I only made it out for Saturday this year at Green River Fest‘s annual blow out weekend, but just one day was more than enough to fill my heart and soothe my soul with great music, sun and good vibes for a full year between 2019 and 2020’s events.
A slightly late start had me missing out on some wonderful earlier acts and friends including Mamma’s Marmalade and Little Roots‘ first set, but I got there in time to catch a couple of Heather Maloney’s final tunes and then to plant my butt firmly in an aisle seat under the Parlor Room Stage tent for Ali McGuirk and Session Americana.
Maloney is a favorite of the Northampton area that the Parlor Room calls home, with audience members singing along and when she asked if there were any requests an eruption of song suggestions came from the crowd. She delivers each word of her songs with a heartfelt precision balanced with her graceful charm that can hush even a festival audience baking in the summer sun.
Ali kicked off the set sitting at the infamous table with bassist Cilla Bonnie for a pair of songs before being joined by the Session fellas. Most of whom were adorned with beautiful flowery wreathes (a common place item over the course of the day). They swapped songs, churning through some of the strongest tunes off of McGuirk’s last release ‘Slow Burn’ and a couple of SA favorites as well. The band, as always, was on fire and the addition of Alec Spiegelman was a welcome surprise. This collaboration is one of my favorites of recent memory and shows no sign of putting it to rest…and for that we are all very lucky.
Samantha Fish’s blues rock badassery was emanating from the Main stage and I was drawn like a fish to a spinner bait. She f*cking SHREDS. My mind was blown and I became an immediate fan of her infectious, Hendrix meets Marilyn Monroe persona on stage. Passion, energy and electricity filled the field.
I didn’t spend much time at the Dean’s Beans stage this time around, but what I did catch was one hell of a set. The Lowdown Brass Band had an unrivaled energy that stole the minds of the audience. One minute a New Orleans brass jam unfolded and dovetailed in a rapid fire poignant and poetic rap. Man, I dare you to not move to that.
Perhaps one of my favorite new things about Green River this year was the unschedule pop ups on the Green House stage behind the food vendors and main stage. Catching main stage bands in a slightly more intimate avenue was awesome. The Wood Brothers gathered around a central mic and belted out a few quick tunes. Huddling close, exquisite harmonies and masterful musicianship right there on that tiny deck stage. Really special moments curated on this one and I am super happy that GRF has made this attempt to bring the bands closer to the fans.
I ran like a mad man from that side stage to get to the pit for the next artist on the main stage. I’ll be honest, reason number 1 for this year’s festival for me was Tyler Childers and he didn’t disappoint. WIth a mix of new tunes and old favorites from Purgatory and earlier recordings. Leading in with Peace of Mind and including the new singles ‘House Fire’ and ‘Country Squire’ from the forthcoming release of the same name mingling with crowd favorites ‘Bus Route’ and ‘Honky Tonk Flame’…it was the two closers that really stole the show. Childers and the band’s take on ‘Trudy’ by Charlie Daniels (with a Miley Cyrus intro) sets the stage aflame. Its got a feel and groove unlike any other. Childers remained alone to close with a heartfelt and swooping version of his ode to his lady, ‘Lady May’ and I’m not sure that there was a dry eye in the place. From totally raucous and badass to completely chest torn open honesty and beauty…this dude and his band have it all.
Another vibration in my pocket let me know that Samantha Fish was on the small stage, donning leopard print tights and slinging an acoustic guitar. So I ran over and caught a tune or two before heading back to the main stage again for what was about to completely slay me.
The only way I can explain what happened next was that my soul feels like it was ripped from my being in a ferocious fit and then weaned back gently and lovingly into my body again. I was completely drained and made whole in the short duration that Low Cut Connie’s set unleashed itself on the stage. Adam Weiner’s performance was unbelievable. The energy, the love, the ear worm songs that stick with you. My heart is full for the long haul after experiencing this band…oh and the acrobatics too, don’t forget that.
Buzz, buzz…what’s that? Oh its Ali McGuirk hitting the Green House stage? Yes, please. A trio set with Cilla Bonnie and Alec Spiegelman is just what I need to soothe me back to a state of mental stability after Low Cut Connie’s explosive set and that jazzy, silky smooth vibe that the three of them painted the air with was beautiful.
And like a ping pong ball I am back to the main stage. The Wood Brothers never, ever disappoint and their set was another one for the books. I snapped a few quick images and then headed into the crowd to sit and take it in proper.
And then…with a long drive ahead of me I hopped on a school bus transport back to the free lot across the highway and pointed the old Subaru due north…til next year friends.