Because of a two-hour rain delay, the second day of Nelsonville Music Festival partied on late into the night with headliners Cat Power and The Coup.
The heat seemed unbearable at times in the afternoon as each stage filled with unbelievable talent from Columbus band Nick Tolford and Co to the Appalachian folk of Adam Remnant of Southeast Engine.
Some of the highlights of the day certainly came from the smaller stages. William Tyler performed on the Porch Stage to a crowd hiding in the shade with an all-instrumental set and fast-finger picking guitar style. The artist finished his performance by looping several guitar licks together for an eerily loud ending.
Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer packed the NoFi Cabin to the brim to perform an intimate set of Irish folk after their act on the main stage earlier in the day. The two voices blended like the voices of a brother and sister, and their stories were enlightening and socially conscious with songs such as “Why We Build The Wall.”
Of course tragedy struck as storm clouds rolled in during Lee Fields And The Expressions’ set, forcing them to postpone and shut down the stage until the rain passed.
Wind blew over tents and lightning and thunder crashed in the distance, but ultimately the weather delayed the festival only two hours.
Fields was able to come back on stage in his white suit and fly dance moves for an old-school R&B performance. “Wish You Were Here” had the longtime artist almost in tears over the loss of his dad, to whom he dedicated the song.
The headliners kept coming as Cat Power opened with a soft ambient guitar part that continued to build into a chaotic wall of sound and an impressive light show that showered the audience. Although, the set lasted 120 minutes — well past midnight.
Finally, The Coup brought its own flavor of political hip-hop with a full live band and some funky beats to back it all up. Between long speeches and comments such as “We came to funk you hard,” The Coup put on an energetic 20-minute performance to close the night at 2 a.m. for the small crowd that stuck it out to the very end.
wh092010@ohiou.edu
