Preview // FreshGrass Festival @ Mass MoCA 9/21-23

Words // Scott Pingeton

Mass MoCA is becoming a destination known as much for their excellent music programming as world class modern art.  Wilco's annual Solid Sound Festival has played a big part in putting the Western Mass museum on the map, but there are plenty of other events throughout the year that are well worth the drive.  One of those events that I personally will be happily making the 3 hour trek from Boston for is the FresGrass Festival in late September.  You really don't need a reason to visit the Berkshires in late-September - it's just gorgeous out that way as summer starts to fade into fall - but if you really need your arm twisted, a top-notch bluegrass festival should do the trick.  The lineup includes David Grisman, Trampled By Turtles, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Devil Makes Three, Infamous Stringdusters, Spirit Family Reunion and lots more.  Spread out over 3 days, it's the perfect excuse for a long weekend away from the city.

Tickets are on sale now for the incredibly reasonable price of just $46 for the whole weekend.  Make your plans now, I am.  Here is some brand new music from three of my favorite artists that will be at FreshGrass:

Alone - Trampled By Turtles

Boodle-De-Bum-Bum - Carolina Chocolate Drops

I Want To Be Relieved - Spirit Family Reunion

New Music // Trampled By Turtles - Alone

Words // Scott Pingeton

Trampled By Turtles are probably best known for their virtuosic, breakneck bluegrass barnburners, but you're seriously missing out if you don't take the time to appreciate the slower tracks as well.  With room to breathe, the lyrics, melodies and instrumentation can really shine.  I've spent many hours with their last album Palomino over the past couple years, and while I love "Wait So Long" and "It's A War", I find myself listening to "New Orleans" and "Separate" at least as often.  "Alone", the lead single off the band's upcoming album starts as a soft, sweetly plucked ballad and steadily builds to a rousing, stomping finish.  It was one of many highlights of the hot and sweaty TBT set I caught at SXSW and it's been stuck in my head ever since. 

Stars and Satellites is out April 10 - do yourself and pre-order it here (I did).

Newport Folk 2011 Mixtape

Delta Spirit - The Flood
Gillian Welch - The Way It Goes
Justin Townes Earle - Black Eyed Suzy
Brown Bird - Bottom Of The Bottle
Trampled By Turtles - Wait So Long
The Decemberists - Of Angels And Angels
David Wax Museum - That's Not True
River City Extension - Today, I Feel Like I'm Evolving
M. Ward (featuring Zooey Deschanel - Rave On
Elvis Costello (featuring Emmylou Harris) - Scarlet Tide
Freelance Whales - The Great Estates
The Head And The Heart - Rivers And Roads