Author Archives: Brigid Gallagher

COLUMBUS, OH | June saw the birth of a new music festival concept: the Re:SET Concert Series featured daily band lineups that rotated between three cities in surrounding areas before moving on to the next group of cities.

Headliners for each day (LCD Soundsystem, boygenius, Steve Lacy) were able to curate their lineups, making it a more pleasurable experience for artists and fans alike, none of whom had to deal with scheduling hassles that are often common with festivals.

First up in Columbus was boygenius’ day, featuring Bartees Strange, Dijon, and Clairo. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Bartees Strange multiple times since he made the switch from day job to musical career in 2020. Each time, he takes leaps and bounds as a performer and this was no exception. Next up was Dijon, who sang his damn heart out. His soulful, vulnerable set built to an emotional crescendo.

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TELLURIDE, CO | I began my final day at TBF 50 listening to some finalists for the 30th Annual Troubadour Competition at Elks Park. The contest, as well as the Annual 36th Band Competition, has a knack for discovering talent. Past winners include The Chicks (1990), Greensky Bluegrass (2006), and Gregory Alan Isakov (2007) to name a few. Caitlin Cannon, Jackson Emmer, and Rob Drabkin all showed why they were chosen as finalists this year.

After enjoying their songs and stories, I wandered around town and listened on my headphones to Yasmin Williams playing over at the main stage via the KOTO livestream. A self-taught musical wiz (who developed an interest thanks to Guitar Hero 2), Williams’ guitar style is unique, innovative, and wholly hers. The crowd buzzes about her for the rest of the day.

Known by Festivarians as the Queen of TBF, Emmylou Harris put on a lovely late afternoon set with accompaniment by Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange). During the acoustic set, with highlights including “If I Needed You” and a beautiful Nanci Griffith cover of “Gulf Coast Highway,” I felt the crowd quiet and settle into the harmonies and picturesque backdrop.

Things got a little rowdier once the Telluride House Band hit the stage. Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Bryan Sutton, and Stuart Duncan gave everyone their bluegrass fix (with an Alison Krauss sighting as well) before indie crooner, Gregory Alan Isakov.

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TELLURIDE, CO | Well, after two days of rough weather at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, we have ourselves a magnificent Saturday. The surrounding San Juan Mountains have a fresh coat of snow on their peaks, enhancing the already breathtaking views, and the sun is out and shining. Festivarians are feeling it—many of whom while wearing gold in honor of 50 years of Telluride Bluegrass.

Sierra Ferrell. Yeah, she kinda stole the whole damn festival. Her set was all I heard about for the rest of the weekend and rightfully so. It was memorable, captivating, and fun. There’s no denying her talent and presence. She’s a bonafide star. All eyes were on her, even when Peter Rowan and Jerry Douglas joined her for a couple songs.

“We specifically asked you to throw marshmallows at Nickel Creek this year,” Yonder Mountain String Band bassist Ben Kaufmann joked as the popular campfire delicacies launched with a steady pace from the crowd to the stage. The marshmallow toss is a bit of a tradition for Yonder, and the smiles that ensue from it are contagious. The fan favorites gave the crowd a solid jam sesh, pausing to rip shots with Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, and Jerry Douglas, who joined them for a few songs.

Twenty years have passed since Mary Chapin Carpenter graced the TBF stage, so it was a much anticipated return for the singer/songwriter who reached new heights of success after her 1990 set at TBF. She busted out all the hits including “Passionate Kisses” and “I Feel Lucky,” and her performance turned into a full blown dancing sing-a-long.

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TELLURIDE, CO | Friday morning, I arrived at the park in time to witness my favorite Telluride Bluegrass Festival tradition: the tarp run. The bagpipes blare, signaling that the gates are about to open, upon which hundreds of Festivarians race to claim their small plot of music-viewing land for the day. Blankets are thrown down, tarps are nailed into the soil, and the celebrations begin.

The Northern Californian duo of Paige Anderson and Emilie Rose, otherwise known as Two Runner, kicked off Friday’s lineup with their modern mix of country folk. It was a rare moment of sunny skies on a Friday that saw a record two festival evacuations due to vicious hail and lightning. I was hiding from the rain and listening to a livestream of TBF (thanks, KOTO!) when I was so overcome by the music of Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba that I just had to see them live.

I got to the stage in time to see a few songs before their set was cancelled early because of—you guessed it—weather. The Mailian band, Ngoni Ba (Aminata Sacko, Mamadou Kouyate, Mahamadou Tounkara, Moctar Kouyate) lead by ngoni master Bassekou Kouyate, visibly wowed the crowd. It was one of the best performances of the weekend by a landslide, so thanks to Béla Fleck for getting them in the lineup.

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TELLURIDE, CO | Tucked away in one of Colorado’s more remote (and stunning) mountain towns is one of the longest-running music festivals in the world. Since 1974, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival has been a summer solstice destination for music lovers. Fifty years later, it’s more popular than ever, with tickets selling out within minutes annually—and that’s before the lineup is even announced.

It’s not difficult to see why the festival is such an attraction: it’s easily one of the most beautiful locations in the country and the whole fest vibe itself is chill AF. Plus a charming, historic, easily walkable mining town surrounded by the Rocky Mountains with ample camping grounds—and in a state with legal weed?! Um, hell yeah. So, as they do every year, the Festivarians flocked.

Chris Thile, who I like to refer to as the Prince of TBF, kicked the festivities off with a solo set. It was a nice mix of witty storytelling and songs on the mandolin. Following him was a Telluride firsttimer, Calgary’s Bella White, who showed why she’s up and coming in the country/folk scene. Up next was Dierks Bentley, Ben Helson, Charlie Worsham, Tim Sergent, Steve Misamore, Cassady Feasby, and Dan Hochhalter under the moniker Long Jon (named after Bentley’s tour bus driver). It was a fan favorite set, with the highlight for me being their cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Fire on the Mountain” with Jason Carter & Ronnie McCoury.

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PITTSBURGH, PA | Pittsburgh-area Deadheads said fare thee well once again to the latest iteration of The Grateful Dead, Dead & Company, on June 5th at The Pavilion at Star Lake. For those who were able to make it inside the venue despite hours of nightmarish backed up traffic (get it together, The Pavilion), it was another memorable night of psychedelic sounds and sights.

I’ll be sad to see Dead & Company dissolve, as the members have really honored the spirit and sound of The Grateful Dead while maintaining a high level of musicianship throughout their eight-year stint. Original Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart have lead the way, with John Mayer lending his incredible guitar skills, multi-instrumentalist Otiel Burbridge retaining his fan favorite status, Jeff Chimenti dazzling on the keys, and Jay Lane doing an excellent job of sitting in on drums for original member Bill Kreutzmann, who opted out of the final tour due to back issues.

The night featured some tour debuts, including “China Doll” and The Band’s “The Weight,” and additional crowd pleasers in “Jack Straw,” “Bertha,” and “Althea.” The Final Tour is making its way across the country before concluding in San Francisco mid-July. But if there’s one thing we know about The Grateful Dead, it’s that the music never stops. I look forward to seeing what’s on the horizon.

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