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August 30, 2012

My Most Anticipated Acts of Bumbershoot

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Key Arena Seattle Center Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival
Don't Talk to the CopsPhoto: Josh Lovseth
Don't Talk to the Cops

Lots of good things happening at Bumbershoot this year. When was the last time Jane’s Addiction played in Seattle? Does anyone remember that Porno for Pyros song “Tahitian Moon”? Were you there? Did they play “Mountain Song”?

Saturday 

Don’t Talk to the Cops (1pm on Fisher Green Stage) – A few weeks ago a reader berated me saying that Don’t Talk To The Cops are trash terrible. I disagree. For those out there who still aren’t sold on this charismatic group, you have to see them at least three times minimum. I promise by the third time you’ll finally understand what you failed to comprehend the previous two performances. Yeah, I drink coffee, so back up off me, bitch. You can send all thank you notes and haikus paying tribute to the song “Big Ass Head” to the following address: phil@soundonthesound.com

Polecat (1:30pm The Promenade) - I saw Polecat at the High Dive this spring and I thought they put on one hell of a show. A friend of mine begged to differ. He had to leave because, “This band is playing reggae shit that is my kryptonite.” I didn’t want to be responsible for the death of Superman so I trusted his words. Later that night a stranger asked me if I knew what clogging was. It was a weird night. Polecat aren’t reggae and they aren’t the kind of music that one would clog to. They are an amalgam of all things groove oriented in Bellingham. Are you into bluegrasscelticfolkreggaeamericanacountryjams? If that’s the case, I think this band is going to blow your mind.

Unnatural Helpers (1:45pm Sub Pop Stage) – A couple of years ago this band wrote my favorite song of the year. I’ll always be grateful to them for penning a tune that represents 98% of my brain activity. Sunshine and pretty girls.

Missy Higgins (1:45 Bumbershoot Main Stage) – I think we should all give this Australian singer/songwriter our undivided attention for the suffering she has endured opening up for Gotye on a recent. Can you imagine hearing “Somebody I Use to Know” on an every single night? Brutal. If I see anyone I know at Gotye I am going to capture them in a giant burlap sack normally meant for potatoes and throw them in the back of my trunk.

Black Breath (2:45 Exhibition Hall Stage) – I have been in Black Breath detox all year. I saw this band so much in 2010 and 2011 that something had to be done. If I am exposed to a band too often I begin to resent their music. Clearly something is wrong with me. I haven’t even heard Black Breath’s  ”new” album yet. Honesty, I am frightened it won’t be as good as Heavy Breathing and my affections for this group will wane dramatically. I can be a coward in more ways than you can possibly imagine.

Sera Cahoone (3:30 Sub Pop Stage) – Arguably the most calming voice in Seattle. This isn’t a snide remark, I am being serious.

Eyehategod (6:15pm Exhibition Hall) – Sludge metal from the Big Easy. Not to be confused with Virginia’s Lamb of God. Out of all the acts performing this weekend, I am looking forward to this and Tony Bennett the most. Maybe they’ll perform together? At Bumbershoot anything can happen….

Jane’s Addiction (9:30pm Main Stage) – Duh.

Sunday

Why? (1pm Exhibition Hall Stage) – A couple of years ago when I was a young man, eager to don an apron at Pasta and Company in the U-Village when I use to work at Pasta and Company, my co-worker would always play Alopecia on repeat throughout the morning. At the time I can’t say I had heard anything like it. I don’t say that because the music was incredibly innovative (although it was). I make that remark because if you stepped outside of the kitchen and into the front of the store, you were bombarded with adult contemporary crap and “rich people” jams. “Oh, is that Joni Mitchell playing somewhat audibly? I use to protest Vietnam before you were born, now I protest poor people. I’ll take 20 pounds of that $32.95 per/lb petite filet. My retired racing greyhound is hungry.” I haven’t heard Alopecia since. Why do I do this to myself? What pleasure can I possibly derive from failing to buy albums I already know I like? I did that for almost the entirety of high school to Lifetime’s Jersey’s Best Dancers. I need a shrink.  

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (1:45pm Main Stage) – One of the premiere acts of this contemporary “soul revival” that everyone is really into these days.

Tony Bennett (3:15pm Main Stage) – For all you young folks out there that aren’t familiar with this legend, let me contemporize his greatness for you in a jejune language that you can understand. Tony Bennett* was in a movie with Gwenyth Paltrow in which he sang a duet with her. The name of that movie was called “Duets.” Gwenyth Paltrow is married to Chris Martin. Chris Martin is friends with Jay-Z and Beyonce. Mr. Martin is also the frontman in Coldplay. How many of you remember Coldplay? Many blank faces.

In other words, Tony Bennett is a member of the illuminati by six degrees of separation in relation to Jay-Z and Beyonce.

Yelawolf (4pm Fisher Green Stage) – I don’t much about this cat except that he’s from Alabama and I get hyped to this song. I’m wondering if he’ll be the “Jay Electronica” of this year’s Bumbershoot (read: slightly under the radar, shows up and crushes all other mic grippers that perform this weekend).

Fruit Bats (5pm Sub Pop Stage) –  I haven’t heard tracks from the album Tripper but I am looking forward to hearing them this weekend. I’ve never seen a sub-par Fruit Bats performance. Never.

The Promise Ring (6:15pm Exhibition Hall Stage) – I can write millions thousands hundreds of trillions of words about this band. Some would be positive. Some would be negative. As of right now, I am only going to say one thing. If they’re too cool to play “E. Texas Ave” I am going to throw a multitude of footwear at their visages. I’m taking my size 12′s and they are going to land right between the eyes of Davey von Boehlen. Then I am taking your flip flops and I am tossing them at the drummer whose name I don’t recall. If any of you are planning on wearing heels (To a music festival? Do you masochist much?), please let me know so that I can make proper use of them.

Mudhoney (6:45pm Sub Pop Stage) – Duh.

Big Sean (8:15pm Main Stage) – 313 in the house! Straight from the D! Not Dallas, that’s Big D That’s all I have to say about that.

Mac Miller (9:45pm Main Stage) – This guy was born in 1992! How ancient are you feeling right now!?! Steel City’s finest if you ask me (in comparison to the young man who was at Bumbershoot last year, Wiz Khalifa).

(more…)

July 18, 2012

What I’m Loving Now: Sera Cahoone’s New Song “Naked”

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Sera Cahoone ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: to my ears, Sera Cahoone has the prettiest female voice in the Pacific Northwest. While it is not spectacular in range, Cahoone’s earthy tone conveys emotion and beauty without any affectation. Unlike so many Northwest Americana artists, there’s no fake twang, no yarl. Her voice, to take a cue from the title of her new song, stands naked. That it sings some of the most beautifully forlorn folk songs being made in the past decade, certainly doesn’t hurt.

Cahoone’s last record, the achingly lovely Only As The Day As Long has sustained me since its 2008 release, sounding as beautiful and timeless today as it did four years ago. But its the kind of album, like a plate of your favorite dessert, that leaves you wanting more even if you’re full. To answer our craving, Cahoone has just announced her next record, Deer Creek to be released on Sub Pop September 25th. The first track from the new album is “Naked” and I’ve listened to almost nothing else since it was released last week.

“Naked” finds Cahoone and her band stepping up production, pushing her voice further forward in the mix so it is undeniably the central focus, adeptly cradled by Jeff Fielder’s unparalleled picking and the singing pedal steel of JB Kardong. The song strikes me as more similar to one of Cahoone’s first local projects, Carissa’s Wierd, than her earlier releases. This is Carissa’s Wierd gone country, which is to say, basically my dream song. Take a listen and download the track for yourself:

 

December 13, 2011

The Doe Bay Sessions: Sera Cahoone (Bonus Session)

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Sera Cahoone Doe Bay Resort Doe Bay Fest The Doe Bay Sessions
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Sera Cahoone with Jeff Fielder ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

I’m so glad to see this recording see the light of day because it highlights Sera Cahoone cohort Jeff Fielder’s ongoing contribution on dobro. I can honestly think of no greater purpose than for him to compliment Cahoone’s still nationally unheralded voice and songwriting. Her talent deserves his level of accompaniment, and his talent deserves a person of her quality to work with. To hear Fielder with Cahoone is to wonder why there aren’t more dobro’s kicking around in popular music. And to wonder why Cahoone isn’t a nationally renowned voice yet.

 

 

If you watched this and immediately thought of Jerry Douglas, you weren’t the only one. And that says it all.

December 29th Cahoone, along with Fielder and a few other friends are headlining the Tractor Tavern for $12. Sons of Warren Oats and Jackrabbit are in support. Get Tickets for $12 + fees online or with no fees at Sonic Boom Records.

September 7, 2011

The Doe Bay Sessions: Sera Cahoone

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Sera Cahoone Doe Bay Resort Doe Bay Fest The Doe Bay Sessions
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Sera Cahoone ::: photo by Dylan Priest

Sera Cahoone was the first artist we asked to shoot a Doe Bay Session this year, so it only seems fitting she’s the first we share with you.

We approached Sera bashfully about shooting with us. You see, we happen to think she has the prettiest voice of anyone singing in Seattle today and have felt that way for years and years. Long before banjo was en vogue in Ballard, Sera was singing along as Jeff Fielder strummed, delicate songs, sad songs, songs that quiver and swell with an alluring mix of self-consciousness and confidence.

We asked Sera about shooting like a shy suitor, explaining in detail what the sessions were, what our intentions were, and our long held devotion to her songs. We were ecstatic when Sera emailed us back instantly to say she’d love to shoot a session and that last Fall, when she was on tour with the band, they gathered round the computer every Tuesday to watch the latest Session and that they helped the drive go faster. We sat in awe for a moment that someone we loved so fiercely, also loved something we had created.

When it came time to shoot Sera and Jeff on Saturday afternoon, the sun streamed perfectly through mossy branches and a small crowd gathered to watch. We all sat silently, smitten as ever, as Jeff and Sera exchanged smiles and harmonies, graciously bowing to the crowd after each take and regaling us with tales of last fall’s tour and watching the sessions. It was exactly as we had planned, only so much better.

You can see Sera next Friday September 16th at the Neptune as she performs as part of the Bourbon & Broads event. Celebrating National Bourbon Hertiage month, Sera will be playing with a full band (including Jeff Fielder) and other lovely ladies such as Betsy Olson, Maggie Bjorklund, Alessandra Rose, Shelby Earl and Side Saddle will be taking the stage.

August 29, 2011

The Doe Bay Sessions 2011

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Bryan John Appleby Champagne Champagne Damien Jurado Frank Fairfield John Vanderslice Kelli Schaefer Pickwick Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside Sera Cahoone The Head and the Heart The Builders & The Butchers Doe Bay Resort Doe Bay Fest The Doe Bay Sessions

 

Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside Doe Bay Session ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

It was 5pm on Saturday when we made our way down the trail to the point, the sunlight darting through tree branches, with Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside and a handful of their friends from Portland in tow to film their Doe Bay Session. We stopped at an uninhabited camp site, where the sounds of Campfire OK pouring their hearts out on the mainstage were muffled. As we began the rather painstaking process of setting up mics and getting the band situated for the best shot, a young family of three walked down the trail to their campsite, right next door to where we were shooting.

The little boy, Donovan, at all of five or six years old, got that wide-eyed look and smile that recalls Christmases past. When the present you wished for all year has suddenly appeared under the tree and you simply can’t believe your luck. Donovan, and his parents Adam & Eve, had returned to their campsite to break down their tent and head home. They’d come to see Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, Donovan’s favorite band. and that was it. With Sallie’s mainstage set done, it was time for them to head on their way … but there we all were. Just a few feet away from their campsite, Donovan’s favorite band, playing a private show just for him on the trails of Doe Bay. He sat enrapt, elbows on his knee in the middle of the trail, watching intently, drinking in every moment quietly but with a huge smile.

It is our hope that these Sessions extend the magic of Doe Bay for all of you, the way the filming of the Sallie Ford Session did for Donovan and his family. Starting Tuesday September 6th, we’ll be sharing a Doe Bay Session every week for the next three months. We hope that they make the Festival last just a little longer, that you hear your favorite song once again or you’re introduced to a new one.

Huge thanks to the 12 bands who took time out of the relaxing and partying of Doe Bay to shoot with us: Bryan John Appleby, The Builders and The Butchers, Campfire OK, Champagne Champagne, Damien Jurado, Frank Fairfield, The Head and The Heart, John Vanderslice, Kelli Schaefer, Pickwick, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside and Sera Cahoone. And thanks, of course, to our awesome crew: Tyler Kalberg, Chris Proff and Claire Yuckert, to the staff at Doe Bay Resort and Retreat and to the Festival organizers, Artist Home, for making this project possible.

We can’t wait to share 2011′s The Doe Bay Sessions with you very soon.

 

Pickwick Doe Bay Session ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

 

Bryan John Appleby + Band Doe Bay Session ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

 

Campfire OK Doe Bay Session ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

 

Champagne Champagne Doe Bay Session::: photo by Josh Lovseth

 

John Vanderslice Doe Bay Session ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

 

Damien Jurado Doe Bay Session ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

August 8, 2011

Doe Bay Fest: What Not To Miss Off the Main Stage

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Otter Cove Stage ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

You’re already planning on catching most of the mainstage acts, you’re ready to party with Champagne Champagne, your “Hacienda hands” are ready for Pickwick, you’ve mastered the complex clap of The Maldives’ “By the Wind Sailor” and you can’t wait to sing along to “Rivers and Roads” with your best friends. But Doe Bay isn’t just about the headliners and there are a number of lesser known names you won’t want to miss.

Thursday: from 6pm till late, there’ll be an open mic in the Doe Bay Cafe featuring many of the artists performing over the weekend. If you’re a song-writer yourself, bring your guitar and sign up for a slot.

Friday:

Sean Flinn (12:00-12:45, Otter Cove Stage) the first artist of Doe Bay 2011 will be Portland’s Sean Flinn, front man of the band Sean Flinn and the Royal We. Enjoy him while you’re checking in by the Cafe or getting your bearings at the Fest.

Tony Kevin Jr(1:00-1:45, Otter Cove Stage) due to illness, Goldfinch has had to cancel their appearance at Doe Bay, which is a huge bummer. However, it makes room for singer-song writer and Doe Bay open mic host Tony Kevin Jr. to perform officially. Tony’s a performer who can sing it to the rafters and with the natural amphitheater of the Bay, I suspect you’ll be able to follow his voice from Eastbound to Olga if you happen to arrive on the island during his set.

Damien Jurado (2:00-3:00pm, Otter Cove Stage): Jurado really needs no introduction, so this is just a reminder he’s not playing the main stage, he is not to be missed and you should plan your ferry and arrival time accordingly. If you make his set, you’ll be treated to some new songs that will be on his next record, like Reel to Reel:

Lemolo (10:15 – 11:00, Yoga Studio): Never again will you be able to see this band in such a small setting. If you don’t know Lemolo now, I feel confident you will very soon.

Frank Fairfield (10:15 – 11:00, Cafe Stage): If the Yoga Studio is full for Lemolo, and it will be, stop by the Cafe to see some world-class pickin’ by Saturday mainstage performer Frank Fairfield.

See Saturday and Sunday’s unmissable acts you might not know (more…)

June 2, 2011

Doe Bay Fest Line-Up Brings The Head & The Heart, John Vanderslice, Damien Jurado, Champagne Champagne and More to Orcas Island

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Pickwick Bryan John Appleby Damien Jurado Frank Fairfield John Vanderslice Lemolo Youth Rescue Mission The Builders & The Butchers The Head and the Heart Sera Cahoone Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside Ravenna Woods

 

Doe Bay Fest ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

 

 

In a week full of festival line-ups, there’s no denying Doe Bay Fest’s was the one we were most looking forward to learning.

Alongside many of the expected cast of characters, like four-year festival veterans The Maldives, this year’s Doe Bay line-up has expanded beyond its usual radius of Seattle and Portland to include San Francisco’s John Vanderslice, LA’s Frank Fairfield and Oklahoma’s OK Sweetheart. As in past years, Doe Bay Fest has tapped some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest established performers and buzzed about up-and-comers like Damien Jurado, The Head and The Heart, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, Sera Cahoone, the Builders & the Butchers, Pickwick, Kelli Schaefer, Lemolo and Bryan John Appleby. I’m especially excited to see more local hip hop on this year’s line-up: Champagne Champagne, Mash Hall/Don’t Talk to the Cops and Fly Moon Royalty are sure to bring the party to Orcas Island.

Here’s who will be playing the fourth annual Doe Bay Fest:

The Head and The Heart, Damien Jurado, John Vanderslice, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, The Builders and the Butchers, Sera Cahoone, Pickwick, The Maldives, Champagne Champagne, Kelli Schaefer, Ravenna Woods, Lemolo, Cobirds Unite, Campfire OK, Frank Fairfield, Bryan John Appleby, Tea Cozies, Shelby Earl, Mash Hall / Don’t Talk to the Cops, Fly Moon Royalty, OK Sweetheart, Goldfinch, Matt & Mike Gervais (Curtains for You), Matt Bishop (Hey Marseilles), Youth Rescue Mission, Elk & Boar, Melodie Knight, Hannalee, Sean Flinn

April 27, 2010

Local Summer Line-Ups Announced: No Depression Festival, Zoo Tunes and Marymoor Park

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Sera Cahoone ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Nowadays one of spring’s most tell-tale signs is the announcements of summer line-ups.   In the past week alone, my summer show plans  have thickened considerably with three local summer schedules coming out: the No Depression Festival,  Zoo Tunes and Marymoor Park’s line-up.

Out of all of the following dates, I’m most excited for: The Round with Damien Jurado, Levon Helms and Joe Pug and Steve Earle at Zoo Tunes, The National at Marymoor, and the local talent being highlighted at the second annual No Depression Festival.

Here are the complete line-ups:

No Depression Festival – August 21st – Marymoor Park

The Swell Session (8:35 p.m. – 9:50 p.m) Lucinda Williams (7:05 p.m. – 8:05 p.m.) Cave Singers (5:50 p.m. – 6:35 p.m) Punch Brothers (4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.) Alejandro Escovedo (3:40 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.) Chuck Prophet (2:35 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.) Sera Cahoone (1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.)

Zoo Tunes at Woodland Park Zoo

June 27th – Jewel with Radney Foster – $28 June 30th – Steve Earle with Joe Ely – $21 July 14th – Carbon Leaf – $24 July 18th – The Round 62 featuring Star Anna, Damien Jurado and more – $15 July 21st – Jimmy Cliff with Trevor Hall – $24 July 29th – Great Big Sea – $22 August 3rd – Mary Chapin Carpenter/Shawn Colvin – $24 August 11 – The Levon Helm Band with Joe Pug – $26 August 25th – John Hiatt and The Combo – $22 August 29th – Herbie Hancock and The Imagine Project – $27

Marymoor Park Summer Show Schedule

June 19th – Slightly Stoopid with Steel Pulse – $36 general July 7th – Sublime with Rome & The Dirty Heads – $37.50 general July 15th – Barenaked Ladies, with Angel Taylor – $38 / $53 July 24th – “1964″ (a Beatles tribute) – $27.50 / $37.50 August 7th – Michael Franti & Spearhead – $29.50 /$39.50 August 13th – Rodrigo Y Gabriela – $35 / $39.50 August 14th -  Jakob Dylan, The BoDeans – $32.50 / $49.50 August 21st – No Depression Festival – $45 advance / $50 day of show August 26th – The Doobie Brothers – $40 / $60 September 11th – The National – $35 general September 19th – Train – $35 / $39.50

April 16, 2010

The First Annual Birds on a Wire Folk Festival

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Justin Townes Earle ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Being a lifetime Seattlite (at least so far), it’s in my temperament to be naturally set against anything related to Pullman. It’s irrational and rather childish, yet this way of thinking persists on the west side of the mountains, to the point where Pullman might as well be Mordor, the only fount of evil from which all bad things come. I wanted to hate our jaunt to the college nemesis’ lair, but I couldn’t. I had way more fun than I would have ever expected. And truthfully, I saw no evil beyond the expected abuse of the color red.

For eyes unclouded by rivalry, Pullman is just a smallish town nestled among the impressive Palouse hills, a place that despite being a college town, remains off the beaten path when it comes to popular music. This being the case, small town “charm” was in many ways very evident at the First Annual Birds on a Wire Folk Festival, compared to if it was conducted in the impersonal big city. This charm made for the overall highlight of what was truly a volunteer driven festival of still modest proportions. It was that element which made the ins and outs of the experience enjoyable in a way that could never be possible with platoon of over-eager security personnel tasked with quashing people who are judged to be having too much fun.

The first night of the fest we hung around the larger venue, an old high school-cum-community center with stages on opposite ends of the building. A Pullman version of the Phinney Neighborhood Center or a Good Shepperd Center if you will, housing a hodgepodge of wholesome activities and community oriented events. One stage was housed in the Gym, a massive space that one could easily imagine hosted its share of sock hops. With only two stacks of speakers on the floor just in front of a makeshift stage, had surprisingly good sound, and a bit of natural reverb to boot. That a “beer garden” was situated under a retracted basketball hoop with very tasty beer at a reasonable price just to the side of the stage only endeared us more to the gym. Kicking off the evening with Goldfinch, beer in hand, I had to admit to myself this wasn’t such a bad situation at all. Moseying on over to the other stage in the school auditorium proper, we discover Rocky Votolato finishing up his solo set to a huge, appreciative crowd that then proceeded to pack the lobby and the only exit waiting patiently in line at his merch table. [Rocky wins. Cue the "Rocky Theme".] Now that’s a start to a festival.

The Moondoggies were on their last night of a month long tour that took them to SXSW and had accumulated magnificent beards via an ongoing bet. Anyone could shave their beard whenever they wanted, but the consequence was a square punch in the jaw. Not open handed, a punch… and by the looks of their beard, clearly a punch in the face was a strong deterrent to shave. You don’t need to see their faces to appreciate the rock though, and true to form, the Moondoggies brought out the first dancin’ in the aisles moment of the fest. Backstage they related stories aplenty of tour, including a harrowing tale of Deja Vu I would never have believed had it not come from the person who had just lived to tell the tale once again. (View a must watch $5 Cover band documentary on the Moondoggies to get the full tale about the first incident.) This would would be but the first note of mortality we would ponder this festival weekend.

Damien Jurado was to take us late into the night, which kinda seems his M.O. these days: filling hot rooms full of people and then cracking jokes between songs. This night’s repoire, no matter how weird the circumstances may have seemed, was easy-going from the start on Jurado’s part. Conscientious of the size of the room and stage he remarked that he wasn’t a performer, not like Neil Diamond anyways. All I could think was, “If only you could see yourself on stage. Sitting there all lonesome playing your guitar. All riveting and shit. Just hush.” He also remarked that he been a happier person recently, and doing his “new song a week” project was a positive experience so far. Jurado had a bundle of new songs to play as a result, some from Saint Bartlett that’s arrive in May, others of a more recent vintage. One song was just a day old. “Arkansas” from his soon-to-be-released record is just an incredibly good stripped down pop song. That’s right, a pop song. I didn’t forget to tell you he’s been a happier guy as of lately, did I?

Goldfinch ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Goldfinch w/ Steve Norman ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Moondoggies ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Damien Jurado ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Damien Jurado ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Day two started out with local band Hueco, representing the organizer Stereopathic music, as well as the larger Inland Empire music scene. To my mind, more bands need to remember the blues as a foundation to other things, and the five members of Hueco would probably be happy to teach them a lick or two; they’d probably be trading solos to pass the time anyway. Saturday finally brought us to the the third venue, under the eaves of a re-purposed church called the Belltower while taking in Portland trio Mimicking Birds. Gaining recent notoriety for the support of fellow Portlander Isaac Brock, the only real support these three gentlemen need right now to make their splash is a looper pedal. Frontman Nate Lacy has a soft voice and a soft disposition, and when singing recalls the timbre and inner sophistication of Paul Simon. Our afternoon highlight was an impeccable set of new and old Sera Cahoone songs in the auditorium, followed by a two-hour Saturday dinner break for the entire festival. Wait. Dinner break? I’m telling you: small town charm. I’m not at all opposed to the idea of slowing down the pace of my life.

(more…)

February 10, 2010

Birds on a Wire Festival makes Pullman a music destination. Yes, Pullman.

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Sera Cahoone ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

“Pullman you say? A music destination you say??? Pffft…” Yes, I know you’re trying not to laugh. But Pullman resident, ardent Inland-Northwest music supporter, and the man behind Stereopathic Music Larson Hicks is gunning to make it exactly that. Looking at the lineup he’s confirmed for a weekend in late March for the 1st Annual Birds on a Wire Folk Festival, he looks to be on just the right track. Happening March 26th and 27th and taking place on three stages within walking distance of each other on Pullman’s main street, the festival is an outgrowth of a series of Birds on a Wire shows Hicks did last year with some success, which itself was an product of his need for his underserved area to realize it’s musical potential.

Hicks is not a corporation like Live Nation, just a guy with a dream to make his town as fun as it can be, and on the leading edge of a localism movement that is now even reaching the music business. Small local music festivals used to be cute getaways to take in some folk talent or something specialized like that. Now in many smaller markets it makes sense can put on a music festival that attracts current and in-demand talent. In our area: Birds on a Wire, Doe Bay Fest, Pickathon, Wintergrass (bluegrass and folk). There were a host of other Oregon festivals that many of the biggest local artists made a point of attending in 2009. I don’t doubt by the end of the year the size of that list of festival names will be doubled.

The lineup for Birds on a Wire looks like this so far:

Justin Townes Earle Damien Jurado Joe Pug Rocky Votolato Horse Feathers Sera Cahoone Frontier Ruckus The Maldives The Moondoggies Cataldo Laura Gibson Al James (Dolorean) Super XX Man Goldfinch Karli Fairbanks Pablo Trucker Mike Kelly Hueco Samuel Dickison Tony Kevin Jr. Low-Fi more announced soon…

‘Current’ and ‘Northwest’ are two words that come quickly to mind when looking at this bill, and Hicks says he’s not done announcing national level touring acts yet.

Advanced tickets available via the birdsonawirefest.com site, and are $35, $25 for large groups. Day-of tickets are $45 at the door. Volunteering will get you an even better deal I’d expect. Since Hicks doesn’t a hefty amount of resources to put on this festival, he’s looking to make it happen smoothly and in a cost neutral way with local sponsors and a group of volunteers. He needs everything from sound and stage nerds to assist with shows, to people who are able to ferry bands from the airport day-of. It’s a great opportunity to be involved with a festival that is just getting off the ground.

Facebook: Birds on a Wire Festival on Facebook

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