Greensky Bluegrass, Steppin’ In It kick off ‘a helluva weekend’ for Camp Greensky

Thursday’s opening salvo of the music festival being held at southern Kent County’s Shagbark Farm boasted happy fans, rousing sets and perfect weather. The recap, photos and video.

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY AND VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

“We’re gonna have a helluva weekend!”

That proclamation from the stage by Greensky Bluegrass as evening set in Thursday summed up the buoyant attitude of the first Camp Greensky Music Festival in three years.

And after an unexpected, lengthy pause caused by a pesky pandemic, it seemed only apropos that the resumption of this Michigan festival — being held for the first time at Shagbark Farm in southern Kent County — would showcase a bevy of much-beloved Great Lakes State musicians.

Longtime pals Greensky Bluegrass and Steppin’ In It energized ebullient fans with help from Michigan native Lindsay Lou during an opening night filled with musical camaraderie, uptempo gems, a feel-good family vibe and absolutely perfect early June weather.

“This is a really special thing for us to be with you on stage here,” guitarist and singer Joshua Davis exclaimed during Steppin’ In It’s opening salvo — a performance filled with familiar nuggets for longtime devotees that set the stage for two long sets by progressive bluegrass heroes Greensky Bluegrass (who will also headline Friday and Saturday’s festival lineup).

For the bands, for gleeful fans and for Shagbark owner “Farmer John” Crissman, Thursday’s launch under crystal blue skies couldn’t have signaled a better start to the summer festival season.

“This weather is unbelievable,” Crissman said, standing on the ridge of a pasture that creates an ideal outdoor amphitheater for the main festival stage as children darted to and fro.

GOOD TO BE BACK, WITH SMILES APLENTY

Some attendees — traveling from as far away as Arkansas, Tennessee and Pennsylvania — began arriving early Thursday. And while initial festival numbers were down compared to pre-pandemic events, many speculated that the Friday and Saturday counts would substantially boost the overall weekend turnout.

The Greensky Bluegrass crew certainly wasted little time firing up Thursday’s cadre of festivalgoers: When a concert starts with Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and the bass is reverberating off your chest, you wouldn’t think you’re at a bluegrass show.

But that’s an integral component of a Greensky Bluegrass set — a psychedelic-light-swathed, rock-like spectacle that remains absolutely true to its bluegrass roots. Clearly, this is not your father‘s bluegrass … but dad would really love it.

Also integral to a Greensky performance: guest spots by musical chums, with Lindsay Lou singing duets with mandolinist Paul Hoffman and Davis sitting in for songs that included a co-write with Hoffman (“Congratulations and Condolences”) that they’d never performed live previously.

“”It’s good to be here with you, Michigan,” Hoffman told the crowd of about 2,000. “Good to see Steppin’ In It. Makes me feel like I’m back at Bell’s (in Kalamazoo) listening to ’em play.”

But on this night, the venue was a lively and lovely Shagbark Farm.

“Smiles everywhere,” one fan rightly remarked of the return to live music in the great outdoors. And there are likely many more smiles to come: Six acts perform Friday and another six on Saturday, including the legendary Little Feat. (Scroll down for schedule.)

Day passes for Friday and Saturday – $25-$100 — are available online here.

PHOTO GALLERY: Greensky Bluegrass, Steppin’ In It (Camp Greensky)
Photos by Anna Sink

VIDEO: Camp Greensky, Opening Day Highlights

 

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