Josh Phillips Folk Festival

The name of this band is a bit of a misnomer. While it certainly hits the “festival vibe” squarely on the head, the eclectic nature of styles goes miles beyond folk. Comprised of members from some of the area’s favorite bands such as Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Toubab Krewe, Acoustic Syndicate, STRUT, Laura Reed and Deep Pocket and Blue Rags, Josh Phillips Folk Festival runs the musical gamut. The opening track (“You are Loved”) greets the ears with a quiet piano and vocal number that immediately struck me as being a collaboration between Tom Waits and Rufus Wainwright, and from there it goes careening about the spectrum. Soul, hip-hop and reggae rub elbows with emotive acoustic guitar confessions, and even a tune that sounds straight out of an Irish pub. The sheer depth of the “musical bench” is evident in every track. While the number and variety of instruments is expansive, I was particularly taken with the female vocals, the targeted use of the horn section, and the funky keyboard stylings. Recorded at Echo Mountain and Altamont studios in Asheville, the production value is top-notch and allows for these great musicians to shine. Pick this one up. - Bold Life