I am a firm believer that when it comes to community, the
Boston roots music scene is the pinnacle for exemplifying what a music scene
can and should be. Case in point, the New England Americana Festival.
Throughout the year, everyone in this scene shares gigs, checks out each other’s
shows, and sits around tables to pick out traditional tunes together and throw
back a few adult beverages. BUT, one weekend a year this all culminates in one,
gigantic Americana cluster-f*ck…ok, maybe that’s not the right term, “organized
roots music chaos” perhaps? This year, that weekend occurs on September 27-29
in Harvard Square with performances throughout the day and evenings, inside of
venues and out on the streets, with a substantial variety of music in the “umbrella
genre”, ranging from blues to bluegrass, pure rock to pop folk, and everything
in between. Anyway, here’s my breakdown of where you might see me during the
event (though, if I had a choice I would clone myself 3 times over to check it
all out!) Schedule is up on the NEA site at http://newenglandamericana.com/2013-festival-schedule/
(DISCLAIMER: If I could, I would see every single one of these
sets, there truly is not one musical act on this festival bill that you would
be let down in seeing…its really THAT good)
The Festival officially starts off Friday evening (though
word is there is a special pre-party kick off at the Lizard Lounge on Thursday
the 26th) with a wrist-banded, 3 venue take over of the square (same
applies for Saturday evening). It’s going to be tough to split up your time
between Passim, Tommy Doyle’s and the Tasty Burger bar...but I am likely going
to be checking the tasty bluegrass stylings of Sam Reid & The Riot Act at
TD’s to begin the evening and then run fast to Tasty Burger to further my
bluegrass fun with The Whiskey Boys. After that set, I will likely have to flip
a coin (or see if I can even get into Passim) to check out either Chasing Blue
(at Passim, and keeping with the bluegrass theme) or get back to TDs to see
Maine’s The Mallett Brothers…decisions, decisions! Luckily, you really can’t go
wrong. Then, running back to Tasty Burger bar check out Mark Kilianski and the
Moonshine Ramblers…man, it’s a bluegrass kind of night for this writer! Finally…I
have no idea which closer I am going to see, maybe a little of each by sticking
around for The Field Effect’s first couple tunes, running to Passim to catch
Jimmy Ryan and Hayride, and then get blues-rocked to tap my night with Coyote Kolb at
Tommy Doyles. Phew, and this is just the first night!
The daytime on Saturday holds a slew of incredible, more
stripped down performances outside at Winthrop Park and Brattle Square (plus an
indoor stage at Goorin Brothers hat shop). Nate Leavitt kicks things off at
1:10, so be sure to get it going at Brattle Square then either stick around for
Jenee Halstead’s excellent mix of country twang and songwriter soul, or go
check out the incredible (and tiny) Fiddlin’ Quinn and his big folks band
across the street. Back to back to back, I personally, will be checking out the
Bean Picker’s Union, North of Nashville, and a few tunes from Casey Abrams at
Winthrop Park, and hopefully making it over to Goorin Brothers out check out
Sonny Jim Clifford and Evan Gavry play a few tunes. Back to Brattle for the
soul/bluegrass blend of Cold Chocolate (these guys play some HOT bluegrass…don’
let the name fool you!), and cap it all off by seeing the amazing folk songs
and dancing of Dan Blakeslee.
Saturday night = damn. While, I will for “certain reasons”
likely be at Passim for most of the night…I will put up some other suggestions
should you want to be on the move. Kick it off with Eva Walsh at Passim for
sure! The place will be packed early on, so try and get a good seat. If you
aren’t sticking around for the remaining line up, make sure you catch the end
of Kieran Ridge Bands set and stick around for Tad Overbaugh and the Late
Arrivals…grab a shot of whiskey and toast Jeff Byrd & Dirty Finch as they
alt-country your face off for a tune or two. Then head to Tommy’s to catch
Comanchero, Old Jack, and Tallahassee…or hit up Passim for Patrick Coman &
the Lo-Fi Angels and John Colvert & the Great Brighton Fire back to back
(man, this shit is getting hard!). Ok, stick it out at Passim (or head there if
you aren’t already) and catch Sam Otis Hill’s set, seriously, Sam and the boys
are an excellent band…then rush to TDs and catch Rick Berlin & the Nickel
and Dime band. Last year they had the crowd “ringing around the rosie” at end
the night. They are sure to be one to see this year as well!
While you are nursing your hangover, grab some greasy brunch
then hit the square again for some outdoor sets. And again, be hit hard with
really tough decisions. Michelle Lewis kicks off the Brattle stage at 1:10, followed
by the always excellent Danielle Miraglia and then the Mark Whitaker band (Mark
is probably one of my favorite musicians to watch and make music with, I urge
you to check him out!). Then I will likely be heading for Ian Fitzgerald (one
of my favorite songwriters) at Winthrop park. Boston’s favorite country rockers
Girls Guns and Glory will be rockin’ the Brattle Plaza stage at 5:10 so hit
that up too and bring your dancin’ boots and two-step partner…then close your
night out with Brendan Hogan’s acoustic bluesy sound back at Winthrop.
Then, you are free to hibernate for the next week…because
you will need the rest after this whirlwind of Americana music. Local music
lovers and those that have no idea what the local music scene has to offer
should both, at the very least, check out this event for a day set or two. You will
see so many different, insanely talented musicians, songwriters, and artists
over the course of these three days that it should be a mortal sin to miss out.
See you in Harvard Square. Who do you guys really want to check out this year???
P.S. Be on the lookout, I will be doing a feature on different performing artists throughout September until the festival dates...be sure to check back often for those!
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