TakeRoot
Americana Festival, Groningen Netherlands, November 2, 2024
Many memorable performances
Text: Gerard Nass and Peter van Riel
Photography: Niels Knelis
Was this a memorable 26th TakeRoot? No, not really. But there were enough performances by artists and bands that made it an unforgettable festival. What stood out to us this year? Returning acts like Iron & Wine and Hurray For The Riff Raff. Lots of small, almost unplugged concerts. Many of the acts were also performing elsewhere in the country (and at Ramblin’ Roots) either weeks before or after the festival, so there was no exclusivity. Beautiful, pure, ‘essential,’ as it’s called, but with some artists, a stronger foundation of drums and bass might have worked better. Take Kyshona, for example. With her fantastic voice, she had to make do with only one guitarist as her accompanist. Or Mary Gauthier: how would she sound with a laid-back drummer, a melancholy pedal steel, and a warm upright bass? Abe Partridge, Dalton Mills, Jack Browning, and others could have used some backing as well. Even Stephen Wilson Jr., who, with heavy distortion on his acoustic guitar and bombastic sound effects, seemed to suggest the presence of a band, didn’t quite win us over. It must be the cost, we understand. The music industry is facing tough times due to streaming services. That’s why the larger ensembles of Big Star Quintet and Iron & Wine were such a welcome burst of sound. That’s what you want to hear and see at a festival like this. Check review in Dutch here
