WNY Music: A homespun festival in Darien Center

By Robert J. McLennan

Whether you chalk it up to climate change or just luck, we’ve enjoyed an extraordinary run of beautiful September weather this year, and it looks like it will continue into the first weekend of October, the 2^nd through the 5th. 

That’s great news for those planning to attend the next great music festival in WNY, Folkfaces Fest 9.  Yes, it’s been going on for nine years at Cherry Hill Campground in Darien Center, right across the street from the Six Flags amusement park.  For those who don’t get out that way too often, it’s about a 40-minute drive from downtown Buffalo, about 10 minutes longer than driving out to East Aurora, as thousands of people did a couple weeks ago for Borderland.  You can come for the entire weekend or pick the individual days that work for you.

There are other similarities to Borderland, like it’s a multi-day fest with a very eclectic lineup of performers, global music is welcomed, it’s family friendly, there are vendors and workshops, and it also has a distinctly friendly peace and love aura. 

But there are significant differences, not so much better or worse but different. 

Let’s start with the music.  Tyler Wescott, leader of Folkfaces and the fest itself, does an amazing job of curating an incredible lineup every year.  I’ve gone there in the past when the lineup was full of bands I mostly had never heard of outside of some of the local musicians.  The No. 1 lesson I learned is that one should just trust Tyler.  That’s it, you see a lineup you don’t know, just trust Tyler, it’s gonna be great!  The schedule is not full of national headliners but don’t think that means the quality of performances is diminished.

Folkfaces tour a lot and cover a lot of ground both geographically and musically.  If you’re not familiar, they play country, blues, traditional jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, honky-tonk, western swing, bluegrass, old-timey music and jugband.  And these guys are great musicians, presenting their music with great energy and enthusiasm.  Tyler Westcott (vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica, kazoo) founded the band in 2011. The rest of the band has taken many forms over the years, but the current lineup includes multi-instrumentalist and fiddler Brendan Gosson, upright bass player Patrick Jackson and percussionist Dan Schwach on drumkit and washboard.  They are the very definition of roots-Americana music. 

Wescott travels all over the world sampling and meeting other performers. He has said he loves being able to bring some of these performers to Western New York.

“Every year I try to curate a unique program that sets itself apart from other festivals,” he said. “I’ve been to many. I’ve borrowed quite a bit from them all. You may not know any of the bands performing, but I guarantee you’ll walk away with at least one new favorite band. This year we’re hosting bands from Canada, France, New Orleans and more.”

There are at least 34 different acts coming to perform at Folkfaces Fest.  After consulting with Westcott, here is how we would describe several of them:

• Uncle Ben’s Remedy — One of Buffalo’s great bands. It’ll be a party when they play Friday night’s closing set
• Whitford Klyma Band — Awesome Buffalo band with the great Jim Whitford and expatriate Greg Klyma, who is moving home, by the way
• Sousaphunk — Power Funk tuba trio, an offshoot of the mighty Brass Machine led by Kyle Yagielski, including the Seoul-Man Peter Heuer and drummer Jon Fohl.
• Kody & Herren — A great folk-rock duo-voice, guitars and violin
• Slyboots Circus — Drummers, fire spinners, aerialists, jugglers and more
• Songwriter Showcase — With Maria Sebastian, Ben Perello and more
• The Tillers — “Old time bluegrass Americana from the Ohio River Valley” 
• The Flying Clouds of South Carolina — “A legacy gospel band from the Grassroots fest.”
• Igor and the Red Elvises — his writer has seen them several time at the Sportsmen’s Tavern-an incredibly upbeat polka party band that sings about bacon and Uma Thurman.
• Perry Gordon — From France, trad jazz from ’20s and ’30s New Orleans-singer, guitarist with a clarinet and upright bass
• Sweet Degenerates — from Geneseo (named by Wescott)
• Showman and Coole (of Lonesome Ace String Band) — Old-timey Canadian
• Johanna Rice — ”Gutter jazz from New Orleans”
• Meredith Moon — Banjo, singer, Gordon Lightfoot’s daughter
• Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars-New Orleans music with a horn section, “Don’t miss them.”
• Martha Spencer — Fiddler, banjo, tap dancer, “I first saw her at the Brooklyn Folk Festival, it’s mountain music, she’s from the Blue Ridge mountains.”
• Trombone Charlotte — Guitarist and trombonist, “She’ll be sitting in with a lot of the acts.”
• Cast Iron Cowboys — Country Americana from Ithaca
• Bosko Baker — Country blues from Quebec
• The Vaudevillian — ’20s jugband blues from Canada
• Moon Hollow — From Massachusetts-original string band
• Flying Object — ”Reggaeish”
• Hobo Gadget Junk Band — New Orleans
• Family Funktion Sitar Jams — Indian music
• Leah Ou & Alyssa Rodriguiz — Chinese and African instruments
• Funknut — funky organ trio
• Personal Blend — Reggae from Rochester
• Candy —”Kinda like Dolly Parton”
• Melanie Beth Curran — ”Irish folk”
• Buffalo Choro — Brazilian mandolin
• The Traveling Pianist — More New Orleans
• Shaun Jones — Highlighting African instrumentation

And believe it or not, there’s more.

Some other details that set Folkfaces Fest apart from other festivals start with the theme for the year.  Every year there is a theme and this year it’s Felines & Cloud 9; use your imagination, wear a costume-there will be a contest.

There is camping right at the festival grounds, 50 campsites, but Wescott said, “If you want to stay, there will be a spot for everybody.”   

There’s free parking, there will be bonfires at night, and to help make the fest affordable, you’re allowed and encouraged to bring your own drinks, alcohol or otherwise.

There are workshops: music and history of the Erie Canal, square dancing, spoons, and arts & crafts for family and kids, and there will be a movie night and lawn games.

There will be food vendors on site, including Moon Doggies and Groovelink Cafe.

Folkfaces Fest is a four-day party where all are welcome and there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

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Wescott said, “It’s a very homespun, grassroots, mom-and-pop effort.  My small crew and I pour our hearts and souls, blood, sweat, tears, time and energy to make this event a beautiful, wholesome, fun, eclectic, unforgettable time.”

As of this writing the weather outlook is very promising, but this is Western New York state in the beginning of October.  Come prepared with extra shoes, maybe a raincoat and a heavier coat. You just never know.

Get your tickets at https://theticketing.co/e/folkfacesfest9  Check out the Folkfaces website, and for the most recent, updated information, check out their Folkfaces Fest Facebook page.