FloydFest 12: Music, Mud and Memories

FRIDAY

On the Dreaming Creek Main Stage, the Wild Ponies, an East Nashville-based group led by Doug (banjo) and Telisha Williams (upright bass and vocals), awakened the Friday morning FloydFest crowd with their honest and energetic folk music.

Next on the headlining stage were the Lizzy Ross Band, who kept the morning rolling for the mid-morning festivalgoers with Ross’ bluesy and soulful vocals and melodious tunes.  In their return to FloydFest, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based Americana act are currently touring their 2011 effort Read Me Out Loud, and played an amazing five sets at the festival over the course of the weekend.

Field Report took the headlining stage next for an hour’s worth of their Wisconsin-made folk rock music.   Led by Wisconsin native Chris Porterfield, formerly a member of DeYarmond Edison, Field Report is touring on the upcoming release of their debut album dropping in September.

Later on the Dreaming Creek stage, Megan Jean and the KFB continued the upbeat soul with an early afternoon set packed with energy to the appreciative crowd.  From Charleston, South Carolina, Megan Jean and Byrne Klay are a husband and wife Gypsy Americana duo currently touring the country supporting their third album The Devil Herself.

Bringing some international flair to the headlining stage was Bombino, led by Tuareg guitarist Omara “Bombino” Moctar on vocals and electric guitar.  A native of Agadez, Niger, the internationally acclaimed Bombino worked with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys for his newest album Nomad, in which he is currently touring.  Bombino and his band thrilled the crowd with their rich guitar grooves, melodic lyrics and beats.

Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell and his band, the 400 Unit, took the headlining Dreaming Creek stage next, playing tunes from his latest release, the critically acclaimed Southeastern, and the former Drive-By Trucker did not disappoint, drawing cheers from the appreciative and sun-soaked FloydFest crowd during his heartfelt performance.

Bluegrass folk sensations The Infamous Stringdusters had the crowd dancing and stomping their feet during their evening headlining performance on Friday.  The Charlottesville, Virginia by way of Nashville-based Stringdusters, with Andy Hall (dobro), Travis Book (upright bass), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (banjo) and Andy Falco (guitar), are currently travelling across the United States on their American Rivers Tour behind their 2012 release Silver Sky.  In addition to their Friday set, the Stringdusters played the Dreaming Creek stage on Saturday morning.

Donavon Frankenreiter and his band brought their groovy California melodies to the Streamline Stage and had the audience dancing and singing to his tunes as the sun went down.  Singer-songwriter and free surfer Frankenreiter, touring on his 2012 full length release Start Livin’, showed off his guitar chops and carefree vocals, and even joined in on the crowd’s laidback vibe, kicking a beach ball into the crowd which had landed onstage during a song.

Australian roots rock group John Butler Trio were the Friday night headliners on the Dreaming Creek stage, playing from their five studio albums, including their 2010 release April Uprising.  The JBT, consisting of singer-songwriter and activist John Butler on lead vocals and guitar, drummer Nicky Bomba, and Byron Luiters on bass, performed a high spirited set that re-energized the crowds to midnight.

On the Eno Global Village stage, TAUK, an instrumental rock-fusion quartet from Brooklyn, New York, made up of Matt Jaubert (guitar), Charlie Dolan (bass), A.C. Carter (keys/organ) and Isaac Teel (drums), brought their youthful improvisational energy to the festival’s second night, drawing large cheers from the festival-goers packed around the stage, in addition to playing multiple sets throughout the weekend touring behind their newest effort Homunculus.

Rock-soul singer-songwriter Clarence Greenwood, more famously known by his stage name Citizen Cope, played before a packed Streamline Stage from Friday at midnight into the early morning hours.  Hailing from Washington, DC via Memphis, Citizen Cope played in support of his 2012 release One Lovely Day.