Bonnaroo 2015: Trampled By Turtles

Trampled By Turtles are one of those bands who have built their entire careers based on word of mouth press and festical presence. After all, they had five albums under their belts already by the time their "breakthrough record", Stars and Sattellites was released in 2012. Due to this foundation it was no surprise how laid back the five Turtles were, standing shoulder to shoulder on the Bonnaroo main stage casually dressed in shorts and tshirts.

In fact, the band barely even said a word to the audience. Aside from dedicating the song "Victory" to someone named Rufus (presumably Rufus Wainwright), stating that the song "Duluth" was about their hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, and announcing that bassist Tim Saxhaug would be seeing a cover of Loudon Wainwright III's "Swimming "Wewe get Song", already a staple of their set, they didn't say much at all. 

But they didn't need to. As a band whose roots are deeply set in a groundwork performances and social interactions with loyal fans, their lack of small talk was comparable to a romantic couple who are at ease with each other so much so that they can comfortably share a silence. 

The set was a blend of the entire Trampled By Turtles catalogue, "Are Yiu Behind a The Shining Star", "Codeine", "Walt Whitman" and, of course, "Alone" we're all included. 

The moment that the partnership between artist shone the most clearly was when lead singer, Dave Simonett excitedly said, "We get to actually hang out for once. Finally we're going to get to come out with all you. Crazy kids after." And the audience cheered and agreed, despite the band's earlier lack of talking about feelings, showing just how strong the artist/audience bond can truly be.

-Kendall Stewart

Bonnaroo 2015: Dawes

Since their formation in 2009 Dawes has risen to become one of the most well-known folk-rock groups in America. This year marked their third performance at Bonnaroo, however, Friday's performance--a mere week after the release of their 4th full-length album, All Your Favorite Bands--was their first on the main stage.

The best word to describe Taylor Goldsmith, Tay Strathairn, Griffin Goldsmith and Wylie Gelber's main stage debut? Grateful. Lead singer, Taylor Goldsmith thanked the crowd between every single song. 

The quartet played songs from their catalogue including "When My Time Comes", "Time Spent In Los Angeles" and "If I Wanted Someone", taking a moment during "Most People" to thank the fans for being there for them since the beginning. The set was also sprinkled with new tunes "Somewhere Along The Way", "Right On Time", and "I Can't Think About It Now". 

"Bonnaroo is one of the most special festivals in the whole world. This song goes from the bottom of our hearts to every single one of you," Goldsmith said as the quartet broke into All Your Favorite Bands' title track. 

"I hope that life without a chaperone is what you thought it'd be/ I hope your brothers El Camino runs forever/ I hope the world sees the same person that you've always been to me/ And may all your favorite bands stay together"

-Kendall Stewart

Bonnaroo 2015: Bear's Den

The British alt-folk band Bear's Den are still riding high on the wave of their debut record, Islands, released this past October. The band formed in 2012 and that same year, along with The Staves and Ben Howard were a part of the tour highlighted in the Austin To Boston documentary. Islands was released on Communion records, the label founded by Bear's Den member Kevin Jones, along with producer Ian Grimble and Ben Lovett of Mumford and Sons, with whom Bear's Den have also toured. So the band are no strangers to the spotlight. Yet they still seem humbly in awe of their own success.

Communion sponsored the Bonnaroo Who Stage on Thursday night presenting Little May, Raury and Rubblebucket in addition to Bear's Den. The Who stage is a fraction of the size of the other Bonnaroo stages, but you would never know from the crowd's devotion to Bear's Den. 

Lead vocalist, Andrew Davie thanked the crowd for being there stating the lights were so bright, though, that he couldn't see them. The lights immediately turned towards the crowd and upon seeing the hundreds of people before him exclaimed, "Turn them back! There's so many of you, I'm nervous now! I thought there were only five people there and it was just my family!" 

The way that the audience was clumping respectfully together to sway in unison while singing along to "Above The Clouds of Pompeii"--a song laden with themes of familial connection and loss--was a site any member of the Davies family would be proud to see. 

-Kendall Stewart

Local Folk Spotlight: Providence, RI

This Saturday on Local Folk we celebrate the release of Axis Mundi, the final studio album from Rhode Island duo Brown Bird, by spotlighting the flourishing music scene of Providence, RI.

Brown Bird founder David Lamb released albums as far back as 2003, but it was not until the summer of 2008 when a chance encounter with MorganEve Swain led to full blown partnership musically and otherwise(the two would eventually marry). Together the pair organically wove elements of folk, psych rock, Balkan and gypsy grooves, while touring and recording relentlessly. That process was abruptly cut short in May of 2013 when Lamb was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia, to which he would eventually succumb in April of 2014. A year later, the final recordings (many of which were undertaken during Lamb’s treatment) are being released as the album Axis Mundi, named for the place where heaven and earth meet.

If 2008 was the genesis of Brown Bird’s wildly inventive sound, it was also a breakout year for another Providence group that insistently pushed past folk-rock labels. That year The Low Anthem released their third album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, which would eventually be picked up by Nonesuch Records leading to performances at festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits.

Although currently touring less, members Ben Knox Miller and Jeff Prystowsky, and Bryan Minto, continue to channel the group’s DIY ethos (the band would famously dumpster dive for cereal boxes to hand cut and silk screen for their first CD covers) with the opening of the Columbus Theater and Cooperative . The theater, originally built in 1926, had fallen into disrepair by the mid-2000s. Following extensive rehabilitation it was opened under the direction of the co-op in 2012. Since then it has been critical in raising the profile of Providence artists as well as showcasing performers like Charles Bradley, Juliana Hatfield, and Hurray For the Riff Raff. Says Columbus programming manager Tom Weyman, “We want the Columbus to be the bloody beating heart of Providence's music scene, unpolished, where art is created and performed, and where musicians are inspired to do their best work.”

Following the breakout success of groups like The Low Anthem and Brown Bird, there has been a rise in the regional and national profile of Providence artists like Joe Fletcher (recently departed to Nashville), The Silks, Smith&Weeden, and many more. Tune in this Saturday to Local Folk to hear just a few examples of the artists who have contributed to this rise as well as those who are positioned to continue building the city’s reputation in New England and beyond.

The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin: