Review by Lori Michelle
Photos by Lori Sky Twohy
What a weekend! This festival felt small and intimate, but the line-up was mighty and delivered all the goods!! Not only were we treated to the prodigious ivory-tickling of the amazing artist at large, Holly Bowling, but she also delivered us a pint-sized cherry-on-top in the form of her adorable son, Rylan! He definitely stole the show for us and was the highlight of the weekend! Holly’s piano was only rivaled by the soulful, yet powerful vocals of the other artist at large, Kaneka Moore.
Other highlights from this not-to-be-missed festival tucked away in the tiny town of Swazney, NH came in the form of the headliners, jam band legends String Cheese Incident, moe., and Umphree’s McGee and sprinkled with legendary artists as well as legends in the making, such as Lettuce, Eggy, Sneezy, Karina Rykman, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Kitchen Dwellers, Soulive, Andy Frasco & The U.N., Cory Wong, LaMP, Terrapin Family Band, Lotus, and the list goes on with this incredible line-up!
The intimacy of the festival grounds made it so easy to ping pong back and forth between stages, as well as immersing ourselves in the multimedia arts experiences that were drizzled throughout; which included up-and-coming artist DJ Cheetatah who did a Morning Disco set as well as an intergalactic sound journey bringing festival goers on a trip using frequencies.
However, nothing makes a festival more memorable than the people who are there to experience it with you. Let me tell you, I have never been surrounded by more colorful, kind and groovy souls! It truly made the experience tasty as can be. Oh, and did I mention the VIP section? Top-notch experience. Not only was it situated conveniently between Mountain Stage and Echo Stage, but they had everything one could possibly need to feel like you were receiving VIP treatment. A cooler with free drinks, a water-fill station, sunscreen, bathroom trailer, and even a massage therapist to keep you loose and ready to boogie down.
Speaking of boogying down, let’s get back to the bands. The energy of Lettuce brought fire to the dance party straight out of the gate! Throw in a side of funk and that party got even more down. Would you expect anything less from this genre-busting musical collective?
Eggy was a sunny-side-up treat. I had heard great things about them, and it turns out, they’re all true! This 8-song set really packed a punch, but things really took off when Holly Bowling joined them to perform the Crosby, Stills, & Nash cover “Southern Cross”. Nothing beats a dueling piano session to kick things up a notch. Wow!
Friday’s headliner was the legendary String Cheese Incident. What a way to end night one! Two phenomenal sets of originals and well chosen covers, including my favorite Rollin’ in My Sweet Baby’s Arms and Whipping Post which brought Holly Bowling out once again for an incredible sit-in.
We were served another helping of jam band sauce on Saturday. Andy Frasco & the U.N. blasted us off into the stratosphere with a high energy, fun set. Not only did Holly Bowling join in the fun, but her cutie patutie son, Rylan really stole the show! Andy really kept the energy alive when he crowd surfed to the tune of the Jewish classic “Hava Nagilla” when nearly the entire festival line up joined Andy and company on stage throughout his set! L’Chaim! The set closed with the powerhouse vocals of Kanika Moore on Dancin’ Around My Grave and God At A Festival. Yes she was!
Saturday was topped off with two sets of moe., which happens to be one of my favorite jam bands. It had been some time since I caught a moe. show and the second set was a nonstop dance party starting with the old school tune Okayalright > Seat of My Pants > Puebla and then they tossed in an awesome Deep Purple cover, Space Truckin’.
One would expect things to wind down by Sunday, but not at Northlands. Some of the best sets of music reverberated throughout the festival grounds to wrap us up in a sound burrito. Holly Bowling finally gave our ears the listening pleasure of her own set of music and what a set it was! She brought us to our knees with some Phish tunes including The Horse > Silent in the Morning and then flew us away with some Grateful Dead classics such as Bird Song, The Other Ones, and Althea.
The party continued with the incredible interplay between Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger, and Ray Paczkowski in their touring trio of LaMP. These masters of their craft never disappoint and kept us movin’ and groovin’ non stop throughout their ingenious, melodic set.
The Terrapin Family Band took out all the stops and what a family Grahame Lesh brought special guests with him to the grounds with the likes of Nikki Bluhm, Eric Krasno and resident artists at large Holly and Kanika. Yes, we were on a first name basis by Sunday evening. They treated us to a heady set of Grateful Dead classics such as Help > Slip > Franklins, Feel Like A Stranger, and got the party really going with a funky rendition of Shakedown Street.
By the time Umphrees Mcgee took to the stage, the festival grounds was a full blown party zone. The weekend was jam-packed full of fantastic music, and there were still two more sets to go! UG brought the house down with their festival closing sets and drizzled some sit-ins with Holly Bowling on JaJunk and Kanika Moore on AC/DC cover It’s A Long Way To the Top (If You Wanna Rock n Roll) making for a decadent dessert to fill our festival tummies. Making for a top notch weekend at a festival that really packed a punch.
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