Photos by Mike Gendimenico
What began as a two-day festival 21 years ago has evolved into a four-day festival with about 9,000 attendees. On Thursday, the state police had to direct campers spilling out on to the state highway, waiting entry. This year, as many fans attended an uplifting half day of gospel and blues on Sunday as there were on a typical Friday afternoon just a few years ago.
The expanded Back Porch Stage has now become a great platform for local favorites and emerging national acts. We heard young bands like The Gabe Stillman Band, The Mighty Susquehannas, 3rd Street Blues Band and animated performers like guitarist Teddy Young & The Aces, guitarist MIZ as well as local favorites Launch PAD, featuring members of Cabinet. National bands held sway on the Back Porch too, including riveting sets from Dustin Arbuckle & The Damnations, who reached an apex with their cover of Dylan’s “Tombstone Blues.” Other highlights included a smoldering set of funk/soul/blues from Baltimore’s Ursula Ricks Project, a band I’ve seen many times this year but none better than at Briggs. Ursula and her band were on fire! PA’s and the Valley Crowd favorites Swamp Candy (in the mode of Reverend Peyton) closed Friday, and Saturday featured a solid set of blues from Amanda Fish (Samantha’s sister) and roots/rock n’ roll from National Reserve, who had played the Main Stage Friday. Both times, as expected, National Reserve played from their fine May release, Motel LaGrange.
Friday’s Main Stage got moving with guitar/vocalist Shawn Holt & The Teardrops who played a spontaneous set, mostly of blues standards and covers of Shawn’s dad, Magic Slim. Last year’s favorite, Vanessa Collier, followed, soulfully singing and playing her array of saxes, appropriately choosing this day to release her new album, Honey Up. Collier has become a huge favorite with Pennsylvania audiences and her stage presence and charisma is virtually unmatched. Samantha Fish, BMA Contemporary Female Artist of the Year, closed with a fiery, danceable set from her retooled six piece band that includes fiddle, sax, trumpet and keyboards. Highlights included “Don’t Say You Love Me,” Blood in the Water,” and “Bitch.” Fish last played Briggs four years ago as a power blues trio and her expanded lineup seemed apropos for her new mix of roots and blues. Fish, like Collier, tours relentlessly. Their appeal drew the largest Friday crowd ever.
Saturday’s Main Stage opened in rousing soul-blues style from Mississippi’s JJ Thames & The Violet Revolt. Alligator’s Selwyn Birchwood’s four-piece band played a mix of selections from his two albums and cover jams, bringing an encore with his combination of incendiary guitar and lap steel playing. Grammy winner Mike Farris and the Fortunate Few followed with a set of blues, roots and gospel with their version of Otis Rush’s “Double Trouble,”” perhaps the best version of the three bands that played it. the three heard from bands over the two days. Farris, perhaps more than any other performer, feeds off the energy of the crowd and had them singing along several times, notably with “This Light of Mine.” Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers closed with a rousing set that spotlighted the talents of her five piece band, especially guitarists Conner Kennedy (the most impressive guitarist of the weekend) and his dueling guitarist Tash Neil, propelled by the killer rhythm section of drummer Tony Mason and bassist Adam Minkoff. All but Mason provided harmonies behind a mix of originals and covers. Delaney & Bonnie’s “Only You Know What I Know” and one from Amy’s dad, Levon Helm (The Hawks, Bob Dylan, The Band) were especially strong.
Sunday’s gospel show was two acts, but it was stimulating due to the heartfelt performances of soulful vocalist Ed Randazzo & Friends followed by Farris and The Fortunate Few. Farris was even more animated in the intimacy of this Back Porch setting, absolutely engaging the audience with tunes like “Power of Love,” Sam Cooke’s “Ain’t That Good News,” The Staples “I’ll Take You There,” and Mary Gauthier’s “Mercy Now,” among many others.
This year’s lineup had as many roots as blues artists. Overall the performer profile was younger. While initially may have seemed to be a bit of a gamble, it worked marvelously. Virtually every act received strong responses and the buzz was more inclusive. The slogan “farm fresh blues” is not just a throwaway line. This festival shows growth— in attendance, in the quality of acts, in the professionalism and organization required to put on a good-sized event. As Mike Farris said to Richard Briggs, “When you started 21 years ago, there were probably 50 people and 100 coolers, and now it’s one of the best festivals in the country.”
—Jim Hynes
Visit www.briggsfarm.com to make your plans for July 11-14, 2019. In the meantime, check the Briggs Farm Facebook page for photos and videos of this year’s fest.
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