Discovery of a new artist at Pickathon has become one of the very reasons why many of us attend each year. A sort of annual ritual we conduct in the isolated wooded confines of Pendarvis Farm… The Pickathon lineup, as we know by now, is always diverse and piled high with new talent. For many of us that make the annual trip, it’s both the first time learning of & also seeing countless new artists.
Join us in 2018 and later say ‘I saw them when…”
Looking back over the past many years, we see lineups full of fresh faces and new sounds that have stunned us when least expected. Thinking about that first year of having The Avett Brothers in 2006 and watching the work they put into that debut Galaxy Barn set. Finding out about Langhorne Slim in 2007, reminiscing about 2011 when we first meet Future Islands and then seeing Sturgill Simpson‘s Pickathon debut with his previous band Sunday Valley. We’ve made lasting introductions for The Barr Brothers, Lake Street Dive, Shovels & Rope, AND The War On Drugs in 2012, and then turned around and welcomed Shakey Graves, and Parquet Courts in 2013. In 2014 we had a banner year with the first Pickathon shows from Courtney Barnett, Mandolin Orange, Valerie June, Angel Olsen and Hiss Golden Messenger. 2015 was the year of Leon Bridges, Kevin Morby, Kamasi Washington, and who could forget Rodrigo Amarante. The following year, in 2016, we welcomed a brand new Margo Price, and put on Daniel Norgren’s first U.S. show, and finally just last year, we made lasting introductions to Big Thief, Tank & The Bangas, Brent Cobb, and Sunflower Bean.
New music discovery starts at Pickathon.
For 2018 we know by now that there are many amazing new artists joining us (to many to list below), so here are a few we’ve already picked out of the crowd to get you started… Get familiar!
- Revel In Dimes: Blues / Blues Rock from NY – nobody comes close to their live show in 2018, nobody. This band will explode on stage, perfect for The Galaxy Barn.
- Colter Wall: Folk / Country songwriter from Saskatoon. Very deep (almost surprising) voice, songwriting style seemingly inspired by the likes of Townes Van Zandt.
- The War and Treaty: Gospel tinged Americana from Michigan – feeling (yes, feeling) this band live for the first time will very likely give you a month’s worth of chills all at the same time.
- Jen Cloher: Rock, i suppose, from Australia – widely overlooked 2017 release, Courtney Barnett in the band, current tour is pretty much all sold out shows.
- Haley Heynderickx: Portland, Oregon songwriter – new alum this week, quickly becoming a talking point fill-in for folks like Angel Olsen and the like.
O.K., so now that i’m consumed with a bit of nostalgia, it’s time to spend the rest of the day listening to ‘Four Thieves Gone’.
