Festival hit a high note on 20th anniversary

"From Blues to Bluegrass" is part of the Sisters Folk Festival theme and, for the 20th festival anniversary, there was a lot sandwiched in between blues and bluegrass.

This past weekend, folk, Celtic rock, country, zydeco, soul, soft acoustics, rocking Texas swing and more filled Sisters with over 45 acts on 10 stages and an appreciative audience on their feet screaming "More! More!"

The three-day event sailed along seamlessly as over 140 music events, an equal number of set changes, sound checks and artist relocations, were all kept on-time by vigilant stage managers and a steady stream of dedicated volunteers. In addition to the usual array of guitars, fiddles, mandolins and stand-up base, there was an eclectic blend of horns, cellos, a saw, unusual drum sets and accordions.

Many of the artists were new to the Sisters Folk Festival, but some were returning from previous years. The Subdudes, an American roots rock band hailing from New Orleans, preformed on stage at a much smaller Sisters Folk Festival 10 years ago. With a blend of folk, New Orleans rhythm and blues and country sounds, they rocked the stages playing to packed tents and people standing around the edges dancing.

Last year's favorite, Darlingside, again provided an eclectic blend of folk, beautiful harmonies and rich voices around a single microphone.

Shinyribs brought their spirited, down-home R&B-based music from Austin, Texas, to electrify and entertain the festival with wild music filled in with horns and raucous footwork and on-stage dancing by the band's leader, Kevin Russell. With songs like "Where's My Comb?" and "Sweet Potato," fans were moving and grooving, encouraging the band to continue. A conga line with Russell at the lead and the horns in the middle pulled the already wild crowd around the Sisters Art Works tent on Friday night.

Sixteen-year-old Christone "Kingfish" Ingram amazed and dazzled everyone, becoming one of the most talked-about events at this year's festival. This young prodigy from Mississippi began playing guitar at age 9 using the rich influence of gospel and Delta blues to fuel his appetite for more. Kingfish has a deep soulful voice for such a young man and an obvious appreciation for music and the audience that comes to see him play. He performed for the Obamas at the White House as part of the Delta Blues Museum and has developed a worldwide following as the up-and-coming new blues legend.

"That took me to church," said one audience member of Kingfish's set. "I felt like I was watching something I'll never see again. It was like a combination of Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King."

Whether you call them Celtic rock or a hybrid of punk, Young Dubliners were a big hit with the younger crowd. The talent runs deep in this band as they rotate between guitars, violin, mandolins, keyboard, a harp and bass. With the first notes, the crowd was swept up in the beats and began jumping and swinging to the Irish influences. They have appeared twice on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Show, and their songs have been featured on several TV shows, but their love is truly live performances.

"We hit the road and play like every show is our last," said lead singer Keith Roberts.

Amid the wild dancing and fast tempos, there were some touching and heartfelt singer/songwriters like Beth Nielsen Chapman and Buddy Mondlock. Chapman grew up in Texas and has made a name for herself as an award-winning songwriter with numerous hits recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Elton John and many more. As a cancer survivor and environmental activist, Chapman's music speaks to her passion for a well-written song.

Buddy Mondlock is also a songwriter extraordinaire and such notables as Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith and Garth Brooks, his friend from their early struggling artist days, have recorded his songs. When Mondlock performed, the crowd showed a quiet attentiveness as they followed the introspective journey of his words. Mondlock was a part of the Americana Song Academy the week prior to Folk Festival. He spoke onstage about the beauty of Caldera, the mountains and the almost meditative focus of the camp, and said with gratitude to all that "this place recharged my batteries."