Band and musician chooses at Treefort Music Fest in Boise, ID
Treefort Music Fest will feature nearly 400 acts when it takes control of downtown Boise.
Headliners such as Japanese Breakfast and Lake Street Dive will draw large and enthusiastic crowds to the sold-out festival, which runs Wednesday through Sunday.
But tons of interesting and lesser-known musicians will also rock the stages.
That’s where festival director Eric Gilbert comes in – with group choices to guide you.
Gilbert highlighted 28 acts for this article. The artists he recommends – and hopes they will be recognized and appreciated for their talents.
At a time when large gatherings are a hot topic, he also composed this statement for festival goers:
“The music community has been one of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic,†Gilbert said. “We’re just starting to really rebuild. The entire music industry has done everything in our power to stem the tide of the pandemic, including sleeping for over a year. Now that the vaccines are here and we have learned so much, we are finding a way forward by encouraging vaccinations and testing unvaccinated and masks requiring masks at Treefort 9.
“Please, when you come to Treefort this week, help us defend and protect the viability of Returning Music by following all COVID security protocols and masking yourself. …
“… Most importantly, remember to be kind to each other. The mental health pandemic that has arisen from the COVID pandemic is a serious issue. Music can help and will help if we all stay engaged and stand up for our music community by following thoughtful guidelines on how we can safely come together. “
Angel Abaya – 2:40 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Main Stage, 12th and Grove streets
“Boise’s talented singer, songwriter and bandleader,†Gilbert said. “Groovy indie pop / dream pop. “
Angel From $ t – 7:50 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. Sunday, El Korah Shrine, 1118 W. Idaho St.
“A Baltimore-based punk supergroup, Angel Du $ t’s old-fashioned melodic hardcore is calling names like Gorilla Biscuits, All and Bad Brains,†according to AllMusic.
Arooj Aftab – 6:50 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. Saturday, El Korah Shrine, 1118 W. Idaho St.
“The Pakistan-born, Brooklyn-based composer draws inspiration from jazz, Hindustani classical and folk to create a heart-wrenching and exquisite document of the journey from mourning to acceptance,†said Pitchfork.
barn – 9 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. Saturday, Mardi Gras Ballroom, 615 S. 9th St.
“Boise metal group of late teens who are in tears this year. Big hearted shredders for the music scene of all ages,†Gilbert said.
Blood lemon – 10:10 pm to 11 pm Friday, El Korah Shrine, 1118 W. Main St .; 5 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. Saturday, The Hideout, 1114 W. Front St.
“Boise power trio, a heavy alternative inspired by the riot grrrl of the 90s. The eponymous debut album released this year drew a lot of positive reviews across the country. First national tour in October, â€said Gilbert.
Charlie parr – 9:40 p.m. to 10:50 p.m. Saturday, Basque Center, 601 W. Grove St .; 10:50 a.m. to midnight Sunday, Linen Building, 1402 W. Grove St.
“Duluth, Minnesota-based country-blues musician, folk troubadour, road warrior. The excellent new album ‘Last of the Better Days Ahead’ was released this summer on Smithsonian Folkways.
Play – 10:10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Linen Building, 1402 W. Grove St .; 4 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. Sunday, Radioland, 1115 W. Grove St.
“Los Angeles indie-rock trio. Influenced by great American singers like Lou Reed, Jonathan Richman and Stephen Malkmus, British post-punk bands like Wire and The Fall, and proto-indie bands like The dB’s and Minutemen.
Christian Scott in Tunde Adjuah – Thursday 7:20 to 8:40 p.m., El Korah Shrine, 1118 W. Idaho St .; 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Main Stage, 12th and Grove streets
“Christian Scott, known professionally as Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, is an American trumpeter and songwriter,†Wikipedia explains. “Adjuah ​​has won the Edison Award twice, received the JazzFM Innovator of the Year award in 2016 and was nominated for five Grammy Awards. “
Dawn Richard – 7:40 p.m. to 9:10 p.m. Sunday, main stage, 12e and Grove streets
“Member of pop group Danity Kane. His sixth solo album ‘Second Line’ was released this year on Merge Records (and) features its avant-garde side as well as synth-rich R&B inspired by New Orleans jazz, dance music (and) hip- hop. Rolling Stone said, “The adventurous R&B artist takes her sound to daring new places, while creating a funk utopia of New Orleans all her own. “
El Shirota – Friday 7:40 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Radioland, 1115 W. Grove St .; 9 pm to 9:40 pm Saturday, Mad Swede Brew Hall, 816 W. Bannock St .; 7:20 p.m. to 8:10 p.m. Sunday, Neurolux, 111 N. 11th St.
“Alternative rock inspired by the 90s from Mexico City,†Gilbert said.
Peoples of Garcia – Thursday 6:20 to 7:10 p.m., Radioland, 1115 W. Grove St .; 10:30 am to 11:40 pm Thursday, El Korah Shrine, 1118 W. Idaho St .; From 12:30 p.m. to 1:50 a.m. Friday, The Olympic, 1009 W. Main St.
This “adventurous union of indie rock, jam and psychedelia sounds like a dispatch from an acidic ’60s Haight Street night hosted by Fairport Convention filtered through the cool of downtown New York City of TV guitarists Tom Verlaine. and Richard Lloyd, â€explains Guitar World.
Incarnate – 10 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. Sunday, The Shredder, 430 W. 10th St.
“Hardcore Idaho punk is buzzing in hardcore circles across the country.”
J. Worra – 10:30 p.m. to 11:40 p.m. Saturday, Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St.
“Classic house meets new school technology with Chicago-born, now Los Angeles-based DJ and producer Jamie Sitter, aka J. Worra. Best known for her creativity as a producer and her skills behind the turntables, she brings unmistakable swagger and technical prowess to the underground dance music scene, lending these unique skills to every business in her life, spanning music, fashion and art.
Margo Cilker – 11:00 p.m. to midnight, Friday, The District, 219 N. 10th St.
“’Pohorylle’ (released November 5th) is Margo Cilker’s debut album. The record, which gives a gentle nod to Lucinda Williams, Townes Van Zandt and Gillian Welch, shines under the instinct of producer Sera Cahoone, whom Cilker first met in 2019 as she was planning her debut. feature film.
Orchestral Gold – 10:30 p.m. to 11:50 p.m. Friday, Basque Center, 601 W. Grove St.
“Groovy psychedelic rock from Mali. It is 1976 and you have just entered a smoky club in Bamako, Mali. The tune is thick with the grainy analog sounds of funky folk music, the psychedelic guitar swirling with jazzy horns and hypnotic bass. As the crowd shakes the bottom of the bells to the sound of infectious grooves, the singer commands the stage with her soulful voice and dance moves that give James Brown a run for his money. This is the mood that the Oakland Gold Orchestra creates in their concerts as well as in their recordings.
Pell – 12:30 p.m. to 1:40 a.m. Saturday, Reef, 105 S. 6th St.
“Hip-hop / R & B.â€
Ragged dogs – Friday from 12:20 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., El Korah Shrine
“Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Ragged Hounds features members of WIBG who bring a special canine touch to the music of Neil Young & Crazy Horse. The Hounds evoke dueling guitars and the catchy rhythm section of Neil’s “Rust” period and turn them into pure croquettes. “
Note: This is a late addition, Gilbert said, and “will feature special appearances, including a particularly well-known local guitarist and a Neil Young fan.”
Ratboys – Friday 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., Linen Building, 1402 W. Grove St.
“Chicago indie rock band.”
Robert shredford – 9:30 p.m. to 10:10 p.m. Friday, Western Proper, 610 W. Idaho St.
“Surf rock / garage pop from Fort Collins, Colorado.â€
Sofia valdes – 5:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, Main Stage, 12th and Grove streets
“Panamanian singer-songwriter, bilingual dreamy alt-pop. “
Sonny and the sunsets – 10 a.m. to 11:20 p.m. Saturday, Neurolux, 111 N. 11th St.
“Born from the sands, waves and twilight campfires at Ocean Beach, Sonny & the Sunsets’ busting beach pop songs spark memories of doo wop’s otherworldly despair, a dose of silly humor from l Michael Hurley School and the Positive Possibilities Explained by Jonathan Richman.
Swsh – From 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Reef, 105 S. 6th St.
“Swsh, the Los Angeles-based rapper, lyricist, producer and singer-songwriter is a multi-talented non-binary individual who has created a distinct and distinctive sound of his own. “
The Felice brothers – 11:00 pm to 12:10 am Friday, The Olympic, 1009 W. Main St .; 4:20 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage, 12th and Grove streets
American folk-rock / country rock group from Catskills, New York. Amazing songs and a live band.
Helicopters – 8:40 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, The Olympic, 1009 W. Main St .; 1 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. Saturday (solo), Sanctuary, 1185 W. Grove St.
“One of my favorite songwriters to ever visit Boise,†Gilbert said. “Play a full group show and a solo show.”
Wajatta – Friday 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., Knitting Factory, 416 S. 9th St.
“Beatboxer and virtuoso comedian Reggie Watts teams up with techno legend John Tejada for a loose and punchy set of house hymns,†Pitchfork explains.
“Reggie Watts just DJed for the Emmys,†Gilbert added, “and will be at Treefort this week straight out of that.â€
Yasmine williams – 8:10 p.m. to 9:10 p.m. Saturday, Sanctuary, 1185 W. Grove St .; 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Kin, 999 W. Main St.
“Acoustic guitar with a modern, unorthodox playing style. His music has been commonly described as refreshing, relaxing, and unique, and has been regarded as some of the most imaginative guitar music around. “
Visual video – 9:20 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, The Shredder, 430 W. 10th St .; 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, The Hideout, 114 W. Front St.
“Post-punk gothic pop group from Athens, Georgia.”
Zeta – 5 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. Friday, Radioland, 1115 W. Grove St .; 12:40 p.m. to 1:50 a.m. Saturday, The Shredder, 430 W. 10th St .; 4:40 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Main Stage, 12th Street and Grove Street
“Zeta is an experimental group from Latin America, characterized by its atmospheric sounds and energetic rhythms, accompanied by deep lyrics that speak of existence, positive consciousness and being.”