Five to See Live at Philadelphia Folk Festival 2015

It's Folk Festival Time for everyone in the Philadelphia area.  Have you checked out the newly updated Philadelphia Folk Festival website?  The site is so easy you can personalize your own schedule for the festival.   Other fests say you can do it, but they still end up being super cumbersome. You can sort this by stage or date, or just select a bunch of favorites from any page and have them show up as highlights to the schedule with the "Show My Schedule" button.



But even if you a super easy site isn't for you, here's Root Down In The Shadow's "Five to See Live" at the 55th Philadelphia Folk Festival presented by Philadelphia Folksong Society. 



Hurricane Hoss  Friday 3:30 Martin  Guitar Main Stage: 
Hurricane Hoss is everything country & folk music needs. None of this bro, country-pop with bimbos in the videos. Hoss brings back swagger and sass and has the chops to back it up.

The backing band this year is a veritable "who's who" of Philly, which people have come to expect of the Perfect Storm. Erik "Slim" Sayles is slinging electric, Hannah Taylor is providing harmonies, Josh Machiz of TJ Kong on bass, Eric Lawry (formerly of the KGB) singing and drumming, Isaac "Slowey" Stanford on Steel, Rachel Icenogle of Cast Shadows and Upholstery on cello, and Jaron Olevsky (Amos Lee, Birdie Busch) on keys.

If you're not one of the smart ones camping at Philadelphia Folk Festival this year, this is going to be a hard set to make early in the afternoon on Friday.  Fortunately, Hoss is playing all over fest this year and you'll have six more chances to see Hurricane Hoss.

Anderson East  Friday 9:45 Martin Guitar Main Stage:
Festivals are wonderful. It's a great time to catch a summertime set from your favorite bands. Festivals are also great for watching a set of your friends favorite band risk-free. Our pal Carolyn Lederach, who has introduced us to more bands than NPR has a favorite for the fest and it's Anderson East.

Here's what Carolyn has to say: "Anderson East hails from Nashville via Arkansas. As someone who's not usually drawn to Country infused music, I was completely won over by Anderson on his debut album 'Delilah'. Anderson has a special way to bring a modern twist with a retro Southern sound. Not to mention his live shows are not to be missed. If you want someone who will pour their heart out on stage and give a stellar performance to boot, DON'T miss Anderson East on Friday night. "

Anderson East - Photo by Carolyn Lederach

Tall Heights Saturday 1:40pm Lobby Stage
Tall Heights brand new album Neptune comes out this Friday... and just hours later they take to the Philadelphia Folk Festival stage for the 2nd time in just as many years.  Tim Harrington and Paul Wright return to Philly for the 1st time since their Milkboy Philly and Sofar Sounds Philadelphia appearances last October and it should be magical.

Tall Heights - Only | Sofar Philadelphia




Driftwood Soldier Sunday 2:45 Front Porch Stage   
Driftwood Soldier is Root Down In The Shadow’s new folky favorite on the Philly scene. Listening to Scavenger’s Joy you're immediately drawn to a mix of Owen Lyman-Schmidt’s funky mandolin with Bobby Szafranski’s slick bass.  Next take Owen’s cerebral lyrics, integrated with an intense yet mellow delivery much like Neil Fallon of Clutch and David Lamb of Brown Bird, and your hooked. If you haven’t checked out, Scavenger’s Joy, what are  you waiting for?







Heart Harbor Saturday 12:00pm Camp Stage
Taking part of the Saturday tradition that is the WXPN Presents Helent Leicht showcase, is Heart Harbor joining Katie Barbato and Matt Duke. Fresh off of her Key Session debut this Tuesday and her debut EP Tender Trap (released this April, produced by Erin McKeown), Kerri Mallet and co. makes their large-stage Heart Harbor debut.

Heart Harbor - "Hating Nothing"
 


Honorable Mention:
Darlingside Friday 8:45 Martin Guitar Main Stage
I only give the fellas from Darlingside an honorable mention as by this point you should know this band.  I'm guessing this is likely Darlingside's last Philly appearance for the year.  After being XPN's album of the month in February, these XPN favorites have taken part in nearly every major event this year including Non-Comm and XPoNential Festival.