Though Solid Sound—a music festival curated by Wilco at which they headline (in different capacities) each of the three nights—may seem a strange concept to some folks, it has actually become one of the most interesting festival offerings in the Northeast. Every other year, Jeff Tweedy and co. are charged with creating a totally unique, fresh experience for the thousands that flock to the Berkshires (North Adams, MA to be precise) for their fill of Wilco, and every other year, they seem to find new ways to surprise us. Keeping the concept of Solid Sound intact, while also reinventing the wheel is likely no easy feat, but 2019 promises to be one of the most intriguing Solid Sounds yet. This year’s edition takes place this upcoming weekend June 28-30, 2019 at MASSMoCA in North Adams, MA.
For those familiar with the formula, we’re typically treated to a Friday night Wilco set generated entirely by advance requests from fans. Saturday we get an epic, polished Wilco production, and Sunday we get a slew of special guests for a more down-home, intimate feeling set led by Tweedy. Given his excellent solo endeavors from this past year, Warm and Warmer, we’ll no doubt be hearing a lot of the new stuff. But in a fascinating turn of events, Wilco announced at the end of May that they’d be opening up their Friday night stage to a select few who wish to sing their favorite Wilco songs, karaoke-style. Just 5-10 singers, chosen by Wilco through an open call for submissions, will join the band for live performances. It is a wonderfully out-there way to engage with fans, keep the devoted Solid Sound crowd on their toes, and launch a social media campaign. Combing through the posts with the “WilcoKaraoke” hashtags on Instagram, more than 300 people of all ages, all backgrounds and all skill levels have dared to throw their voices in the hat. Only time will tell which lucky fans will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Elsewhere at the festival, we’ll get the kind of diverse, refreshing lineup we’ve come to expect from Tweedy. From the ferocious shredding of Courtney Barnett and the enchanting whimsy of Cate Le Bon, to the prolific guitarist and composer Rafiq Bhatia and the earworm pop of Foxwarren, and even something called “Fishing” which finds Wilco’s Glenn Kottche teamed up with none other than Jon Hamm. The music, the art, the mountains, and most importantly, the unexpected. Solid Sound keeps us coming back for it all.
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Fyi Cancelled because Hamm had a project. ‘Fishing” which finds Wilco’s Glenn Kottche teamed up with none other than Jon Hamm.