“Treefort is too indie!” I’ve heard this exact statement from too many friends in the past month.
Maybe, just maybe, there is some truth to that. Treefort has a strong indie vibe. If true, is this really a problem? What does indie even mean? I fondly remember my friend in middle school convincing me it meant ‘music from India’. We were adorable kids, but we were just a little mistaken. The indie label was originally intended to signify artists that maintained an independent status separate from major label contracts. Unfortunately, this is no longer the word’s operational definition. Indie, for most of our audience, means guitar strumming with a human voice. Whether it’s lo-fi, alternative, post-rock, bluegrass, folk, punk, or folk-punk, my friends are right! Treefort has a TON of guitar-playing bands with vocalists.
I totally understand if the instrumentalist songwriter vibe just isn’t your jam anymore, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that Treefort doesn’t have what it takes to satisfy your taste. I took on the dangerous responsibility and searched far and wide through the 400+ artists to compile a list of artists that I think are capable of proving my indie-phobic friends wrong. Treefort might be hella indie but it’s also hella not. So, pour a stiff drink and get to know these fantastic artists that compose the rhyme, rhythms, and soul of Treefort Music Festival.
Hip-Hop / Lyricism
Open Mike Eagle
Thursday – 10:15pm – 11:00pm @ El Korah Shrine
Open Mike Eagle is self-described Art Rap. This is an artist that embodies the street-suburb hybrid of internet-era America. The music is filled with obscure film references, clear social commentary, and a strong flavor of apathetic realism.
Lizzo
Saturday – 7:00pm – 8:00pm @ Mainstage
“classically trained flutist, and passionate advocate for feminism and black empowerment.” SAY NO MORE, YES PLEASE.
MORE ARTISTS BY DATE
THURSDAY 3/23 @ THE SPACEBAR
E&J( Eleven and Jason D) [LOCAL] 12:00am – 1:00am
Dedicated Servers [LOCAL] 11:10pm – 11:50pm
FRIDAY 3/2 @ THE REEF
Sol 11:45pm – 1:00am
Abhi the Nomad 11:00pm – 11:35pm
SATURDAY 3/25 @ THE SHREDDER
Zee Will 9:35pm – 10:15pm
Cauzndefx 8:10pm – 8:45pm
Zero 6:45pm – 7:10pm
ZekeUltra 5:40pm – 6:10pm
Voice / Grooves / Soul
Rituals of Mine
Thursday – 9:00pm – 9:50pm @ El Korah Shrine
Previously known as Sister Crayon, Rituals of Mine impressed the Treefort crowd in 2014 and 2016 with passionate singing and subtle synth work over a live drummer that kicks out some seriously smooth west-coast influenced rhythms.
Xenia Rubinos
Friday – 11:00pm – 12:10am @ The Linen
Her voice has soul power. Catchy melodies over a high octane multi-genre band will loosen your legs as you become one with the groove.
The Seshen
Saturday – 10:30pm – 11:30pm @ The Reef
Sunday – 2:00pm – 2:40pm @ Mainstage
“The Seshen is a San Francisco Bay Area-based six-piece led by singer/lyricist Lalin St. Juste and bassist/producer Akiyoshi Ehara. Their forward-thinking sound combines synthesizers, drum machines, live percussion, and entrancing harmonies to create an unmistakable fusion of R&B, synth-pop, and electronic music.”
SassyBlack
Friday – 9:00pm – 9:40pm @ The Linen
“SassyBlack is a space-aged singer/songwriter & producer based in Seattle, Washington. This Goddess of “electronic psychedelic soul” & “hologram funk” explores the concepts of sound through deep compositions.”
MORE ARTISTS BY DATE
WEDNESDAY 3/22
Sly Moon Sutra [LOCAL] 6:00pm – 6:40pm @ El Korah Shrine
THURSDAY 3/23
CRL CRRL 10:00pm – 10:40pm @ The Shredder
SATURDAY 2/25
Harriet Brown 11:30pm – 12:10am @ The Linen
Chanti Darling 1:00am – 2:00am @ Neurolux
BEATS / BLEEPS / BLOOPS
SATURDAY 2/25
Sol Rising 12:30am – 1:45am @ The Crowbar
Michna 12:30am – 1:45am @ The Spacebar
BONUS EVENTS
FRIDAY 2/24
Inside Music Supervision 3:00pm – 4:30pm @ Jump
Utilizing Music Data 2:00pm – 2:45pm @ Jump
SATURDAY 3/25
This is Hip Hop 12:00pm – 1:00pm @ The Owyhee
