15/11/2024
Americana Festival TakeRoot 24
Was this a memorable 26th TakeRoot? No, not really. But there were enough performances by artists and bands that made it an unforgettable festival. What stood out to us this year? The return of Iron & Wine, Hurray For The Riff Raff. Many small, almost unplugged concerts. Often, acts that were also performing weeks before or after the festival elsewhere in the country (and at Ramblin’ Roots). No exclusivity, then. Beautiful, pure, 'essential' as it's called, but for some acts, a stronger foundation of drums and bass would have sounded better. Like with Kyshona, for example. Despite her fantastic voice, she had to rely on just one guitarist for accompaniment. Or Mary Gauthier: how would she sound with an easy-going laid-back drummer, a mournful pedal steel, and a warm double bass? Abe Partridge, Dalton Mills, Jack Browning, and others could have used more support too. Even Stephen Wilson Jr., who suggested a band with heavy distortion of his acoustic guitar and bombastic sound effects, didn’t quite win us over. It must be the cost, we understand. The music world is struggling due to streaming services. For that reason alone, the larger line-ups of Big Star Quintet and Iron & Wine were a welcome waterfall of sound. That’s what you want to hear and see at a festival like this.
https://www.americamagazine.nl/takeroot-2024/
