Philly Folk Fest Lineup Announced
Hot off the press! The Philadelphia Folk Song Society hosted its annual Folk Fest announcement at Johnny Brenda’s this past Tuesday. With welcome anticipation they did not disappoint as they hashed out this years blockbusters. Check out the stellar initial lineup:
Little Feat – John Hiatt and the Combo – Steve Earle and The Dukes -Lucinda Williams – Mary Chapin Carpenter – Wanda Jackson – The Secret Sisters – City & Colour – Voices of the Wetlands – The Holmes Brothers – Strand of Oaks – The Wooden Sky – Mary Gauthier – Mike Cross – Comas – Paul Thorn – Tracy Grammer – Red Clay Ramblers – Debo Band – Arborea – Chris Bathgate – Brother Sun (feat. Pat Wictor, Joe Jencks and Greg Greenway) – Lori McKenna – Mark Erelli – Roosevelt Dime – Pokey LaFarge – The Gypsy Hombres – Chris Kasper – Griz – Spuyten Duyvil – Zach Stock – The Great Groove Band
Pretty sweet so far. Can’t wait to see Lucinda take the stage with her dear friend Wanda Jackson. You know it will happen.
Summer Festivals On The Radar
XPoNential Music Festival will feature Wilco, The Avett Brothers, and Dr. Dog. Official lineup released May 1st.
Friday, August 31 thru Sunday, September 2, 2012 at Ninigret Park, Charlestown, RI
Host Band: The Pine Leaf Boys featuring David Bromberg Big Band • Carolina Chocolate Drops – The Duhks • Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys – Donna the Buffalo • Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie – The Gourds • Blackie & The Road Kings – Roddie Romero & The Hub City All Stars – Johnny Nicholas & Hellbent • Sarah and The Tall Boys – Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp • Golden Triangle – Jesse Lége and Bayou Brew
Street Sounds of N’awlins
One of my favorite parts of New Orleans was the bands performing on the street. We ran into a couple of them several times in different parts of the French Quarter.
Check this out:
Upon inquiring, the musicians informed me that the band is named the “West Coast Ragtime Trash Hounds”.
This band is named “Yes Ma’am”. 5-0 was enforcing them to move from the street. I love how they just kept on playing.
Top Live Shows of 2011
Welcome 2012! For the last of Shady Groove’s Year in Review, I bring to you the top live shows of the past year.
Top 11 Live Shows 0f 2011
11. Joe Pug (Johnny Brenda’s) – Johnny Brenda’s is prob my favorite small venue to see a show in philly. Joe Pug sounds like an early Dylan, honing his craft.
10. Ziggy Marley (The Keswick Theatre) – crowd was great, dancing and singing. Praise to the Most be High. JAH! Rastafari.
9. Doc Watson (The Keswick Theatre) – epic. Legendary. He’s blind, he’s nearly 90. Amazing.
8. Hoots and Hellmouth (Yards) – Barn Stomping, hell raising folkies from Philly put on a rollickin show at Yards. All were dancing and singing. The band also brings wooden boards to stomp on. For real.
7. Hayes Carll (WCL) – Rockin band, great lyrics. They didn’t put the tables on the floor downstairs. That means the floor was open for dancing!
6. Mason Porter (WCL upstairs) – Mason Porter is prob my favorite local Philly band. Their old school folk and rock influences blend to create a magnificent union. Must see.
5. Cake (The Keswick Theatre)– Epic. Crowd. Involvement. Totally awesome. John McCrea can control a crowd, at one point screaming “I’ll Stand here all Fucking Night!!”
4. Carolina Chocolate Drops (TLA)– Wow. One of the best live folk experiences.
3. My Morning Jacket (The Mann Center) – Great new album. Heard big things about their live show. Did not disappoint. Jim James is a bona fide rock star. Endless hooks, ambient jams. Transcendental light show (see below)
2. The Gourds (The Saint, Asbury Park NJ)– High energy. Rejuvenated with some new material. Fresh off of their brand new album, Old Mad Joy, recorded up in Woodstock, NY at ‘The Barn’ at Levon Helm’s Studios.
1. David Wax Museum (Johnny Brenda’s)– Well put together group of musicians. Something totally different from your run of the mill folk/indie group. They also play significantly under-known instruments, Donkey Jaw bone being one of them.
Honorable Mention:
Taj Mahal (The Keswick Theatre), Levon Helm Band (Philly Folk Fest), Trombone Shorty (Philly Folk Fest), The Wood Brothers (Philly Folk Fest), The Ebony Hillbillies (Chestnut Hill), Just The Tip (Half Moon Booze Cruise), The Low Anthem (WCL)
The Gourds Descend Upon Philly…Rock The House.
The Gourds
World Cafe Live
Philadelphia, PA
10.4.11
Setlist:
You Must Not Know
Peppermint City
Marginalized
Haunted
Web Before You Walk Into It
Right In The Head
Mister Betty
Wanamaker
Two Sparrows
Your Benefit
Maria
Magnetic Meteorite (Claude Bernard)
Burn The Honeysuckle
El Paso
Drop The Charges
I Want It So Bad
Melchert
Cracklins >> Dueling Banjos tease >> Cracklins
Encore:
All The Labor
Pine Island Bayou
I Like Drinking
Lower 48 >> Rich Girl (Daryl Hall) >> Lower 48