Organic, locally grown, and easy on the ears…thought I was going the food route? Well, all of this could be attributed to the food served fresh from the earth at Holmes Farm during the Barn Shows (if you are talking the fresh snapping sound from the snow peas served in their food cart) but I am also talking about the music.
This past weekend I attended a fantastic show down in Plymouth at Holmes Farm. While I actually played on the stage last year, attending is an entirely different experience since all you have to think about is showing up and having a good time (which, I even mentioned to my wife is a sometimes strange concept for a performer). Driving up the dirt road, past the fields of red leaf lettuce, corn stalks, and a few plants I didn’t even notice, chickens sprinting out of the way, rolling hills in the background of an old farmhouse…surely this is rural Vermont or some other place. Not Plymouth, known for a rock inside a gated hole and a silly recreation of a ship. But alas, it is Plymouth and the Barn Shows co-sponsored by the farm, Hayley Sabella, and Brewster Productions are a really wonderful event.
Carlin Tripp kicked the evening off with his acoustic driven, poppy kind of tunes with hints of Guster and Dispatch. It was a good summer time vibe to his set, he keeps things interesting on the guitar and his voice is a pleasant listen, easing us all into the show.
Eva Walsh was up next and good friend of the Red Line, Jon Dorn, was keeping it all in check on the percussion. It has been awhile since I have seen Eva performing her solo stuff. She is such a supporter of other musicians (both from a “go get ’em guys!” standpoint and on stage sitting in with other acts) that I missed her playing her own tunes. She blew us all away with some old favorites and some excellent new tunes to be part of her new record (which I believe she starts recording early this Fall). Uke to guitar and those vocals man, jazzy, sultry goodness. The gal always slays the audience and leaves them wanting more.
Closing the night were local town favorites, Billington Sea (who in duo form just played our Summer Celebration as well). Hayley Sabella and Jake Hill are forces to be reckoned with as solo songwriters, what you get when they team up is a dynamic chemistry that is absolutely fantastic. The intertwining of Hayley’s delicate, control in her voice with the slight grit and gruffness of Hill’s is magic. The songs are great, and the full band was awesome. I am still reeling from Kit Carlyle’s electric lead guitar work. The guy can shred. They really brought a great climax to end the evening.
Do not fear! There are still a bunch more chances to catch Barn Show this summer and early fall. Schedule link is below.