In front of a backdrop pulsating with a retro, acid-soaked liquid lightshow, American rockers Real Estate segue into a spacey-yet-methodic 10-minute cover of the Grateful Dead’s “He’s Gone.” Kyle “Little Wings” Field and Woods’ multi-instrumentalist Jarvis Taveniere join the New Jersey indie group, resulting in one of those special, unrehearsed Big Sur concert-going experiences.
In an era of multimillion-dollar, high-pressure mega music festivals, where performers are presented as inaccessible demigods, the antithesis is alive and well in Big Sur. The three-day Hipnic recently celebrated its eighth year last spring, and the Woodsist Festival, where the aforementioned scene unfolded, kicks off its seventh annual incarnation Tuesday and Wednesday July 26-27 at Loma Vista Gardens.
Woods singer-guitarist Jeremy Earl – also the founder of the Woodsist record label – says he appreciates “mingling with the 300 attendees” and adds, “It’s just a great vibe.”
“It’s sort of like this summer get-together where we all get to meet and unwind for a little bit,” he says. “We can actually sit and have a quiet conversation, and watch some really good bands.”
Since its 2010 inception, Woodsist, in association with folkYEAH! Presents, has delivered consistently strong lineups, featuring everyone from Kurt Vile and The Fresh & Onlys to Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees. This year features former Modern Lovers frontman Jonathan Richman and Steve Gunn, a former member of Kurt Vile and The Violators.
Also appearing: past frontman of The Babies Kevin Morby, prolific one-man band Tim Presley, aka White Fence, Los Angeles singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt, folk singer Michael Hurley, Real Estate bassist Alex Bleeker and Friends and Little Wings. Garage rock duo Ultimate Painting, Olympia rockers Gun Outfit and guitar wiz Cian Nugent round out the two-day lineup.
WOODSIST FESTIVAL 1pm Tuesday-Wednesday, July 26-27. Loma Vista Gardens, 47540 Highway 1, Big Sur. $159.24/two-day pass. www.folkyeah.com
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