top 7 Folk Fest artists I saw for the first time this weekend

[desh]

1. The Spinning Leaves
2. Erin McKeown
3. Vienna Teng (f/ Alex Wong)
4. the subdudes
5. The Giving Tree Band
6. Richard Thompson
7. Cadillac Sky

Honorable mention goes to Taj Mahal (who I'd seen before but never really appreciated until this weekend), Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams (who I love every time I see them), and Chris Smither (who I appreciate every time I see him). Dishonorable mention goes to Bonny "Prince" Billy, who ties with Kimya Dawson as the single worst artist I've ever seen at Folk Fest!

Off to listen to some music and buy some CDs online now...

Comments

[nnaylime.livejournal.com]

I know and like Erin McKeown (and Vienna Teng, obvs) already, given where they're ranked relative to Spinning Leaves (who I don't know), I am going to have to check them out immediately!

[desh]

They're a local band who hand-produces their own CDs (like, the cover art on each is individually hand-drawn). They're not in the same league as the other two. Except I liked their performance even better. Funny how festivals work.

[nnaylime.livejournal.com]

I actually completely understand--and stage presence matters a lot. Vienna Teng's opening act was a young guy who had such an amazing deadpan, self-deprecating sense of humor in his warm-up chat with the audience that I was ready to buy his CD before I even heard a note.

[leftyjew.livejournal.com]

I saw Erin McKeown years ago at a Dan Bern concert. She was great!