NYS Music 20​19

Tag: Higher Ground

  • Twiddle Delights With Surprises at 4th Annual Tumble Down

    Twiddle held its 4th annual Tumble Down Festival in Burlington, VT at Waterfront Park this past weekend. The beautiful park, right on Lake Champlain, hosted Twiddle for five sets along with: The Kitchen Dwellers, Stephen Marley, Turkuaz, Ghost Light, Jaden Carlson Band, Owl and Crow, The Big Sip, Nina’s Brew and The Jauntee. The festival, a family reunion for Twiddle fans, brought all ages together to celebrate music. The festival also brought fans and partners together to raise money for the White Light Foundation, a non-profit that raises money to help spread love, healing and kindness. 

    Twiddle kicked off the festival with a special acoustic set with fan favorites including “Hatties Jam” and “When it Rains It Pours,” and a special sit in by David Grippo. Their second and third sets closed out the first night and included a prerecorded message from “Colonel Norco,” which helped set the tone for two packed sets, and a special sit in by Todd Stoops. The second set included a new verse to “Jamflowman” that brought his tale home and an additional sit in by David Grippo on the beautiful, “Lost in the Cold.” 

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    Acoustic Set: Glycerine Medley, Earth Mama, Five, Wildfire, Fat Country Baby, Hattiebagan Mcrat, Hattie’s Jam-> When it Rains it Pours
    Set 2: Enter, Orlando’s, Amydst the Myst, Doinkinbonk, Grandpa Fox -> Apples -> Mamunes the Faun -> Every Soul
    Set 3: Jamflowman -> Subconscious Prelude -> Nicodemus Portulay -> Milk, Lost in the Cold

    Encore: River Drift

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    The second day started with a bit of deja vu as The Big Sip had their set shortened by a weather evacuation, that thankfully didn’t last too long, or turn into anything more than threatening clouds and some high winds. The Kitchen Dwellers began their set as masses of fans were still in line to re-enter the festival, music to the ears of those eager to get back to the party. They also welcomed members of Cabinet to sit in for a few songs, much to the audience’s enjoyment.

    Nina’s Brew, a trio from Burlington, played with a sound influenced by blues, soul, rock and R&B. They’re currently working on their first studio album and are anticipating a fall release. 

    Turkuaz, the nine piece funk juggernaut from Brooklyn, NY, played as the sun was setting over the water. Their brightly colored outfits seemed to glow in the “golden hour” of light, and highlighted their energy. 

    Twiddle’s final two sets to close out the fantastic weekend contained many treats for fans. The origin of “Ricky Snickle” and an additional verse,  another message from “Colonel Norco,” and a new verse to “Frankenfoote.” There were also many sit-ins over the final two sets. Jayden Carlson, The Kitchen Dwellers, Zach Nugent and Todd Stoops all helped Twiddle close out the festival. 

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    Set 4: Ricky Snickle Origin, Ricky Snickle, Syncopated Healing, Machine, Visions of Mohr, Latin Tang, Beethoven and Green
    Set 5: Polluted Beauty, Gatsby the Great -> Pond -> Zazu’s Flight -> Pond -> Grandpa Fox, Be There
    Encore: Frankenfoote Origin -> Frankenfoote

  • Dancing in a Hurricane: Brandi Carlile Acoustic Set at Shelburne Museum

    Rising to increased popularity with her recent Grammy win, Brandi Carlile has been selling out acoustic shows up and down the east coast this spring.  Saturday’s show at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont was no exception.  Hundreds of fans filled the open-air amphitheater, ignoring the forecasted weather warnings of lightning storms and surrounding the stage as the technicians brushed sheets of water off the rubber stage.

    Brandi Carlile Acoustic
    Photo by Jim Gilbert

    Brandi and the twins would inevitably have to cancel this concert after performing a mere three acoustic songs due to safety concerns. But frankly, their performance, while uplifting and inspiring as always, was only half of this concert experience.  The mood of the fans, drenched in rain and mud, huddled in the cold for hours, was brighter than any sunshine hiding behind the clouds. Strangers at 6 pm when the gates opened, the fans quickly bonded, sharing ponchos with strangers, supporting children so they had space to dance, and even covering our concert photographer with an umbrella to protect his gear.

    Brandy Clark, the sultry country opener who crooned about divorce, breaking stereotypes of “good girls,” and even smoking weed, was a well thought out choice for the Brandi Carlile fans. Ms. Clark’s real-speak poetry and sexy voice quieted the shivering fans, her music temporarily distracting them from their discomfort. She appeared completely unmoved by the rains that came in sideways toward her while singing. Her voice was a balance between graceful beauty and gritty truths, leading this writer to check her out immediately after on Spotify to hear more.

    Between sets, fans began to worry about the weather. It appeared to be worsening, and while the concert was advertised “rain or shine,” there was awareness that the electrical equipment on stage was drenched by the soaking deluge.

    Photo by Jim Gilbert

    But Brandi and the twins didn’t disappoint. They took the stage with acoustic guitars and stomped wooden boxes for percussion, as plastic covering protected the drums. Starting with “Follow,” Brandi thanked the fans for staying in the pouring cold rain. She remarked, “This is simply amazing to see everyone here.”

    And everyone did seem to be there. The fans were overflowing the venue, filling every open grassy area (and the muddy ones too). The trio shifted the song list to accommodate their acoustic sound, bringing great joy to fans who are familiar with older Brandi Carlile albums.

    But sadly after the third song, Brandi announced lightning strikes were too close, and the concert would have to be cancelled. The stage was quickly cleared, and fans ran out through hurricane like rains and winds to safely evacuate the space.

    Brandi Carlile Acoustic
    Photo by Jim Gilbert

    Shorter than expected, but as authentically Brandi Carlile an experience as one might hope for, Shelburne Museum offered a perfect setting for kindness, acoustic music, poetry, and even some dancing in a hurricane. Brandi Carlile concerts – even when cut short – are worth braving any storm.

    Note: Higher Ground Music announced that ticket holders will receive refunds. Tickets purchased online through Ticketfly will be refunded automatically; otherwise, fans need to visit their point of purchase for the refund.

    Brandi Carlile Acoustic
    Photo by Jim Gilbert
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