I was fortunate enough to spend a whole day at the Catbird Music Festival at Bethel Woods August 20th. This inaugural music festival featured a wide array of artists. Due to the diversity of the musicians, it was fitting that the event was held near the original site of Woodstock ‘69. It was held 54 years to the weekend of the music festival that would go down in history as the festival of peace and love. Additionally, the festival grounds are beautiful. They were clean, had plenty of vendors and good food and drink.

For those who have never been, Bethel Woods Amphitheater is a beautiful venue off of Hurd road in Bethel, NY. The property is home to the original Woodstock and the Amphitheatre sits near the original site. For a reasonable fee, you can visit the museum which is rich in history and includes multimedia exhibits and beautiful photos and artifacts. Freedom of expression was clearly a theme of Woodstock ‘69 and the museum takes one back to a time and place that exudes that very theme through music and art.

We were fortunate to get in line early. The key to having fun at any music festival where you don’t have designated seats is to always get there early. In fact, by arriving early, you might gain two things: a good seat and the potential, if you are lucky, to see a gig warming up. Additionally, you meet folks who will become family as the day unfolds.

We arrived at the gate just before 10:30 a.m. We met two girls from Georgia, Ashleyn and Lauren who were first in line at the VIP gate. Since they were at the festival the day before, they gave us the lowdown of the festival and the lay of the land. We soon became friendly and they encouraged us to sit by them. They made it very clear that when the gates opened Lauren was going to run up front to VIP to secure seats. The reason for this is because in the VIP section, while there are seats, it’s first come first serve for the best seats. Since I am nursing a bad ankle and a pinched nerve in my foot, my husband Marty ran towards VIP on the heels of Lauren once the gates were open and we cleared security. This brings me to my first reason for arriving early. As I made my way to the amphitheater trailing my husband, I could hear music. It sounded like a live band, not a recording. As I drew closer, I realized that Tyler Childers, who was the headliner of the festival, was warming up with his band! This was certainly a treat, I was definitely there to see him. That was the start of what was to become the best live music experience I think I’ve ever had.

As the day unfolded, we experienced a wide array of diverse talent. The first performer of the day was an artist named Celisse. Celisse is known for her rock and blues inspired sound accompanied by powerful guitar solos. She’s performed with the likes of Lizzo and Trey Anastasio, co-founder of Phish. On all accounts she’s known to know how to seriously shred guitar solos—something I can confirm after watching her!

Up and coming rising country singer Morgan Wade also performed on Sunday. Her latest album, titled “Psychopath” was highly anticipated and released the following week. Morgan Wade sauntered across the stage exuding confidence that was admirable and matched the delight of those who stick around for these early festival performances. I first saw her when she opened for Luke Combs back in October. She is slightly country, slightly rock with a southern drawl that can’t be missed. She sang 80’s throwback “Your Love” by The Outfield, which was well received by the crowd who sang along.

Another artist who graced the stage that day were Trey Anastasio Band, which rocked out—Trey Anastasio Band featured amazing trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick, whose mesmerizing solos took you to another place. Equally amusing was watching Trey himself seemingly fascinated as he gazed out at the crowd. His guitar solos were noteworthy with the volume being too loud and according to one fan, “the only way epic guitar riffs should be heard at a rock concert!”

Dispatch, a bluesy, rock and reggae styled band, brought a fun loving energy to the show. Their positive energy reverberated through the crowd as folks danced and swayed to the reggae beats and rocked to the band as they jammed out with some head bobbing jam sessions with guitarist, Charles Stokes.

Amos Lee performed a set at the show with R&B vibes and smooth grooves. His sound is best described as a blend of folk, rock, and soul. He sang a beautiful rendition of his song “Violin”—a song about a mundane existence and one trying to find their way in the world—struggling emotionally and seeking God for guidance.

Rounding out the festival and the second best act in my opinion was a performance by Charley Crockett, descendant of, you guessed it, Davey Crockett. Charley is a true folk singer with an energy that reels you in, his sounds are clearly influenced by old country, blues, and even a twinge of rockabilly. He also claims his Cajun and creole background influenced his sound as well. He’s a new favorite of ours for sure. The audience seemed to love how he danced around the stage, often aiming his guitar and smiling a perfect toothy smile. I enjoyed his performance as much as his trumpeter Kullen Fox whose trumpet solos were met with applause and appreciated hoots from the audience.

The crème de la crème, the icing on the cake, the showstopper of the night was hands-down, headliner, Tyler Childers. Much anticipated and clearly who the crowd was there to see, Tyler put on a show that made you want more and more, hoping the night wouldn’t end. The audience was particularly mesmerized when he sang “In Your Love.” This is Tyler’s first released song off his new album, “Rustin’ in the Rain.” The song itself is a love story. The music video however, is about two gay coal miners in Appalachia in the 1950’s who fall in love. The video ends sadly when one of the men succumbs to Black Lung disease. When he finished the song, Tyler mentions that the audience may have heard it, clearly a nod to the controversy that surrounded the video—some fans even “canceling” him due to his support of gay love. To that I say, love is love. The audience sang along to every song, Childers singing with the emotion and an exuberance that gives him the nickname “crazy eyes.” He was a sight to behold, sounding as he does in his recordings and at times, jamming out with his fiddle. At one point he brought Allison Russell on stage for a jam session—the one he was preparing for earlier in the day. She played her clarinet and he on the fiddle— they played an instrumental set that lasted well over 7 minutes that no one wanted to end. Childers ended the night singing what he told the crowd it was one of his favorites, “Lady May,” a song he wrote for his wife Senora May. This song features Childers alone on the stage with just his guitar. A beautiful rendition and a beautiful way to end the show.

I cannot deny that the diversity of the acts, the beautiful venue, rich with Woodstock history and the folks we met, made the first ever Catbird Music Festival an astounding success. I hope that it returns next year and for the very reason that our new friend Lauren expressed, “if you’re ever looking for somewhere to make new friends and find a place to “belong,” attend a music festival. Everyone there is there for the same reason. To just enjoy live music, and wash away all their troubles, even if just for a weekend.”

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About the Author:

Michelle Osterhoudt is a school administrator, mom, wife and former small town newspaper columnist who enjoys going to concerts with her husband. She can be reached at osterhoudtmichelle@yahoo.com