10th Americana Fest Rates a “10”

The 10th Brooklyn Americana Music Festival (BAMF), which ran Sept. 12 through 16, scored a “10” with us at Brooklyn Roads and with the enthusiastic crowds who came out to enjoy the 30-plus performers. Here are just a few highlights.

Hunter Burgamy and Georgia Parker/ photo by Noémie Trusty / courtesy of BAMF

The opening benefit show at Jalopy covered a broad range of the Americana spectrum, beginning with Annie Keating and her rocking band, including such paeans to her home borough as “Coney Island” and “Water Tower View.” Jalopy mainstay Hilary Hawke showed off her banjo skills on traditional bluegrass numbers and songs from her forthcoming album. Kentucky’s Tyrone Cotton brought some genuine, downhome blues to the proceedings, after which perennial BAMF artist Jesse Lenat wrapped things up with a definitive Americana set.

Tyrone Cotton / photo by Noémie Trusty / courtesy of BAMF

Duos dominated the doings at the Dumbo Archway evenings, beginning with Georgia Parker from Austin and New Orleans’ Hunter Burgamy trading songs and harmonizing. They also performed sets at 68 Jay St. bar and Superfine. Binoculars, two Canadian women who now call Brooklyn home, each took a turn at guitar and violin in a set that alternated sweet harmonies with lively instrumentals.

Allie Chip and Louie Lou Louis teamed up for several heartfelt songs. Whether she was singing the plaintive “This Feeling” about a lover who “gets me in the gut” or he was crooning the bluesy “Working for the Man” (“Better not die ‘til the workin’ is done”), they had the crowd in the palm of their multi-instrumental hands.

Ferd Moyse of FERD/ photo by Noémie Trusty / courtesy of BAMF

Cactus Rose — indigenous/black singer-songwriter Kandia Crazy Horse and indigenous guitarist Lonnie Harrington – played a spellbinding set that ranged from songs of the Native American experience to “Geogia in June,” Kandia’s recollection of visiting her grandparents.

Standout solo artists included Kate Martucci, who touched on several love themes, such as “Love Song for Best Friends” and “Breakups and Babies.” Our favorite tunes from Eliane Amherd (with Amanda Ruzza on bass) included “Don’t Give Up on Me (Until I Get Over My Pride)” and “a musical wine tasting” titled “Petite Avril.” And Everette held sway for two nights at Superfine, putting her unique spin on traditional mountain music.

The liveliest of the BAMF performances was that of FERD, who looked and sounded like they just came down from a mountain in Appalachia while specializing in original songs.

At Manhattan’s Groove – BAMF’s first foray beyond Brooklyn – “Jolie Holland brought her signature no-reverb vocals to her often dark but always innovative and emotive compositions,” Bobtown’s Katherine Etzel tells us. Etzel also says that BAMF founder Jan Bell delivered “an affecting acoustic guitar-based opening set.”