If you’re a music lover who’s been in Colorado in the summertime, it’s safe to say you’ve been to a festival or two. If you have, you know that sometimes at festivals your favorite bands can be joined by someone from another band, a random visit from an instrumentalist who will add a musical touch to a set. This organic addition has become such an on-stage constant that festivals now add this into the lineup, billing this person that can play with just about anyone as the “artist at large.”
If you go
WHAT: Jeremy Garrett Artist at Large at Rhythms on the Rio.
WHEN: Saturday.
WHERE: Rhythms on the Rio Festival, Del Norte.
MORE INFORMATION: www.rhythmsontherio.com.
The growing in popularity festival Rhythms on the Rio, which takes place Thursday to Sunday just outside Del Norte, is one such festival that has booked such a musician, that artist this year being the Infamous Stringdusters’ fiddle player Jeremy Garrett. Garrett will be on hand on Saturday, lending his talents to anyone who will have him.
“I’m going to be jamming, that’s for sure,” he said. “I’m going to be around all day, kind of sitting in with a whole bunch of different groups and helping mix up the bag a little bit and add my fire to the flame.”
Garrett’s time in the bluegrass, new grass and festival scene has prepped him for such a role. The Stringdusters are players who have kicked around every festival and tackled plenty of songs from loads of genres. He exudes a general excitement and confidence about this role, ready to throw in bluegrass, swing-jazz or even prog-fusion-influenced fiddle into the musical mix.
“I’ve been doing this a long time. So, I have a lot of experience just sitting in and not having to even necessarily know the tune,” Garrett said. “It’s just kind of like friends getting together really. I’m just stoked to be part of the mix, you know, throwing my name in the hat and ready to do something a little bit different outside of what the Dusters do, and kind of showcase my different styles.”
This is all coming on the heels of Garrett’s new solo effort, titled “Storm Mountain.” It’s a solid new grass release, a chance for Garrett to lay down some music with musicians who aren’t his regular playing partners in the Infamous Stringdusters, like vocalist Lindsay Lou, who appears in duet mode alongside Garrett on numerous cuts on this release. Those are some of the choice cuts on the record.
“In the industry, we have to wear a lot of hats creating content. But recording for me is sort of the epitome of what’s so cool about what I do,” he said. “It’s fun to finally get some new stuff out there. I’ve been dropping a video series to talk about each song on the record and how each track came up, and how I built the record. So, it’s been a lot of fun; it’s been a couple of years since I had something new come out, so I’m stoked to have it out.”
Garrett remains both artist and businessperson, as it is the “music business.” Playing shows is in fact a major part of said biz, but you need to drop product as well; play, produce, play more is the cycle.
You make the records so you can play the shows, some of which take place in beautiful places, as is the case for this festival. His is certainly a job worthy of envy.
“It’s a cool spot for sure. It’s such a beautiful area of the country, and the setting is perfect, and the vibe is perfect, and the river is right there,” Garrett said. “It’s just such a great scene.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
