TRKfest Profiles: Yardwork

Photo by Bryan Reed.

As we near the fateful date of this year's bliss-tacular TRKfest, we'll be periodically profiling each band that will be gracing the stage. We'll tell you who they are, why they're special and why we invited them to play.

Artist: Yardwork
Hails from: Charlotte
Played TRKfest?: This'll be the first!

Our introduction to Charlotte's joyously noisy Yardwork came in the form of a couple of out-of-control, sweat-soaked, face-melting shows at Bull City Headquarters in the Summer of 2008. After we nursed our aching bodies and strained vocal chords, we realized we were in love. Yardwork's sound is a unique intersection of hyperactive punk and irreverent folk, garnished with gorgeous arrangements and an infectiously triumphant spirit. The Charlotte collective's live shows are a thing to behold, overflowing with kinetic energy, dueling drums, intertwined guitar gymnastics, and anthemic gang vocals. Yardwork reaches out, grabs you, and brings you to a place where anything can (and probably will) happen. We think it's kind of a crime that Yardwork doesn't play in the Triangle more, so we are so excited to bring them to an audience that perhaps hasn't had the pleasure of the Yardwork experience. Besides, Thomas Berkau, Yardwork's de facto leader, is our number one bro when it comes to hangin' hard at local outdoor music festivals. We met Thomas at the first ever TRKfest and solidified a strong bond after several long days and nights at Shakori Hills. Then, after a legendary morning with Midtown Dickens and Lost in the Trees trying to score vegan brunch in Charlotte, we knew these were our kind of guys.