One thing to know about the band Twisted Pine is that they do not fit snug into any one genre. Instead, they undulate and glide through a most unique and eclectic assortment of sounds.
The band that was once described as “bluegrass,” has been defined by The Boston Globe as, “something else, a wider version of a stringband, boundary jumpers akin to outfits like Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek, and Crooked Still.” And we’d be hard-pressed not to agree.
The band’s most recent release, 2020’s Right Now, best demonstrates their own signature brand and blend, which offers tastes of jazz, bluegrass, Americana, and dare I say something along the lines of island pop.
The band is made up of members Kathleen Parks (fiddle, lead vocals), Dan Bui (mandolin), Chris Sartori (bass) and the newest member Anh Phung (flute). Something that makes this band so extraordinary is that in addition to their exceptional instrumental prowess, all members also sing.
The quartet is currently on tour, and will be pumping out shows from August 14th to December 8th all across the United States. One of these shows will be at this year’s Philadelphia Folk Festival. The band performed virtually last year on behalf of the festival, but will be present on the grounds for the first time this year. “We are excited to be welcomed by the great people of Philadelphia and part of such a historic event alongside some really killer players,” Parks told us. “[We’re] getting super hyped to hear Bettye LaVette.”
The Philadelphia Folk Festival will be taking place at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania, and is set for the weekend of August 18-21, with camping available until the 22nd.
Put on by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, this is the festival’s 60th Anniversary, a milestone year which other than live music will see a slew of children’s activities, local craft vendors, and specialty food vendors among other typical festival delights.
When asked what makes outdoor folk/Americana festivals like this so special, Parks told us, “The people who attend folk fests are usually quite a spirited bunch! That makes for a really fun set for us. It’s a constant flow of the music bouncing off of them and their energy returning to us, which then makes our playing even more revved up. There’s also something so joyous about walking around the grounds — the smell of delicious food vendors, people excited, with their sunblock, sun hats and favorite festival or band tee on. Everyone is there for the same purpose and that is to lift others and in return be lifted through art.”
Fans can expect to hear some new material from the group as they take to the Camp Stage on Friday August 19th at 1 PM.
