While Newport Folk Festival, the eminent gentleman of the roots music festival world, has announced a lineup so heavy on the usual-suspect indie artists that it’s starting to feel like pandering (Iron and Wine, Conor Oberst, The Head and the Heart), Portland, Oregon’s homegrown alternative, Pickathon, comes out the gate with a lineup full of folk and roots artists that most people likely won’t have heard. Don’t get me wrong, these artists kick ass, and super folk nerds like me are fuckin’ down with it, but the Paste crowd are gonna be scratching their heads over names like Los Cojolites (the Mexican son jarocho version of the Avett Brothers), Vieux Farka Touré (son of Africa’s Malian guitar king Ali Farka Touré), or Bruce Molsky (dopest old-time fiddler around).
Sure, it may not be the best financial strategy, but it is a sign that Pickathon has become a destination in and of itself. People go to Pickathon to be part of Pickathon, not to see some giant bands from the 90s that we all keep trying to forget about. And organizers are already predicting a ticket sell-out, which makes it a perfect position to be in for any really creative festival director: now they can finally concentrate on booking amazing artists rather than worrying about which artists are going to draw and which other festivals will be competing for a top act. Being at Pickathon is like being at a festival that really cares about your experience, the kind of festival that grows on its own and is beholden to no corporate sponsors and no Live Nation bullshit. That’s why you’re gonna want to go to Pickathon this year. So save August 3-5 on your calendar right now.
Oh yeah, and that part where we talked about the artists being crazy obscure? Well, I like to nerd out and talk about obscure folk artists, but the reality is that PICKATHON FUCKING KNOWS MUSIC. I mean seriously: Blitzen Trapper, Neko Case, Alela Diane, The Cave Singers, Bowerbirds, Langhorne Slim, Laura Gibson, Dr. Dog, etc., etc.?? Check out the lineup for proof:
Neko Case
Dr. Dog
Blitzen Trapper
Heartless Bastards
The Wood Brothers
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
Phosphorescent
Hot 8 Brass Band
The Cave Singers
Vieux Farka Touré
Langhorne Slim
Abigail Washburn
Lost Bayou Ramblers feat. Gordon Gano
Cass McCombs
Danny Paisley & Southern Grass
Alela Diane
Los Cojolites
Handsome Furs
Bowerbirds
CW Stoneking
Laura Gibson
Bruce Molsky
Robert Ellis
White Denim
AA Bondy
Cajun Country Revival
Sonny & The Sunsets
The Mynabirds
Petunia & The Vipers
Typhoon
Whitey Morgan & The 78’s
Genticorum
Lake Street Dive
Southeast Engine
Reverend KM Williams
The Barr Brothers
Foghorn Stringband
Doug Paisley
Captain Bogg & Salty
Two Man Gentlemen Band
Y La Bamba
Shovels & Ropes
Ted Jones and the Tarheel Boys
Lonnie Walker
Midtown Dickens
Here’s a great preview of what you can expect at Pickathon:
• Pickathon: http://pickathon.com