Remember we said we sent someone to cover Pickathon 2009, well they finally made it back from Oregon thanks to some car trouble and have a rundown of the highlights for you. Enjoy
Pickathon 2009 July 31st-August 2nd
-Claire Costello and Hayden Harrison
Breathe Owl Breathe – Last Dance
“They oughta give out tape for your face and your ass… and there’s beer!”
By the time Sam Quinn of Sam Quinn and Japan Ten issued his face-and-ass-melt warning on Sunday afternoon, it was too late for most of the crowd. Having been subjected to the blazing sun, swirling dust, and the constant sound, sight, and spectacle of Pendarvis farm in all it’s crowded glory for the 11th annual Pickathon festival, our faces had sufficiently melted. While the attending crowd more than doubled from last year, at around 3,000 guests the festival maintains its small and comfortable feel with stages ranging from tiny barns and forest enclosures to the typical stage set. We were instantly cued to this intimate feel when the driver of our “camp shuttle” (actually a John Deere) introduced himself as Eric Schoenborn, brother of Pickathon founder Zale Schoenborn.
Pickathon is appropriately dubbed an “indie roots” festival, as it stays close to its Americana, folk, and bluegrass influences. This is not to say, however, that the festival was limited by its foundations; we saw performances ranging from the rocking, moshing commotion of Hillstomp to the somber melodies of Alela Diane. Pickathon’s crew members, while never betraying it through their easy smiles, had to have been working constantly throughout the weekend to ensure that the sound quality stayed as solid as it did. Perhaps the most brilliant brainchild of Pickathon’s promoters was the double-booking of most of the artists who played, allowing the bands to showcase new material to new crowds throughout the weekend.
Review after the Jump
