LineupThoughts on Music By Pickathon . 2012-08-28 . (48) comments
Pickathon is first and foremost a music festival. Our yearly goal is to curate the most amazing contemporary snap shot of music one can find across a non-typical range of musical genres. We search long and wide and within our subjective choices put together a yearly lineup that tries to focus on showcasing critical substance over more financial perspectives; like what band draws the most audience. The end result is an artistic process that everyone involved is excited to repeat each year, and is likely to also leave each audience member with a different mix of new/old favorite artists (both expected and unexpected).
Early on, 'Indie Roots' was used to be a convenient way to describe what one could expect musically at Pickathon. However, with every year that passes, musical labels seem less and less appropriate as great music should simply speaks for itself.
This does not mean Pickathon is changing its musical focus.
Pickathon will always feature what's new and relevant across various traditional, roots, and indie music scenes. One can also expect a degree of boundary pushing to keep ideas fresh and vital.
Will all music at Pickathon be loved by everyone?
No, but that’s part of the point. We expect if you came to Pickathon it is easy to walk away liking music that you did not anticipate before arriving. This sense of discovery is one of many great life moments that Pickathon looks to sustainably provide for a long time to come.
Questions for you (about music)…
What did you love this year?
What surprised you?
What would you like to hear next year?
Did you catch any of the 12th night performances and what did you think?
As always, we sincerely appreciate the input.
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Thanks for a wonderful Pickathon XIV, now tell us what you really think
Early on, 'Indie Roots' was used to be a convenient way to describe what one could expect musically at Pickathon. However, with every year that passes, musical labels seem less and less appropriate as great music should simply speaks for itself.
This does not mean Pickathon is changing its musical focus.
Pickathon will always feature what's new and relevant across various traditional, roots, and indie music scenes. One can also expect a degree of boundary pushing to keep ideas fresh and vital.
Will all music at Pickathon be loved by everyone?
No, but that’s part of the point. We expect if you came to Pickathon it is easy to walk away liking music that you did not anticipate before arriving. This sense of discovery is one of many great life moments that Pickathon looks to sustainably provide for a long time to come.
Questions for you (about music)…
What did you love this year?
What surprised you?
What would you like to hear next year?
Did you catch any of the 12th night performances and what did you think?
As always, we sincerely appreciate the input.
Photo: Tim LaBarge . Pickathon
Newer >>
How Did Our Camping Host And Car Camping Improvements Work? << Older:
Thanks for a wonderful Pickathon XIV, now tell us what you really think
2013-02-07 21:59:49
I vote to keep it more acoustic-oriented, more folk/blues/traditional americana and less Sasquatch-in-Oregon. Also, the Wood's stage was a big let down this year, with that horrible audience blinding lighting at night, overcrowded, and waaaaaaay behind schedule. Fix that next year please!
2012-10-14 00:01:50
maxine.roach686@gmail.com
this year was great.. but if your looking for an awesome new band for next year harley bourbon from bend oregon definitely deserves a spot in next years lineup.. heres a taste for you http://www.reverbnation.com/harleybourbon
2012-10-13 15:54:57
I loved all the music, everything new was hot and I was once again so impresssed with my old Fav's "Langhorn slim"...what a performance. Keep doing what you do so well!Love and graditude to the stage crew for keeping the show going against all odds including grid lock power outages. Til next year....my home away from home. cheers!
2012-10-13 15:54:28
I loved all the music, everything new was hot and I was once again so impresssed with my old Fav's "Langhorn slim"...what a performance. Keep doing what you do so well!Love and graditude to the stage crew for keeping the show going against all odds including grid lock power outages. Til next year....my home away from home. cheers!
2012-10-01 16:52:11
Wow, so many great bands this year. My favorite was Petunia and the Vipers. Looking forward to their upcoming gig @ Mississippi Studios. Would love to see them back at Pickathon 2013. They need a bigger spot though...for dancing!
2012-09-22 15:59:52
I think this was my 6th year. The best part about the music is that there has obviously been a lot of time researching and picking the bands. Crafting who plays when on what stage could use a little more fine tuning but overall great job. Its hard to go inside to watch music on a beautiful summer day; the barn is a terrible daytime venue. Terrible. Sound quality at the Woods stage this year was really not worth the walk over from the main stage. That was sad to realize. Start earlier Sat and Sun on the main stages with some small bluegrass bands. Would be sweet to wake up to that around 9am IMO there are so many great bands out there, it should be a one-time nod. All new bands every year! You should not settle for any less of a vision.
2012-09-22 14:21:42
I LOVED 12TH NIGHT!! PLEASE consider making this a repeat feature. It was one of my favorite parts of the festival!!
2012-09-06 13:54:50
First Pickathon and will be back! Our top 3 = Dr. Dog, Heartless B's & Thee Oh Sees. Biggest surprises (in a good way) = Mynabirds & Langhorne Slim. Next we would love to see some normally electric-centric bands be invited to perform acoustic sets in the woods or barns. Top requests for improvement = build a bigger barn(s) and a second woods stage. We loved the late shows, but barely squeezed in and only caught glimpses of the performers.
2012-09-03 23:28:28
On my earlier post I left out some of my real favorites just cuz I've seen them before and chose to see the new stuff that I wasn't familiar with hence no mention of Alela Diane or Laura Gibson this year. By the way, the acts that sticks out for me from my 1st Pickathon at Pudding River were the simple solos of Rachel Harrington, Little Sue & Joe McMurrian on the small stage.
2012-09-03 23:18:51
ricogeorge933@gmail.com
My 7th Pickathon, the past six as a stage volunteer & of what I heard this is what made me smile; Sierra Leone RAStar's, Abigail Washburn in the barn about 2 feet away & ditto for Cajun Country Revival who I saw again at the Woods, Doug Paisley, Shovels & Rope in the WShop (WOW), front row in the beer garden for Genticorum, from a distance being pulled in by the sound of Lake Street Dive like a magnet, at the Woods - Barr Bros, Los Cojolites, Cave Singers, Typhoon, Bombino & The Wood Bros ( my faves). Sunday I laid low due to the heat & missed the return of The Lost Bayou Ramblers & Bruce Molsky. I always appreciate the blend of local, North Carolina, Canadian, & Delta music blends. I tend to like the simpler sets at Pickathon, I miss the days when I could handle the heat of the barns. The dust could be abated at the Woods with eco-friendly bark chips or by using rubber mats for the area in front of the stage. Some venting in the barns before you have someone stroke out might be a good idea.
2012-09-03 12:51:26
..and still waiting for Deer Tick to play Pickathon!! I think they will fit in very nicely.
2012-09-03 12:45:43
Please no more Langhorne and no more Breathe Owl Breathe (as people keep requesting)! I like them but time to move on.... Loved Thee Oh Sees, Neko, K,D,&L, and Cave SIngers...great year for great music!
2012-08-31 11:21:05
So much good music! You guys always do a great job. However, one band that I don't think needs to return is Blitzen Trapper. In 2009 they were good. (I remember that late night barn show.) This year they seemed stale to me. They're doing the same old shctick. Just my 2 cents.
2012-08-30 21:54:48
I already posted about who I liked (i.e. almost every band I saw). But there were two bands that I didn't like. I'm surprised by all the love for Bombino. I listened to them for a few songs and they sounded like really boring (albeit Arabic) reggae to me. I also wasn't impressed by TheeSatisfaction, you can do WAY better when it comes to hip-hop.
2012-08-30 17:45:26
kateypie2000@yahoo.com
Neko Case in the Woods was ELECTRIC. her voice, her sound, LOVED that venue. On the main stage, something happened. whole different energy. too big? i don't know. personally LOVED the twelfth night/music mix. bold, intimate, bawdy, hysterical, and what an opportunity to see Laura Gibson in that space. while it was perhaps an unexpected step for pickathon, my family - including the 7-year-old - thought it was one of the best parts of our 2nd trip to pick.
2012-08-30 14:54:51
This is my first Pickathon so I have nothing to compare it to, but I thought in general the blend of genres was exceptionally well done. I love pickin' music, roots, Americana, etc. but the acts that really kicked my ass were the ones I didn't expect: Thee Oh Sees (in the barn!!!), Lake Street Dive (I think they won Pickathon), Mynabirds on the Starlight stage, Kitty/Daisy/Lewis. The Wood Bros were just wonderful. I'm in the minority but the Barr Bros did nothing for me (sorry...). I liked the international acts. I personally think there SHOULD be a headliner or two. What does it matter? There are always good acts to be found on the other stages if you're not into them. That being said, Neko was great but a little blasé about her sets. I love theater - it's my background - but had no interest in seeing Shakespeare at at music festival. Do I think it was a wrong choice to have it as an option though? Absolutely not.
2012-08-30 14:42:52
The War On Drugs in the Barn was my favorite set of Pickathon. Really loved Dr. Dog on the Main stage, Lake Street Dive was a great surprise! Had one of the best weekends of my life at Pickathon 2012, keep up the good work!
2012-08-30 10:46:37
sellis00@hotmail.com
As has been the case for the past few years, I have been thrilled to come across new music that I wouldn't have known about if it weren't for Pickathon. This year I found joy in Bombino, The Barr Brothers, Los Conjolitos and Y La Bamba. I appreciate the worldwide search for amazing bands and hope that continues. Finally, the musical highlight (besides the neighboring tent site's rendition of David Bowie at 3 am) would have to be Petunia and the Vipors in the Galaxy Barn. The past few years I keep thinking the Mountain Goats would be a perfect fit for Pickathon.
2012-08-29 18:28:36
With the Pickathon sound systems, Peter Paul and Mary could jump up on stage and end up sounding like AC DC. Consequently, I liked the more acoustic acts like Abigail Washburn, Doug Paisley, Molskey, Genticorum and Dickens. Liked the international touch, always good to broaden your horizons. Wish I could have heard more of Y La Bamba. Also liked the Cajun Revival. Overall a nice variety.
2012-08-29 17:15:00
Loved the variety, keep it up!!! Barr Bro.'s, Bombino, Alela Diane, White Demin. Would like to hear Chris and Thomas.
2012-08-29 14:02:28
The 12th Night idea would have been really cool, except that the play was Shakespeare. Anyone who claims to really follow Shakespearean dialog is either lying or has read the text separately. Sorry, but it's true.
2012-08-29 13:51:40
Yet another surprisingly good lineup! However, none of them really compared to my memories of Seth & May. Please bring them back next year if at all possible! My faves from this year: Langhorne, 2 Man G.B., Abigail W., Lake Street Dive, Doug Paisley, Todd Snider, Shovels & Rope
2012-08-29 13:47:00
I would also like to see fewer "big names". And my personal taste would prefer the return to Americana and less international flavor. I'd also like to see less repeat artists; I think nearly 30% of this year's lineup had been to pickathon before. Thanks for asking. Keep up the good work.
2012-08-29 12:02:00
Favorite set was Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. Barr Brothers and Mynabirds were two other favorite new discoveries. Happy to see the Two Man Gentlemen Band back. Agree that the Sadies and Breathe Owl Breathe should come back. You should also steal Truckstop Honeymoon from the Oregon Country Fair. Caught the first 12th Night performance. I was interested, but was watching it from outside because of the crowd - would have liked to have seen it inside the barn.
2012-08-29 00:48:54
Thought the lineup was grand. Surprises: Lake Street Dive (so good), Genticorum in the workshop barn (just made me feel happy) White Denim (incredible). I agree with some of the posts about the headliners. I don't really consider Dr. Dog a headliner (and they were great), but Niko Case was a pretty forgettable moment, at least on the main stage, compared to so many other acts. This may be blasphemy as well, but I felt the same way about Mavis Staples last year. It was great to see her or at least say I've seen her, but there was so much other music that was so much better. I don't feel like Pickathon needs a headliner. You get headline quality experiences when you least expect it: the Barr Brothers on the Wood Stage, the Wood Brothers and Bombino on the Mountain View, the Heartless Bastards in the barn, and so many more. I have no complaints whatsoever, because I've always walked away from Pickathon over the past three years with some incredible musical experiences and a mind expanded by all of the fantastic music that is out there and that you've brought to me. Keep it up. (Oh, and yes, for the kids' sake, please do what you can to bring back Captain Bogg and Salty...)
2012-08-28 21:47:00
One band stood out for me more than the rest BOMBINO
2012-08-28 21:23:12
The Barr Brothers, and Shovels and Rope were my new music favs. I have always loved Wood Brothers and Blitzen Trapper so was very thankful you invited them! New band from Eastern Oregon that would fit in nicely is Bitterroot. They play Portland often and you can find them on Reverbnation/bitterroot. Thanks for asking.
2012-08-28 21:02:03
LOVED The Bowerbirds, White Denim, Sonny and the Sunsets, Thee Oh Sees, and Y la Bamba! I was surprised & disappointed there were 21+ sets. I was there alone with my 5yr old so we missed out on those :(
2012-08-28 20:08:58
The Barr Brothers, The Wood Brothers and Shovels & Rope were my top 3. Also really enjoyed Phosphorescent and Whitey Morgan. A lot of the bigger names (Dr.Dog, SE Engine) I thought were ok but unexciting. Would have loved to see Neko on the main or Starlight Stage Saturday.
2012-08-28 19:20:34
Favorites this year: Lake Street Dive, Barr Brothers, Shovels and Rope, Blitzen Trapper at the Woods Stage, Phosphorescent, Bruce Molsky (though his workshop barn performance last year was the best), Cass McCombs at Starlight, Sonny and the Sunsets as the F!ckaroos, Genticorum, Ted Jones, Danny Paisley, Cactus Blossoms, Bombino, and Laura Gibson. Alela Diane on the Woods Stage with her dad was the best performance I've seen from her. Such a nice long list of favorites! I always love being surprised, but I'll always hope for another Will Oldham performance, or maybe Joanna Newsom - too much to ask?!
2012-08-28 17:49:21
Barr Brothers, Thee Oh Sees, War on Drugs, Bombino, Langhorne Slim, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Hot 8 Brass Band, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and a bunch of others I'm forgetting now. I love the musical curveballs you come up with, and the fact that you bring in so many great bands that are not playing every music festival around the country. Keep on doing what you're doing!
2012-08-28 13:44:59
The War on Drugs, Cave Singers and Whitey Morgan were highlights... like a good mix of everything. Thanks for a great Pickathon!
2012-08-28 13:20:25
Loved Lake Street Dive, Shovels and Rope, Doug Paisley, Abigail Washburn, and Dr. Dog. Big surprises were The Barr Brothers (They blew my mind on The Starlight Stage! Bring em back next year please!)and I can't say enough about Twelfth Night! (I would be thrilled to see that company on the bill for next year too!)I was also digging the Cajun stuff and Gord Gano laying down some Violent Femmes? How awesome was that?! Please bring back Mike & Ruthy, Agesandages, Fruit Bats/Vetiver. I'd love to see Chatham County Line, and Carrie Elkin & Crew (Anthony daCosta, Raina Rose & Danny Schmidt). I would DIE to see Dan Mangan and Blind Pilot (I'm gonna keep asking for them)! In the end, I always trust Pickathon's judgement. You guys have introduced me to some of the best music over the years and for that I say thanks!
2012-08-28 11:42:53
Lake Street Dive stole the fest. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis charmed everyone off their butts and into dancing. Bombino were mindblowing. Cass McCombs was perfect during his late night set. Petunia & The Vipers, Midtown Dickens, & Refugee All-Stars all were exceptional. My favorite moments of pickathon are always just wandering by a performance and immediately being engaged - such as the foghorn string band. Open message to lonnie turner & neko case - you write awesome songs, next time - get yr game on! Bring back the sadies & pokey lafarge. next year: giant sand, dengue fever and wooden wand. and reunite jennyanykind. other than that - thank you for being you, pickathon.
2012-08-28 11:04:09
The Barr Brothers were my favorite! Bring them back! I noticed that several people were not excited about the headliners, but Dr. Dog will always be one of my favorite shows. I also loved Cass Maccombs and the Mynabirds. Bring back Frank Fairfield Breathe Owl Breathe, and Bonnie Prince Billy.
2012-08-28 10:47:20
My God.... THEE OH SEES! Their set in the Barn will go down as one of the best shows I've seen. The hot, sweaty barn nearly burst at the seams that night. Seemed a perfect match.
2012-08-28 09:58:14
Heartless Bastards hot 'n sweaty in the Galaxy Barn were the revelation for me this year - only because I missed them previous years. Other than that I agree that the country/twangy side was my preference over indie rock - Petunia, Cactus Blossoms, Shovels & Rope were standouts. Its always better to see the headliners in the "off" venues - imagine if Neko had done 4 shows on all the smaller stages and none on the main stage.
2012-08-28 09:54:13
I'm in agreement with more pickin' less volume. American roots is what I originally came to Pickathon for and of course, in the interim, here in Portland, I listen to almost everything else. But for me at Pickathon, my favorites were Petunia and the Vipers, Barr Brothers, Todd Snider, Cactus Blossoms, Danny Paisley, The Cave Singers. I prefer the smaller venues (which unfortunately doesn't include the Woods Stage anymore) with more intimate music.
2012-08-28 09:37:26
Too much indie folk! There isn't a ton of airspace between Blitzen Trapper, Denver, The War on Drugs, Langhorne Slim, Cass McCombs and a few of the others. The bands that fit in less well and are a little more uptempo (Thee Oh Sees, TheeSatisfaction, Los Cojolites, etc) could be a little more represented without trading away the indie folk core of the festival. And to directly contradict what I just said, you need to make some sort of a rule that Breathe Owl Breathe be required to play every year. They really just seem to be the most "Pickathon" band in the world.
2012-08-28 09:32:41
Loved - Whitey Morgan, Cactus Blossoms, Oh Sees, Doug Paisley, Ted Jones, Two Gentlemen. Bring them all back. Would like to see: Audra Mae, The White Buffalo, Maria McKee.
2012-08-28 09:25:04
bheimbuch@hotmail.com
Bombino, at the Woods Stage, was this years favorite discovery!
2012-08-28 09:06:59
littlemanfromATX
Someone mentioned that some of the local flavor can be seen in PDX "any ole time", while this may be true as a former Bend OR now stuck in Texas I appreciate seeing the local flavor when I make my trek home. Absolute highlight for me Denver followed closely by Robert Ellis, Shovels & Rope & SE Engine. I really enjoyed the twelfth night production and loved Laura Gibson's songs intertwined. Blitzen Trapper at the Woods, Sierra Leone Refuge All-Stars, Slim & Dr. Dog at the Barn blew my mind. I love Pickathon, it is the highlight of my year!
2012-08-28 09:00:53
favorites: thee oh sees, white denim, heartless bastards, langhorne, mynabirds, lonnie walker, petunia, y la bamba, shovels and rope... most magical moment: phosphorescent in the galaxy barn sunday afternoon sent chills down my spine! i agree with one of the previous comments that i could do without headliners like neko case, blitzen trapper and dr dog. what i love most about pickathon is how y'all push the edge musically. keep it up! challenge us. bring us stuff we never heard before. and avoid the crowd drawing headliners. lee fields last year was amazing! regardless, what makes pickathon is the music. so, whatever it is you are doing, keep it up!
2012-08-28 08:25:04
It was fantastic to have back the Two Man Gentlemen Band! The country music was excellent--Cactus Blossoms, Petunia, Robert Ellis, and such. Loved some of the variety in acts. The Oh Sees, Hot 8, Whitey Morgan, Casey McGill... never disappointed with the Pickathon lineup. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis blew me away. Dr. Dog was great, but I really wasn't all that excited about the headliners. Last year, Lee Fields killed it--how about getting Sharon Jones next year?
2012-08-28 08:16:05
Lake Street Dive = AMAZING! Barr Brothers, Los Cojolites and Shovels and Rope were my favs! I'd actually love it if less of the "big names" like Neko and Blitzen Trapper came to Pickathon. We can see them any old time in Portland. What I love about Pickathon is not knowing 3/4 of the acts when I get there but being a huge fan when I leave. Might also help avoid drawing the kinds of individuals that don't respect what Pickathon is about as this was the first year of the many we've gone where we saw lots of hard partying kids tossing around trash, paying very little attention to the music and ruining some of the experience for us Pickathon die-hards.
2012-08-28 08:12:13
jeffo43@hotmail.com
1. I miss stomping around to top-notch, regular old pickin'! I want more old timey/bluegrass next year. 2. I was surprised by the large number of 'indie rock' bands. Although the choices are excellent (loved White Denim!), the genre seemed to dominate the airspace. 3. More brothers please. The Woods and the Barrs were my two favorites ever (in 5 years attending). 4. Lake Street Dive!
2012-08-28 08:02:39
War on Drugs was the band I left the festival loving. I also really enjoyed the Tarheel Boys and Petunia and the Vipers, both of which I didn't know before. Old favorites like Langhorne, Sonny & the Sunsets, and Heartless Bastards didn't disappoint.
2012-08-28 07:44:44
ashley@ashleyhenry.com
I really, really hope that Lake Street Dive and the Barr Brothers will be back next year. They brought me so much joy. Thank you!
