Trekky Records' Guide to Shakori

Every Spring and Fall, our hippie festival fix is satiated by the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in Silk Hope, NC. There's just something about drum circles, hula hoops and noodle dancing that you can't deny. If you're planning on heading down this weekend, here's our official endorsements for what bands to catch.

THURSDAY

3:45PM | Des Ark (Meadow Stage)

Aimee Argote of Des Ark is one of those great undiscovered genius songwriters. She'll be performing solo for this show, which doesn't mean you're missing anything, it just means your mind will be blown at a lower volume.

6:00PM | Butterflies (Cabaret Tent)

Our very own Butterflies make their Shakori Hills debut, in a mighty 5-piece form featuring new drummer TJ Maiani and Shakori veteran and fiddle shredder Bobby Britt. Probably the only true indie rock band playing at the Festival, maybe ever.

11:00PM | Stephanie's Id (Meadow Stage)

This band is from Asheville, NC. I saw them on this exact same stage last Fall and it sounded enormous. Embarrassing Fruits, Lost in the Trees and The Never have all played shows with them and they contain the same exuberant spirit that made The Sugarcubes so awesome.

FRIDAY

3:30PM | Lost in the Trees (Grove Stage)

Trekky's preferred giant folk-orchestra Lost in the Trees return to Shakori for their second time. They will sound so huge getting blasted all over the Shakori farmland. Don't miss this especially!

5:30PM | Sweet By & By (Grove Stage)

These ladies are dear friends of ours and play classic old-timey songs with gorgeous harmonized vocals. Straight-up banjo-guitar-mandolin-fiddle-bass bluegrass band.

7:00PM | Michael Hurley (Cabaret Tent)

Old Snockgrass returns to Shakori for the second time. Hurley is a legendary underground folk-blues man who has inspired all of your favorite freak-folk artists. He's a real gem with a brilliant high lonesome voice. Don't miss!

SATURDAY

See Des Ark again at 10:45PM.

SUNDAY

11:00AM | Midtown Dickens (Meadow Stage)

Our best friends from Durham, NC, play everyone's-invited punk-grass subverting the dominant paradigm of traditional folk music. This'll be their second Shakori appearance and they'll be right at home.

4:30PM | Ralph Stanley (Meadow Stage)

A true legend of bluegrass music. We can't really believe he's actually going to be there!