Shagbark Music and Arts Festival Revisited: Photos. highlights

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The inaugural three-day festival in southern Kent County boasted everything from a fire-dancing rock spectacle to Americana charm to a laid-back, on-the-farm milieu. The recap in words and images.

Squids on Fire: The scene during Desmond Jones’ Friday night set. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)

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Dubbed “Squids on Fire,” the late-night Friday spectacle igniting jam band Desmond Jones’ set at Shagbark Music & Arts Festival had “blazing hot” written all over it — in more ways than one.

With fire dancers and pyrotechnics lighting up the night whilst the Grand Rapids band unleashed the first of two simmering sets at the inaugural festival on Shagbark Farm in southern Kent County, the show was just part of a three-day affair that featured more than a dozen Michigan bands on two stages — including a brand new, permanent main stage.

Max Lockwood (Photo/Anna Sink)

Despite a modest turnout for the festival (re-branded this year from Cowpie Music Festival), enthusiasm for the performances melded with the event’s laid-back vibe and pleasant weather.

“I think they have things really dialed in this year,” said Max Lockwood, whose band performed an early evening set on Saturday.

“Everyone’s really relaxed and sure of what’s happening. It’s the most relaxed and fun I’ve experienced at Shagbark farm. The new stage is great, there’s a great sound crew, all of that helps a lot, too.”

In addition to Lockwood, performers on Friday and Saturday included Myron Elkins, Chirp, Earth Radio, The Bootstrap Boys, Round Creek String Band, Pajamas, Flexadecibel and more. (Check out a first-day recap with photos and video here).

Here are more highlights, courtesy of writer Holly Holtzlaw:

Round Creek String Band (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)

Desmond Jones (Saturday, Main Stage): A flashy, colorful light show, a guest appearance from Shagbark Festival crew member Nathan Purchase and goofy stage banter that transformed into ongoing inside jokes with the crowd. This late-night Desmond Jones set had a little bit of everything. The jam band has become a mainstay of Shagbark Farm events over the years and, by the looks of the Saturday night enthused festival crowd, they aren’t going away anytime soon. The set also included everything their fans have grown to love about them: frequent tempo changes, long and complex instrumental breaks, great on-stage chemistry, and, in true Desmond Jones fashion, some creative outfit choices.

Round Creek String Band (Saturday, Hay Wagon Stage): Before the band even began playing on the Haywagon Stage, ‘Farmer’ John Crissman revealed that he thinks the five-piece string band could be “the next winner of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Contest.” Under the pink-tinted clouds of a beautiful West Michigan sunset, Round Creek String Band delivered a set of fast-paced and intricate bluegrass rhythms, including original songs from the band’s catalog as well as a few traditional tunes.

PHOTO GALLERY: Shagbark Music & Arts Festival (Friday)
Photos by Derek Ketchum