Torrey's Folk Fest Top 5s

The festival is over, and I have my shiny new sunburn and stack of new CDs to prove it. Seeing how I have a day off, and some time on my hands, I have compiled here for you my top 5 musical discoveries, and my top 5 musical re-discoveries from our whirlwind weekend.

TOP 5 DISCOVERIES

5. The Sadies
Sadly, a mysterious disappearance of The Sadies from the weekend portion of the festival left them a much desired presence, especially in their planned workshop with Broken Social Scene. The Toronto band's sound is described as a "combination of 60s country rock and psychedelia, Country and Western, surf, and punk." This description should be enough, and I really wish I had been able to see them more.



4. Bellowhead
Like a less culty Polyphonic Spree. This British alternative folk big-band was just fun. Appearing on stage with all 11 members (excluding the females) dressed in black suits, they proceeded to entertain with disco sea shanties, traditional British folk songs, and the like, all with a smile on the face, and a leader with a little bit of Jim Sturgess in him.



3. Royal Wood
Ask Kathryn. Seriously. I'm sure you'll see a lot more of him on her mixes to come. She describes him as a clean-cut 50s gentleman who won't touch you till you're married. I'm not entirely sure how this translates into his music, but the singer songwriter made an impression.



2. Serena Ryder
Quirky, cute, fun. Highlight of the festival occurred during her set with Royal Wood and Broken Social Scene, when she started a song of hers that only had one verse, and the rest of the group improvised an entire song, verses, chorus, solos and all.



1. Brett Dennen
When Dennen walked onto stage as a tweener act for the main stage, you could sense the audience losing interest. His baby face, high pitched voice and physical stature gave him the impression of someone who just got out of math class, and was going to the mall, just to hang out. But then Dennen ripped one out, and made an impression. A mix of Paolo Nutini and John Mayer, his quirky sense of humour and catchy tunes led his small stage concert to be one of the most crowded I saw at the festival.



TOP 5 RE-DISCOVERIES

5. Colin Hay
The former Men at Work frontman entertained with his anecdotes, whip smart sense of humour and crowd pleasing songs, including several covers of old Men at Work songs, and those recently featured in Garden State and Scrubs.



4. Michael Franti and Spearhead
Rocked the Main Stage with his intense physical presence, catchy reggae infused hip hop, and heartfelt acoustic songs. Altogether entertaining and sincere, Franti's show mesmerized enough to keep people through the lightening and rain storm occurring at the same time.



3. Hawksley Workman
One of my favorite artists to ever attend folk fest, the independent Canadian music icon entertained both at workshops with his ever-faithful piano player Mr. Lonely doing a folk set, and at the main stage doing his rock set with a full band. Also, he opened his main stage set with the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" and midway through, "Under Pressure". Try to tell me that doesn't kick ass.



2. Luke Doucet and the White Falcon
Technically a rediscovery since midway through the festival I realized I had seen the Canadian rocker several years ago at another folk music festival with his wife Melissa McLelland acting as The White Falcon. Described as "wheat-rock", Doucet's music is a country twist on rock music, with a sound similar to former folk fest favorite Danny Michel, with McLelland providing almost instinctual backing vocals to Doucet and other artists in the workshops. Also, his guitar was freaking beautiful.



1. Broken Social Scene
The musical amoeba was a force of nature at the folk fest. During the workshops, BSS seemed to absorb artists such as Royal Wood, Serena Ryder, Luke Doucet and John Bottomley into its sound, even for those artists' own songs, creating the Broken Social Scene signature sound. BSS became an alt-country act, a folk act, a rock act, as required, and their musical prowess was such that it created a certain cohesion, giving them impression that BSS had been performing with these artists for years. Kevin Drew's knack for improvising lyrics on the spot shone through in their set with Serena Ryder and Royal Wood as he created a verse on the spot mirroring the written one Ryder had just sang previously, and the rest of the members of BSS's instinctual musical talent made Broken Social Scene the act to be seen at the Festival.