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PHOTOS: The Best of Lockn’ Festival 2018

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This past weekend, thousands of jam band fans, deadheads, festy fiends, and music lovers of all kinds flocked to Infinity Downs Farms in Arrington, Va. to see their favorite national, regional, and local acts perform at the annual Lockn’ Festival. Over 25 bands and musicians filled the bill for the four-day jam and rock music fest, which launched back in 2013, including major acts like Umphrey’s McGee, Lettuce, Dead & Company, funk legend George Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Matisyahu, and Widespread Panic. Of course, the usual suspects were there as well, with multiple performances by Keller Williams, along with Bob Weir and friends.

Lockn’ saw several Richmond acts take the stage including the psychedelic rock circus that is People’s Blues of Richmond and instrumental funky jazz group Butcher Brown, along with Charlottesville’s Erin & the Wildfire and Disco Risque. Although the music is what brings in attendees, the sense of camaraderie, good vibes, activities, and overall camping experience is what keeps them coming back year after year. All throughout the day, people could be seen doing yoga, riding around the campgrounds on bikes, hula-hooping, swimming in the Tye River, and dancing into the wee hours to late-night sets. A newer addition to the festival was Garcia’s Forest, a late-night dance party with DJs blasting the music of the Grateful Dead legend himself.

Also, new this year, was Hamageddon, a 14-inch high metal pig sculpture that cooks a pig-on-a-spit in its “belly” and shoots fire from both ends. LOCKN’ partnered with Chef Craig Hartman at Virginia’s BBQ Exchange to serve Hamageddon pulled pork sandwiches all weekend long. Yeah, you missed out if you weren’t there.

Photo Courtesy of Lockn Festival

RVA Mag was there to capture all of the great performances, barefoot dancing, chill vibes, and more. Below, check out what you missed, or relive the magic from Lockn’ Festival 2018:

John Mayer and Bob Weir
Lettuce
Butcher Brown

People’s Blues of Richmond
Tim Beavers, People’s Blues of Richmond
George Clinton

Erin Lunsford of Erin & The Wildfire

Sheryl Crow

Photos By: Branden Wilson and Darienne Skye Montgomery, Intro by Amy David 

 

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

RVA Track Premieres Erin and The Wildfire’s ‘Great Love’

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I have loved Erin & The Wildfire ever since I first had the chance to interview the Charlottesville-based band after hearing them play one night in 2015 at Cary St. Cafe. Lead singer Erin Lunsford has been captivating crowds with her sultry, wide-range vocals, along with the original crew, made up of UVA grads Matt Wood (bassist), Ryan Lipps, (guitarist) and drummer Nick Quillen, who have grown their fanbase at local and regional shows, and Virginia festivals with their folksy/funk tunes and unique spins on classics like “Stayin’ Alive” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”

In September, RVA Magazine caught up with the band right before they dropped their first full-length album, Thirst. On this record, we see Erin & the Wildfire switch up their sound to a more soulful, R&B vibe, And with the addition of newer members Garen Dorsey on horns and Austin Patterson on the trumpet, that jazzy/blues really comes alive.

Most recently, the band was in the studio with local film collective RVA Track to record a live music video for the song, “Great Love” off the latest album. Lunsford’s sweet, but powerful pipes have the ability to give you the chills when she hits those high notes on this one.  Combined with the harmonizing vocals from the rest of the band on this bluesy love ballad, its enough to send anyone back to a time to remember that former flame, or passionate lover that got away.

Lunsford told RVA Mag last year that much of Thirst is about unrequited love and personal experiences and relationships she’s been through.

“There’s one person in particular that several of the songs are about,” she said. “And a couple other random dudes that I dated sprinkled in. “’Great Love’ was the amalgamation of all of those experiences, it’s not actually a surrender, but its kind of close. Understanding what the realization of what I’m looking for and what I’m willing to give up and what I’m not willing to give up.”

If you haven’t had a chance to listen to this album yet, check it out below because you’re in for a treat.

The audio for the “Great Love” video is by Scott Lane, and the video was filmed and edited by Daniel Bagbey, along with Joey Wharton and Gabrielle Silvers. And be sure to catch Erin & The Wildfire at Floydfest July 25-29 and at Lockn in Arrington, Va. in August.

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond