With jeans and flannels worn proudly, crowds gathered once again to see the American Roots & Arts Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina. This years lineup consisted of two nights with country star Eric Church and two days filled with the funkiest and most rocking bands from around the U.S. Let’s take a look at what worked and what needs work.
The artists who took the stage at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre this fall varied from rock to jazz to country, and all made their presence known. The party really started when The Roots came out on Saturday and performed the wildest and most impressive set of jams I’ve heard. Think rap and hip-hop meets electronic and funk meets indie and pop. Basically, they play every style of music possible and each member of the band can hold their own. They started off with a drum battle, smoothly transitioned to a freestyle rap, and then every band member made their way through a solo; the electronic dj, guitarist, and even the tuba player made sure the audience couldn’t turn away. Afterwards, the crowd took a minute to process the absurdly amazing thing that just happened and then waited for the sounds of Modest Mouse to bring back the energy. Isaac Brook led the band once again as they played yet another flawless set. After an hour of playing, the classic indie tunes died out, but everyone in the amphitheater knew their lives would “all float on alright”. Modest Mouse is even better live then on their recordings, which is a continually more rare reality these days. When they finished, it was country time.
Now the headliner of course was Eric Church, but before I talk about how he made every girl in the audience want to jump into his arms, I have to say a little something about the scene as a whole. If you come to the festival expecting a mini Coachella or ACL, prepare to be shocked. The venue has only one stage with designated seating up front and a big GA lawn in the back. It’s not the ideal place for sweaty, crazy, dancing like most big festivals these days, but if you’re looking to have a good night with some friends it’ll certainly do. There are no rowdy teenagers or tripping hippies, just classic southern guys and gals with 24oz beers and hips that love folk music. There’s no smoking inside the seating area and if you want a drink or snack prepare to throw down some fat bills cause everything costs more than your mortgage. Still, with all this in mind, know that if you go to hear great artists you won’t be disappointed.
Alright, let’s get back to the important stuff: the music! After the impressive sounds of The Roots and Modest Mouse left the stage on Saturday, Eric Church gave another one of his stunning performances and kept the audience screaming for more. Then came Sunday and things got real southern real quick. This day featured the classic songs of country legends Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow, both of who couldn’t give a bad show if they tried. At 82, Willie has definitely still got it and Sheryl ran her set like she was an upcoming star in her twenties. With some casual square dancing in the crowd and picnic blankets laid out, the audience created a nice mix that wasn’t too crazy or too relaxed. But, when Eric came out at the end of the night he made sure to play all of his great pieces, from “Springsteen” to “Talladega”, and the crowd was hyped. Overall, Sunday was a time of legends and the festival certainly succeeded in bringing the best roots of country music to the stage. Next year has a lot to live up to!
