The summer festival season is shaping up to be a crowded one, but if there is one that stands apart from that pack it’s Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival which will be held this upcoming weekend of June 21-23 at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCa) in North Adams, Massachusetts.
The festival which is presented by and built around the music of Wilco and its band member’s returns to Mass MoCa, having launched in 2010. (The group skipped last year so they could concentrate on launching their dBpm record label.) Solid Sound is a three day celebration of music, art, comedy, and other activities that you don’t normally find at festivals. (Birds of Prey anyone?)
In many ways, Solid Sound is the perfect festival for people who don’t like festivals and one of the reasons for this is the unique location. For starters, North Adams is located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts and it is especially beautiful this time of year. And then there is Mass MoCa, a massive renovated old factory building transformed into an art museum, which is a special place in itself. The band utilizes the setting to create a one of a kind festival experience; presenting shows in courtyards, lawns and inside the museum’s auditoriums and in the process providing the kind of intimate feel that is not commonly experienced at festivals. You can actually see the performers!
Of course, Solid Sound is a Wilco fans dream come true. As the festival hosts, the band will perform two headlining shows over the weekend. On Friday night, the Chicago based sextet will play their first ever all request show featuring original and cover tunes as requested by fans via the festival’s website. As part of the encore, the band will take suggestions from Twitter as well as participate in a live version of “Stump the Band” where audience members will suggest songs and Wilco will attempt to play them.
On Saturday, Wilco will perform another outdoor concert. In addition, the band members will be showcasing its various side projects: keyboardist/guitarist Pat Sansone and bassist John Stirratt will show off the pop sounds of their band The Autumn Defense, Nels Cline will perform with fellow guitar virtuoso Julian Lage, drummer Glenn Kotche’s On Fillmore will back a live performance with the popular public radio show, Radiolab and keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen will team with Greg O’ Keefe for some synth driven music. Jeff Tweedy’s son, Spencer, will also be on hand with his band,The Blisters.
The rest of the musical talent were handpicked by the band members, which means you won’t find a collection of superstar acts or band that are touring the summer festival circuit.
Some of the musicians you can enjoy over the three day weekend are:
Singer/songwriter Neko Case, jazz jam trio Medeski, Martin and Wood and special guests, Low, a reunited Dream Syndicate, Border Music featuring the guitar duo of Dave Hidalgo (Los Lobos) and Marc Ribot and indie faves Yo La Tengo. (In addition to playing a full set, Yo La Tengo will be live-scoring the film “The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller.”
The comedy portion of the festival will be headed up by John Hodgman of the Daily Show, and will also feature Reggie Watts, Al Madrigal and Jen Kirkman.
And even though you are going to be busy checking out all things Wilco, here are a few lesser known acts that you will not want to miss:
Mark Mulcahy- Best known as the former front man for Miracle Legion and for his work on the Nickelodeon television show, “Pete & Pete,” Mulcahy plays an appealing brand of indie pop. His first new album in eight years, “Dear Mark J. Mulcahy I Love You,” will be released the week of the festival.
Foxygen-The duo of Jonathan Rado and Sam France have a trippy airy sound that gives more than a nod to the past. The band’s shows at SXSW were a bit of a mess, but they look to be back on track and should delight fans with songs of its aptly titled album “We are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic.”
Sean Rowe- Rowe has the kind of deep voice weathered voice that has drawn comparison to Leonard Cohen, but it’s his songs that are the real draw. Rowe, is a poet at heart who as spent months living in wilderness drawing inspiration for the stark beauty one hears in his work.
The Relatives- The band from Austin have been spreading the word since the 1970s but this isn’t your grandma’s gospel, the Relatives funk it up because they are determined to have you shaking your booty while their saving your soul.
Sam Amidon- This folk singer from Vermont has a knack for reinventing folk music, whether he is putting his own spin on an old shape note tune or giving the folk treatment to Mariah Carey’s, “Shake it Off.”
If all that comedy and music isn’t enough to pique your interest, concert- goers will also be able to take in all the art exhibits at Mass MoCa including some special music related exhibits being assembled by Wilco. And to guarantee that this is the one festival that you will come away from having gained some practical skills there will be demonstrations in beer brewing, hot sauce making, raising backyard chickens and much more. This family friendly event also features lots of fun stuff for the kids.
For more information and tickets visit the festival website at solidsoundfestival.com
The festival website includes information about lodging, camping and travel options including information about the bus they are running from New York to/from the festival.
