my 12 favorite Folk Fest artists ever

[desh]

This list is based only on artists I've seen at Philly Folk Fest, and only on the strength of their performance(s) I've seen there, and on other shows of theirs that I've seen since and because they were at Fest.

I'm not counting people who were at Fest but I never saw there (so no Moxy or Xavier Rudd), I'm not counting opinions I've formed of bands afterwards, completely independent of Fest (so no John Prine, because I was underwhelmed when I saw him there, even though I've grown to like him for other reasons since), and I'm not counting impressions of artists I had already had (so Arlo is a bit lower, because I already liked him and was expecting a good show beforehand). Also, time is a factor; a band that I loved at Fest but haven't enjoyed since will be marked down (so no Brave Combo).

Anyway:

12. Tempest
11. Avett Brothers
10. John Flynn
9. Wolfstone
8. Natalie MacMaster
7. Arlo Guthrie
6. Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams
5. Kris Kristofferson
4. The Nields
3. Da Vinci's Notebook
2. Utah Phillips
1. Eileen Ivers

Honorable mentions: Old Springs Pike, We're About Nine, Girlyman, The Roches, Tommy Emmanuel, Angel Band

Comments? Thoughts?

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Moshav. Have you checked them out? Amazing, amazing, amazing.

[swerved.livejournal.com]

Uh, that anon one was from me. Damn cookie cleaning logged me out.

[desh]

I've definitely heard of them from my various friends who listen to Israeli music. I don't think they were ever at Philly Fest, and I don't think I've ever heard much or any of their stuff. I'll check them out sometime.

[sherbieroni.livejournal.com]

how is Nickel Creek not on that list?

[desh]

Hmm. Is it possible I never heard them at Fest? If I did, it was awhile ago. I definitely enjoyed them on XPN over the years, but I can't remember anything about seeing them live, if I ever did.

I'm so pissed that they just toured with Fiona Apple for two weeks...and came to Philly right in the middle of Fest. That would have been such an amazing show.

[toughgav.livejournal.com]

girlyman should be higher up. that song about being crazy is totally charming.

[desh]

I remember that they played a few workshops with We're About Nine the year they were there. I and all my friends liked those workshops a lot...but I remember liking WA9 more while everyone else liked Girlyman more. The trouble is, it's been so long since that year (2004, I think?) that I barely remember what either group sounds like. It's a shame. I should hunt around for MP3s or something.

[jdcohen.livejournal.com]

What about Xavier Rudd? He completely ROCKED the Camp Stage with an 18 minute long jam in which ALL the other musicians on stage joined. It solidified his awesomeness in my mind.

--Jeff

[desh]

I missed that year.

[jdcohen.livejournal.com]

That's very sad.

--Jeff

[gutwoman.livejournal.com]

yeah, and then he came to the 9:30 club and you didn't show up.

[desh]

I'll see him sometime. It's sort of hard to commit to 7 hours of driving to see someone you don't know play for 2 hours.

[gutwoman.livejournal.com]

dude, i was responding to Jeff...

[desh]

Ha, sorry. Serves me right for only reading comment notifications over IM. But I have bailed on several plans to go to DC or Baltimore for an evening just for a concert...

[josh-marantz.livejournal.com]

The Avett Brothers seemed really good at the time, but I ended up getting one of their cd's and all their stuff just sounds sorta country-emo. Gandalf Murphy's charm has also sorta faded with age. All the other stuff up there is fairly clearly quality though, IMO.

[desh]

I still like Gandalf Murphy a lot. Listen to CDs fairly regularly and seek out their live shows. But you could be right about the Avett Brothers.