Rhythm N’ Blooms 2017 closed out Sunday, April 9, and this year’s festival was full of mainstream pop rock, blues, dark acoustic and gypsy punk. With all the venues in Old City, it’s near impossible to catch them all; but Rhythm N’ Blooms is all about taking it slow, drinking plenty of beers and finding new favorites along the way — and that’s exactly how my Rhythm N’ Blooms went. Here are the weekend’s highlights.
Friday, April 7
After taking a nap to gear up for the night/weekend, I started my Rhythm N’ Blooms with Nikki Lane, an outlaw country singer from Nashville, on the Cripple Creek stage. I was already kind of a Lane fan, but seeing her live has turned me into a super fan. She kicked her set off with “Highway Queen” from her latest record of the same name, and she proved old-school country is alive and well, drinking wine out of a water bottle, singing with her mom and promising that not even 700,000 rednecks could make her stop.
From there, I caught the first of many secret shows at Pretentious Beer Glass Co. Ben Gaines and Cameron Moore, two of the six members of this Knoxville based funk Americana band, played a more acoustic set. Their acoustic set had a more Lumineers vibe, but Moore’s soulful voice brought Justin Timberlake feels to certain songs. No two songs sounded the same, and I couldn’t wait to see their full band.
I caught some of the night’s headliner, Dave Barnes, but honestly, Barnes was better suited for a more intimate venue. While Barnes is a talented musician with plenty of fans, his talent felt lost underneath the interstate. With the perfect venue right down the road, the singer-songwriter could have really showcased his art somewhere else.
Saturday, April 8
Saturday was all about finding new favorites, and Rhythm N’ Blooms is one of the best places to do that. I started with Daniel Miller in the Lonesome Dove courtyard, walking into the festival, that was the first sound I heard, and I couldn’t resist checking him out. This alt-country artist mixed his Appalachian background into his work, and Miller felt like an East Tennessee version of Chris Stapleton while still maintaining his own sound.
Then, I popped in quick to see Birds of Chicago make playing a clarinet the coolest thing I’d ever seen before meeting a friend at another secret show.
When rockabilly band, the Royal Hounds, took the secret show stage, I looked at my friend and said, “What is even happening?” The band’s high energy, Elvis Presley influences and humor made it one of the weirdest, most fun shows I’d ever seen.
At the Jackson Terminal though, I experienced the exact opposite. Oklahoma singer-songwriter John Moreland was in the middle of his mostly acoustic set, accompanied by just one other musician. Moreland’s music was raw and hurt in a way that I didn’t know music could hurt. “Farce the Music” called Moreland’s music “gloriously and joyfully heartbreaking,” and no other description feels right. Moreland’s rawness easily made him the best find of the weekend, and when his set was over, I felt like I’d come out of a trance.
The highlight of the day though was seeing half the reason I even wanted to go to Rhythm N’ Blooms this year: John Paul White. Half of former folk band the Civil Wars, White’s solo work is dark and brooding (similar to “Barton Hallow” Civil Wars) while still being delicate and emotional.
Sunday, April 9
Work got in the way of some of the earlier shows this day, but starting the evening with Ruby Amanfu + Steelism felt like going to church. It was Sunday, after all. Amanfu’s voice is somehow gritty but angelic, and Steelism’s innovative version of Americana created a listening experience that filled all the outdoor space of the Cripple Creek stage. From blues to rock to R&B, this set was a journey that I would have happily listened to all night.
Not wanting to miss one last secret show of the weekend, I caught the Pinklets, a band of teenage sisters from Knoxville. At the bar, I heard one bartender tell his co-worker that they were probably the best band they’d had their all weekend, and I’d agree. For being 12, 14 and 17, these sisters knew a thing or two about epic solos and unapologetic rock music.
The weekend ended with headliners Young the Giant, and I was beyond pleasantly surprised. I’ve never been a huge fan of the California indie rock band, but their live show was too fun to be mad at. Also, they sound way better live. If ending the weekend with dancing in a crowd of happy strangers doesn’t sum up Rhythm N’ Blooms, I don’t know what does.
Artists working on a mural next to the Cripple Creek stage.
