, natural environment. I'd heard of the
Philadelphia Folk Fest (or just fest, as everyone calls it) of course but didn't know what kind of crowd it would draw, what the general feel would be, or how I would fit in as a young(ish) photographer with more of an indie music bent.
As it came to be, the answers were, in order: the nicest fest crown I've yet experienced. I had anticipated an older crowd and while they were there in droves, there were also a ton of younger adults, kids and everything in between. There was no pushing, or crowding, or obnoxious drunk bros as far as the eye could see. The crowd was refreshing, and happy.
Fest had this feel of absolute love of music, and of shared appreciation for it. I don't think I've even been in a place with that many people before, who were, to a person, simply happy to be where they were in the moment. Whether it was taking in the music from a grassy hill at one of the stages, camping out in the immense tent city, grabbing some creative food from the many venders present (pro tip, don't pass on
Humpty's Dumplings), or relaxing in the shade in a spiderweb of hammocks left by others for everyone to enjoy, there was no point in my time there where I would have wished to be anywhere else.
As for me and the music, let's just say I'm happy to add folk to my list of favorite genres. I picked up a few new listening obsessions and was was excited to catch some acts I've seen before. Here's my take on some of my favorite acts, one day at a time.
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| Tall Heights |
Thursday night was set up just for campers and volunteers, and after a struggle getting situated at the fest, I was able to catch the last few songs by
Tall Heights. This duo from Boston has a really great live quality. With mature vocals, harmonies and lyrics, they play beautifully together, like they've been at it for decades, instead of years. It was obvious they were excited to be at the festival, and kept a good rapport with the audience. I'm glad these guys were the first act I caught for the weekend. Their progressive /indie kind of folk was the perfect intro for this indie heart.
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| Lindi Ortega |
Following Tall Heights was the spirited was
Lindi Ortega and band. The beautiful singer songwriter from Nashville by way of Ontario, sang and danced her way through a thoroughly enjoyable alternative country set. Having toured extensively throughout her decade plus career, she was a talented ball of fun that I enjoyed photographing as well as hearing.
Friday was one of my favorite nights of music. In my prep for the fest, I had stumbled upon a name I had heard about and really should have investigated earlier:
Shakey Graves. The first video I pulled up after searching his name in YouTube was the
Audiotree recording of Roll The Bones. I have since watched that video, on repeat, almost every day. If you haven't seen it, stop reading and go search it now, then come back. Suffice to say, I was most looking forward to his set that night, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
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| Shakey Graves |
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| Baskery |
Starting the night on the main stage was a band I hadn't researched ahead of time, but wound up being a close second for favorite of the weekend.
Baskery, a sister powerhouse folk-rock band from Sweden was, for lack of a more apt term, mind blowing. The three ladies, with long legs stomping and blond hair flying rocked harder than most in their country-ish genre. They were beautiful, impressive, and damn talented.
Following Baskerys' energetic set was maybe a more traditionally folk act,
Parker Millsap. What I loved most about the folk fest, and maybe shouldn't have been surprised by, was the diversity of music present. Parker and band lent some bluesy country to the evening that brought things down a little. With guitar, fiddle and upright bass they played a nice set, but I was getting anxious for the following one.
Shakey Graves took the stage to a huge welcome from the crowd. Hailing from Austin, Texas,
Alejandro Rose-Garcia started out as a one man band. He's known for his suitcase turned kick drum, as well as for his sometimes raspy, often velvety and always beautiful voice. Though Alejandro has since brought on a band, he still plays that suitcase, his guitar, and kicks a tambourine while he sings us his stories.
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| Arlo Guthrie |
Shakey Graves was even better, live, then I knew they would be. There's something to the timing and crescendo of the music that means you can't help but pay rapt attention as they play. The music is described as a cross between blues, country, and rock and roll but I can't help thinking there's something else I can't quite put my finger on. It's somehow old and familiar, but new and exciting. An aspect of folk music, I'm finding.
Shakey played a commendably long set, though no one would have been upset had it kept going. Following his band was legendary
Arlo Guthrie. Like his father
Woody Guthrie, Arlo is known for his songs of protest against social injustices. Alice's Restaurant being perhaps the most famous album. I didn't know him going into the fest, but was sung his praises by a new fest friend, and was glad I got to see this folk legend live.
Unfortunately missed the fest on Saturday, but I was right back on
Old Pool Farm territory come Sunday. Being the day of rest, and the hottest of the fest, I decided to enjoy the afternoons music from the comfort of the hammock forest, just up the hill from the main stage. If you've never spent a day in a hammock listening to live music I don't know what you've been doing with your life. After nodding off for a bit, I was woken by the crown going insane over what sounded like an upbeat Caribbean festival coming from down the hill. As I made my way to the stage I passed people of every age dancing and cheering on this funky quartet from Columbia that make up
El Caribefunk. All, I can say is once you see them live, it's a complete "ah ha" moment, and you really soak in why they have captivating audiences everywhere they go.
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| El Caribefunk |
The next act,
Hoots and Hellmouth, was an act I was familiar with prior to folk fest. Having seen
Sean Hoots on his own a couple of times around Philly, I was excited to see him with the band. Hoots is another front-man with a really big, impressive voice. With their folk/gospel/rock sound, they laid it all out for a great fest performance.
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| Hoots & Hellmouth | | | |
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| Mason Porter & Friends |
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