XPN Music Festival

A few weeks ago a friend of mine sent me a link to an upcoming music festival that was a jaunt of a drive away.  The price was exceptionally reasonable, especially because the line-up included a number of my All-time faves, including Bob Dylan, Dr. Dog, and Wilco.  Plans were set and the adventure was a go! A little bit of oversight as to where we would stay, but we did figure that out in the end!

I often feel that an experience is made just as much by what you do as who you meet.  My new friend Diva certainly proved this to be true.  He let Michael and I stay at his apartment, and treated us with as much hospitality as probably humanly possible.  And his name is Diva, doesn't that indicate enough?

We left Friday evening and drove over the bridge just as the sun was setting

We got there just in time for Red Baraat.  

*Note: I was not able to bring my camera into the park, so all my photos come from my smell phone camera - not super great, especially the later shows.

Edwarde Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes not only 'killed it' but:: They asked the audience if anyone had a good story to tell.  This 12 year-old boy raised his hand, and said "I can tell you are loosing your voice, and I think having some honey will help with that.  I am your number one fan, I bought your album the second it was available on i-Tunes.  And I play the drums."  Jade heard the last part and immediately invited him up to the stage to play! He jammed with them for a few songs, and then someone gave him a tummy drum to play! (I don't know what this is really called, but its the big drum you put on your shoulders).  He did totally rock, and I am sure he is going to remember that for the rest of his life!

Kyle (the 12 year-old) is on the left with a white t-shirt.  Again I apologize for the bad quality.

The next day after stopping to get some picnic supplies, we first saw the legend Dr. John. 

Each member of the band played "The Saints Go Marching" for their solo - so good.

and check out that hair (The doc's, not the bald man who got in my way)

Another bad qual phot, but here is Lord Huron.  There was unfortunately no one standing at this stage, so we made ourselves comfortable and mixed some dranks and fixed some sandwiches. 

cherries, hummus, and our organic vodka with mint and cucumbers

Next was Trampled by Turtles, they are just so fun

The whole venue was on the water, looking at the Philly skyline

And we took a little kite break to let him stretch his tail

The band I was probably the most excited to see - Dr. Dog.  It looks like we are far away, but we are actually as close as we could have gotten coming from the music fest.  They reserved a stretch of the lawn and we somehow wiggled our way to the front row center.

After was the Lumineers, who were so much better than I expected, they were just terrific.  They told everyone to put their phones away and just be in the moment. 

Then they came up right next to us for a few songs!

The next day was a little bit rainy.... 

We arrived in the afternoon after going to Sunday Mass, and say the Kopechy family band

And picnicked again - while we were eating it started to pour! Stopping Justin Townes Earl in the beginning of his set, and cancelling Dawes altogether.... We tried to wait it out in the rain, with a select few other people, giving us extra ponchos and putting their umbrellas over our heads. Not that it made that much of a difference, we were soaking to the bones.

So we made our way over to My Morning Jacket

Cool ponchos

Taylor Goldsmith did sing one song with Yim Yames

WILCO! Such a great set!

And the piece de resistance, Bob Dylan! 

I can die a happy girl

It was such a blast and a new experience to me.  I highly recommend this to anyone in the area.  And if you become a member, you get a huge discount!.