It’s one thing to see America’s big music festivals cancel one after the other under the spectre of a viral pandemic. It hurts that much more when it’s your festival, and one that was just a fresh green shoot, ready for nurturing and another year of growth. But alas, 895 Fest, which would have taken place this weekend for the second time, is off. So we’re taking a cue from Merlefest and DelFest and going to the videotape, all weekend long.
Starting Friday at noon, WMOT will present all 18 sets from last year’s 895 Fest, captured with top-flight video and audio. The platforms will be LiveSessions.NPR.org, Facebook, WMOT.org and our radio signal at 89.5 FM. You’ll be able to see and hear six hours each day from noon to 6 pm.
The inaugural 895 Fest lineup was a remarkable cross section of contemporary roots music, from its brightest emerging talent to some of its major stars. For a first-year festival to snag Rodney Crowell and Delbert McClinton is a big deal. But their eagerness to play is testimony to WMOT’s impact in its first three years playing Americana from Nashville and beyond.
The event was blessed with perfect weather and the verdant grounds of Murfreesboro’s Hop Springs Beer Park, which lived up to its name by offering terrific ales. Then there was the closeness of everything and everybody, which is a particularly sad thing to reflect on is a time of social distancing. We had just enough distance to dance, but I’ll remember it as probably the most intimate festival I ever attended.
My musical memories conjure up a few sets in particular. Steve Poltz simply owned the place with a semi-manic storyteller’s patter and songs that were both truthful and funny. He and Rev. Sekou did the most rambling around the crowd, performing from the turf, among the people. Molly Tuttle’s sundown set on Friday was like a preview of her epic summer and fall of ever-larger shows. Delbert McClinton sounded as great as he ever has, and he invited on Heidi Newfield for a guest vocal, teasing the music she’s about to unleash on the world this year.
Organizers didn’t really think in terms of ‘headliners,’ but the final artist of each night was particularly impactful. The War and Treaty closed out Friday with their sympatico spirit and blazing vocal harmonies. On Saturday, after 11 hours of music, Nashville’s Cordovas still sounded fresh as can be, with two drummers and two lead guitars weaving in and out as Joe Firstman did his charismatic thing as lead singer and bass player.
We all hope you’ll join us online or on the air and re-live an important event, while we call stay safe and look forward to getting back together. A full broadcast schedule follows.
Friday, May 29
12p - Robbie Fulks
1p - Molly Tuttle
2p - McCrary Sisters
3p - Delbert McClinton
4p - Lee Roy Parnell
5p - The War and Treaty
Saturday, May 30
12p - Pat Byrnes
1p - Lillie Mae
2p - Mandy Barnett
3p - Rev. Sekou
4p - Jason Ringenberg
5p - Sarah Potenza
Sunday, May 31
12p - Peterson Brothers
1p - Steve Poltz
2p - Rodney Crowell
3p - Mike Farris
4p - Liz Brasher
5p - Cordovas
